[Stone]

Lookey there. Vong's in my building.

Went last night. Definitely good, but not great. Didn't live up to the expectation.

We started with the "Black Plate" appetizer sampler. Lobster/daikon rolls, crab springrolls, tuna sashimi rolls, a lightly coated/fried shrimp thing (I think it's their shrimp toast); and duck rolls. Also an order of pork satay.

Going around the plate: the lobster/daikon rolls were very bland. Nothing special at all. Crab springrolls quite good. Strong crab flavor, crisp, not oily. Tuna sashimi -- bland again. The shrimps were excellent. Plumb and juicy. I didn't much care for the duck rolls. The duck was a little gamey for me.

The pork satay was very good. moist and tender. not overcooked.

I ordered the spiced cod. A good sized piece of cod with a crushed spice coating (lots of corriander, some cumin). The fish meat was good and moist. The spice coating got in the way. And the decorative dipping sauce was much too strong. Like srichaya with more spices dumped in.

Service was very friendly, but not attentative.

Dinner for three with a bottle of wine was about $210 (with tip).

[Wilfrid1]

I used to work nearby, and would lunch here occasionally. I remain intrigued by the huge fuss which greeted 61 - meantime, no-one talks about Vong any more. I mean, this is the first time in years I have come across someone eating at Vong.

[Slapsie Maxie]

I had a fairly grim lunch here a few years ago with a chum from Random House.

Made much more fun by watching ex NYC mayor, Ed Koch(sp?) being very flirtatious with every passing waitress as he dined alone

S

[Orik]

Slapsie Maxie, on May 14 2004, 02:20 PM, said:

Ed Koch(sp?) being very flirtatious with every passing waitress as he dined alone

That's kind of surprising.

We had dinner there about 6 years ago. Wasn't bad, but no reason to return (I seem to recall a very nice dish of lobster curry with Apples, or was it prawn curry?). I don't think the menu has changed since.

edit: yes, it was the lobster. recipe here.

[Slapsie Maxie]

Orik, on May 14 2004, 01:38 PM, said:

Slapsie Maxie, on May 14 2004, 02:20 PM, said:

Ed Koch(sp?) being very flirtatious with every passing waitress as he dined alone

That's kind of surprising.

why's that? I wouldn't have known him from Adam, but my friend was impressed.

Liberty print braces as I recall.

Oh, I liked their metal teapots

S

[Stone]

Slapsie Maxie, on May 14 2004, 02:09 PM, said:

Orik, on May 14 2004, 01:38 PM, said:

Slapsie Maxie, on May 14 2004, 02:20 PM, said:

Ed Koch(sp?) being very flirtatious with every passing waitress as he dined alone

That's kind of surprising.

why's that? I wouldn't have known him from Adam, but my friend was impressed.

Liberty print braces as I recall.

S

According to the rumors, he prefers waiters.

[Slapsie Maxie]

Stone, on May 14 2004, 02:12 PM, said:

Slapsie Maxie, on May 14 2004, 02:09 PM, said:

Orik, on May 14 2004, 01:38 PM, said:

Slapsie Maxie, on May 14 2004, 02:20 PM, said:

Ed Koch(sp?) being very flirtatious with every passing waitress as he dined alone

That's kind of surprising.

why's that? I wouldn't have known him from Adam, but my friend was impressed.

Liberty print braces as I recall.

S

According to the rumors, he prefers waiters.

I said flirting, not shagging

S

[Slapsie Maxie]

Is there evidence that he may be a "friend of Wilfrids"

[Wilfrid1]

Is that more than one Wilfrid, or did you intend the possessive form?

[Slapsie Maxie]

Wilfrid, on May 14 2004, 02:29 PM, said:

Is that more than one Wilfrid, or did you intend the possessive form?

he leers like you

[Stone]

Slapsie Maxie, on May 14 2004, 02:20 PM, said:

Is there evidence that he may be a "friend of Wilfrids"

Flirting, yes; not shagging.

[Rail Paul]

Orik, on May 14 2004, 02:38 PM, said:

We had dinner there about 6 years ago. Wasn't bad, but no reason to return (I seem to recall a very nice dish of lobster curry with Apples, or was it prawn curry?). I don't think the menu has changed since.

We had dinner there last summer, and that summarizes my thoughts as well.

Some pieces were interesting, and nothing was bad, but there wasn't a compelling reason to return quickly. I think I wrote something about it on eG or OA.

[Tuckerman]

Are you talking about Jean Georges, or somewhere different? I had a lovely lunch there today. Will write it up tomorrow.

[Rail Paul]

Tuckerman, on May 14 2004, 07:47 PM, said:

Are you talking about Jean Georges, or somewhere different? I had a lovely lunch there today. Will write it up tomorrow.

Vong is another Vongerichten joint, just off the corner of Third avenue and maybe 54th. There was some discussion about Vong's role in the universe when 66 opened last year.

[awbrig]

Vong - Chicago never really made it like it did in NYC...They eventually made it into a more casual place - VTK - Vong's Thai Kitchen- which gets consistently awful reviews...the location is pretty poor too.. :(