There are a few places that do that but ABC is not one. Believe they have certain ingredients they know they can source but a restaurant of that consistency and turnover couldn't just use the farmers market.

Went to momofuku ssam.

got the uni, aged sirloin, mackerel bahn-mi, aged sirloin, pork shoulder, and the roasted lamb and belly.

uni was fantastic, mackerel was good if you need a familiar taste, aged sirloin meh, pork shoulder worst, and the lamb and belly was cooked skillfully. had the chocolate parfait, forgettable, and the sweet potato ice cream was different. had too many cocktails to remember each, but they were goot.

also went to ippudo recently, best ramen ever, but not quite fine dining. (also def get there early and have a big party or else they will turn you away)

saw traces on friday

would recommend it to anyone

There are some bread and baked goods vendors and several farms that produce cheese, but I've been going nearly every week for over a decade and am confused by your references to "prepared foods." Or were you referring to bread/pies/donuts/cheese?

If you go there early in the morning you'll see a LOT of white-jacketed chefs collecting deliveries for the day. Most of them are just collecting orders they'd placed ahead of time, so not exactly "going there with a shopping list," but I've seen chefs and vendors discussing the produce laid out for sale as well. Any home cook should be able to do most of their weekly shopping there on a Saturday, apart from things like spices and oils.

Are you perhaps thinking of the New Amsterdam Market, Sundays at South Street Seaport? They also have some produce and a few meat and cheese purveyors, but also several rows of prepared foods. I think of that as an attempt to build something in New York resembling London's amazing Borough Market.

Yes, that's what I mean. Lot's of food that is not just raw ingredients.

In cumulative terms this must happen a lot, but when you're witness to it it's special: the woman behind me at Wolfgang's last night sent her steak back twice because she wanted it well done. Cannot possibly explain how much I wanted her to be shot.

Did she ask for ketchup to put on it?

Went to Asiate last night, just a phenomenal meal. Did the tasting menu with wine pairings - 8 courses with 6 glasses. Highlights were tuna tartare and butter poached lobster. Wines included rose sparkling wine, sake, 2 whites (burgundy & Spanish) and 2 reds (Rioja & Sonoma Pinot Noir). Highly recommend.

I'm looking for a good place to spend New Years Eve with my gf, somewhere in Manhattan. We are trying to avoid the huge club atmospheres with hundreds of people and the music cranked so high you can't hear yourself speak (think: anywhere in Midtown). Last year we went to the Sunburnt Cow on 9th/C last year and it was pretty decent. Not too loud, had a DJ that wasn't overbearing, but definitely got cramped near the bar as the night went on.

Anyway, I was hoping someone had a good recommendation for a possible NYE hangout that is above standard pub quality but not a huge vegas type club (I guess a type of lounge?). Any reviews of past experiences are appreciated.

i took some coworkers to luger a few years back, about 10 people. 3 ordered fish and 4 of them wanted their steak well done. i had to basically threaten them with death to get them down to medium-well and luckily there were two other people there who wanted med-rare like civilized non-******ed human beings.

facepalm

Luger is the type of place where the staff will call you out if ordered incorrectly

I've probably mentioned this before but I always wonder what waiters can pull per week or so at a place like Peter Luger. Seems like an average tip has to be like over $40 with it not being that rare that a table of like 10 douche ibankers come in and get a $1500 meal.

Been to two really good new restaurants in the last month.

Tremont - On Bank Street in West Village by owners who have some restaurant in the Hamptons. Meal was great, really clean space, would be great for a date.

Tertulia - New Tapas Bar / Cider house from former chef of Boqueria. This may now beat Alta as my top Tapas Bar in the city. Walk-in only but wait was only about 30 minutes and I got to drink great tap cider as I waited (a highlight in itself). Phenomenal meal, the Jamon Iberico and the Pan Con Tomate were both as good as expected and the smoked pig cheek with a quail egg was devine. One of the few restaurants in the past 3 years that has beat a set of lofty expectations I had.

Have my Company holiday dinner at 11 Madison tomorrow and think we have a 5 course menu. Really pumped.

Jealous, it's a pain to get a reservation at Eleven Madison.

Sick brag about Eleven Madison. I went to my wife's company party at Del Posto and was disappointed with the fixed menu. Sometimes these private events don't feature the restaurant's best dishes. Sounds like you'll be getting the real deal, though.

Yeah, we have a guy in our office who knows restaurant people. Heard foie gras, lobster and some of the other highlights are definitely on the menu we are getting tonight.

Very excited and will take me to 4 of 5 three-star Michelin places in Manhattan (still need to go to Daniel).

I've been to several private events at Del Posto and they all sucked. EMP though has always been great both as a regular diner and for private events.

bout to hop on the train in secaucus and head into the city tonight and go to carmines for dinner with my family, i know there are much better places to eat in the city but i love carmines and am hella excited...the one in the theatre district not the other one

ok friends, sorry for not reading this thread, but looking for a nice place for somewhat poor folks to eat (15-20 per entree?). we live on the upper west side but will be going to the lion king after dinner, so theater district would be preferable, though we are open to anywhere.

i feel bad for being "that guy" and not reading the thread (i will go back and skim), but i wanted to post this and hopefully some of you nice fellas and fellettes can help. thanks!

If you don't mind doing your pre-theater dinner in the UWS, I had a nice, reasonably priced meal at Kefi (Columbus near 85th) the last time I was up there.

looks very good to me, but im going with picky eaters who probably have never had greek, im exploring on yelp and menu pages so ill come back with a list and ask about them, but still would love suggestions in this thread! and extra points if you have a friend of a friend who may be willing to get us in somewhere

Lion king is awesome,saw it years ago and loved it...enjoy sir!

Off the top of my head...

Virgils for BBQ - mid 40's between Broadway & 6

Faces & Names is a nice bar in the winter (fireplace in the back), with a pretty solid bar menu - mid 50's between 6 & 7

Vice Versa - low 50's between 7 & 8 (maybe 8 & 9), Italian restaurant with entrees on the high end of your range

Eatery - low 50's on 9th ave, American menu (mac & cheese is awesome)

Five Napkin Burger - 9th ave in mid 40's, pretty much how it sounds, with some other sandwiches and I believe sushi.

thanks.
eatery is on our short list.
theres just so many restaurants, could literally spend hours looking at menus and deciding.
if anyone has a must-go-to that is reasonably price for bustos, i'd love to hear it!

Koreatown, centered on 32nd between 5th and 6th, has a bunch of good places. Entrees should be around the top of your range, or very low 20s, but since they include a big spread of apps (banchan) you shouldn't need to order more than that. There are two excellent Sichuan places on W. 39th, Szechuan Gourmet and Lan Sheng. Szechuan Gourmet was excellent on a couple of visits around 2 years ago, but recent reports suggest it's slipped a bit and Lan Sheng has overtaken it.

Il Melograno is a good and very reasonably priced Italian place around 10th and 51st. I'd also second the rec for Five Napkin Burger.