Pre-pandemic restaurants worth re-visiting

[Sneakeater]

Resources?

[Neocon maudit]

If by 'USC' Wilf meant Union Sq Cafe, indeed, not everyone has Danny Meyer's resources or pull [I will note here that I keep checking, but Maialino remains closed, so Meyer may be able to concentrate his current assets]. And Le Crocodile is in a posh [for Billyburg] hotel and used to offer even more dishes before the pandemic [twelve desserts!].

[Wilfrid]

I do have the impression that Le C has a captive audience of hotel guests.

I was surprised to see Si Chiamo open while Mailalino remains closed. I wonder if there's some problem with Maialino, because I think he opened everywhere else up.

[Sneakeater]

Hey if that’s what makes Le C open on Mondays (a HUGE gap in NYC dining right now) then let's be thankful.

[Orik]

Well the hotel kept Le C going even when there were no guests (and spent heavily on outdoors seating, although exactly a year ago it was still freezing cold) and their menu is shorter than before although still very long. 

I think everyone from Maialino found a job elsewhere so I'm not sure when and if it's going to reopen. 

[rozrapp]

1 hour ago, Wilfrid said:

I was surprised to see Si Chiamo open…

Just to note that the correct name is Ci Siamo.

[GerryOlds]

The Musket Room has been run by ex-Annisa chef Mary Attea since this past January.

Also, I'll follow Diego Moya (ex-Racines) anywhere. He's seemingly now cooking at June wine bar in Brooklyn (and apparently working with the restaurant group that owns June, Rucola, and other venues, as culinary director).

[Sneakeater]

I got excited about the Musket Room under Chef Attea until I looked at the menu.  VERY limited.

[Wilfrid]

2 hours ago, rozrapp said:

Just to note that the correct name is Ci Siamo.

Oopsie.

[Wilfrid]

45 minutes ago, Sneakeater said:

I got excited about the Musket Room under Chef Attea until I looked at the menu.  VERY limited.

I can go once and eat the duck with turnips. But then I’d need a reason to go again. Le C’s menu I agree is shorter than it once was, but it does change.

I am trying not to just go to Le C every week, but it would be easy. I haven’t had the duck with sunchoke and chanterelles yet.

[small h]

23 hours ago, Sneakeater said:

I think you owe it to yourself to try it.

ANYTHING is better deep-fried.

Is there anything I should also get? (You know what I eat.) Like, is the soondubu better than BCD? Thinking of going this coming Thursday. I'll probably be solo, unless I can get my friends who live down the street to come, but she's a kosher-esque rabbi and other she's a vegan, so probably not.

ETA: Hold the phone. The rabbi is in. I will report back!

[Sneakeater]

This is a Real Restaurant with a Real Chef (shit, they run Gage & Fucking Tollner).  So I wouldn't worry too much about what might be good or bad and just order what appeals.

[AaronS]

that’s not my experience of that place pre-pandemic.

[Sneakeater]

Oh really?  That's interesting.  What didn't you like?  The only thing I ever had there that I thought wasn't very good-to-excellent was barbecued mushrooms (the one time I ate in the dining room instead of the bar).

[Sneakeater]

WAIT!  FLASH!  IMPORTANT ADVICE FOR SMALL H!

Do NOT eat in the actively unpleasant dining room.  Eat in the quite pleasant bar/lounge.  Sure, you give up the barbecue that way -- but (a) that appears not to be their strong suit and (b) that shouldn't matter to you and the vegan Rabbi in any event.  The bar/lounge is MUCH MUCH nicer.