No Expert – Page 50 – No Expert …but I know what I like

Gotham Bar and Grill – Pow and Ka-boom!

The Gotham Bar and Grill is a class act, and one of New Yorks Michelin Star restaurants. It was recommended by a friend who has been making annual pilgrimages here from Scotland for well over 15 years now. We have not been there quite so often, but have managed to visit a few times for lunch. We found it to be a quiet refuge from the crowds, an excellent place to relax and enjoy good quality food and wine. On one visit they had a power cut, which the staff handled with ease, turning what could have been a disaster into a pleasant candle lit experience.

The following video gives a good overview of what the restaurant is all about:-

The name of course I have always found amusing especially since the chef is called “Alfred” and my Scottish friend has mentioned in the past a very helpful member of staff called “Robin”. 😉

Update : October 2009 – The Gotham Bar and Grill successfully maintained its Michelin Star in this years awards.

Marks out of 10

Food 6.9

Service 7.5

Ambience 7

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Eleven Madison Park – Sweet success!

I enjoyed Eleven Madison Park, the place has style.

On the food front I especially remember a sharing dessert platter.

It was way too big for us to finish, which may have been the idea, as they were only too happy to box it up for us to take back to our Hotel. It was absolutely yummy, just thinking about it gives me a sugar rush!.

UPDATE February 2010 – It seems like Eleven Madison Park is not loosing its touch, Andy Hayler gave it very high marks in his recent review.

See 11 Madison Park Review

UPDATE : September 2011 – Danny Meyer may be selling Eleven Madison Park, see http://www.tinyurls.co.uk/1q1 for details.

UPDATE : October 2011 – Eleven Madison Parks has been awarded 3 Michelin stars. It is also definitely being sold, for details see Eater artical.

Marks out of 10

Food 6.9

Service 7

Ambience 7

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Blue Water Grill – buzzing for brunch

The Blue Water Grill is in a prime location right in the heart of Union Square.

bwg

It’s an excellent venue for Sunday brunch, with a really good buzz. You can not reserve the outside seating, that is allocated on a first come basis, but if you do book, I would recommend trying to get a table near the windows.

Marks out of 10

Food 6

Service 6

Ambience 6

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The Plaza – New York, New York!

Lunch at the Plaza, it’s like Tea at the Ritz, you just can’t go to New York and not pop in.

Lovely room, friendly staff and a surprisingly good lunch deal. Worth checking if this is still available following the Plaza’s recent refurbishment.

Marks out of 10

Food 5

Service 6

Ambience 7

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Craft – Short sighted? No, just don’t see the attraction!

Tom Collichio’s Craft restaurant in New York is the epitome of style over substance. Not clever to make the menu font so small, to justify the gimmick of giving out reading glasses to the “short sighted”.

My main problem with the meal was that you are meant to mix and match the elements that you order. Excuse me but surely that is part of the art in preparing a course and one that the chef should take care of. He or she should be the expert in matching the ingredients on the plate. That’s what I’m paying you for.

This video explains why they choose this mix and match concept:-

Did not work for me, not surprised it lost its Michelin star.

Food 5/10

Service 0 (the man at the next table was choking and was ignored! – eventually with a lot of effort his wife managed to get him a glass of water).

Ambience !! (not important if everything else is wrong).

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Red Cat – very cool!

Really liked the Red Cat, it’s very cool, very New York.

On the plus side or maybe the negative side, the last time we were there was during the Republican Party Conference, so we had the Secret Service outside and someone from the Bush clan inside. Much to the horror of the dinners at the next table who were obviously Democrats.

Marks out of 10

Food 6

Service 6

Ambience 6.5

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