Category: New York

Eat, Drink and Stay Guide (New York)

The restaurant scene in New York is very fluid, so I would do your research before you go, and book the top end restaurants at least a month in advance.   Here are some of my favorites (they have been around for years, which is a good sign):-

Gotham Bar and Grill –  a class act, and one of New Yorks Michelin Star restaurants.

Blue Water Grill – Great for Brunch

Eleven Madison Park – stylish Michelin starred highly acclaimed restaurant, great deserts.

Red Cat – Very cool, very New York

The Plaza – Just one of these places you have to visit once.

Other recommendations

Cafe Sabarsky – Tucked away within the Neue Gallerie in Upper East Side, great for Viennese pastries.

Bryant Park Grill – the outdoor bar for drinks

Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square – it has a revolving Restaurant and Bar. Just go for the Bar (The View), its a great way to see New York, and yes I do believe it is the hotel where Arnie took the horse into the lift in True Lies.

Dylan Hotel – it’s a boutique Hotel in an excellent location, just next to Grand Central station so perfect for public transport, which along with walking is the only way to do Manhattan.

Roof Garden Cafe at the Metropolitan Museum – open from May through to November (weather permitting – except for Mondays), fabulous views over Central Park. The elevator to the roof is hard to find, so you may need to ask a guard.

 

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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