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New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go

02-24-2016 , 05:18 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PocketInfinities
Any opinions on best pizza in the East Village area?
I greatly enjoy Nino's, St. Marks & A
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
02-27-2016 , 01:01 PM
Bouley is pretty great but I've only been there for lunches and it's been a couple years.

For pizza Id say joes (think it's considered e village?? 6th and bleeker)
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02-27-2016 , 06:38 PM
Just did Bouley for lunch....absolute steal. Porcini flan was unbelievable, one of the best things I've ever eaten. They also had a couple extra snacks in addition to the amuse bouche, one was a soft scrambled egg with chives/cojita cheese and shaved black truffle. Delicious. And we did get a lemon cake as a gift when leaving.

Me and GF got 2 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine and still got out of there for $230 or so after tax and tip. Went to EMP last month and it was over 3x that. Has to be the best value meal in the city. Beautiful atmosphere, great service as well.
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
02-27-2016 , 09:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ItWasSuitedd
My favorite hands down is Motorino on 12th between 2nd and 1st. Joe's is a staple great no frills pizza on 14th and 3rd. Great thin crust pizza at Posto on 19th and 2nd, get the Chicpotle or Sopressata.
+1 to posto .. Especially if you like thin crust pizza .. They have great lunch specials as well
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
03-02-2016 , 06:05 AM
Hi guys,

Visiting NYC with the gf the last week of May (from the Netherlands). We went last year as well and stayed near times square which I thought was way too crowded and we always went other places anyway. I'm looking at other neighborhoods and thought about either the village or brooklyn. I've been reading about safety in park slope and williamsburg but seem to be getting conflicting opinions. I want to be able to walk home at night. Is Brooklyn an option? I don't scare easily but obv don't want the gf to have a horrible trip. Also need to be able to get to broadway/bars/restaurants/comedy clubs/concert venues as easily as possible.

Thanks
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
03-02-2016 , 08:37 AM
Williamsburg and Park Slope are safe to walk around at night for sure. It'll take a bit longer to get to get anywhere in Manhattan if you stay in BK obviously but subways are fine for the most part.
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
03-02-2016 , 08:39 AM
Be smart and you're safe in 95% of those neighborhoods. For Williamsburg focus on the North side. With that said, I'd stay downtown Manhattan (village/Soho). Way more subway options to get around, while you have one /maybe two ways in and out from Brooklyn, depending on the neighborhood.
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
03-05-2016 , 10:45 PM
Just got back from Chef's Table, and it was phenomenal. Chef Ramirez said they are going to move the restaurant to Manhattan soon and change the Brooklyn location to a more French concept. But I doubt the Manhattan location will be as intimate as the current incarnation, so I suggest you make reservations now if you can. Better than EMP imo.
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
03-09-2016 , 10:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arito.v2
Hi guys,

Visiting NYC with the gf the last week of May (from the Netherlands). We went last year as well and stayed near times square which I thought was way too crowded and we always went other places anyway. I'm looking at other neighborhoods and thought about either the village or brooklyn. I've been reading about safety in park slope and williamsburg but seem to be getting conflicting opinions. I want to be able to walk home at night. Is Brooklyn an option? I don't scare easily but obv don't want the gf to have a horrible trip. Also need to be able to get to broadway/bars/restaurants/comedy clubs/concert venues as easily as possible.

Thanks
Crime is bordering on nonexistent in Park Slope. You likely read about the grandmother mugging of a couple of weeks ago. It's an outlier. We're there every weekend and planning on moving there within a few months. You face no threat of street crime.
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
04-01-2016 , 11:22 AM
Hey 2+2 - I don't post often but read the forums all the time.

I work in London and I'm heading out to NY in a few weeks for business with a colleague. We have a full weekend free to do whatever we want. Some great advice on food in here, but I'd welcome some advice on nightspots we might want to hit. Both late 30's and enjoy a drink, cool music (dance/jazz etc).

Which bars and/or clubs can you recommend?

Many thanks
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04-07-2016 , 09:00 PM
Guy Fieri's place in Times Square obv
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04-11-2016 , 11:23 AM
I'll be going to EMP this Saturday with the wife to celebrate the end of a brutal tax season.

Should be great.
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04-12-2016 , 05:58 PM
cheers
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04-18-2016 , 11:44 AM
Wow. Here are some shots.


This is Wellfleet oysters with buttermilk and caviar, fried fava beans, morel mushrooms, and a whitefish/caviar combo


Their version of eggs Benedict with house made mini English muffins.


Lamb 3 ways - leg, belly, and head cheese with a brioche top with baby romaine lettuce.
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
04-18-2016 , 11:47 AM
No duck?! I went in late Jan, and the oysters 3 ways, "eggs Benedict", and the duck were my favorite dishes. The duck was the best thing I've ever eaten.
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04-18-2016 , 11:58 AM
Wife had the duck.


Made with rhubarb and citrus with spring onions.


Butter poached lobster


Asparagus steamed in pigs bladder prepped table side
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04-18-2016 , 12:00 PM

Here is the asparagus


Foie gras with fava bean purée


Baked Alaska
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
04-18-2016 , 10:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mullen
The duck was the best thing I've ever eaten.
+1. When I went like 2 years ago the duck was the star and still easily the best thing I've ever eaten.
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
05-15-2016 , 12:53 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rococo
I like GG's near the corner of 5th and A.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ItWasSuitedd
My favorite hands down is Motorino on 12th between 2nd and 1st. Joe's is a staple great no frills pizza on 14th and 3rd. Great thin crust pizza at Posto on 19th and 2nd, get the Chicpotle or Sopressata.

I know I'm late to this but GG's and Posto my two favorites but they are restaurants. If you want quick then Joes on 14th and 3rd or Pisa Pizza on 19th and 1st are good too
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
05-15-2016 , 09:04 PM
Crossed a few to-dos off the list this weekend: omakase at Jewel Bako and the momofuku ramen at the Noodle bar - both were outstanding. The fried egg buns at Momofuku was also incredible.
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06-01-2016 , 12:33 PM
Teeling pure grain whisky is great. What more can I say?
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06-05-2016 , 07:30 PM
Chess in Bryant Park is always fun. Usually patzers not hustlers like Wash sq.
New York City: Your favorite things to do or places to go Quote
06-18-2016 , 08:42 PM
Guys, this sounds crazy, but I went to Riverbank State Park for the first time in my life, and I'm from NYC and have lived here all my life. I had no idea this place even existed. Anyways, it's off 145th Street on Riverside Drive, and basically is this huge massive park that's built over the water and has amazing views of the George Washington Bridge. They had basketball courts, an ice skating rink, a full track field, baseball diamond, and picnic area....I can't believe I never knew about it, and I def recommend going there as an alternative to other parks....I was there during the week for an afternoon and it was pretty empty.

Gorgeous views, got to go there.
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06-18-2016 , 09:34 PM
I used to play soccer there every week. Nice place, can smell on really hot days - it's built on top of a sewage treatment plant.
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07-12-2016 , 03:59 AM
Just got back from a pretty epic week of NYC Dining to celebrate my 40th...I think we ate 18 Michelin Stars in a week and had 4-5 world class meals.

Saturday Dinner
Estela - Ranked #44 in World's Top 50 Restaurants. Thought it was just ok and am shocked it is ranked this high. Burratta with Salsa Verde was definitely highlight dish.

Sunday Dinner
Eleven Madison Park - One of the greatest dining experiences I've had. Very cool wine pairing option with some lesser known wines and regions. The room is awesome and the service is totally tight and professional, but they have personality and make it fun. Too many standout dishes to name. Maybe a perfect meal and kitchen tour was cool with an extra course served back there.

Monday Breakfast
Cafe Boulud - Stayed at the Surrey which is a really nice hotel and the Cafe Boulud here is a great option. Crab Eggs Benedict is amazing.

Monday Dinner
Per Se - Stuffy and somewhat disappointing, but an absolutely killer dessert and sweets section of tasting menu. Not the most enjoyable dining experience I didn't think. Meal was inconsistent and overpriced; and it just felt dated and stuck in the past. Pearls and Oysters earns all the love it has gotten, but I thought the Pigeon was a weak main and the Lobster was actually bad. The kitchen tour was strange and it's a weird layout space...and I found it odd how they have video of French Laundry kitchen on feed. I did love the souvenir Purveyor's guide they gave us which had a one page for each ingredient in our meal that night on where it came from and a little bit about the supplier. Neat idea and pretty educational.

Tuesday Lunch
Sushi Yasuda - Bleh, have had so many better sushi meals than this one. Toro was fine, but other sushi and sashimi dishes were bland.

Tuesday Dinner
Blue Hill - Blown away here. If I lived in NYC, would probably be hitting this place weekly. Only complaint is how incredibly close table seating is to each other. The food was remarkable...and so thoughtful and creative. We each did Extended Farmers Feast and the extra 2 courses were stars along with the regular tasting menu. Every dish was overwhelming in the flavors. Really enjoyed this restaurant a lot and felt like food your body was meant to eat.

Wednesday Dinner
Daniel - Surprise highlight. Thought it would be kind of formal and uncomfortable and underwhelming; but was totally wrong. Room is beautiful of course, and the service team had lots of personality and the food was fantastic and surprisingly creative and playful. Added a supplement of the gazpacho to go along with the Foie, the Lobster salad, and the Guinea Hen. The Foie and Guinea Hen were insane dishes - maybe the 2 best things I ate all week. Bread here too is nuts. On way out of restaurant, saw Chef Daniel; and my wife and I spoke with him for 20 minutes. He was incredibly down to earth and a very impressive and funny guy. I really think this should be a 3 star Michelin restaurant...they just do things right here...and hope they get their 3rd star back soon.

Thursday Lunch
Marea - Just did a pasta and risotto here for lunch and the marscapone dessert. Dessert was not good; but the Fusilli with Octopus and Bone Marrow was incredible and the mushroom risotto was pretty good. Surprised this place has 2 stars.

Friday Lunch
Le Bernardin - some of the most beautiful plates of food I've ever seen. Sauces and flavor combinations are one of a kind. Did 2 apps (Scallops and Tuna) and the skate plus the apricot dessert. Enjoyed all of them very much and imagine everything on their menu here is probably just as good. This is just a classy, confident restaurant...would love to try more of the dishes here as they have a huge menu and lots of the dishes sounded great.

Friday Dinner
Atera - Interestingly out of all the restaurants we had lined up, I was most excited for this one. I love Jose Andres E in Vegas and was thinking this would be the same - but maybe at just a higher level. I was really disappointed. The food was good but not great; but the Chef (Enborg) had ZERO personality and engagement...whereas at E, the chefs are very engaged. Chef Enborg's role all night was to mark off the dishes for each of the 8 parties dining there. He never asked about how we liked it, explained anything, or left the prep table. He rarely engaged with his staff and he stared blankly into the restaurant and made everyone feel like we were lucky to be there rather than them feel lucky to have us there. It was strange. The food is beautiful and some of the dishes were really good; but some were just too tricked out and ruined good ingredients. Caviar and pistacchio ice cream? The good dishes like the squab were teases because the portions were just so small. This was not 18 courses as advertised...way less...and honestly we were not full after the meal. Don't mind paying $250 a head at all; but want to be full and want the restaurant to not make me feel like I'm lucky to pay that much to be in the presence of their art/food. We did temperance paring, and I am glad because I've never seen so much wasted wine in the pours for those were pairing with wine....talking to a few folks, they found the wine matches clumsy and not all that great.


Overall, a super fun dining adventure and will absolutely make plans to go back to EMP, Daniel, Le Bernardin, and Blue Hill. I live in LA and Vegas and came away realizing just how amazing the NYC fine dining culture is. They're pros at it. Cannot think of 1 place in LA that I would put in the same league as the list above (maybe Ink, Nobu, Bazaar would slot in) and Vegas has a couple that I would put in the mix (Picasso, Atelier, Joel Robuchon); but the sheer quantity of great restaurants in NYC is staggering.
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