Pan

I really question this, not because I've had better in NY, but because the duck at Peking Duck House is so much worse than the stuff I've actually had in Beijing. Is PDH really as good as it gets? I haven't been to Peking Duck House, but because I had such great Beijing Ka Ya in Beijing in 2004, I haven't had any since in New York.

Well, that's the problem with this kind of discussion. Arturo's is a real New York place that locals, people from the regions (New Jersey, et al.), and former locals coming in for their New York pizza fix frequent, along with plenty of tourists (though not as many as Lombardi's, which is much more of a tourist trap in the negative sense). The fact that tourists go somewhere doesn't automatically make it less authentically New York.

Some of the "THE BEST" threads that are linked in the pinned post at the top of this forum may be of some use, too. Here's one that hasn't been updated in 2007, but you could ask some relevant questions about places recommended in it: THE BEST: "Non-Fancy" NYC Restaurants

I've always really enjoyed the food at Kefi, but was unimpressed with my one lunch at Anthos.

Megan, my favorite banquet restaurant in Chinatown is Cantoon Garden, on Elizabeth St. Call them now and reserve for Christmas night. I don't know for a fact they'll be open, but I'd be very much surprised if they won't be.

Not to ignore the obvious: Have you checked OpenTable to see which (non-Chinese) restaurants are open on Christmas?

Just in case anyone is interested, here's my report on Mike's Bistro: Based on our experience, it is a flat-out good restaurant. Service was excellent. The decor was a bit strange; I felt the lamps looked like soccer balls, and my mother didn't like the looks of the white rose on our table, which was in a combination of water and some kind of preservative jelly, and she had the staff remove it. But the service and food were the most important things. For apps, my mother and godmother shared the "Handmade Gnocchi duck & chicken confit, roasted portobello mushrooms, fresh thyme, duck jus." I didn't get a taste, but they both really liked it. My father and I got individual portions of "Crispy Veal Sweetbreads english pea puree, fresh corn, marinated tomato, veal glace, mushrooms." I found them kind of salty and not as good as the amazing sweetbread dish I had at Degustation or the good sweetbread dish I had at lunch at Jean Georges, but the mushrooms really helped the dish. However, mains were yet to come. Three of us ordered "Sautéed Duck Breast duck confit leg, sweet & sour red cabbage, yam fritters, cranberry port sauce." This was excellent! The yam fritters were delicious and an inspired element, the duck breast was nicely cooked, and though the leg was a bit salty, that really didn't bother me much. The sauce was very nice, and the cabbage was a wonderful, upscale homage to Central/East European Jewish (and also non-Jewish) cuisine. Just a really good dish that pleased all of us. My father got "Black Angus Rib Eye Fillet." Due to dietary restrictions, he cannot eat potatoes or green beans, and they were kind enough to substitute buckwheat pilaf with golden raisins. I tried a small slice of his rib eye, and it was excellent. My mother, the birthday girl, was comped a slice of very good chocolate mousse cake with raspberry sauce that she shared with the table. My godmother and I had a very good merlot-cab blend with the meal, which went very well with the duck. I had two glasses. Our experience was so much better than what we've been having at Le Marais. I expect that we will return. All menu descriptions frrom Mike's Bistro's website.

I don't know what you are talking about in terms of "Hey, ho, let's go." I think of it as a chant at a stadium. So I probably missed whatever specific reference he was making. Yet that didn't bother me at all.

I should add one caveat: It's been a while since I went to Estihana (not sure how long; possibly as much as a couple of years). However, unless they are under completely new management, I'd avoid them like the swine flu.

Don't go to Estihana. It is HORRIBLE! Really, really horrible! weinoo, you're right that 2nd Av. Deli wouldn't work for this purpose, anyway, because they are open on Saturdays. And you're also right that there is no inherent reason kosher food can't be great. I think part of the problem is that there's a degree of oligopolism in higher-end kosher eateries, because the number of kosher restaurants, although larger in New York than most other places in the world, is still limited, yet there is a substantial clientele that demands only kosher food. Therefore, many kosher establishments can get away with not trying much, or even presenting execrable food.

I understand that almost any kosher meat restaurant will be overpriced relative to treyf places, because of inherent costs of kashrut and also supply and demand. So that isn't really the question. The problem with "mediocre and overpriced" isn't really the prices but that it feels even worse to have mediocrity if it's overpriced. Anyway, I appreciate your recommendation (I was starting to wonder if anyone would reply!) but find it hard to get excited over Fine and Shapiro's. I had my bar mitzvah catered by them when they were a "kosher-style" deli, and it was for convenience (they were close to the synagogue), not because they were ever close to being the best deli in town. I haven't been there for decades, but is it celebratory? Is it better than 2nd Av. Deli (which I'm almost positive we're not going to for this)?

Yes, it is a well-written review. But didn't we already know he was a good writer? I've been to DBGB only once, so though I enjoyed the experience, I have insufficient data with which to agree or disagree with his rating. It certainly seems rational, though. I have to go back some time and try some of the charcuterie.

I think this thread is due for an update. Actually, I have a personal reason to want one: My mother's birthday is coming up in less than 2 weeks, and her best friend (my godmother) is kosher and won't eat in a restaurant that is not both kosher and shomer Shabbos (that is, closed on the Sabbath). Lately, we've been going to Le Marais, and though years ago, I thought it was quite good, lately, it has been mediocre and overpriced. My favorite kosher restaurants tend to be the South Indian places my godmother won't go to because they're open on Saturdays, or inexpensive falafel/shawarma or hummus specialist places. But they are not celebratory enough for a birthday. I've been looking at some Chowhound threads on their Kosher and Manhattan boards. My mother and I are suspicious of places that try to do a little of this (from Mexico), a little of that (from Japan), and a little of the other thing (from Malaysia, Thailand, etc.). Although, in theory, a good restaurant should be able to cook satisfying food from here, there, and yon, and many home cooks do that successfully, in practice, that kind of eclecticism is usually a red flag at restaurants without "Momofuku" in their names. That said, here are some places I'm looking at, based on recommendations in those threads: Mike's Bistro's New American menu may be a winner. My mother may be skeptical of the fusion aspects of its sensibility, but it certainly is not trying to present Malaysian, Mexican, and Italian food all on the same menu. Tevere has garnered some good reports and is serving a genuine Jewish cuisine (Jewish Roman food), but it's pretty overpriced (a common problem with kosher meat, where a shochet and mashgiach have to be employed, etc.) and its menu isn't hugely interesting. The oddly named (for a kosher restaurant) Turquoise Seafood Restaurant has also been the subject of good reports, but it's not really apparent to me what its cuisine is, except that it isn't "American (Traditional)." What is the place's forte? Abigael's was rejected by both my mother and me for excessive eclecticism, and she also has rejected Prime Grill and Solo, for reasons not entirely clear to me. What are your experiences with some or all of these places? Any advice? Thank you in advance.

I went to this fairly new restaurant in Curry Hill with my girlfriend last Sunday. We arrived a bit after 5 PM, as I recall, after an afternoon concert she took part in. A few people were finishing what was probably a late lunch for them. We almost left because it was too hot, but the staff put on the air conditioner, and when it got cool, we asked them to turn it off and they kept the fan on, which was perfect. Both of us had an excellent meal there. We had the following: Ajwaini Jheenga Khatte Baigan Goat Curry 1 portion of rice and 1 naan 2 Salty Lassis (me) and 1 Mango Lassi (her) The total bill was around $65 plus tip (I recall that the lassis were $3.95 apiece, the rice, $2.95, and the naan, $2.95, so things can mount up a bit quickly, but to be fair, the rice was high-quality basmati rice and nicely presented, with peas and cilantro.) The Ajwaini Jheenga had a very evident and lovely ajwain flavor and was baked impeccably, though the portion was small - only 4 shrimps. The Khatte Baigan was tasty and a large portion, suffering only from the common Indian restaurant phenomenon of overuse (from my point of view) of ghee or/and oil. The Goat Curry was terrific! It was robustly spiced with chili and a bunch of other stuff. I recommend this place and look forward to returning to try other items on the menu. But do watch out if you are sensitive to ghee and oil. Bhatti Indian Grill 100 Lexington Av. (northwest corner of 28 St.) (212) 683-4228 They also deliver through bhattinyc.com and seamlessweb.com or by phone, from 14th-48th Sts., 6th Av.-FDR Drive. The delivery menu mentions no minimum order for delivery, but I'm sure they have one.

I didn't think they gave bibs gourmands in the New York guide. Any other Thai restaurants mentioned in the guide at all?

What is a Setai? Anyway, as for the name, I don't have any problem with pronouncing "SHO" like Southerners pronounce "sure."

What did you think of Il Cortile? I haven't eaten there since a friend's brother had a pre-wedding dinner there several years ago (his oldest child is now 5). I thought it was fine, though a bit pricey for the quality, but with generous portions.

How strong a recommendation is that? And did you think the food was a good value? Any other Turkish restaurants in the city that you'd compare it to, in food quality or/and tastiness?

Based on babern's description, it sounds like this is a fusion restaurant. Would you compare the resulting taste to any other New York restaurant of the present or past?

Yeah, that really does look amazing. And I love a spicy jungle curry, myself.

Malaysia is fighting over who invented Hainanese chicken rice? Is that idiotic or what? Interesting that mud crabs are not halal. Why not?

Wow, what awesome photos! How much did your meal cost?

I like Veloce, though I wish their pizza was less oily, but I was flabbergasted to see a post that they were rated, I believe it was #1 by Bruni. That is just not remotely close to reasonable.

I take your point, Steven, but I haven't previously found dinner reservations essential. Has it gotten significantly more popular in the last few months?

Sure have! It's called Naengmyun or Naengmyeon.