52 replies to this topic

[Sneakeater]

That nails it, I think.

Agree. That nails it.

Interestingly, my veal meatballs with kasha -- a dish you'd expect to be bland -- was also overspiced. Strange tendency for this place.

[Stone]

I really wanted to like this place. I ordered a martini and, although they only carry fancy gins that taste more like cucumber facial scrub than gin, the bartender reached for a bottle of vermouth and added a good pour into the glass. Bless their hearts. I also liked the room.

I didn't think the menu was all that interesting. When I ordered kasha varnishkes as an appetizer, I was surprised that the waitress knew what I was talking about. Of course, this wasn't that. It wasn't very good either. The veal meatballs were completely bland and had a little too much bite to them. The pasta was good, but what little kasha there was soaked up a damp pool of overpowering sauce that tasted like little more than reduced beef stock. The individual pizza looked about as boring as possible. I'm told the peekytoe crab app and heirloom tomato apps were good. But, seriously, you sliced heirloom tomatoes and put them on slices of bread? Might as well just put some sliced figs on a plate.

I had the lobster as the main. Split, with the guts removed, and roasted, I think. I haven't had a lobster in over 20 years, I'm guessing. This didn't make me want to drive up to Maine.

The dessert of chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce and caramel corn was, well, why would a restaurant go through the trouble?

[changeup]

I don't think this restaurant is well liked here, but I continue to like it quite a bit. I find that they do a really good job of making sense of my nontrees based orders, coursing things better than I could have done, and splitting dishes with no prompting. They really get the pace right here despite a constantly and hectically full floor.

On the list of mandatory things I always order were the roasted carrot salad and the beets with yogurt. We also ordered a green bean salad, raw scallop, ricotta with rhubarb toast and the mushroom pizza. No real entrees or meat courses, the only good main I've had here is the fried chicken, so I generally avoid them. And once again only the toast wasn't great, I've never re-ordered any of their vaunted toasts (chicken liver, crab, heirloom tomato that I recall). I was dining with a cook from another well known NY restaurant, so the Chef sent us parmesan roasted squash (the same that accompanied the beef at JG for a while), some quinoa and an extra dessert. The squash was excellent, although frustratingly not on the menu that I can recall. Never had a less than excellent vegetable dish/salad.

Between all the courses and dessert we were very full, and with a handful of cocktails our bill was quite large, close to $100 per person if I recall. Its definitely expensive, I place it in the also expensive Casa Mono category - another restaurant I love, is also always on point, but ultimately don't go to as frequently due to the cost. Unlike all the other restaurants I spend that sort of money at, my scale didn't arbitrarily decide to add a handful of pounds to my weight the next morning which has it's benefits.

[joethefoodie]

I don't think this restaurant is well liked here, but I continue to like it quite a bit. I find that they do a really good job of making sense of my nontrees based orders, coursing things better than I could have done, and splitting dishes with no prompting. They really get the pace right here despite a constantly and hectically full floor.

On the list of mandatory things I always order were the roasted carrot salad and the beets with yogurt. We also ordered a green bean salad, raw scallop, ricotta with rhubarb toast and the mushroom pizza. No real entrees or meat courses, the only good main I've had here is the fried chicken, so I generally avoid them. And once again only the toast wasn't great, I've never re-ordered any of their vaunted toasts (chicken liver, crab, heirloom tomato that I recall). I was dining with a cook from another well known NY restaurant, so the Chef sent us parmesan roasted squash (the same that accompanied the beef at JG for a while), some quinoa and an extra dessert. The squash was excellent, although frustratingly not on the menu that I can recall. Never had a less than excellent vegetable dish/salad.

Between all the courses and dessert we were very full, and with a handful of cocktails our bill was quite large, close to $100 per person if I recall. Its definitely expensive, I place it in the also expensive Casa Mono category - another restaurant I love, is also always on point, but ultimately don't go to as frequently due to the cost. Unlike all the other restaurants I spend that sort of money at, my scale didn't arbitrarily decide to add a handful of pounds to my weight the next morning which has it's benefits.

I've been probably 3 - 4 times over the last year or so and agree. Sourced well and prepared well - just what they claim to be.

[oakapple]

I don't think this restaurant is well liked here, but I continue to like it quite a bit.

I liked it the one time I went, but I've always had the sense that it's difficult to reserve, so I haven't considered going back.

[wingding]

I like the food at ABC a lot,but the noisy,kind of snooty clientele ,most of whom have their faces stuck onto their handheld devices when they aren't screaming at each other,put me off.The teeny bar near the ABC store is nice for a light,relatively peaceful meal....great herbal drinks and salads...

[nuxvomica]

i have't been because this place is adored by friends who don't actually eat

[Nathan]

I liked it as well. Exactly what Joe said.

It's especially nice for lunch (and cheaper then).