27 replies to this topic

[Wilfrid1]

I saw some history of this Harlem restaurant - way over on the East Side, almost at the Macombs Bridge. Been in the same family some seventy years, and used to attract the odd celebrity. Looks like an unhyped Rao's. Anyone had any experience with it?

[mitchells]

I saw some history of this Harlem restaurant - way over on the East Side, almost at the Macombs Bridge. Been in the same family some seventy years, and used to attract the odd celebrity. Looks like an unhyped Raoul's. Anyone had any experience with it?

Do you mean Rao's?

[Wilfrid1]

Sorry. Amended.

[Wilfrid1]

Found an entry in the 2004 Time Out guide (presumably it's in this year too). Wood-panelled dining room, waiters in red jackets with bow-ties, traditional dishes but also some modern-sounding ones. Might be worth a venture, for historical interest.

Omni, you're nearest: off you go.

[omnivorette]

I could probably convince Eyebrows to do this one. Hmm.

[Wilfrid1]

It's not the most convenient location. 155th on the D, or go to Yankee Stadium and walk back across the bridge. Nothing else in the neighborhood that I can find. Nearest bar I've heard of (St Nick's) is half a mile away.

Quite fascinating. Might be "unspoilt" - which could be a good or a bad thing. I think it gets some post-Yankee-game business.

[rozrapp]

Found an entry in the 2004 Time Out guide (presumably it's in this year too). 

Indeed, it is. Does the 2004 say this about the menu?

... mixes dishes like smoked duck breast and hoisin sauce with old-school favorites such as an antipasto plate of prosciutto and bresaola or veal medallions zingarella, which are buried under sauteed plum tomatoes, peppers and garlic cloves.

Btw, acc. to the entry, the founder named the restaurant after a racehorse that never won.

[omnivorette]

It's not the most convenient location. 155th on the D, or go to Yankee Stadium and walk back across the bridge. Nothing else in the neighborhood that I can find. Nearest bar I've heard of (St Nick's) is half a mile away.

There's this new invention. It's called a car I think.

[omnivorette]

http://www.villagevo...il.php3?id=2522

If you google "Flash Inn" (with the quotation marks), plenty of stuff comes up.

[Wilfrid1]

Yes, sounds like the same TONY entry for both years. Omni, thanks for the offer of a lift.

[omnivorette]

Okay, so we ended up at Flash Inn tonight, after a day of major wandering through the Bronx. More on the crawl later.

We loved Flash Inn. Open since 1937. A major time warp. I'll post details, but let's just say this for now: our waiter, whose nickname is "Champion," has worked there for 23 years.

We were served, along with our plate of salumi, a complete round of some of the best mozzarella di buffala I've ever had. "The Boss" told me that it's made in Battipaglia, a place in Italy I had never heard of.

More later.

[omnivorette]

Just looked some stuff up. Battipaglia is near Caserta, which I knew to be "the" place for mozzarella di buffala. Apparently both of these places are known for this. Dominic DeMarco gets his from Caserta (which is where he grew up, by the way). Not far from Napoli.

[Wilfrid1]

Oh, well done. I'll hurry up there as soon as I can. You never know when a place like this will turn into a Chinese takeaway or a branch of Sephora.

[omnivorette]

The place is seriously dingy. There were a couple of tables of regular who obviously love it and know everybody. They had a few very expensive bottles on the list - Sassicaia, fine champagnes, etc. The owner sent us over glasses of B&B with our coffees.

This is the kind of place you really should go in a car.

[Wilfrid1]

This is the kind of place you really should go in a car.

Any reason?