menton1

The belly, or Bluefin variety inported from Italy is vastly superior to any of the regular varieties.. Have also seen this packaged in glass, so you won't get any tinny taste!

No, Jimmyo, it's the other way around!!

I am truly amazed at the groundswell of popularity for Dasani and Aquafina. I believe, please correct me if I'm wrong, that these two waters are nothing but tap water run through a filtering system. What power the two giants, Coke & Pepsi, have when they do clever marketing!!

Only in America! I would definitely rather buy this product than open a "regular" can, cut open a fresh lemon, and squeeze some juice on it!! Even more amazing is that it probably will sell; people seeing it will think it';s a "great idea". N.B. I HATE it when they put lemon in a Diet Coke without asking!!

Wound up going to Pongsri Thai, 48th off Broadway, fit the bill perfectly. I started a separate thread to report on it, and the Zagat ratings were terribly low, compared to how I would rate it! (It was quite good) Thanks for all the suggestions!

Went to the theater over the weekend, and was looking for a more casual-type place to have dinner before the show. Our revered Zagat gave this an "11" for decor, so I braced myself. To our surprise, the place was quite attractive. Nice subdued lighting, black tile walls, gray carpeting on the floor, black tables. I would give this about a "16" for decor, not an 11. (See thread on Zagat) Turned out to be a very pleasant dinner. The Thai salad was predictable, fresh, good, with a good vinaigrette. The sliced steak with cucumber was excellent, very tender, and had a wonderfully exotic marinated flavor with an excellent sauce all around it. It was prepared medium rare as I had asked for it. We also had a Shrimp with vegetable dish in a ginger sauce, also very good. The desserts were fair, but the coffee was strong and fresh. All in all, just what the doctor ordered for a nice, casual, less serious meal before the show. Service was efficient, tab was $50 before tip for 2. And the decor is MUCH nicer than Zagat says.

Tried it last week, and it was AWFUL. Seemed like it had been sitting there for hours, and tasted like cardboard. Went again to Uncle Gio's, on Union Avenue in Cresskill, and it is one of the better slices I've had. Fresh, a good homemade sauce, and cheese just the right consistency. Closed on Sundays, oddly enough.

Holly, was it the same ownership as Papaya King on 86th & 3rd? Because Papaya King used to have a sign, "Our Only Location", and it's hard to believe if they did branch out they would break their formula. FG, I also thought Papaya King had an exclusive manufacturer and formula for their hot dogs; now you tell me it's the same one as Gray's? Tastes completely different to me.

One of the most misused punctuation marks in english is the apostrophe. The distinction comes as to whether the meaning is plural, or possession. The plural should NEVER have an apostrophe. A sign seen all too often on restaurants is "Closed Monday's" , or, "Soup's of the Day" (As bad as nukular).

I want to visit this statue on a VIP Egullet tour for "NYers who love Philly"; We could do breakfast at Blue in Green, light afternoon coffee at Metropolitan Bakery on Market, and dinner at, maybe, Fork. Perhaps in the down time I could get a tour on a skull of the Schuylkill. (Here's one NYer who can both spell AND pronounce Schuylkill!!

Oh, great, we could also do a YAHOO! Group!!

The New York Times, perhaps. But New Yorkers, never. They may find those in the provinces amusing perhaps even quaint and charming, but agree that a proper aloofness must be maintained. Like the country club scene from "A Passage To India" where Mrs Moore was scolded from leaving the patio to become friendly with the locals. The article was great for Philadelphia and a pleasure to read - well written and a good feel for Philadelphia, its history and traditions. Alas, the places listed were mostly predictable - the tourist route. Í am one New Yorker who LOVES Philadelphia. I am a native NYer, now living in the NJ environs, who discovered Philly about 14 years ago by going to the great annual Flower Show they have in March. I have seen the city evolve, it has such a great way of preserving the history-- I would call Philadelphia the true American city; NY is more eclectic and international, NY has wiped out most historic buildings, Philly has saved most of them. And the coming of age of the restaurants has been a joy. Philly restos are now just about on a par with the NY ones, just not as many of them, and priced a few bucks cheaper as well. The Society Hill area, its preservation and restoration, is a marvel-- somehting that you can never see in NY. LOVE Philly!!

I second the vote for Papaya King as the very BEST hot dog in NY- the best rolls, too, hot & slightly crispy!

Very poignantly said-- this is sad, but true. I was reading the newspaper the other day, on the left side page was the big story of the federal tax cut, and how it passed and was signed into law; on the right side was a story of the layoff of 6000 employees of the new Federal Airport Screeners that were just hired a few months ago, because of lack of funds. What good is an extra 100 bucks if our airport security is compromised? (Of course, this story was buried on page 9.)

Hate to get political but Zagat is now in the realm of the powerful. Very difficult to take to task. Basically as indestructible as oil companies, Halliburton, Bechtel, Murdoch, and others from the all-powerful. Maybe you will eventually get a blurb on Channel 2 (New York), but that will be as far reaching as the story 2 weeks ago about filthy conditions at the food areas of Warehouse Stores. After 2-3 days, nobody remembers. We need one of the Zagats to get caught with an intern-- that story would last!!

Why no mention here of the famed Bouchons de Lyon? I will be in Lyon late summer this year and am so looking forward to eating at these "bouchons", bistro-type places with VERY authentic Lyonnais food. I have heard that these can be as enjoyable as the more-famous Michelin restaurants! Maybe someone can provide specific names and addresses of these Bouchons?

I'd vote for Finks as well, but the only catch is, that Finks cheesesteak actually tastes BETTER without the cheese!! Great sliced steak, and smoked as well for an unusually great taste! (Try it rare)

I think they were talking about Jerry's Osteria in Tenafly; Never been but some have said good things about it here.

Fat Guy and Tony Bourdain should team up to do an exposé on those rats!

Normally do not like to eat this early, but waiting until after the show is just too late. Would appreciate suggestions on a resto in the area, maybe ethnic, not really fancy, more on the peasant level. Can't really enjoy fine dining this early, but need to satisfy the hunger pangs. Thanks alot!

This has always been a pet peeve of mine with Zagat. They say it is 100% a reader survey, but that really is not true. THEY decide what restaurants are on the ballot; they give you an option of a write-in, but we all know how that doesn't work, especially at the voting booth. Over the years, I have seen several dozen restaurants mysteriously absent from Zagat; Also, up until a couple of years ago, they actually listed Boston Market and Outback in the listings!! I complained vociferously about that, as I guess did many others, so they removed them. But they are really in control.

Oh well, they do have alot of good articles about lifestyle, entertainment, and assimilation issues-- check it out!!

$25 bucks to get in, and then you buy the food additionally. Rather steep, good luck to them!! (At least Belmar is Free Admission!)

Unfortunately, EVERY restaurant reviewed by the Record gets 3 stars, good, bad, or indifferent. Not reliable, but YOUR review was helpful

Well, I got the list right from the Expatica website. A really great site, Expatica Franceand this is in the current "Eating & Drinking" section. Talks all about the celebrities that frequent the place. Some great news there about all the "Grèves" going on now!