New York Restaurants

in my experience, this is somewhat true (while not exactly terrible) not only for NYC but for anywhere off the pacific rim. you can only freeze seafood for so long before you sacrifice freshness.

that being said: nobu nyc was really great ALL THINGS CONSIDERED (ie, far lesser than nobu la and on par with nobu vega$). i will be going to the original nobu next month... anyone ever been?

I will second Serendipity but not the food, the desserts are where it's at.

Oh Lord, tell me about it. I worked there for three months and the food is horrific [and really fucking expensive]. Though I have to say, the Brunch isn't that bad if you don't mind terrible service. $17 for 2 courses and a mimosa, in a really nice garden. The place looks prety nice, in the early evening when all the trashy people haven't arrived yet. Anyways, NYC restaurants spend too much money on design and not enough on, like, food.

Lombardi's is the best pizza in New York, but still can't beat pizza in CHICAGO!!

love,
phil

Also, must have bagels. Most NY'ers go for the enormous, doughy variety epitomized by H&H Bagels.You can also get this variety at Pick-A-Bagel (and Ess-A-Bagel? which some consider the best). The classic, smaller, crustier kind are probably epitomized by Columbia Bagels (also sold at Zabar's, which is essential in its own right).

I'm pretty sure the pizza place Matos is referring to is Totonno's, on Second Ave between 80th and 81st. It's a branch of the Coney Island original, which is considered one of if not the best in NY, but the branch is supposed to be not quite as good (I've never been).

I miss Ed Debevic's too.

Aspirational: Howard Johnson's Midtown

Intrigued by this description - ? Is this like how you would describe the late Sholl's Colonial Cafeteria in DC?

also hoboken, nj.

This will be my next C.I. destination, along with Garguilos.

Gareth and I went to Rocking Horse Cafe. I thought it might be more faux-authentic but it was all Chelsea-trendy. Gareth's burritos were good but my enchildas were a bit acidic. However, my watermelon margarita was delicious.

What's the DC place you mention above, gab?

Also, last time Gareth and I went to Ghenet. The food was great, I think it was the best Ethiopian I've had, but the atmosphere a bit obnoxious. And there were no red beets:(

I hate to say it to the PacificRim people, but I doubt the average sushi over there is any different from the average sushi over here. I've only had the SF variety, but it was nothing to write home about. I doubt that Seattle does any better. New York has great sushi -- you just have to go to Hasaki or Zutto if you like freshness, and anywhere else if you like oversized slabs of chokability.

Today I got Gareth bagels and biyalis from Grand St. (he was too hung over to leave the house ahem) and a chocolate donut from Planet Donut, also on Grand.

The other restaurant we went to this time was Liberty Heights Brewery in the Hook. The pizza was really good (once it finally came) and the Red Hook Blonde and IPA beers were nice, but the decor was all Dumbo/Red Hook waterfront yuppie. (Gareth calls it heritization.)

Has anyone eaten at the New Leaf Cafe by the Cloisters?

((Also: Pakistan Tea House is good, cheap, poetically named [where's the tea?] etc., but it is hardly the high point of Indian cuisine in NY. And college students outnumber cabbies there now by a lot.) )

West coast sushi v. East coast sushi - my parents (them again; living vicariously through your parents - c/d?) consider San Diego's Sushi Ota the best they've ever had.

(wonders whether people know that Red Hook beer comes from Seattle)

The place in DC, per former W. Post restaurant critic (and the first critic to whom I was beholden) Phyllis Richman's last dining guide before retirement...

Your mother doesn't make rice pudding anymore? She buys her biscuits from the refrigerator case and her pies from the freezer? You need SHOLL'S, the venerable cafeteria that starts the morning with fresh doughnuts and brightens the evening with seasonal vegetables and house-made rolls, biscuits, cakes and pies. It's hardly more expensive than cooking for yourself, and while the food is as plain as plain can be, it is all made from scratch.

Maybe you've forgotten old-fashioned chopped steak, flavorful and juicy even though it is worlds away from rare. It's my favorite entree here, with mashed potatoes and the thin brown pan gravy. Chicken is apt to be dry, and fish can go either way; look carefully before you choose. But anything that's braised, stewed or immersed in gravy has a homey goodness. Crab cakes are as creamy as croquettes, and though they may be more filler than crab, they have a powerful charm.

SHOLL's is a crossroads. it serves both old-timers who probably eat all their meals there and busloads of schoolkids on field trips. Pennywise lawyers dine a table away from homeless people on a splurge. it's friendly, wholesome and as reliable as 70 years can promise.

http://www.seroy.com/sys-tmpl/scrapbook2/view.nhtml?profile=scrapbook2&UID=10028

this place is fantastic, i totally love this place, HUGE portions, really cheap, and really nice

doyers st is the one with vietnam on isnt it?

The Old Town Tavern on 18th
burger/fries/cold beer

tony montana's favorite pupusa joint!