Tell us about some Excellent (and overrated) NY Restaurants You've Tried Recently

[+ FreshFluff]

I like to talk about food, especially when I'm hungry. So let's talk about some places we've tried. I'm not a food blogger, and these reviews skew positive because I like the restaurants I've been to lately.

 

-Gotham Bar and Grill (Village): The room is beautiful, and the food was very good overall. The appetizer was excellent, but the New York strip was tougher than I expected, but I'm used to filet-like cuts.

 

-Nougatine (Trump Hotel Central Park West: same kitchen as Jean Georges, but with more "basic", comfort food-type dishes) The Calamari appetizer somehow tasted "light" instead of heavy, as standard fried calamari does. Filet was excellent, as were the crispy potatoes. I wanted to try the rib eye steak, but they only made it for two and my date doesn't eat read I even enjoyed the citrusy cocktail, which is rare given my distaste for alcohol. The outdoor terrace was nice on such a beautiful night though we could have done without the street musicians playing in Columbus circle. They did make us wait about a half hour for the table, which is strange on weekend night in August.

-Tamarind :(Tribeca) High quality basic Indian food in an upscale environment. One of the entrees was just outstanding, but I can't remember which one! However, it wasn't at the level of one of my favorites, the fusion-Indian restaurant Tabla, which is now closed.

 

-Dos Caminos: (Meatpacking) This is one of my old favorite everyday restaurants. If you like Mexican food, you can't go wrong here. The people watching from the sidewalk cafe area is probably the best in the city.

 

-Tocqueville: (Lower Fifth Ave) I'm going there tonight. There's an appetizer that looks especially yummy. Fluffy's soft white tummy is rumbling..

[adannyboy]

Marea - Central Park south: Amazing everything. Fusilli with baby octopus and bone marrow = heaven.

 

Ditch Plains - West Village: Have done a few table shares (order a bunch of everything and just dig in) and it was great every single time. Pig wings and fish tacos are awesome.

 

Taverna Kyclades - Astoria: Greek seafood. The place is always packed and lines out the door. Put your name/phone number down for a table and go somewhere nearby for a snack/drink. They'll call you when they have somewhere for you to sit. Grilled Branzino with lemon potatoes and a greek white wine is my order most times. Grilled octopus is great. Best part is that it's so inexpensive compared to Manhattan.

[+ Italiano]

DA MARCELLA (on Houston St close to 6th Avenue, Soho) Authentic Italian trattoria without the tacky variations of most Italian/American places. Fantastic home made tagliatelle or pappardelle with a delicious homemade bolognese or duck ragu. Amazing grilled octopus, fantastic Costa di Bue and many others dishes. Very affordable prices, and cute little place. The only downside is that when it's busy it becomes quite noisy for a low roof.

 

BOMBAY TALKIE (West Chelsea) Excellent Indian food, cozy place!

[geoffk]

Del Frisco was awesome. -Crab cake is all crab, steak is great, drinks are good, service is exceptional, very pricey

 

Bond 45 always good, get the pot of chocolate sauce for dessert, mmm mmm mmm...

 

and Bar Americain , I like Bobby Flays stuff, making it on the grill today.

[+ beethoven]

A quick comment on two restaurants that were mentioned here:

1. We love Gotham Bar & Grill, and go there on special occasions.

2. We go to Nougatine (the less expensive of the two restaurants there) a lot, since we live nearby, and have NEVER been disappointed.

[foxy]

It's Restaurant Week now in NYC. It ends on the 16th which is when I'm having lunch at Nougatine. I've never been there before so glad to hear it gets a good rating.

[BaronArtz]

Here are some thoughts:

 

- For seafood: Le Bernardin - now has a more casual dining section in what previously was the bar. No jacket required. Food is absolutely perfect. This is what Nougatine is to Jean Georges.

 

- For seafood part II: Milos. Try their prix-fixe lunch which is a steal at $25 for 3 courses. Do order the 'loup de mer' on their prix fixe: simply grilled with olive oil and capers. Wonderful

 

- For Italian: Marea (as others have observed) but also 'Lincoln' (located at Lincoln center). Their pastas are very innovative with bone marrow, sea urchin, duck ragu (not all in one dish of course). I'd say Lincoln is up there with Marea, but a lower price point. Excellent service and wine list. If you like Marea, try Lincoln

 

- French casual: 'French Coast' on Amsterdam at W 83 street. A mix of Marseille and New Orleans, you feel transported to a casual-chic restaurant in Le Vieux Carre. The service is a bit 'amateur' but always friendly. Great neighborhood French place. If you like lamb, they have, hands down, the best lamb burger in New York. I always order the chicken provencale, it is not on the menu but they will make it anyway - divine. They are also excellent with any of their octopus dishes - the octopus and chorizo appetizer in particular. Also excellent for brunch. Very affordable.

 

Bon appetit!

[+ BOZO T CLOWN]

Overrated: Gray's Papaya on 6th Avenue and West 8th st -

Their hot dogs are just average weiners.

 

Excellent: The halal food cart on the corner of 45th and Lexington.

Their falafel balls are to die for.

[+ FreshFluff]

Tocqueville was excellent overall. Fantastic monkfish, and they were willing to take the potatoes rosti from the beef dish and make it as a side. The appetizer, a sunny side up egg with grits, was something else.

 

I was a bit disappointed by the chocolate souffle, since it didn't have that molten center that I love. The outer part was still pretty moist however.

[+ FreshFluff]

A quick comment on two restaurants that were mentioned here:

1. We love Gotham Bar & Grill, and go there on special occasions.

2. We go to Nougatine (the less expensive of the two restaurants there) a lot, since we live nearby, and have NEVER been disappointed.

 

Glad to hear that someone else likes Nougatine!

[Guest Ace]

On a friend's recommendation, I went to Joe Allen in the theater district tonight after seeing "Kinky Boots"....Our waiter was ADORABLE, but the food had a "pre fab" feel to it (although tasty)....I wish the dinner was as good as the show!

[LouieD]

I love monkfish and potatoes rosti, but grits and egg for an appetizer, mon dieu!

 

I lived in France for a year and I never saw that on a French menu.

[+ azdr0710]

potatoes rosti

 

 

my Dad and I ate this in Switzerland many years ago....we, and other nearby apparently-unsophisticated Americans, said, "this is just hash browns...."

[+ FreshFluff]

I love monkfish and potatoes rosti, but grits and egg for an appetizer, mon dieu!

 

I lived in France for a year and I never saw that on a French menu.

 

Tocqueville, despite what the name suggests, is actually an American restaurant with some French influences rather than the other way around.

 

Eggs dishes have been popular with chefs at fancy American restaurants for some time. I remember having an soft boiled egg dish at Country a few years ago, just before it closed.

[BaronArtz]

Tocqueville, despite what the name suggests, is actually an American restaurant with some French influences rather than the other way around.

 

Eggs dishes have been popular with chefs at fancy American restaurants for some time. I remember having an soft boiled egg dish at Country a few years ago, just before it closed.

 

If you like soft boiled eggs done to perfection, try Blue Hill. All the produce, meats and eggs in this restaurant come from their own farm leased from the Rockefeller estate in Westchester. Blue Hill is just FABULOUS. The Obamas have dined there frequently.

[+ FreshFluff]

If you like soft boiled eggs done to perfection, try Blue Hill. All the produce, meats and eggs in this restaurant come from their own farm leased from the Rockefeller estate in Westchester. Blue Hill is just FABULOUS. The Obamas have dined there frequently.

 

Hey, I went there on a date a long time ago. I don't remember the eggs, but I'll try it again.

[+ bigjoey]

Gazala Place

709 ninth Ave (49th street)

212-245-0709

 

druse cooking with everything home made

desserts are fantastic

nothing like it any where

[+ FreshFluff]

I'm going back to Gotham Bar and Grill tonight. I think I'll try the Miso Cod tonight. Does it look tacky to ask for their famous onion rings as a side?

[Decatur Guy]

Anytime I go to New York, I have a standing dinner date with a straight buddy at this Turkish place on the UWS:

 

http://www.pashanewyork.com/

 

It's fantastic. We just usually order three appetizers each and share. Funny, he lives only a few blocks away but goes only when I'm in town.

[+ FreshFluff]

Anytime I go to New York, I have a standing dinner date with a straight buddy at this Turkish place on the UWS:

 

http://www.pashanewyork.com/

 

It's fantastic. We just usually order three appetizers each and share. Funny, he lives only a few blocks away but goes only when I'm in town.

 

That place looks great. I'm definitely going to try it before I go back to the midwest for the fall. Philo dough cigars and lamb kebabs. Yum..

[Guest verymarried]

second Blue Hill

[+ beethoven]

I'm familiar with Pasha, as I live in the neighborhood. Very good, but never transported me. If you're on the uws, try Telepan on 69th St near Columbus Ave.

[Doe Be Doe]

Anyone been to Union Square or Craft lately? They used to be two of my favorites. La Lunchonette (18th and Tenth) is a sleeper French. Nothing fancy just good food. Sarabeths on Central Park South is great for breakfast. Cafe Luxembourg is a tasty French place on the Upper West Side.

[+ FreshFluff]

Anyone been to Union Square or Craft lately? They used to be two of my favorites. La Lunchonette (18th and Tenth) is a sleeper French. Nothing fancy just good food. Sarabeths on Central Park South is great for breakfast. Cafe Luxembourg is a tasty French place on the Upper West Side.

 

Union Square Cafe? Yeah, I go there all the time. Good, basic food. And yeah, I love Sarabeth's for breakfast. Make sure you try their cinn apple French toast.

[+ FreshFluff]

So, I had read his email wrong. We were going to..

 

Gramercy Tavern: The ambience is awesome with curtains that absorb noise and interior walls that create more private corners. The service was truly top notch, some of the most professional I've seen everywhere.

 

Course 1: tortellini with ricotta and mushrooms, in a broth. It was truly excellent, and I devoured it instead of leaving some as I usually do. Course 2: smoked arctic char. It was good, but I strongly prefer fully cooked fish, and most of the fish options they offered were meant to be somewhat raw. I probably should have had the lamb instead. Dessert: Chocolate espresso semifreddo (which apparently means semi-frozen). It had a nice balance of tastes without too much espresso.