It may not photograph as well as some others, but the Black Label burger is still my favorite in the city. And the bone marrow may be one of the best as well. As I put together this entry I just realized that between the sidecar and the bone marrow my dad would have loved this meal/midnight snack.
sidecar
roasted bone marrow
black label burger
I went into Bruno frankly not expecting to like it very much. I am very particular about pizza crust and from all accounts this wasn’t of the type that I favored. Perhaps because I had such low expectations I actually did enjoy this pizza. The toppings were delicious and while not my preference, the crust was a very good version of what it was aiming to be. But reference to Bruno as a pizzeria is somewhat misleading in that it takes away from the rest of the menu. And it was the other dishes that I was very impressed by. On my next visit I will likely skip the pizza altogether as there are just too many other good dishes. My only criticism is that the very bright lighting may be great for food photography but creates a very harsh ambience. And I must agree with Pete Wells that the seating is beyond uncomfortable.
Celery root – cured salmon, autumn olives, lovage, skyr, rye
Duck liver mousse – quinoa, quince, kamut crackers
‘Nduja pizza – spicy pork, cauliflower, Dorset, tomato
Local squid – hatch chile, charred onion, wild sumac
While I probably will not make a list of my favorite dining experiences of 2015, if I were to do so this dinner would easily be in my top 5. This was my first time sitting at one of the two tables instead of the counter and certainly some of the presentations are just far more impressive for a larger group. There was not one course which I did not absolutely love which is consistent with previous visits. Our essentially second course could have been a meal in itself and if it had ended at that point I would have gone home very happy. If there were not any witnesses I probably would have eaten the guinea hen to the point of making myself sick. Food aside I just love the entire environment of Ko 2.0. I am often down on friendliness of service in New York restaurants but Ko embodies the concept of hospitality. Now that I am somewhat thinking about my favorite experiences of this past year, the stand outs are the ones that not only have amazing food and impeccable service but also have figured out, for lack of a better description, the ‘it’ factor in hospitality. I am definitely looking forward to many more visits in 2016.
a blank canvas
vegetable roll. pommel soufflés. lobster paloise. millefeuille.
black bass, madai, uni, mackerel, chickpea, finger lime, bonji, shiso, sudachi
razor clam – apple, basil
siberian sturgeon caviar – radish, potato
sourdough bread & radish butter
halibut – cauliflower, hungarian pepper
guinea hen – matsutake, black vinegar
celery root – white truffle, tandoori
beef – daikon, scallion
foie gras – lychee, pine nut, riesling jelly
carrot cardamom – meringue
pistachio – apricot
chocolate – fernet branca
I had been meaning to get to Gabriel Kreuther since it opened but too often when I am in midtown and able to dine out for lunch I default to Le Bernardin. But upon finding myself 2 blocks away with a lunch break it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The autumn salad was beautiful and I’ve since tried to replicate the aesthetic at home. As they always are, the tart flambeé was very tasty (although it admittedly did not sit very well in my stomach). The space is more beautiful in person than it appeared in photos and its great to have another option in an area of the city that I find myself in often.
Autumn salad – sunflower seeds, pomegranate vinaigrette
Tarte flambee – hen of the woods mushrooms, comte cheese, chive, nutmeg, onion
It has been an embarrassingly long time since I have been to Gotham Bar & Grill and I need to make much more of an effort to visit my old favorites and New York classics in 2016. I went for the burger which was perfect and one of the few where I actually ate the entire bun and didn’t feel like it was too much. But as good as the burger was, it may have been overshadowed by the seafood salad. It is not even something I would typically order and I can’t recall why I did this particular day. The seafood was cooked perfectly and the portion size was substantial. The refreshing vinaigrette perhaps made it seem to be more of a ceviche than what I traditionally think of when I hear ‘seafood salad’ and was probably why I loved it so much. Definitely a dish I will be returning for very soon.
Cider tree- mount gay black barrel rum, calvados, apple butter, allspice dram, cinnamon
Seafood salad – scallops, squid, spanish octopus, lobster, sweet shrimp, avocado and lemon vinaigrette
Gotham burger – plymouth tomme cheddar, vermont bacon-onion jam, lemon aioli, kennebec french fries
Lupulo has quickly become one of my favorite new places. Proximity to where I often workout does not hurt as I am typically starving when I walk by. But everything on the menu is fantastic and the red snapper I could easily eat everyday (and if it were less expensive I would double order). My only criticism is that I don’t really love anything on the wine’s by the glass list and think the selections could be improved. Nonetheless Lupulo will remain in heavy rotation!
Red snapper cru – red snapper, coconut milk, kaffir-lime broth, fermented serrano, benne seeds
Pato coracoes – grilled duck hearts with pickled mango, shishito peppers, pimenton
Beterrabas com hortela e coco – roasted and smoked beets with mint, coconut
What a completely amazing day to be dining outdoors in November in NYC. Barbuto truly is a classic that never disappoints and still the chicken by which all others are still measured.
gin martini and negroni
pollo al forno – jw chicken & salsa verde
pizza stagionale – dates, speck, balsamic, trevisano & point reyes blue
bucatini alla carbonara – pancetta, farm egg & black pepper
manhattan
There is no better way to forget about an unpleasant morning doctor’s appointment than to stop at Le Bernardin for lunch. Consistently impeccable and always my favorite lunch in NYC. As an added bonus I made two new friends sitting at the bar, something that rarely ever happens in a city where everybody tends to keep their heads down.
Aristocrat – Ransom Old Tom Gin, La Quintinye Vermouth Royal, Le Bernardin Grapefruit Cordial, Ginger Basil Reduction 
Yellowfin Tuna – ultra rare seared tuna, spiced herb salad, citrus-soy-ginger dressing
Striped Bass – black striped bass, fennel and leek compote, bouillabaisse broth
Sorbets
A New York classic that I have somehow never visited in all of the years I have lived here. Sometimes it is necessary to have family visiting to get me to the east side. I made an excellent choice with the tutto crudo and the photo does not do it justice as it was an extremely beautiful plate. But my favorite touch of the meal may have been the honeycomb that was brought out with my cheese course. Entertainment for the adults as well as the kids.
Tutto Crudo – shaved raw tuna, salmon, branzino, vegetables, puffed rice
Vitello – veal tenderloin, sunchoke, leeks, castelmagno cheese fonduta, hazelnut, white truffles
Cheese
Sadelle’s
Another visit and I wish that I could say that the service improved but sadly such was not the case. Although I did have it much better than the people seated on either side of me who were missing dishes and had to ask repeatedly if they were coming or forgotten. And not much of a spoiler that on my most recent visit this weekend it is still not good. As I’ve never had any service issues at any of the other Major Food Group spots, it does baffle me a bit what is going on here. Growing too quickly perhaps? But nevertheless I will continue to return because I love the food. The salads are what I want to eat everyday for lunch if I could.
Beverly – turkey, cheddar, beet, bacon, tomato
Pickles
NYCWFF – Virgilio Martinez and Matthew Lightner
Most of me just wants to say that this was a complete sh*t show, the end. I was really looking forward to this dinner to have Matthew Lightner back in town and to finally have Virgilio Martinez’s food and maybe decide if I would ever make the trek to his restaurant in Peru. The NYC Wine and Food Festival (NYCWFF) has been in existence long enough that there is really no excuse for such poor organization and service, especially at one of the priciest events of the weekend. Of the hors d’oeuvres, we somehow only received 2 and after inquiring several times as the dinner proceeded were told that the kitchen had run out. When the number of guests are known and the room fairly small, I still don’t understand how this was possible especially as these were not passed hors d’oeuvres. Our table was ignored by the servers and when we questioned this and complained, the response and lack of even an apology from the organizers was disappointing at best. When paying a lot for a dinner, having to do battle to just get the food on the menu is absurd. I’ve had a good run of events at the NYCWFF but I think this is the end of the road for me.
Tart of Sprouted Grain with garden salsa and smoked clams
Rock of the Sea Razor Clams with avocado cream
Pseudocereals with Andean grains and citrus
Marine Soil Scallops with aji amarillo tiger’s milk and seaweed
Porridge of Heirloom Rice and Smoked Fish with mushrooms and sourdough
BBQ Lamb with petals of beets and rose, aromatic red sauce
Cacao and Chaco Clay, chocolate ganache, chaco clay and dragon fruit
Nomad Bar
And when dinner is underwhelming and you are still hungry where else to end up by Nomad Bar for my favorite cocktail, Satan’s Circus, plus a hot dog. I’m not sure how I got by before this place was open.
How fortuitous that I find myself in this neighborhood very often. There may be a few subsequent posts but this is one that will have to drop off of my blog as I like it too much. All of these dishes I could eat everyday and its a challenge to try other things on the menu.
Pate de Carapau – Portuguese mackerel spread, toast
Salada de Tomate e Requeijao – Eckerton Farms tomato salad, fresh cows milk cheese, opal basil and olive oil
Red Snapper Cru – Red snapper served raw, coconut milk, kaffir-lime broth, fermented serrano, benne seeds
Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop
I’ve wanted to try this breakfast ramen since it was added to the menu but getting to the west side in the morning is not the easiest. If I could start my day in this neighborhood everyday this would become a very bad habit. Absolutely loved it! Although clearly it was early as I have no idea why I did not add an egg.
Breakfast all day ramen – dashi-cheddar, taylor ham, scallion omelet, whole wheat noodle
Pork Buns
Seamstress
I’ve been to Seamstress a few times for their fantastic cocktails but this was my first opportunity to have dinner here. Surprisingly really great food. Unfortunately its quite dark so the photography is not the best. But easily one of the best things about the UES. And really when was the last time you had a baked Alaska??
Market Pickles
Peekytoe crab salad
Smoked & Fried Yardbird
Wild mushrooms
Fried cauliflower
Baked Alaska
My first attempt to visit Sadelle’s unfortunately was on a Monday and I did not realize that they were closed. Its probably good that I gave them an additional week to work out some of the kinks. There are several restaurants where terrible service completely ruined the experience for me and because the food was not exceptional I will never return. On this visit to Sadelle’s service was honestly a complete disaster. My table evidently fell through the cracks with no server assigned and I sat for 25 minutes before even being able to catch somebody’s attention. And it really went downhill from there. However in spite of this Sadelle’s is one of my favorite new restaurants of the year. I absolutely loved the waldorf salad including the lemon vinaigrette which tastes exactly like one I used to make. I wasn’t expecting anything great from the house beets but this may be the best beet salad I’ve ever had. The fresh herbs and lemon zest made them somewhat addicting. While I believe that food and service are equal parts of the experience, on rare occasions great food is enough to forgive the other issues. I took a chocolate babka to-go and may have eaten the whole thing in two days (even though I hate to admit it).
Waldorf salad – chicken, raisin, walnut, celery, apple
House beets
Chocolate babka
For some reason this is the first Contra collaboration dinner that I have managed to attend. Such a fun evening and I’m glad to have finally experienced some of James Syhabout’s cooking as I have yet to get myself to Commis. So many fantastic dishes that it is difficult to choose a favorite but I think I would have to go with the trout skin as I could have easily eaten a dozen more. Looking forward to the next of these collaborations!
trout skin with smoked roe, cultured cream
bread
oyster, horseradish & red shiso, dried scallop broth
cabbage & caramelized sunchoke, dill, anchovy
hake, warm soup apple, verbena, licorice, caviar
treviso, carrot, pistachio
raw beef, kale, sorrel
squab, ginger & plums, hazelnuts
grape & oats
Semilla had been on my to-do list for a while but as several rave reviews rolled in I was afraid that it might be overhyped and so I just kept putting it off. A month later I am sure this menu is completely outdated but the seasonal tomato dishes were outstanding, especially the perfect tomato tart (they should have sold extras!). Just like a pan con tomate the comparative simplicity of tomatoes and pastry or bread is one of my favorite things when done well. I have never had a chawanmushi that I enjoyed prior to this dinner as I suffer from texture issues with certain dishes such as this. But I am still shocked that I loved this one. And it was the same story with the roasted eggplant course. While I don’t have many dislikes, I think its very special for a dinner to be able to completely change my opinion on more than one of them. I enjoyed this dinner so much that my only complaint is that the experience felt very rushed. I was at the end of the first seating but as people began to finish and leave I felt a bit like the store was closing and I needed to hurry up and complete my purchase.
Tomato gazpacho with peaches, rat tail radishes & black olives
Roasted tomato with corn
Corn chawanmushi with matsutake mushrooms & ham 
Roasted eggplant with pepper leaves & grapes
Tomato salad with cucumbers & scallops
Tomato tart
Chicken of the woods mushrooms with corn & mole
Peaches, saffron & bitter almond
Tarragon profiterole with wild blueberry & buttermilk
I really wasn’t expecting much from Wildair. Sure I have very much enjoyed Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske’s Contra a few steps away. But at most I was hoping for a solid go-to stop before shows at Rockwood Music Hall. While waiting for my friend to arrive I ordered the cheese selection which was unremarkable and so I continued to think this meal would be just ok. But when the rest of our dishes started arriving I was completely surprised by just how good they were. We loved the spicy tuna so much that we reordered it as dessert and I can count on one hand the number of things I have ever reordered at the same meal. Its so much fun to have no expectations and be completely blown away.
Selection of cheeses
Summer squash, ricotta, purslane
Scallop crudo, kale, cucumber, ruby red
Beef tartare, smoked cheddar, chestnut
Georgia white shrimp, celery, cilantro
Spicy tuna, scallion, tomatoes
For many years EMP was one of my favorite places in New York. Back when the menu was a la carte I enjoyed many lunches there as it was possible to just pop out of work for a relatively quick meal (and yes using “back when” makes me feel 20 years older than I actually am). I had taken a bit of a break from it recently as it seemed to have become a bit too kitschy. But as reviews and rankings seemed to only get better I kept wondering if I was missing out. And so I made an impromptu visit to the lounge earlier this summer where unfortunately I had a very disappointing experience, i.e. the sort that would make me completely write off most other places. But in this case it just made me sad as I had so many great memories here.
So I gave it another shot, in the dining room this time, where happily the experience was completely different. Service was impeccable. Actually improved from previous dinners where I had some nitpicky comments. The caviar course was a standout for me and I wish I had taken a second photo when I found the egg underneath. Yes an egg makes everything even better in my opinion. And while the lobster boil could have bordered on gimmicky, I love presentations that show a more formal restaurant isn’t taking itself too seriously. My other favorite had to be the farmer’s cheese sundae as I loved the concept and its one I have not seen before (plus somehow the older I’ve gotten the more I’d rather have cheese than a traditional dessert). And I hope the tonging tradition makes more of a comeback as this was very cool to finally see in person.
Lately I always seem to be a bit ‘down’ on NYC dining and feel that I have far better experiences when I am traveling, especially in hospitality. But thank you Will Guidara for exhibiting what hospitality should be at this level. It is rare that my expectations are exceeded and you certainly did so.
(….and very proud of myself that I got a perfect score on “Name That Milk.”)
Cheddar – Savory Black & White Cookie with Apple
Tuna – Marinated with Cucumber
Eggplant – Slow-Cooked with Shelling Beans and Mint
Squid – Poached with Peppers and Artichoke
Tomato – Salad with Basil and Red Onion
Caviar – Benedict with Egg, Corn and Ham
bread
Foie Gras – Seared with Plum and Thyme
Lobster – Boil with Clams, Shrimp and Beans
Tonging
Sunflower – Braised with Green Tomato and Sunflower Sprouts
Duck – Roasted with Lavender, Honey, Apricots, and Fennel
Farmer’s Cheese – Sundae with Honey, Grape, Sorrel, and Oats
Whey – Sorbet with Caramelized Milk and Yogurt
Berry – Cheesecake with White Currant Sorbet and Raspberry Vinegar
Chocolate – “Name That Milk”
Snowcones in the Kitchen
I hope to spend the remainder of the summer revisiting some old favorites that I have neglected for way too long. There seem to be so few places open between lunch and dinner and while they don’t serve the entire menu, what more is really needed on a brutally hot day than my favorite salad in New York (with an added bonus of my favorite cocktail of all time)?
Last Word
Crudo
Farro Salad 
I haven’t been to Huertas since the menu format changed and it was nice to be back! So happy to have stumbled upon Chef Miller at City Grit what seems like ages ago.
Pintxos 
Almejas – clams, fennel, lemon, herbs, bread 
Pimientos – shishito, white bean, anchovy
Pulpo – octopus, potato, pimenton
Migas – summer squash, jamon, fried egg, crumbs 
Vieira a la Zurrukutuna – scallops, peppers, corn, tomatoes
Marea
I swore that I would order something other than the fusilli on my next visit but then I just couldn’t make myself. I did try the other pastas ordered at the table and of course they were all fantastic. Someday I swear I will deviate!
Seppia – cuttlefish tagliatelle, soffrito crudo, bottarga di muggine 
Polipo – griddle octopus, smoked potatoes, pickled red onion, radish, chilies, tonnato 
Fusilli – durum wheat pasta, red wine braised octopus, bone marrow 
Tortelli – potato and ramp ravioli, soppressata, peas 
Garganelli – tuna ragu, guanciale, broccoli rabe pesto 
Tagliolini – Manila clams, calamari, white wine, hot chilis
Lounge at EMP
I have been meaning to plan a return visit to EMP for quite some time. But with every new accolade it receives, I seem to become less interested as I don’t think it lives up to the hype. While the voting system of the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants is questionable at best, and I want US restaurants to do well, when EMP ranked at #5 this year it seemed a bit of a joke. So hoping that the experience would make me realize I had it all wrong we decided to stop in the lounge for a light dinner.
There seem to be dozens of servers at EMP and while I don’t know what the actual ratio is to diners, my perception is always at least 2:1. When you scan the dining room (still my favorite in NY) they seemed to be lined up around the perimeter just waiting for something to happen. So it was entirely unexplainable that we sat in the lounge for going on 10 minutes without anybody coming over and thus had no menus. One member of our group ordered a wine by the glass that was entirely too warm, and while she probably should have declined it when she was poured a small taste, shouldn’t a restaurant of this caliber serve wine at the correct temperature? Then several accompaniments arrived with the cheese but none were explained and we were left wondering if they really were meant for the cheese or for the foie. And the foie in no way compared to the one had a day prior at Per Se. Many of these things I would overlook elsewhere but at this level I admittedly nitpick because I have much higher expectations. And while we were in the lounge, I expect the service to be equal to that in the dining room. This is the 5th best restaurant in the world? Definitely not.
Marinated Foie Gras with Chamomile, Orange Blossom and White Asparagus 
Butter Poached Lobster with Dandelion and Ginger 
Selection of Local Cheeses with Rhubarb Jam and Sorrel Relish 
Consistently my favorite pre-show at Bowery Ballroom dinner stop. While everything was fantastic, the long beans are the dish that I oddly can’t stop thinking about. However one of the more off-putting service experiences I have had in recent memory. Our server tried very hard to push us into ordering a few more plates. I often ask if I have ordered too much or too little when doing shared plates, but this night had not even asked. I would welcome a helpful comment if I had under ordered but when the customer says no the sales pitch needs to stop, which it did not. And ironically after being told we didn’t order enough, we never received one of the dishes we did order!
heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic scape 
hamachi, jicama, ricotta, arugula 
long beans, kale, peanut, bbq sauce 
bavette, cauliflower, fava beans 
Blueberry, corn, lemon verbena 
Waffle 
How can you possibly have a bad day when you have lunch at Le Bernardin? Each time I am able to pop into the bar for lunch, I feel quite fortunate to live here. If I ever move this will be near the top of the list of things that I will greatly miss. Always impeccable.
Hamachi – hamachi tartare, cucumber, lemon-citrus emulsion
Salmon – barely cooked organic salmon, pea puree, yuzu butter sauce
Sorbets
Yet another restaurant that had been on my to-do list for ages but with too much time spent out of town I had never made it here. But with a set menu, at a very reasonable price point, it seemed like the perfect spot for my birthday dinner. A perfectly sized menu and perfect for the season. I’m sorry it took me so long to get here!
lettuce, tarragon, ramp
snap peas, fresh cheese, herbs
squid, asparagus, walnut
scallop, sorrel, sea beans
beef, pistachio, broccoli rabe
peach, honey, occhipinti olive oil
strawberry and corn
Since it opened this has always been one of my go to places on the short list of restaurants that I visit repeatedly. I was very curious to see what the remodel looked like in person. Waiting at the bar for my guest to arrive, it honestly just felt really weird because the old bar was so unique and I felt like I was somewhere else completely. But oddly mid way through dinner all felt right again. I loved the concept, and taste of the deviled egg filling, but felt a bit like it was odd to just eat on its own because of the texture and resorted to spreading some on the chips that came with the guacamole. The sliced mango was outstanding as was the ceviche. The last time I had friend smelt was at Alinea so I had high hopes for these tacos and I could have eaten at least two more. A definite must order! Loved both of the desserts but unfortunately didn’t write down the descriptions. I’m looking forward to returning for the kitchen table and the pan-roasted lobster because when the table beside us got it we immediately regretted not doing so.
Pan-Galactic – Pandan-infused rum, oloroso sherry, lemon juice and egg white
Guacamole with pistachios
Deviled egg filling with trout roe
Sliced mango with perky toe crab, chile powder and lime
Ceviche of the day
Fried Maine smelts with cabbage and jalapeño relish
Shredded chicken with yucatecan pipian and toasted pumpkin seeds
Before switching jobs I was able to get to Marea for lunch much more frequently than I can now. My mind was evidently so focused on the fusilli that I didn’t even take a picture of my first course. And while it was a fantastic crudo, I can’t even recall which one. The fusilli remains probably my absolute favorite dish in NYC. I rarely order pasta when dining out, and certainly never crave it, but this one I do. Constantly. As a challenge to myself I am going to try my best to order something different when I return for brunch this sunday. Something tells me I won’t be successful.
Fusilli – durum wheat pasta, red wine braised octopus, bone marrow
Spyglass Rooftop
While the drinks are overpriced, it is hard to beat this view!
Extra Fancy
Frozen G&T. Enough said.
Maison Premiere
This may be the best outdoor dining space in the city. You truly feel like you are somewhere else. Unfortunately as it was so dark my photos are as well and I can barely decipher what we had. But regardless I’m just very proud of myself for ordering oysters a few weeks after a horrific bout of food poisoning. Definitely looking forward to getting back here a few times this summer!
I’ve been a fan of Jason Atherton’s for quite a while and so was quite excited to try Clocktower soon after it opened. In general out-of-town chef’s who open restaurants in NYC when not living here just don’t make it and I’m usually not sad to see them go. But I certainly hope that Clocktower sticks around for a while. There were some service issues with the timing of courses but as I was there so soon after opening I forgive them! I’m generally not a fan of cocktails with savory components but these were some of the best that I have had and actually some of the best cocktails overall that I have had in NY in recent memory. While the starters and salad were great, and the cote de boeuf amazing, its oddly the green bean and foie gras salad that stole the show for me. A completely standout side dish that should be its own starter!
Los Pollos Hermanos – Del Maguey Vida mescal, Olmeca Altos blanco, herb infused agave, lemon juice, chicken stock, egg white
Give Peas a Chance – Beefeater gin, yellow Chartreuse, salted pea cordial, lemon juice, mint, Butterfly absinthe, egg white, flora
Warm white asparagus, slow-cooked egg, chicken thigh, chicken cornflakes
Roasted sea scallops, ragout of line caught squid, cepe, bacon, celery root puree
English breakfast radishes, salad leaves, cucumbers, feta and pistachio puree
40 day dry aged cote de boeuf 32 oz, green bean and foie gras salad, bone marrow jus, potato gratin
Strawberries and cream, vanilla custard, olive oil cake, verjus sorbet
Mignardises
A multitude of fantastic reviews have already been written about Shuko and as I wholeheartedly agree with all of them I won’t bother repeating what has already been said. As suggested by others we opted for the longer Kaiseki menu for the first visit. I look forward to returning to try the shorter omakase menu. Unfortunately no menu and most of the courses came so quickly that I wouldn’t have been able to keep up even if I was writing them down.
I couldn’t be happier that the White Label burger is finally available outside of Ai Fiori. I have no idea why this burger doesn’t end up on more best of NY burger lists other than maybe too many people haven’t had it. Hands down one of my 3 favorite burgers in NYC. Everything else was wonderful, but I can be honest and say I was just here for the burger.
Carrots
Oysters
Artichokes Alla Giudea
White Label Burger – bacon marmalade, mcclures pickles, American cheese, fries
I have to admit that I just wasn’t as blown away by Cosme as everybody else in NY and beyond seems to be. Maybe it was just overhyped and my expectations were too high. The space is comfortable and service was quite good. But overall it was just ‘good.’ After ordering one cocktail that was far more ice than cocktail, I switched to wine. The chicharron and hamachi were good, but I’ve had far better versions elsewhere. As someone who favors more savory desserts I did quite like the husk meringue but it certainly wasn’t the prettiest to look at. I went back to re-read the NYT review and do find it interesting that it contained an Estella analogy as its the other NYC restaurant that I think is extremely overhyped and I completely disagree with all of the accolades it has received. But I guess you can’t love everything.
Chicharron, radish, cilantro, avocado, hot sauce
Sliced raw hamachi, fermented serranos, fish sauce, black lime
Smoked raw sepia, salsa mexicana, avocado
Duck carnitas, onions, radishes salsa verde
Husk meringue with corn mousse
I typically try to avoid the first day of anything to allow a restaurant some time to get the kinks out. But if I hadn’t known, I wouldn’t have guessed that this was the first brunch service at King Bee. We weren’t crazy about the pork cracklins I have to admit. But foie makes everything better!
Pork cracklins, peanut, caramel, malt vinegar powder 
Brûléed bread pudding, foie gras, rhubarb, cheddar, maple syrup
Mushroom buckwheat crepe galette, maitake, trumpet royal, shiitake, rucola, spring onion confit, egg
Farro salad
Louisiana crawfish roll
I’m not a fan of buffets but I have to admit this one was beautiful! Fantastic service and just an all around lovely family Easter dinner.
One of my earliest NYC restaurant memories is a trip to Cafe Boulud with my aunt & uncle who were visiting from out of town well over a decade ago. That of course was the Andrew Carmellini era and while I don’t remember anything that I ate, I must have loved it as I followed Chef Carmellini when he left to open A Voce. For no reason other the UES seems so far away I hadn’t been back since. So it was appropriate to finally return with my same relatives so many years later. Still lovely so many years later.
Tai Snapper Tartare, caraway, paddlefish caviar, watermelon radish, cucumber dill broth
Crescent Farms Pekin Duck, lavender honey, kasha, currants, turnip, arugula, jus de canard
Colorado Lamb Loin, fava bean, panisse, spring garlic, morel mushroom, jus
Crêpe Cake, poached rhubarb, thyme diplomat, ricotta sorbet
Marrakesh Delight
Yet another place that I have not been to in much too long. Perhaps I have always thought of dell’anima as a date spot in which case I suppose I am not dating enough. An absolutely lovely meal with a front row seat at the chef’s counter. And again waiting months to update this blog has come back to bite me as several menu items have changed and thus I have no descriptions. Oh well….these were all delicious!
Fluke crudo
Arugula – lemon, parmigiano reggiano
charred octopus – Rice beans, chorizo, chicories
Bone marrow – testa, charred cippini, pickled red onion
I am very happy that the service at Marta has improved since my first visit shortly after opening. As I like a thin, crisp crust this is one of my favorites in NYC. But my previous experience left so much to be desired that I was very hesitant to return. I still think there is much room for improvement but at least it is headed in the right direction.
Suppli Alla Terrazza – green risotto croquettes, mozzarella, mixed herbs
Seppioline – grilled baby cuttlefish, potato, calabrese chili
Funghi – fontina, hen of the woods, hedgehogs, red onion, thyme
Anatra – duck confit, fennel, golden raisins, fontina
I will quickly sum this up – I loved my second trip to the new Ko just as much as the first. I still feel like it’s an entirely different restaurant from the original, at a minimum Ko 2.0, and am still impressed by how much service has improved. The menu was largely the same as 2 months earlier (which I have posted about previously) so I will spare the descriptions but do have to mention that the epoisses potatoes with the venison were to die for. If you haven’t been…go!
Pizza Beach
Before having family living (temporarily) on the UES my outings there were few and far between. Luckily Pizza Beach arrived at the perfect time and in the perfect location. The servers are extremely patient in the controlled chaos that seems to erupt earlier in the evening when the restaurant is full of children. And while it is very kid friendly, adults will be quite satisfied with the menu. I am though very picky about my pizza crust and so my only criticism is that I wish this was crisper. But all of the toppings were great and we have made a return trip since this date!
Cannelli Bean Hummus – snap pea, radish & fennel crudite 
Meatballs – pomodoro sauce, grana padano
Tuscan Kale Salad
Citrus Salad
Spicy Soppressata Pizza
Speck with Arugula & Fennel Salad Pizza 
Purple Kale & Butternut Squash Pizza 
Lamb Merguez & Oaxaca cheese Pizza 
The Seamstress
Another fantastic addition to the UES and a reason to continue to visit the area after my family eventually leaves. I’m so glad I found this just barely before all of the media caught on. Such a great space, fantastic decor and amazing drinks!
It has taken me much too long to get to Dirty French. In my defense I was traveling most of the first few months it was open. But I was also afraid that I was going to be underwhelmed and that it was going to be too loud in addition to various other negative comments I had read online. The fantastic flatbread started dinner on the right note and overall all of the food was excellent. It was loud yes, but not as bad as I had anticipated. And service was extremely friendly, although I sat with an empty cocktail glass in front of me for much too long without being asked if I wanted another. Much like Carbone I can’t help but feeling that it is overpriced and so it won’t be in regular rotation. But it was perfect for celebrating a friend’s birthday and I do look forward to a return visit.
Flatbread w/ Fromage blanc
Carpaccio – lamb, aubergine, yogurt 
Millefeuille – trumpet royale, green curry 
Meunière – brook trout, sesame, dried apricots 
Duck a l’ Orange – ras el hanout, preserved oranges
Chèvre Salade – kale, sunchokes, sand pear
Pommes Frites
Tatin – pineapple, banana, rum raisin ice cream
My first visit to Santina happened to be during a snow storm and the bright cheery seaside decor was completely transporting. But at the same time the glass walls offered a beautiful view of the snow falling in the hours before the plows come out and it turns into an ugly mess. This is probably my favorite restaurant opening in NYC in the last year. It truly doesn’t often happen that I feel the need to immediately return to a restaurant because I really want to try the majority of the menu. While I did not try any of the pastas on this visit, everything I did have was very light, especially in comparison to Major Food Group’s other recent openings.
The lamb tartare was elevated with mint and olives and a terrific filling to the cecina, a chickpea pancake served in a cast-iron skillet. But the stars of this dish were the accompanying salsa verde and tomato soffritto. Separately both are extremely good, but together they are spectacular. I wish I could eat the Tricolore splendido salad, topped with tuna carpaccio, everyday for lunch. And the squash carpaccio is easily one of the best squash dishes I have ever had and so much more than I was expecting when I ordered it.
Fiori – gin, chamomile, Campari 
Lamb tartare cecina 
Tricolore splendido 
Amalfi gold – bourbon, orange, ginger, creme de peche
Squash carpaccio
Lime meringa 
Gato has been one of my favorites since it opened as evidenced by previous posts here. I’m always happy though to be able to bring somebody new. As much as I love the menu I am hoping that spring brings a few changes.
DJ DJ – Rittenhouse Rye, St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram, cognac, Kelso nut brown lager
Gato spreads with buckwheat pita –
Greek yogurt/charred green chile pesto
Chickpea, meyer lemon/smoked paprika
Whitebean, feta, garlic/walnut-piquillo relish
White anchovies, pink pepper, mint
Piquillo filled with raw tuna, saffron sauce
Eggplant, manchego, oregano, balsamic
Roasted octopus, tangerine vinaigrette, bacon, oregano
Brussels sprouts, pomegranates, pistachios
Kale and Wild Mushriom Paella – crispy artichokes, egg
Apple Tarte Tatin – salted calvados caramel, vanilla-black pepper gelato
This really needs to be my last post about the Nomad Bar or it is going to overtake this blog. It wasn’t planned for the evening but I had a burger craving all day and after working out found myself only 2 blocks away. How could I not go?? Its somewhat miserable to battle the weekend crowds but totally worth it as always!
Hair Trigger – venezuelan rum, fernet branca, ginger, lime, cucumber
Brussels sprouts – roasted with smoked lentil & parmesan
Burger – dry aged with cheddar, red onion & pickles
Mott & Mulberry – rye whiskey, luxardo amaro abano, apple cider, lemon
I did perhaps way too much traveling in 2014 and neglected so much of NYC. I’m almost embarrassed to admit how long it has been since my last visit to Atera and I have no excuses as I have nothing but fond memories. Such a fantastic meal start to finish and while its hard to pick favorites, I keep thinking about the smoked mussels with their edible shells and the beet jerky which was a complete revelation. Will Douillet’s presence in just a few months is noticeable and the front of house experience was significantly improved over what I experienced in just a quick trip to the lounge a few months ago. Looking forward to a return visit this spring and taking advantage of what is amazing in NYC.
King crab – satsumaimo, winter cabbage
Caviar – tapenade, burnt cream
Madai – daikon, mushroom
Winter salad – yellow vegetables
Sea urchin – carrot, lobster
Shabu shabu – abalone, mangalitsa
Trout roe – squash, pumpkin seed
Smoked trout – brown butter, liver
Trout liver – apple, brown butter
Lobster roll – yeast, meringue
Geoduck – lardo, air baguette
Pig blood tart – tomato jam, black truffle
Hushpuppy – smoked yolk, corn
Beet jerky – crustacean cream
Smoked mussels – mussel jus, purple carrot
Dumpling – chicken, shrimp
Turbot – curry oil pil
Roasted duck – soured rice, green tea
Sherbet – cara cara, licorice caramel
Milk and crackers – preserved blueberries
Papua New Guinea – brioche, vanilla ice cream
Of course back at the Nomad bar yet agai!. I may be becoming predictable in NYC. Fantastic as always and for once I exhibited some self control and didn’t have the hot dog for dessert.
Evil Twin Nomader Weisse served w/ traditional syrups
Bay scallops
Broccoli rabe salad with anchovy & Parmesan
Squash toast with ricotta, maitake & apple
Brussels sprouts roasted with smoked lentils & Parmesan
Burger
My first trip to Daniel since their loss of a star. I tried to find a reason for it compared to my previous visits and couldn’t. But so much is subjective. There was perhaps one dish that I didn’t feel was the most successful. But service was impeccable, perhaps better than ever. Again my downfall seems to be that with certain dining companions I can’t be bothered making notes or writing down dishes. I fear so much being the unsocial and rude diner on her phone the entire meal that I default as far away from this as possible. Someday I hope to find a balance.
Mu Ramen
I haven’t put so much effort into a restaurant reservation in ages. 65 calls to get through. And while I don’t want to do it again anytime soon, it was sort of fun in an old school kind of way (and gave my co-workers a bit of entertainment). Notes: Wait until 4pm to call and yes they still take walk-ins.
As for the chicken wings, fried and foie? Yes please! Loved loved both ramens that we tried. Both completely different but equally fantastic. Looking forward to a return trip now that their liquor license has been granted!
Tebaski Gyoza – deep fried chicken wings stuffed with foie and brioche
Shishito peppers with lemon aioli
And the main event
The Happiest Hour
The happiest hour it was not. Upon entering we were met by a gentleman who demanded to take our coats without so much as a greeting. The space can become extremely crowded even on a weeknight and was so loud that it was difficult to hear my friend who was directly beside me. My cocktail was well made and quite good but after one I couldn’t tolerate the noise any longer. So we proceeded to the door, handed our coat check ticket to the gentleman standing there who disappeared for quite some time and then returned to ask us what our coats looked like. When he still couldn’t find them he started almost yelling at us to tell him what the person looked like who took our coats in the first place. So 15 minutes later, after we went to the coat room in the basement ourselves and still couldn’t find them, absolutely no apologies and we were essentially accused of giving our coats to somebody who didn’t work there. Long story short, it was the same guy who originally took our coats but was trying to cover his ass. Mix ups happen and if there would have been even a simple apology I wouldn’t be writing about this. But the attitude was so completely offensive and inhospitable as if it was somehow our fault that they misplaced our coats that we didn’t even want to check in the first place. If you must visit, wait until summer.
Fall From the Tree – bourbon, apple juice, cinnamon, lemon, aromatic bitters
Fantastic dinner at the new Huertas in the east village. Two vermouth based pairings and I definitely have a new appreciation. Loved the scrambled eggs with shrimp and the lamb and ramp sausage! And how my tastes have changed…years ago I wouldn’t have touched anchovies, olives and rice pudding.
iwillmakeualist 