• Tuesday, May 4, 2010 4:30PM – Julian Schnabel, in sarong skirt and sandals, having late lunch at Mekong.
• Thursday, May 6, 2010 4:30PM – Ron Burkle with Danny "A" Abeckaser, having late lunch at Bar Pitti.
• Friday, April 30, 2010 9:30PM – NBC Extra’s A.J. Calloway arguing his way into La Esquina.
• Wednesday, May 5, 2010 6:30PM – F&B superstar prodigal son, Pietro Pagano, having early dinner at Da Silvano.
Rumors swirling within the industry have Chef Akthar Nawab slated to take over the kitchen at a very popular downtown Mexican eatery. Which begs the question, "what about Zengo?" True, Zengo’s early populace reviews on the internet and word-of-mouth have been mixed at best, but even the most insightful, jaded veterans of the industry are raising their eyebrows over a move that practically takes transience to a whole new level. And let’s never mind the head scratching over why this particular downtown "classic" Mexican eatery (which remains one of the hottest spots in town despite its persistent lack of a boldface-worthy chef) would court a media darling like Nawab in the first place. Some insiders speculate its plans to expand by opening its first offshoot in Miami (ambitiously but tentatively scheduled for the next Art Basel) may have something to do with its new foodieblog-gratifying outlook, but others insist Nawab’s superficial popularity has little or nothing to do with this latest (alleged) development, noting, "he’s just a downtown dude… ya know… with friends in the restaurant." And still others feel fit to surmise the Miami location’s impending opening is still very much on precarious footing anyway, as potential investors continue to engage in the ol’ Subsidizers’ Shuffle.
[But, on a semi-related note: this famous Mexican restaurant is said to be aggressively advancing on its goal to establish a new Jamaican counterpart.]
Whatever? We’re just sayin’.
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Salman Rushdie hearts PX This – The Revised Edition by abbe diaz
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of luck[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
oh, here we go. another one of these…
Please rate the Bar:
okay. small, but comfortable. nice enough. and the bartender is sweet— poor child, in that hideous awful uniform.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
ugh i’d already started my evening elsewhere so i completely forgot to look to the wine list. sorry! but one of my guests this evening is a wine aficionado, and she opted for glass of wine, so the offerings can’t be all bad. there’s a pretty sparse selection of liquor though— the bartender did say they’re "working on" the inventory and was kind enough to make note of my request for don-julio blanco. but they did have chopin, so— somebody’s thinking.
also: SoHo prices. of course.
but yet: stoli bev naps. whatever, kids.
Please rate the Dining Room:
it’s okay but personally i think the front dining area is sightly nicer than the back. i would have done it differently, but hey— to each his own. actually i thought it was better than the photo i’d already seen, but my wine snob buddy commented something along the lines of: "was some of this shit here already [in its prior incarnation]? cuz i can’t imagine anyone would throw this look together on purpose." oh snap.
i didn’t think it was that bad— on the contrary, i can well imagine someone did throw this look together very much on purpose (and probably got paid for it too). but i mean, really— i’ve seen worse. (i kinda like the "chandeliers"!)
really bad acoustics, however.
Please rate the BOH:
pretty good. seriously, better than i expected— especially from one of these joints. yesss, Beba is so totally jumping face forward into the whole tired assed nightclub posing as restaurant trend. you just have to take one look at all the lovely staff ladies in those hideous awful uniforms to know this— Hooters® by marc-jacobs (or some shit).
so, i feel a little bad for the poor, sure to be underappreciated BOH. but maybe they’re making such great salaries in the club business they really couldn’t care less.
How was the staff?
sweet. lovely. very pretty. and friendly. those poor girls in those hideous awful fucking uniforms.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
i just tried a bunch of the smaller things cuz, like i said, i wasn’t expecting the food to be that good. there was the "selection of spreads," calamari salad, salmon and tuna tartar, keftedes (meatballs), and grilled sausages. and it was all quite good. a bit fancy (there’s the whole bit with the ice cream scoop presentation for the hummus and taramosalata etc, e.g.) but certainly not cloyingly so. and really very tasty. clean, quality execution. a great twist on greek classics, made with an undoubtedly accomplished, artful hand.
but who cares, right? i know i know, you’re a little too busy right now ogling the Hooters® by marc-jacobs.
What did you like?
the food was really a very pleasant surprise.
What did you dislike?
did i mention how i feel for those poor lovely ladies? i’d rather work for lois-freedman than don one of those atrocious things. and you knooow i mean that shit literally.
What was your last impression?
well, it was sweet of fellow diner matt-levine to say "nice meeting you!"— but uhh, we didn’t actually meet. duh.
Would you come back?
bar, drinks, nibbles— sure, i think so.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
thank you, and best of luck to you.
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Flashy!
Please rate the Bar:
Nice. Small, but comfortable. Clean. And the bartender is friendly and enthusiastic.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
OK. Nice selections by the glass, but not exactly eclectic. Slightly expensive. Ditto on the cocktails— fine, but hardly imaginative or creative.
Please rate the Dining Room:
A bit austere and ordinary. Very corporate, very Trump (read: ugly). And nonsensical. No knowledgeable restaurateur would ever build an HVAC system like this.
Please rate the BOH:
Sigh. I have a feeling we’re not in Miami anymore, Toto. So, yeah. Like that.
How was the staff?
Very good. Amiable, proficient, conscientious (especially the hotel doorman). Warm and welcoming and perfectly adept.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
I had the Parmigiana di Melanzane, the Arancino di Riso and the Ravioli di Casa— and it made me glad I didn’t order any more (as I’d initially intended). Aside from taking 40 minutes for my first course to reach me, it was all keenly pretentious yet thoroughly pedestrian. To put it in the blunt words of my guest, "Did it take this long for the food to come out because it was defrosting?" Need I say more, because I’d rather not waste the energy. Thank you.
What did you like?
The hotel lobby is rather nice, actually.
What did you dislike?
The food.
What was your last impression?
Why do skyscrapers still insist on slapping "Trump" on the facade as if it’s a good thing?
Would you come back?
Sorry, I don’t think so.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thanks and good luck to you. Believe me, you’re gonna need it.
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
i Tre Merli (SoHo) – The Remix
What was your first impression?
My very first impression? It looks great!
My very next impression? It looks… OK.
Please rate the Bar:
Much smaller than before, about half the size actually. Also, I’ve never quite been a fan of bars you have to traverse the dining room to reach, but that could just be a personal preference.
The bartender is friendly enough, if not particularly attentive— warm and enthusiastic, though.
Overall, I’d say it could use a little tightening here and there, especially for a bar that’s very newly built.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
The wine list is brief and mediocre. To put it bluntly, it’s a lot like SoHo— so maybe it’s fine. Ditto the cocktails list— mostly classics, not exactly inventive. And kind of pricey…
Please rate the Dining Room:
Cozier than previously; the restaurant is now flanked by large banquettes running up the entire length of the dining room. Still has that late-80’s/early-90’s vibe in a way— well, maybe it’s retro. Still somewhat austere and not exactly inviting.
Please rate the BOH:
Much has changed on the menu; it’s now "italian version of tapas" oriented. And slightly expensive. In a nutshell, I’d say the food needs work— whether the food is their primary focus remains to be seen.
How was the staff?
Fine. At ease, comfortable— likely veterans of i Tre Merli’s former incarnation. Adept and proficient if not remarkably amiable.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Tuna Crudo : Odd. Overcooked (yes, it’s supposed to be crudo) and covered in cream sauce (that’s not even flavorful).
Langoustine Crudo : Very overcooked. And then re-refrigerated to almost the point of frozenness. Plus, call me crazy, but I’d swear this is shrimp. Not good.
Sauteed Mushrooms : Tasty, but extremely oily. And a very small portion for $10.
"Special" Piccante Sausage Pizza : OK. Again, very oily. But not very piccante. The crust doesn’t exhibit any benefits of the wood-burning oven. Can’t quite hold its own against the enormous competition out there.
What did you like?
Reminiscing about the golden years of i Tre Merli, SoHo.
What did you dislike?
That it still isn’t living up to my memory of it.
What was your last impression?
Ah, the good ol’ days…
Would you come back?
That would depend on a lot of things… I’m keeping my eye on it for now.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you, and best of luck.
• omg! remember when i spotted kelly-killoren.bensimmon outside CafeSelect? look! here’s the outfit she was wearing— it was on last week’s episode of Real Housewives of NYC.
i recall thinking at the the time it was quite eye-catching, but since it was particularly sunny and warm that day, it seemed rather an odd choice for the weather.
and even though she walks southwardly away from CafeSelect at the end of scene, in real reality she must have gone back cuz by the time i saw her, there were no cameras around at all. and evidently they had already "finished filming."
• yah so word on the interwebs is "the boom boom" may be going "members only."
YAY!
• the renovation of iTreMerli on west broadway is almost finished! and it looks pretty smokin. they even have a wood! burning! oven!
you know what that means: pizza.
but— do you remember back in the day when iTreMerli was totally the jumpoff? wellll… this could be fun.
• yah so, apparently LosDados is closed. again.
:(
i’m just sayin.
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Oh, boy. The uh… "bar" tables are a nice idea?
Please rate the Bar:
N/A. But the bar… uh "thing" is definitely… different.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
All Spanish wines (cocktails are N/A)— at an affordable price point. But, the wine list could use some work; e.g. knowing what varietal I’m ordering would be nice. Oh well, at least the waiter knows.
Please rate the Dining Room:
Not bad. Spacious. Comfortable enough, I suppose.
Please rate the BOH:
As succinctly as possible: I’m not impressed.
There’s a lot more I could say, but quite frankly, why should I? For a "chain" that has 200+ outposts worldwide, you’d think they know what they’re doing, right? Why should I waste my energy?
How was the staff?
Good. Amiable, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Croquetas : Not bad. A little trite, but tasty enough.
Roasted pepper salad : Funny. Call me crazy, but I was expecting piquillo peppers, and these are red bell peppers. Personally, I don’t get it.
Fried calamari : I think they’re not so good, but my friend doesn’t hate them. A little rubbery. And the execution is pretty way off.
Pa amb tomaquet : Umm. No.
Sardine/pepper tapa : Really? Do people love pre-prep this much in the rest of the world? ‘Cos… y’know, maybe it’s me.
Jamon/cheese tapa : Really? Do people love pre-prep this much in the rest of the world? ‘Cos… y’know, maybe it’s me.
"Burger" tapa : Sigh. Check, please.
What did you like?
The glassware. Nice Riedel burgundy imitation. Beautiful, but sturdy.
What did you dislike?
For the most part, the food.
What was your last impression?
Well, somehow, Cendrillon managed to make it here for years and years and years, so— I guess there’s hope!
Would you come back?
Not quite my cup of tea; I’m afraid not. Sorry.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you and best of luck.
Hot Pot at Kittichai!
no, there is no stolen marijuana anywheres, silly— try not to get too excited. but it’s still pretty awesome nonetheless!
yah so last night i got to try the new "thai fondue" night (mondays) at Kittichai. and it was so good. basically, for a choice of either the "unlimited" selection ($45 per person / 2 person minimum) or the "a la carte" (about $9 and up per serving / $22 minimum) you too can enjoy the new steamy hot pot "fondue," which includes such mouthwatering offerings as shrimp, salmon, marinated beef strips, tender slivers of pork loin, lobster, scallops, sea bass, tofu "skin," taro root, bok choy, etc etc etc in a "tableside" tom yum broth (plus it comes with a shredded mango and green papaya salad to start).
and then after all that scrumptiousness, they take the broth from your "hot pot" and pour it over thin "angel hair" style noodles in a bowl with shrimp. holy cow so delicious.
i know you want to run over there and try if for yourself right now, but don’t forget, it’s only on mondays. oh! speaking of weekly stuff, did you even realize that sunday brunch at Kittichai is totally the jumpoff now? seriously, no joke.
i’m just sayin.
yay Kittichai!
:)
Welcome to: Where I Spent My Day Off —by a NYC Restaurant "Insider"
So, what do you do in the industry?
I’m the General Manager for a [very popular] 160+ seater in midtown.
And you have how many days off a week, generally?
Two.
What did you do for breakfast yesterday?
I hardly ever eat breakfast; I just don’t have the appetite for it most mornings. Just two cups of my special recipe of blended espresso with a lot of hot milk, at home.
Lunch?
My friend and I went to Kelley & Ping, because we were both craving ramen. Normally, we probably would have chosen Ippudo, but I read that thing you guys had about the MSG (LOL)! Somebody should call them or something, and tell them to stop using that stuff; maybe they’re losing a lot of customers! They probably wouldn’t care anyway, though, they’re so busy all the time…
Anyway, Kelley &Ping was good; I still love that place, too.
And afterward?
Walked around SoHo and then stopped in to see our friend who’s a bartender at Balthazar. Had a couple glasses of white wine.
Dinner?
Met another friend at Perilla. I looove Perilla. They have this amazing sea urchin foam thing, and the seafood pasta dish is incredible. Sooo good. Their staff is really great, too— so professional and really nice.
Plus a lovely wine list— some good choices at decent prices. I refuse to go to places that have crappy overpriced wine, which actually, is like, half the places in the West Village.
My friend had "thai sausages" which were just OK, though. We also joked that the execution seemed more "Vietnamese" than "Thai," but whatever. And he also had the burger— was it duck? In any case, he liked it.
And afterward?
We decided to try Avenue, since neither one of us had ever been there before, and we were both curious to see what it looked like. And since it was a weekday and still earlyish, we figured we wouldn’t catch that much of a hassle at the door. Well, we were wrong. We got there probably right before 10PM, but the guy at the door told us it was a "private party" or "reservation only," something like that. We’re not the type to argue our way into places, so we just decided to have a drink at The Park next door instead.
My friend decided to order the mushroom fingers because it sounded weird and intriguing, even though we were both still stuffed from dinner. I only had a couple bites; they were eh, not bad, but not great either.
Then as we were leaving The Park, my friend saw Wass Stevens, whom he knows, manning the door at Avenue. So then we went in.
I mean, so ridiculous— clubs in NY are so retarded now— do you want us, or don’t you? Maybe that other guy was just new or something, but seriously? A guy and a girl at 10PM and you’re going to give us a hard time? Not to sound conceited, but we’re not exactly hideous, you know.
So then we get inside and of course the place is totally empty. As we’re getting drinks at the bar, a waiter recognizes my friend (who’s also in the F&B industry) and takes us to table and says he wants to introduce my friend to the Maitre d’ or whatever. And he offers to send food, but we tell him we’ve already eaten. So then he sends over a mochi dessert! I mean, this is why nightlife is so crappy now. Make up your minds— you don’t want us to come inside, but then when we’re inside you’re happy to see us? So ridiculous.
We didn’t stay very long— we just had the one round.
How much did you blow today?
About $30 during the day, including lunch and half the tip at Balthazar. My friend insisted on paying the check at Perilla, The Park, the two drinks and the tip at Avenue, but I’m going to get the next one. Or maybe I’ll just cook for him.
Welcome to: Where I Spent My Day Off —by a NYC Restaurant "Insider"
So, what do you do in the industry?
I’m a Maitre d’ for a 110+ seater in a well-known upscale boutique hotel.
And you have how many days off a week, generally?
Until very recently I was up to three days off a week, but now we’ve just lost someone, so I have to go back and give up one of my days off.
What did you do for breakfast yesterday?
Met some friends for brunch at 10 Downing. It was my first time for brunch, and we chose it because I couldn’t think of anyplace else that’s good that would be able to accommodate 6 people without much of a hassle and no reservation. I figured if we met at 10 Downing and it was too busy, we’d have plenty of other decent options available in the area within walking distance. As it turns out, the weather was still warm enough for outdoor dining (if we kept our jackets on) so we opted for the sidewalk cafe, which was almost empty anyway. The dining room also would not have been a problem if we had chosen to sit inside.
The bartender recommended the fried chicken to me— he said it was "sooo good," but it turned out to be somewhat overcooked and possibly the driest chicken I’ve ever had. I did like the apple cider, though— my friend was having it and I tried it for the first time and liked it. I ended up having three, almost without even realizing it. My other friend kept ordering it for me; he himself was up to five beers by the time we left.
Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals just fine, but the omelette that was custom-ordered ("just ham and cheese") looked the best out of everything.
Lunch?
10 Downing was still "lunch"— we got there around 1:30PM and stayed until about 4PM.
And afterward?
Went home. My friend from out of town who was staying with me had to pack his bags, and I sent him off in a cab to the airport.
Then I met up with another friend. We just walked around SoHo for a little bit and then decided to stop for a drink. I’d been meaning to drop by Brinkleys, because I’d heard a friend of mine just started working there, so I suggested we go there.
Unfortunately, my friend wasn’t behind the bar like I had hoped, and the bartender that was working completely ignored us for a good two minutes even though the bar wasn’t that full. I tried to sit in an empty stool but a minute later a girl walked up to tell me it’s her seat, even though the dish and drink that were on the bar were both finished; she must have been outside smoking a cigarette or something. So then I tried another seat and then some other girl claimed that seat as her own, too.
So then I got frustrated, because still after all this time, the bartender hadn’t yet pulled his face away from the computer terminal. So we decided to just leave.
Dinner?
Walked over to Blue Ribbon Sushi, which has been one of my favorite places for years. Normally, I make it a habit to avoid seafood on the weekends, but my friend was feeling up for it, and there are a lot of things on Blue Ribbon’s menu that aren’t necessarily served raw. It turns out I had the kanpachi anyway, because I couldn’t resist; to me it’s the best thing they have, and this time it was as perfect as I’ve always had it. They also make the best miso soup, so I had that too. We shared a wakame salad, pork shumai and rock shrimp, and my friend decided to order sushi of his own, because he apparently doesn’t have the same apprehension I have about seafood (especially raw) on the weekends. However, he did say afterward he felt "a little disappointed" about the tuna.
I’d already drunk so much at brunch, so we decided to split a small bottle of sake. I can’t remember the name of it, but they have one that’s $18 for a 300ml which I thought was very reasonable. Usually I prefer nigori sake, but this one was actually pretty good, and I would definitely order it again.
And afterward?
Met up with a bunch of friends at Rose Bar. It took a little while to get in, because they kept saying to wait for the doorman, but he was late showing up. Then when they said he’d finally arrived, it was still hard to find him, because he wasn’t at the front door. I know one of the guys that helps run the place, so I sent an email to his blackberry but I never got a response back. Eventually I did find the doorman I know, and he let all five of us in with no problem.
After our second round of drinks, my friend noticed that one of the managers was lurking near us, and she overheard him telling the waitress to "get rid" of us. It just so turns out that my other friend was already paying the check at the same time. He didn’t realize that the gratuity is automatically added, so he ended up paying a 45% tip. But then when he discovered that they were actively looking to bounce us, he hunted down the waitress and demanded the extra tip back (it was all paid in cash).
As we were leaving, my friend gave her business card to one of the managers, because I guess she felt like they were being rude to us. When he found out that we’re all from the industry, he said to her, "You didn’t tell me you’re here." It seemed like a moot point to us, but he apologized and I guess they made friends that night.
How much did you blow today?
$60 for brunch— I threw $80 on the pile, but for some reason they gave me $20 back. Another $8 cab fare to Rose Bar. My friend paid for dinner at Blue Ribbon Sushi, and my other friend got the check at Rose Bar.
Welcome to: Where I Spent My Day Off —by a NYC Restaurant "Insider"
So, what do you do in the industry?
I’m a Service Coordinator and Floor Manager for a [highly publicized] 150+ seater in TriBeCa.
And you have how many days off a week, generally?
Two.
What did you do for breakfast yesterday?
Had an english muffin (with butter) and coffee at home while watching the morning news.
Lunch?
Met a couple of friends at Ippudo on 4th Ave. They’re big fans of the ramen, and I think one friend even knows one of the cooks there. It’s usually packed (or rather, the wait is long) for dinner, so lunch is a better bet if you can make it there early enough. I used to be a fan myself, until a girl I was dating a while back had an allergic reaction which she attributed to MSG. I was surprised that a ramen house as well-known as Ippudo would still be using outdated and controversial ingredients like MSG, so when I got home I googled "Ippudo MSG." Even though I didn’t actually get a definitive answer, there were enough reports online of people with similar doubts and experiences to make me somewhat of a believer. I haven’t eaten at Ippudo since, and I try to warn my friends of the possibility of MSG in the food. Some friends care — others don’t.
Obviously, these particular friends still love it, but I stuck with two pork buns, piquillo peppers and a small bottle of sake. I hope the pork buns don’t have any MSG, but if it weren’t for my friends insisting on lunching there, I wouldn’t have gone back even for those.
And afterward?
Walked around Union Square with my friends, then went home to clean my apartment and catch up on the laundry.
Dinner?
Met another friend at Ed’s Lobster Bar in SoHo. She was craving a lobster roll, and Mary’s Fish Camp is too much of hassle (long wait) most nights. I also won’t go to Pearl’s because the staff has such an attitude problem there. Ed’s isn’t much better, but the irony is that at Ed’s the staff is nice, but the owners are real dicks. Usually whenever I see Ed or that other big guy through the window, I keep walking. But this time my friend was starving so I gave in.
I always try to get a seat at the counter as far away from Ed as possible. Sometimes he mans the front oyster/raw bar, and other times he darts in and out of the kitchen in the back. Unfortunately, this time there were only seats toward the front, and we had no choice but to plop ourselves smack in front of his surly mug.
The funny thing is I was bracing myself for a mediocre to downright awful experience, but I think Ed heard us talking and realized we were from the industry. He was unusually attentive, and no exaggeration, the lobster rolls arrived more overstuffed and perfectly prepared than I have ever seen before (more often than not, it’s a crap shoot). The fries were also perfect (ditto on the crap shoot) and even the little ramekin of pickles was practically overflowing. We also shared a Caesar salad to start, and even that was fresher and better prepared than it’s ever been. It ended up being the best meal I’ve ever had there.
And afterward?
Popped into Cafe Select to see if another friend of mine was working, but she wasn’t, so we dropped into La Esquina instead. Had two rounds of margaritas, which was one more than I wanted, but I know the girl that was bartending, so she refilled the glasses when we weren’t looking. We spotted Mischa Barton walking by, but I think I heard she’s there all the time. Also ran into a couple of other people we know.
How much did you blow today?
I treated my friend to dinner at Ed’s so all in all, about $190, including tip (which I gave the bartender at La Esquina a little extra for the sneak round). My friend paid for the first round of drinks at La Esquina. No cab fare all day which is one of the main reasons I mostly only go to places I can walk to (I hate the subway).
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Cute! Very colorful.
Please rate the Bar:
Very clean and unusually spacious. Neat, professional bar staff. Kind of cumbersome that they have to lean over the terminal to take orders and/or serve, and the drinks are expensive.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Very extensive fresh-ingredient cocktail list, but the wine by the glass options are a joke. $20 for a Belvedere on the rocks, and you don’t even get decent olives. Sorry, but at these prices, it ain’t no Rose Bar.
Please rate the Dining Room:
Appealing at first glance, but then you start to notice the little things — like the wallpaper. Also, it’s inelegant having to walk through the dining room to access the bar. There are a couple of tables very awkwardly located, and it’s difficult to even determine where the bar area starts and the dining room ends. The trite but overpriced menu is completely at odds with the quirky decor and the stiff, austere, pompously uniformed staff. It feels like a corporate hotel.
Please rate the BOH:
Even though I was starving, the menu was completely unappealing and the prices were formidable enough to have me yearning to go elsewhere. Obviously, it’s not their fault, but the thoroughly unimaginative ‘hotel fare’ won’t be inspiring visits from many locals. This is purely ‘room service’ shlock meant strictly for weary travelers. I’m not quite sure why I even came here in the first place.
How was the staff?
Fine enough in that very corporate hotel union kind of way. Detached, standoffish, but adequately efficient.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Duck Spring Rolls (Bar Menu) : Pretty awful. And at $8, a total travesty. The bartender asked if I’d like "two orders, because they’re kind of small," and he wasn’t kidding. I have no idea why it’s even called Spring Rolls plural, because it’s really just one medium-sized spring roll sliced into three bite-sized pieces. Cold, bland, flavorless and dry. I would eat my shoes before I order another dish here, especially at these prices.
What did you like?
The glass ‘chandelier’ balls hanging from the ceiling, the cow painting over the bar and the antique telephones arranged on the wall. The glassware is nice, and the bar seats are comfortable.
What did you dislike?
The spring roll, the tiny cheap olives in my vodka and the utterly pretentious prices.
What was your last impression?
I can’t believe my friend told me this is a good place. He probably likes it just because it’s English.
Would you come back?
If ever I needed a quiet, comfortable convenient place to meet for business over coffee/tea, maybe.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you and good night.
= "personne extraordinaire"