Ask Alex What to Eat

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Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:27:11 -0500

Very Good Seafood

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:23:00 -0500

Alicia Asks:

“Do you have a recommendation for a very good seafood restaurant in Manhattan? This is on behalf of my father, who is a huge fan of yours!”

Very good seafood gives me a lot of room so here are my thoughts:

If money was no object, every time I wanted to eat fish I would go to Le Bernadin. I know it’s been around forever and some fear that it’s a little tired, but it’s hands down the best seafood I’ve ever eaten. I’ve been there a few times now, most recently about 2 months ago and it’s still such a spectacular experience. They knew, based on my phone number when I made a reservation, what my (really my fathers… but still) dietary restrictions were and what seating preferences I had. Really just the best there is.

If I’m looking for something casual and not bankruptcy-enducing, I head to Pearl Oyster Bar on Cornelia St. in the West Village. It’s a Maine-style seafood joint with the best lobster roll in the city and just really nice, simple fish. Also, the beer and the blueberry pie. Awesome. It can be loud and crowded but worth it.

For something kind of in the middle, Blue Ribbon Braserie in SoHo (or the original in Brooklyn…) isn’t purely a seafood restaurant, but it’s a big part of why it’s gotten such acclaim. It’s one of the best raw bars in the city with some fantastic oysters, clams, and everything else. The paella is perfect and the trout was really nice. Everything that I’ve ever seen come out of the kitchen looks great and the space is really nice. It’s also a big late-night chef hangout, so I guess that’s pretty telling.

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Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:29:54 -0400

BYOB Birthday Dinner

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:27:24 -0400

“I am looking for a restaraunt for my bday dinner with a big group of girls. I want somewhere cute, but not too expensive. I was thinking about BYOB, but I know it is hard to find a good spot.”

Unfortunately I didn’t get any contact info for this question but I wanted to put up a quick answer for a place that I absolutely love. La Sirene is a really sweet little restaurant in SOHO serving absolutely fantastic French provencal fare. Everything I’ve tried has been delicious and it tastes even better along with the many bottles of wine you bring along with you. The cassoulet was classic and perfect as was the duck breast. The sabayon for desert was decadent, rich, mmmmm…. Anyway, it’s definitely my favorite BYOB and just wanted to put it out there.

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Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:01:23 -0400

Crickets...

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:00:37 -0400

Hey everyone! Sorry for the quiet around here lately. I’ve actually been planning my big move out to the west coast. The future of this blog is still a bit unknown but of course I am always here to ask. In the meantime, I have started a new blog, TellAlexWhatToEat.com. It’s my start to learning the ins and outs of the LA dining scene. Check it out!

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Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:46:38 -0400

Catching Up

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:44:46 -0400

Richa Asks:

“I’m meeting my best friend (who I haven’t seen in 8 months!) in manhattan on Saturday and we are looking for a casual, yet up and coming place to have lunch and drinks. Our conversations go for hours, so we want to be able to hear each other speak and preferably have outdoor seating. This will probably be the last time we see each other for quite some time and we really want to make this as memorable as possible. What do you suggest?”

Probably my favorite restaurant that’s opened in the last year or so (and a fantastic lunch spot) is Locanda Verde on Greenwich and North Moore. It’s really well executed, authentic Italian but still manages to be interesting and exciting. While I wouldn’t call it cheap it’s still a great deal for the level of service and food that’s being served. They have some very nice outdoor seating but the restaurant itself is very open and airy, as well. You have to try the roasted chicken and the various crostini.

Although not quite “up and coming”, there’s this very intimate panini spot on Bedford and Downing called Ino. Every sandwich that I’ve had there has been amongst the best things between two pieces of bread that I’ve ever eaten. The space is really tiny and intimate, a great spot to catch up with an old friend and have some nice vino. Prices are great.

Nearby there’s a great new pizza place, as well. Keste Pizzeria on Bleecker and Morton is an authentic napolitan-style pizza joint putting out nicely charred, simple pies alongside a few more interesting ones from their gorgeous brick oven. Pizza stays pretty cheap, leaving room for some even more wine.

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Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:50:18 -0400

Happy Hour on the UWS

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:48:00 -0400

Sara Asks:

“I need a Happy Hour place on the Upper West Side for tonight for 3 girls to catch up. Cheap drinks and eats. Any suggestions?”

I haven’t been yet, but I’ve been hearing some really good early feedback about Gus and Gabriel Gastropub on 79th between Amsterdam and Broadway. It’s diner/bar food done well — I’ve heard unbelievable things about the mac and cheese, the corn soup, and the deserts. They also have a really extensive beer and liquor list. Prices seem pretty reasonable.

Silk Road Palace on Amsterdam and 81st is a pretty typical Chinese (Szechuan) spot and the food is pretty good. The real reason that anyone really goes is that they serve you unlimited free boxed wine when you order an entree. Like I said, the food is usually nothing that awe-inspiring, but it’s pretty solid Chinese and it tastes pretty awesome after 4 or 5 glasses of cheap wine.

The only other option I know of doesn’t have a full bar (although they do serve beer and wine) but it is very cheap and very delicious. Hummus Place on Amsterdam and 74th st is probably the best hummus (and a really solid shot at the best falafel) in the city. It’s pretty hard to spend much over $15/ person when entrees are $6-$9 and the space is actually really nice. I also love their shakshuka, which is a a tomato sauce sauteed with two eggs over easy served with pita… simple and really nice.

Let me know how it goes and thanks for trying out my site!

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Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:16:28 -0400

Fish, Steak, or Italian on the East Side

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:16:00 -0400

Amanda Asks:

“I’m going out tonight with a group of 5 and we are looking for somewhere in the Gramercy/Midtown East area (as long as it is in close proximity to 26th and 3rd ave). The only stipulations I’m getting from the people I’ll be dining with are that it’s either Italian, Steak, or fish, and that it has a great atmosphere. One thing I know is that I’m not looking for your run-of-the-mill Italian restaurant that has a menu full of pasta dishes. Got anything for me, Alex?”

It’s an old standby but I really do love the Grand Central Oyster Bar. Maybe it’s their beautiful old-New York feel but I have a hard time not grabbing some oysters when I’m hungry in the area. While I really can’t vouch for much else on the menu, I’ve always enjoyed their raw bar and the space is really pretty special. The service can definitely be spotty and rushed at times but I still love it… I hear they do a decent steak, too.

For some good, straightforward bistro food (nice steaks) in the area, I like Les Halles on Park Ave. between 28th and 29th (Les Halles Homepage). I was hesitant to try it for a while because of the attention it gets from chef Anthony Bourdain, but the food really does hold up. The atmosphere is classic bistro — warm, although a bit hectic at times and they do a great steak frites along with other classics, all executed very well.

You might also think about the front room at Gramercy Tavern on 20th between Broadway and Park Ave (Website here…). They don’t take reservations for the front room and the prices are a lot more relaxed then they are in the formal dining room but the food is still just as expertly prepared. While I certainly wouldn’t call it a ‘fish’ place, some of their seafood dishes are amongst my favorite in the city. Everything is always fresh, seasonal and classically executed with impeccable but comfortable service.

Hope I was of some help - please don’t hesitate to ask again!

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Wed, 06 May 2009 01:07:49 -0400

Wine and Some Food Near Times Square

Wed, 06 May 2009 01:07:00 -0400

Hilary Asks:

“I am going to a charity event in Times Square and need to find a place to eat afterwards around 9pm. I don’t want to stay in Times Square but it needs to be somehwere relatively close. I’m looking for small plates/good appetizers, strong wine selection and a lounge-y atmosphere. Needs to have a bit of style to it. Suggestions?”

My first suggestion would be The Modern at MOMA. While its certainly not cheap, the front room/bar sounds perfect for what you’re looking for. Great small plates, fantastic wine list and one of the sexiest spaces in the city.

If Columbus Circle isn’t too far then think about some of the spaces in the Time Warner Building. Bouchon Bakery is one of my favorites.. Great wines, great wine-food, and awesome deserts. Also check out Clo, the wine bar on the 4th floor - I’m pretty sure they serve some light food and it’s a really cool spot.

Let me know how it goes!

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Fri, 01 May 2009 18:13:44 -0400

New and Trendy

Fri, 01 May 2009 18:13:00 -0400

Greg Asks:

“i want to know your 3 favorite new restaurants that you would send me to with a few friends…one criteria is it is downtown…the other 2 criteria is of course the food and the other is trendiness…good looking crowd…weight those 2 criteria 50/50 interested to see what you come back with thanks”

I really like Scarpetta, on 14th and 9th Ave. It’s just the right amount of trendy and sexy with some fantastic food to back it up. The spaghetti with tomato and basil might be the most perfectly executed in the city… and he gets the more complicated dishes down fantastically, too. The duck and foie gras ravioli were incredible and so were the scallops. The crowd was young and chic without being too… meatpacking.

Another idea is to check out one of the Momofuku restaurants. I absolutely love ko, but given their crazy online reservation system.. Ssam Bar on 2nd ave and 13th st is great, too. The waits can get really intense but the minimalist vibe is fun and so is the crowd. The steam buns are great and of course so is the ssam. This week, they rolled out a full drink menu and it looks pretty wild.

My last suggestion is probably pushing the idea of “trendiness” but it’s one of my favorite new openings. The newly reopened Minetta Tavern on MacDougal and Minetta Lane is a beautiful reconstruction of the 1937 restaurant and it might be the most classic-looking restaurant in NY now. The crowd, on the other hand, is pretty young and sexy… and the food is fantastic — classic French bistro. If you can get yourself to order it, the roasted bone marrow is incredible and so are all of the steaks that I tried. If you can manage it, the grand marnier souffle was light and delicious.

Sorry for the delay but I hope I was of some help!

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Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:45:28 -0400

Springing

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:44:00 -0400

Emily Asks:

“Lower Manhattan around 6:30/7pm — preferably within short walking distance of Broaday and Grand St.. Pretty flexible about cuisine (not feeling like Chinese, Thai or Vietnamese though). What i do want is a place to enjoy the beautiful weather. Outdoors, rooftop, giant open windows/doors or just a nice view. Also, would prefer not to break the bank on this one. Just want something fun, easy and extremely delicious. Since I am in the hospitality industry, I can be kind of tough on service, so someplace where service doesn’t suck would be good too!”

My first suggestion I actually stumbled back across yesterday when I noticed the outdoor seating at Kitchen Club, on Prince and Mott. It’s a great French/Japanese with some really creative and delicious dumplings alongside some slightly more French-leaning entrees. The staff is incredibly friendly - I’m sure a big part of why it’s become a neighborhood go-to in NoLita for so long.

There are a couple of tables outside at Bistro Les Amis, on Thompson and Spring St. It’s a well-priced French bistro with some very good food and nice service. Although the outdoor seating can be a little hectic with all of the street traffic in SoHo, Thompson st. still manages to preserve a good amount of its sweetness while you eat. There are some very nice salads and fresh seafood - all wonderful Spring-y foods.

Lastly, one of my favorite pizza places is just up the street on Thompson and Houston. Arturo’s makes fantastic, classic pizzas from their coal oven and also has a few tables outside. Although I usually love to sit inside and listen to their live jazz along with my pie, it is hard to argue with a 90°+ day. I love the classic pie along with some broccoli rabbe on the side… definitely your cheapest option here.

Enjoy the weather!

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Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:06:36 -0400

Large Party Coming into Town

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:00 -0400

Phairgrrl Asks:

“I have a party of 11 relatives who’ll be touring NYC all week in April, and staying in the 20s near Park. While we are going on Friday night to Pastis, I need some othger easy dinner options for a large group… including one which wouldn’t require a reservation. Are we doomed to TGI Friday’s? Please say no.”

One place that I like a lot for large parties is actually right near Pastis - Fig & Olive on 13th between 9th Ave and Washington. It’s refreshingly airy inside and the food follows suit; simple and freshly prepared Greek / Mediterranean food. I’ve loved their carpaccio, both the vegetarian zucchini and the beef. The pastas and salads are great, too - making use of their simple but great products.

For a nice and intimate meal, Blue Ribbon Bakery on Downing and Bedford does take reservations for groups of 5 or more. The stone basement has a beautiful spot that would be the perfect size for a party just about your size. It’s a working bakery and their breads are fantastic which produces some fantastic crostini. I love all the fish that I’ve tried as well as other straightforward mains: rack of lamb, fried chicken, duck confit… all wonderfully executed and comforting.

For large parties without reservations my first instinct is to go with some family-style places in chinatown. My favorite is probably Joe’s Shanghai at 9 Pell, between Bowery and Mott st. It’s communal seating but you will likely fill one of their very large round tables. All of their food, from the scallion pancakes to some of the more exotic seafood is amongst some of the best I’ve tried in the city. The absolute winner and requirement for a trip to Joe’s, however is the soup dumplings… meaning dumplings filled with incredible soup.

Let me know how it works out!