Wilfrid Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 And today's award for understatement goes to Eater, introducing the new list of "affordable-ish restaurants where diners can, we’re told, enjoy two courses plus a glass of wine or dessert for $40. Or that’s how the official narrative goes." Emphasis added. Is that with tax and tip? ETA: Okay, excluding tax and tip. So if you can find wine for $10, two $15 small plates perhaps? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 I'm not going to go through the whole list, but Olmsted: no. Oiji: No. Untitled: are you nuts? Entrees are $30. Of course, if one reads "two courses" as two of the cheapest appetizers (or an app and a side, or two "snacks"), one can just about get there: but that's surely not the original intention of Bib Gourmand. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lex Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 The Bib Gourmands were released today. Two quick observations. Somtum Der now appears on the BG list - it had previously had a star. That was just nuts - it was a decent neighborhood Thai place, nothing more. If you ordered carefully you could put together an OK meal but nowhere in the league of Ayada or Sripraphai. We go occasionally if we're in the area but the star made it hard to book. When word gets around that should ease up. Zaab Elee was dropped and I rejoice. I had 2 of the worst Thai meals of my life at that hellhole and refused to go back. Deb initially liked it but found that the food gradually declined. For the obsessive among you I put together a handy comparison chart matching the 2016 list with 2017. I'll post it in sections. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 Hmm, I wonder if Faro is in the running for a star? It would seem odd to demote it as it's been getting better. But then I remind myself that this is all pretty random. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lex Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Hmm, I wonder if Faro is in the running for a star? It would seem odd to demote it as it's been getting better. But then I remind myself that this is all pretty random. Random is the key word. Every year a number of rankings make no sense at all. Olmstead on the BG list? A number of people here who I trust a lot are going to be cranky about that. Perhaps we can draw a pentagram on the floor and summon Oakapple back here. He always has some interesting things to say about the list. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 Oiji? Untitled? Similarly with those, maybe a star rather than removal of all ranking. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lex Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 I think the stars are being released next week. We can start sharpening our knives now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Not that I care, but it's hard to construct a judgment metric under which The Finch is a better restaurant than Olmsted. Also, how can IBAV only be a Bib Gourmand if it has three NYT stars? [sarcasm emoji] 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 At least we're safe from Kings County Imperial's getting a star. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Don't tell the folks on CH about Crispo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Lex, those lists are great. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lex Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Lex, those lists are great. Thanks. My pleasure. Continuing my mini rants, I notice that John Brown's Smokehouse remains on the BG list. About 4 years ago I joined another MF member for beers and BBQ at Brown's. The beer and company were fine. The BBQ, OTOH, were inexcusably bad. Dry. Tasteless. We had 3 or 4 things and shared. I recall ordering their house made pastrami and having to beg, really beg for mustard. The pastrami was bad too. Yes, maybe they were having an off night but I'll be damned if I'd try it again. Bib Gourmand my ass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rozrapp Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Lex, those lists are great. Thanks. My pleasure. Continuing my mini rants, I notice that John Brown's Smokehouse remains on the BG list. About 4 years ago I joined another MF member for beers and BBQ at Brown's. The beer and company were fine. The BBQ, OTOH, were inexcusably bad. Dry. Tasteless. We had 3 or 4 things and shared. I recall ordering their house made pastrami and having to beg, really beg for mustard. The pastrami was bad too. Yes, maybe they were having an off night but I'll be damned if I'd try it again. Big Gourmand my ass. We've had something from John Brown's Smokehouse only once. In 2012, they had a booth in the summer pop-up Pier NYC on Roosevelt Island. We had the brisket sandwich. The meat was awful. Dry, dry, dry! So, perhaps your experience wasn't an aberration. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 I was there. It was dreadful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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