318 replies to this topic

[Wilfrid]

Couldn't they transform them into lumps of coal, or something? How boring.

[Anthony Bonner]

They weren't even serving them as a composed course. Just small pieces.

[Wilfrid]

Neo-post-modernism? They'll be serving slices of bread next.

[Anthony Bonner]

Neo-post-modernism? They'll be serving slices of bread next.

Hold yourself. I distinctly saw bread being offered.

Tho the waiter was actively discouraging people from getting the cheese.

[Orik]

The bread was pretty good (although I didn't really care for the one doused in pork fat, surprisingly) and the cheeses save you from one of the desserts, so the choice was obvious.

[Anthony Bonner]

The bread was pretty good (although I didn't really care for the one doused in pork fat, surprisingly) and the cheeses save you from one of the desserts, so the choice was obvious.

Did you not get the weird frozen cake then? That actually was sort of if not pleasant, a bit enjoyable

[Orik]

The bread was pretty good (although I didn't really care for the one doused in pork fat, surprisingly) and the cheeses save you from one of the desserts, so the choice was obvious.

Did you not get the weird frozen cake then? That actually was sort of if not pleasant, a bit enjoyable

I'm sorry to say we didn't. Did you have the weird frozen host?

[Wilfrid]

No Religion Please.

[Sneakeater]

In case you were wondering whether Pete Wells thinks Atera is as good as Il Buco Alimentaria e Vintoteca: he does.

[Wilfrid]

A curious review. So many things sounded dreadful, from the "snacks" through

...lobe of sweetbreads was glazed in a savory hazelnut caramel that wasn’t really savory enough. Lumpfish roe in a sourdough slurry seemed to be aiming for a taramosalata effect, but it didn’t have the same briny pungency, and the fish eggs were distractingly grainy...

...that I felt I was reading a two star review. But two stars for a $150 minimum restaurant would have been a harsh blow.

[oakapple]

A curious review. . . . But two stars for a $150 minimum restaurant would have been a harsh blow.

Right; it would have been a death knell. I'm glad to see The Times rewarding such a place; it doesn't happen anywhere near often enough.

[Anthony Bonner]

A curious review. . . . But two stars for a $150 minimum restaurant would have been a harsh blow.

Right; it would have been a death knell. I'm glad to see The Times rewarding such a place; it doesn't happen anywhere near often enough.

Maybe I'm dense - why should the Times reward such a place

[Suzanne F]

A curious review. So many things sounded dreadful, from the "snacks" through

...lobe of sweetbreads was glazed in a savory hazelnut caramel that wasn't really savory enough. Lumpfish roe in a sourdough slurry seemed to be aiming for a taramosalata effect, but it didn't have the same briny pungency, and the fish eggs were distractingly grainy...

...that I felt I was reading a two star review. But two stars for a $150 minimum restaurant would have been a harsh blow.

Wells does state that he thinks Lightner is better at pastry than savory.

It could be interesting to read this side-by-side against the review of the predecessor in that space.

ETA for AB: because food like that is still a Big Deal and out of the ordinary? Hey, if Wylie is taking notes while eating there, there must be something to it, right?

[Orik]

In case you were wondering whether Pete Wells thinks Atera is as good as Il Buco Alimentaria e Vintoteca: he does.

The service is better and the wine list most certainly better. I'm not sure the food is even as good.

[Wilfrid]

Maybe I'm dense - why should the Times reward such a place

In perpetual penance for the Bruni Gilt review.