A Guy in New York » Blog Archive » This Week in Reviews

This Week in Reviews – August 19, 2005

Each Friday, AGINY publishes “This Week in Reviews,” with quick links to New York City restaurant reviews and mentions from the previous seven days in blogs, magazines, and newspapers.

gothamist reports that two more cream puff places are opening in the West Village … “the Village might just be cream puff central.”
Plate of the Day declares her love … for Cafe Himalaya … “very tasty and I love the home cooking aspect of this place.” … 78 E 1st Street, 212-358-0160 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Kate Crane says the lentil soup at Candle Cafe “might be my favorite soup in the city” … she sounds unsure … but she describes the chipotle grilled tofu and the porcini-walnut crusted seitan as “flawless” … “Can-Delight Dinner: Uptown, upscale cause for celebration” … 1307 Third Avenue at 75th Street, 212-472-0970 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
eat drink one woman has a great post, “Top 21 foods I’ll go to a restaurant specifically for” … we agree with her choice of Nyonya for roti canai … fantastic … you can almost make a meal out of 2 servings … but we’re going to part ways on the dumplings … the “best dim-sum in Chinatown is at Chatham Restaurant” … OK, OK, she limited it to shrimp and chive dumplings at Dim Sum Go Go … Nyonya, 194 Grand Street between Mott and Mulberry, 212-334-3669 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Salli Vates ate at Soba Koh … Salli liked … “the homemade organic tofu, which was topped with a blanket of intensely green basil sauce and the aforementioned myoga and hot pepper. The spicy additions were a perfect foil for the cool, mild cubes of tofu.” … the soba special … and black sesame pudding … 309 East 5th Street, 212-254-2244 … [pics from Andrea’s Photo Blog] … [from Japan Guide: “Soba noodles are native Japanese noodles made of buckwheat flour (soba-ko) and wheat flour (komugi-ko).”]
Peter Meehan reviewed Saravanaas … a global chain out of India … “Exploring India, With a Southern Approach” … we’re impressed that they waited 18 months for a real Indian chef … and so is Mr. Meehan: “Just more than a month since opening, they are turning out some of the best South Indian food in the city.” … 81 Lexington Avenue at East 26th Street, 212-679-0204 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Steve Cuozzo, NYPost, looks at Mainland … “WOK ON OVER TO MAINLAND,” (rr), … liked the appetizers … pork dumplings … pot stickers … shellfish steamed in a claypot … but says “Entrees are less reliable” … (Gael Greene reviewed Mainland last week) … 1081 Third Ave. between East 63rd and 64th, 212-888-6333 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Frank Bruni gives 1 star to Bette … “The Rich, Dished Up to the Famous” … “a preserve for beautiful people that also happens to serve food” … that is “either refreshingly straightforward or stunningly unimaginative” … we can hardly wait to go … 461 West 23rd Street, 212-366-0404 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Jules at The Bruni Digest … also looks at Bette … “Bette (Part II): Still Irrelevant After All These Weeks” … “Frank reconfirms that Bette is a vanity trough with a nice interior, great fries and oddly heavy fare.” … she also posted “Taboon: Norwegian Woody” … the best part is “The Elton John of cooking implements.”
The Amateur Gourmet went to a few restaurants this week …including … Cafe Gray, and says, “the food at Cafe Gray is 3-star food, not 2-star food.” … liked the Braised Short Rib of Beef … and concludes, “If you’re looking for a ritzy gourmet dinner that’ll cost a pretty penny but excite your palate, I say go Gray. Ask for a table near the kitchen.” … 10 Columbus Circle, 212-823-6338 [MenuPages | Citysearch] .. he liked the tomato cucumber feta salad at Mary’s Fish Camp … 64 Charles St., 646-486-2185 [MenuPages | Citysearch] … thought the “hamburger tasted like meatloaf … (concluding) food at 21 is pretty ok and pretty expensive for just being pretty ok. Yet, I think it can be said you don’t go there for the food.” … but the best part was the bathroom … 21 West 52nd Street, 212-582-7200 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Adam Platt reviews BLT Prime and Craftbar in “Sizing Up: At Craftbar and BLT Prime, bigger is not necessarily always better.” … “I don’t quite know why the same pork chop tends to taste better in a small restaurant than in a larger one, but it does.” … see more reviews of BLT Prime below … Craftbar, 900 Broadway at East 20th Street, 212-461-4300 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Tables for Two didn’t like “BLT Prime“… “There’s little to complain about, but not much that will transport you, especially on the steak end of the menu, where lightly seasoned slabs of beef are excellently turned out but hardly exceptional.” … and “The sundaes, though, might be considered the place’s mascot: excessive, indulgent, and forgettable.” …Ouch … (Andrea Strong didn’t like the desserts either) … 111 East 22nd Street, 212-995-8500 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Moira Hodgson … last week in The New York Observer … says the service … and the food … are hit or miss … at Table XII … “the food ranges from wonderful to bizarre, and the service varies from charming to rude.” … do you feel lucky? … “This Table Looks Opulent, But the Dishes Are Uneven” … 109 East 56th Street (in the Lombardy Hotel), 212-750-5656 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
This week, she reviews Plate NYC … “If you wander into Plate NYC during the day, you won’t find a restaurant; you’ll find a shop and a bar.” … 264 Elizabeth Street, 212-219-9212 [MenuPages | Citysearch]
Gotham Gal declares, “Hands down the best place on the entire Eastern End of Long Island is the Clam Bar.” 2025 Montauk Highway, Amagansett, 631-267-6348 [Citysearch]
Gael Greene says it’s “It’s shakedown time” at Perry Street …
but Andrea Strong liked Perry Street … “a rare and lovely restaurant” … had “a salad that may be one of the most exquisite and exciting compositions I have eaten all summer.” … and has tips for getting a table … 176 Perry Street just off West Side Hwy, 212-352-1900 [Citysearch]