New York City Restaurants

[Dinesh Goyal]

Some of the restaurants where we have enjoyed outdoor dining recently. In general I feel I enjoy restaurants that are on streets more than on avenues as they tend to be quieter
Sushi Ishikawa - while I normally prefer more traditional omakase, it was still great

Avra Greek - tried both Midtown and UES. I think I prefer midtown

Quality Eats UES - this is one of the neighborhood spots for us and we end up going there frequently

Buvette - long wait, but was good

Luthun - was ok.

Looking forward to Jua tonight.

[mark rudner]

i'm sure not everyone's favorite but i loved uncle boon's from the beginning. i always loved the idea of the owners working in the kitchen at per se and leaving to open this underground delight just off bowery. so sad...


https://ny.eater.com/2020/8/10/21361965 ... oronavirus

[Jay Miller]

Racines is back!

They're doing a small online order out business, starting with lobster rolls (and wine) on MWF:

https://racinesny.com/onlineordering?ss ... 6f977528f2

[mike c]

Looking forward to Jua tonight.

how was jua?

[Dinesh Goyal]

Looking forward to Jua tonight.

how was jua?

Best post Covid meal. Great.

Also they have really gone out of the way to differentiate their outdoor dining experience/decor. Food was outstanding.

[Robert Dentice]

Looking forward to Jua tonight.

how was jua?

Best post Covid meal. Great.

Also they have really gone out of the way to differentiate their outdoor dining experience/decor. Food was outstanding.

That is great to hear. I have yet to go. Interestingly my best overall outside pandemic experience was at the Chef's former restaurant Jungsik

[mike c]

Best post Covid meal. Great.

Also they have really gone out of the way to differentiate their outdoor dining experience/decor. Food was outstanding.

Thanks and great to hear. Was going to echo the post below where jungsik has been by far the best post-COVID dining experience. Will have to check out Jua

[Jay Miller]

With all the talk about Jungsik has anyone tried their takeaway meal? Obviously there are a lot of things they can't do with it that they can do at the restaurant but it would be much easier for me to manage.

[Robert Dentice]

Had a wonderful meal last night at Cafe Altro Paradiso. Love everything Chef Ignacio does. A small focused menu with a few of their wonderful pasta dishes. Also a small wine list but they do have a couple of very nice things off the list.

[Robert Dentice]

I just heard Secchu Yokota will be opening for outdoor dining. Going tomorrow for a soft opening. I will report back!

[mike c]

I just heard Secchu Yokota will be opening for outdoor dining. Going tomorrow for a soft opening. I will report back!

love those guys. hope they can make it through.

[Dinesh Goyal]

Had a wonderful meal last night at Cafe Altro Paradiso. Love everything Chef Ignacio does. A small focused menu with a few of their wonderful pasta dishes. Also a small wine list but they do have a couple of very nice things off the list.

It has been on my list ever since we got their email. I has been waiting for Flora to open up as that’s close by. But just booked for Altro.

[Dinesh Goyal]

So tried Altro Paradiso.

Let me preface it by saying outdoor dining is somewhat of an equalizer as food quality end up dominating the final experience.

With that I found Altro to be ok. I have had better Cacio Pepe at multiple other restaurants, with one at Via Carota right at the top

[Robert Dentice]

So tried Altro Paradiso.

Let me preface it by saying outdoor dining is somewhat of an equalizer as food quality end up dominating the final experience.

With that I found Altro to be ok. I have had better Cacio Pepe at multiple other restaurants, with one at Via Carota right at the top

Oh shoot, sorry to hear that. I did feel it was a step down from the normal level but still thought it was very good.

[Robert Dentice]

We did Secchu Yokota and thought it was very good. Impossible to be at the same level as when you are sitting one foot away from the Chef handing you the tempura. And our feedback to them was that I felt it was too much food. I am a big eater and I was absolutely stuffed. The wine list is small and they are out of many things due to the shut down. Corkage is $30. I brought one bottle and purchased a JB Becker. Keep in mind it was a trial run and they discounted the price.

[Nathan V.]

We did Secchu Yokota and thought it was very good. Impossible to be at the same level as when you are sitting one foot away from the Chef handing you the tempura. And our feedback to them was that I felt it was too much food. I am a big eater and I was absolutely stuffed. The wine list is small and they are out of many things due to the shut down. Corkage is $30. I brought one bottle and purchased a JB Becker. Keep in mind it was a trial run and they discounted the price.

Glad to hear they're trying this out and hope they're open when we are able to get back to NYC. I feel like they always have a Becker on the list for me to buy when I'm there. I wonder why...

[Dinesh Goyal]

We did Secchu Yokota and thought it was very good. Impossible to be at the same level as when you are sitting one foot away from the Chef handing you the tempura. And our feedback to them was that I felt it was too much food. I am a big eater and I was absolutely stuffed. The wine list is small and they are out of many things due to the shut down. Corkage is $30. I brought one bottle and purchased a JB Becker. Keep in mind it was a trial run and they discounted the price.

Thanks Robert. I feel like small restaurants, which a lot of Japanese restaurants are, are particularly hard hit. Most of them don’t have large enough frontage to create any meaningful size dining area. Eg Maaser had two tables outside. Same at Sushi by M.

[Robert Dentice]

We did Secchu Yokota and thought it was very good. Impossible to be at the same level as when you are sitting one foot away from the Chef handing you the tempura. And our feedback to them was that I felt it was too much food. I am a big eater and I was absolutely stuffed. The wine list is small and they are out of many things due to the shut down. Corkage is $30. I brought one bottle and purchased a JB Becker. Keep in mind it was a trial run and they discounted the price.

Thanks Robert. I feel like small restaurants, which a lot of Japanese restaurants are, are particularly hard hit. Most of them don’t have large enough frontage to create any meaningful size dining area. Eg Maaser had two tables outside. Same at Sushi by M.

I agree and really hard for them to do delivery. Going to Jua tonight!

[Robert Dentice]

WOW! Jua was absolutely great. During August they are doing an à la carte menu. Everything was wonderful. Can't wait to go back.

[Michael S. Monie]

Mayor says no indoor dining until next year; not good news.

[ybarselah]

Mayor says no indoor dining until next year; not good news.

source?

[scamhi]

Mayor says no indoor dining until next year; not good news.

source?

it was in Eater NY

[Jay Miller]

Mayor says no indoor dining until next year; not good news.

source?

it was in Eater NY

https://ny.eater.com/2020/8/27/21404598 ... oronavirus

He's now saying it's contingent on how the school openings go.

[Dinesh Goyal]

Has anyone tried our crown shy post reopening? The menu looks quite limited.

[Robert Dentice]

We did the Estela Rink at Rockefeller Center dinner last night. Have to say it is was a wonderful time. It is more about the whole experience than just the food. You get your own very large table that is right in the rink. You get a picnic basket full of starters and then an enormous tower of seafood. What was most fun about it is that there were several tables of people we knew and they let people come for drinks so it turned into a big party in a beautiful setting.

[Paul Jaouen]

Looks fun Robert!

[F.Daner]

I know public health concerns must be considered but I believe NY positive rate is at or close to the lowest in the country. I don't know how officials can expect any restaurants to be left to open next year if indoor dining does not open to at least 50% capacity by winter. Major corporations are announcing they will be allowing workers to return to the office. I'm sure public transportation will be a lot riskier than eating at a restaurant. I have eaten out now several times in Tampa with restaurants all adhering to 50% capacity and really doing a great job with health protocols.

source?

it was in Eater NY

https://ny.eater.com/2020/8/27/21404598 ... oronavirus

He's now saying it's contingent on how the school openings go.

[Jay Miller]

I know public health concerns must be considered but I believe NY positive rate is at or close to the lowest in the country. I don't know how officials can expect any restaurants to be left to open next year if indoor dining does not open to at least 50% capacity by winter. Major corporations are announcing they will be allowing workers to return to the office. I'm sure public transportation will be a lot riskier than eating at a restaurant. I have eaten out now several times in Tampa with restaurants all adhering to 50% capacity and really doing a great job with health protocols.

The issue is that at least theoretically everyone on public transport is masked. No one eating inside will be masked.

Unmasked indoors is one of the most likely methods for an infected individual to pass on the virus.

It's a horrible situation. As someone in several risk groups for bad outcomes I won't be eating indoors until there's a vaccine.

[Mark Golodetz]

The one restaurant I was looking forward to trying was Veau d’Or. it was being taken over by a couple of fairly serious chefs, and given the wonderful traditional menu, I thought with a few twists it could have been sensational. Obviously COVID put back the opening, but I could not find updates. Anybody got the inside scoop?

[Robert Dentice]

The one restaurant I was looking forward to trying was Veau d’Or. it was being taken over by a couple of fairly serious chefs, and given the wonderful traditional menu, I thought with a few twists it could have been sensational. Obviously COVID put back the opening, but I could not find updates. Anybody got the inside scoop?

I was looking forward to it as well. I work a block away. I am friends with some of the Frenchette crew and can ask.

The neighborhood has come back to life and has a lot of outdoor dinning for established restaurants.

[Robert Dentice]

Rule of Thirds, a very large and cool Japanese Izakaya reopened. They opened in February and were off to a great start. We went for F&F yesterday and it was very good. All outdoor dining.

[Michel Abood]

The one restaurant I was looking forward to trying was Veau d’Or. it was being taken over by a couple of fairly serious chefs, and given the wonderful traditional menu, I thought with a few twists it could have been sensational. Obviously COVID put back the opening, but I could not find updates. Anybody got the inside scoop?

Ditto, if I ever make it back to NYC.

I have a long list of places I want to visit, I just hope they can survive until we have a vaccine and I can travel again. Until then we're cooking at home, doing take out from 2-3 favorite places, and did delivery last week for the first time (shockingly good fried chicken from Tokyo Hot Chicken, a pop up from Michael Mina).

God I miss the NYC/Paris restaurant scene. I'd do unholy things to get back to having long lunches at Les Enfants du Marche and spending a long, leisurely Sunday afternoon devouring pies at Ops.

You really don't know what you have until it's gone.

[WvanGorp]

Not to make Michel jealous but several of us are having pizza in the park tomorrow night from Ops.

[Robert Dentice]

Went back to Jua again and it was outstanding. They do allow corkage, not sure of charge because a friend picked up the tab.

I have also had a couple of serious foodies tell me how great it was after recent meals.

[Michel Abood]

Not to make Michel jealous but several of us are having pizza in the park tomorrow night from Ops.

That's just mean.

[Jay Miller]

I got takeout from Atomix for Arnold's birthday a little over a week ago.

My conclusion was, unfortunately, that one should not get high end takeout if there is a good chance one of the people involved will have to work late and the food will end up sitting for 3 hours.

It was still very good but it seemed like much of what would have made it really special had faded with sitting.

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

Can anyone suggest a casual but good place in the Flatiron area up to midtown for lunch outside? Nothing fancy or too heavy as we have an exciting dinner planned.

[Rodrigo B]

Can anyone suggest a casual but good place in the Flatiron area up to midtown for lunch outside? Nothing fancy or too heavy as we have an exciting dinner planned.

Obica right across the street from Flatiron wines, Craft and Union Square Cafe, and Casa Mono should all have some outdoor dining

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

Can anyone suggest a casual but good place in the Flatiron area up to midtown for lunch outside? Nothing fancy or too heavy as we have an exciting dinner planned.

Obica right across the street from Flatiron wines, Craft and Union Square Cafe, and Casa Mono should all have some outdoor dining

Thanks so much. Casa Mono fits the bill well. I haven't thought of that place in many, many years.

[Tony C]

Can anyone suggest a casual but good place in the Flatiron area up to midtown for lunch outside? Nothing fancy or too heavy as we have an exciting dinner planned.

Boqueria - Spanish tapas

[mark rudner]

Can anyone suggest a casual but good place in the Flatiron area up to midtown for lunch outside? Nothing fancy or too heavy as we have an exciting dinner planned.

Obica right across the street from Flatiron wines, Craft and Union Square Cafe, and Casa Mono should all have some outdoor dining

Thanks so much. Casa Mono fits the bill well. I haven't thought of that place in many, many years.

hi sarah
if it's cool enough outside try the stuffed peppers
so perfect with a glass of midweight spanish red
where's dinner?

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

Obica right across the street from Flatiron wines, Craft and Union Square Cafe, and Casa Mono should all have some outdoor dining

Thanks so much. Casa Mono fits the bill well. I haven't thought of that place in many, many years.

hi sarah
if it's cool enough outside try the stuffed peppers
so perfect with a glass of midweight spanish red
where's dinner?

Thanks, Mark! I saw those on the menu - very appealing.

Dinner is at Jua!

[Robert Dentice]

I will let Sarah give her impressions. But I will say Jua is my favorite restaurant in NYC at the moment!

[Mike Cohen]

Can anyone suggest a casual but good place in the Flatiron area up to midtown for lunch outside? Nothing fancy or too heavy as we have an exciting dinner planned.

Obica right across the street from Flatiron wines, Craft and Union Square Cafe, and Casa Mono should all have some outdoor dining

Thanks so much. Casa Mono fits the bill well. I haven't thought of that place in many, many years.

Funny...I hadn't thought about Casa Mono in a while either, but I ate there twice in Summer 2019 and loved it.

[Mike Cohen]

Robert, are you using your phone for the food pix you take? They are really impressive. Would love to know more about the pix.

[Robert Dentice]

Robert, are you using your phone for the food pix you take? They are really impressive. Would love to know more about the pix.

Just an iphone. Thank you! I really can't understand why restaurants don't have photo friendly lightening.

Also those photos of Estela above were from their IG feed.

[Sarah Kirschbaum]

I will let Sarah give her impressions. But I will say Jua is my favorite restaurant in NYC at the moment!

Both Jonathan and I thought it was excellent. The food was thoughtful, delicious, beautiful, balanced and fun with a great variety of textures and expressions. Staff were exemplary. The outdoor set up worked well, even when it began to pour, and the inside of the restaurant looks gorgeous. We loved it.

[doug johnson]

Ate at Casa Mono tonight. Borderline awful.

[mark rudner]

Ate at Casa Mono tonight. Borderline awful.

i think i've been there 50+ times but not since february
that's terrible news doug

[Mark Golodetz]

Eater’s list of closed NYC restaurants
https://ny.eater.com/2020/10/2/21459288 ... tober-2020