PX This.

Welcome to: Where I Spent My Day Off —by a NYC Restaurant "Insider"

So, what do you do in the industry?
I’m a Floor Manager and Beverage Director for a [very popular] 160-seater in SoHo.

And you have how many days off a week, generally?
Two. I’m off today as well [as yesterday], but I’ll still have to go in for a meeting…

What did you do for breakfast yesterday?
I don’t do breakfast. Just coffee, at home.

Lunch?
A friend invited me to a menu tasting for the new chef at Mangia on 48th St. I must have tried over a dozen dishes and they were very good (my favorites being the fried baby whitefish, the “croquettes varie,” the langoustine, the bacon-wrapped dates, and the tuna slider). I’m not in midtown very often, but I’m glad I went. I was a lot more impressed with the food than I thought I would be. Saw a few friends from the industry that work/ed for The Standard, Indochine, La Esquina, Jean Georges and The Breslin. It was fun, but I probably drank a little too much for so early in the afternoon.

And afterward?
Went with a few friends from the tasting for a drink at Rouge Tomate. I know a manager there, but unfortunately she wasn’t around. The space is very nice, and the bartender was really great. They have an unusual beer list, so even though I don’t drink beer often, I gave one a try. I had something called a "Double White" that my friend recommended, which was pretty good… and I liked the olive oil with sea salt popcorn.
Took a look at the menu for the first time, and it looks interesting and appealing. I may have to try and make it back up there for dinner sometime. I heard they had a few problems in the beginning, but that the food has improved and gotten better.
Then dropped off one friend at The Armory for the Arts/Design preview show (at $150 a ticket, it was too steep for me).

Dinner?
Cercle Rouge. I have friends in from out of town, so I wanted to take them someplace simple and effortless and not in the MPD, since it was a Thursday night ("amateur night"). Cercle Rouge has a great GM/Maitre d’ that I’ve known for years. It was the perfect choice, because my friends loved it. I did steer them toward more of the classics, though (escargot, moules frites, onion soup, etc). Sometimes some of the fussier creations at Cercle Rouge can be a little too much for me, but I find the classics are consistently good.

And afterward?
Thought about meeting up with friends at The Box, but never actually made it there. Walked with my friends from out of town all the way from Tribeca to Union Square, and after popping into the apartment where they’re staying for a nightcap, I decided to just go home. The weather got cold, and I was pooped.

How much did you blow today?
Myself, about $70. [Lunch: $0, Drinks: $20, Dinner $50, all including gratuity, but did split the total tabs with friends (Cab fare to/from midtown was paid by my friend).]

2 Responses to “My Day Off: Mangia, Cercle Rouge…”

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