Brasserio Caviar & Banana

[SobaAddict70]

The food at Caviar & Banana is all over the place. It's intriguing and off-putting, inspired and ludicrous, or at least it was on the occasions when I sampled it.

Banana skin with crispy bacon? As horrific as it sounds. Coconut creamed spinach? Popeye would pop a vein.

An enticing appetizer of salmon tartare mingled silky cubes of the fish's rosy flesh with a smoked haddock mousse, more tapioca, chives, shallots and lime zest.

Is this the new Spice Market? Only time can tell.

Chef Claude Troisgros and Jeffrey Chodorow have created a Brazillian brasserie in an instant makeover of 12 East 22nd Street -- the former home of The Restaurant.

Brasserio Caviar & Banana (Frank Bruni)

Soba

[TrishCT]

Anyone been?

[rozrapp]

My experience with Claude Troisgros' CT (in the space that became Union Pacific) was so disappointing that my desire to try BC&B is zero.

[Bux]

I had a wonderful meal at CT, although I had mixed feelings about the first anniversary dinner there. As it turned out however, it was Claude's dishes I loved and papa's that I thought were weak. Maybe my memorie is playing tricks on me. I don't find this one appealing however. For a bit of history, the space was Claude Troisgros' CT, later became Union Pacific, Rocco's crtically successful restaurant. It just leads me to believe that some spaces are charmed and some are jinxed.

[lizard]

Word from the restaurant is that they are closing as of 12/2/05.

Caviar and Banana Brasserio

China Grill will keep the space and reopen later next year with an entirely new concept.

[Jason Perlow]

I think that space is cursed.

[herbacidal]

What was there before Rocco's?

[lizard]

What was there before Rocco's?

←

Commune, I believe.

It was one of Mathew Kenney's last "big" places before scaling back & moving on to Pure Food & Wine

[TrishCT]

I didn't find the latest restaurant's name very apeeling.

[rich]

I hear it's being considered as the site for the newly conceived Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Edited November 30, 2005 by rich (log)

[oakapple]

I think that space is cursed.

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They said that about the Cru space, and also I believe the Wolfgang's Steakhouse space, and both are now successful.

[Bux]

No space was cursed like the Lupa space. It saw a rapid progression of failures before Mario took it over. He did alright with the Otto space as well, though I don't think that was as badly cursed.

I loved CT, Claude's earlier NYC restaurant (on the site of Union Pacific, by the way) where he was in the kitchen. I had no desire to try Cavair and Banana.

[Moopheus]

What was there before Rocco's?

←

Commune, I believe.

It was one of Mathew Kenney's last "big" places before scaling back & moving on to Pure Food & Wine

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There were at least two other restaurants there before that, including, as I recall, a burger place/bar that had sawdust on the floor. I don't remember the name.

[weinoo]

I think that space is cursed.

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Maybe it's Chodorow who is cursed?!

[lizard]

I think that space is cursed.

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Maybe it's Chodorow who is cursed?!

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But then how would you explain his multi-million-dollar empire? He's got 21 other restaurants that are moving along at a nice clip. China Grill & Asia de Cuba seem to be doing particulary well in all cities.

[weinoo]

I think that space is cursed.

←

Maybe it's Chodorow who is cursed?!

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But then how would you explain his multi-million-dollar empire? He's got 21 other restaurants that are moving along at a nice clip. China Grill & Asia de Cuba seem to be doing particulary well in all cities.

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Not trying to explain his multi-million dollar empire; but after watching the show and eating at the abomination that was Rocco's, perhaps just wishful thinking. There's no accounting for the taste of the masses - I wouldn't pay to eat in any of his restaurants - they do nothing for me.

[R Washburn]

But then how would you explain his multi-million-dollar empire?  He's got 21 other restaurants that are moving along at a nice clip.  China Grill & Asia de Cuba seem to be doing particulary well in all cities.

←

But Mix was closed for underperforming as well. Maybe he is good at bars but not at managing more serious restaurants.

[Bux]

But then how would you explain his multi-million-dollar empire?  He's got 21 other restaurants that are moving along at a nice clip.  China Grill & Asia de Cuba seem to be doing particulary well in all cities.

←

But Mix was closed for underperforming as well. Maybe he is good at bars but not at managing more serious restaurants.

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It does seem as if he started getting in trouble after he started owning chef driven restaurants as opposed to popular or trendy restaurants.

[Timh]

HA HA HA! One for sensibility!