Author Archives: steve

Eleven Madison Park

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**** (4 stars)

I had the greatest meal of my life at Eleven Madison Park. I also had the second greatest here. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend their new format. There are still 16 complex courses, and the service is still masterful yet friendly. But the emphasis on theatre rather than flavor has taken it down a notch. Some courses seemed repetitive, and there were very few “wow” moments. I’d trade the table-side magic act (lame) and the carrot grinding for a few of those one-bite orgasmic wonders of the past.

The carrot course was actually one of the best. It offered a dozen ingredients to add to the freshly ground carrot. I selected mustard and mustard seed. If that sounds like haut cuisine, you need to get out more. And it would have been just as good if the carrot was ground in the kitchen rather than on a hand grinder clamped to the table.

Another theatrical course that was a bit more successful was the “picnic basket.” This was a fun idea, where you took ingredients out of the basket and set up your own picnic. The second best food came out of this. It was a freshly made soft pretzel with house-made mustard. There’s a theme here. Madison Park makes good mustard.

The various shellfish courses that started the meal were simply repetitive. And why did we have to all have the same meat course, when they were individually plated? Surely there are enough two ounce portions of lamb and duck in the kitchen to be able to mix it up?

Sadly, the great bottle of cognac that used to end the meal is also gone, replaced by a local apple brandy.

In short, Eleven Madison Park is still a good restaurant, but it is no longer THE restaurant. I’ll certainly go back… but not until the concept changes again.

Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10010
(212) 889-0905
http://www.yelp.com/biz/eleven-madison-park-new-york

Le Rivage

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**** (4 stars)

This really authentic French Bistro is very popular with locals, but just a block off Broadway. Offering all the classic French dishes, well prepared and served in a cozy environment overseen by the owner, who made sure we were enjoying everything. Reasonably priced.

Le Rivage
340 W 46th St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 765-7374
http://www.yelp.com/biz/le-rivage-new-york-2

Haru Sushi

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**** (4 stars)

We found this little sushi place just off Broadway after a show, and were quite pleased with it. Although it is a mini chain, it didn’t seem so, and it was worlds better than the tourist restaurants on Times Square. The decor is soothing, the fish is fresh, and the service was super-attentive. I would definitely return.

Haru Sushi
229 W 43rd St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 398-9810
http://www.yelp.com/biz/haru-sushi-new-york-2

Bouley

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***** (5 stars)

Lunch here was pretty much perfection. The bread service is much appreciated, and something not offered by many restaurants any more, even the three-star variety. There are a few bargain pre-fixe deals in town at top rated restaurants, but I’d have to say that Bouley’s is perhaps the best. The quality of food and service really can’t be topped, and the room is unbelievably comfortable and welcoming.

Bouley
163 Duane St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 964-2525
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bouley-new-york-2

Sardi’s

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*** (3 stars)

You go to Sardi’s for the history, not the food. It’s probably the same as it’s always been, but standards have changed. However its location right in the theatre district, and the drawings of ancient theatre stars that paper the walls are what it’s all about. My wife loves the spinach cannelloni, but warns that the appetizer portion is plenty.

Sardi’s
234 W 44th St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 221-8440
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sardis-new-york

Candle 79

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*** (3 stars)

This is a charming place, with excellent service. I loved the house made ginger ale. I was a bit disappointed in the food, because it seemed under-seasoned and under-flavored, despite having quite a few ingredients. The hummus appetizer was fine, but the falafel seemed like almost the same dish, just seared hummus in a pita without much sign of tahini or other ingredients.

Candle 79
154 E 79th St
New York, NY 10075
(212) 537-7179
http://www.yelp.com/biz/candle-79-new-york

48 Lounge

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*** (3 stars)

I’m an old fuddy duddy, but this place was close to the theatre, the hotel, and was open late. Lounge seating is–let’s face it–uncomfortable, and the soundtrack makes it almost impossible to converse, so going in I knew it would have two strikes against it from my point of view. But the drink list and wines were interesting, and the food was okay. Pork sliders were the best, followed by the kobe hot dogs. Tater tots, spinach artichoke dip and hummus were okay but nothing special. If you like lounge ambiance and are in the area, it’s worth a shot (pun intended).

48 Lounge
1221 Ave Of The Americas
New York, NY 10020
(212) 554-4848
http://www.yelp.com/biz/48-lounge-new-york

Hash House A Go Go

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**** (4 stars)

I’ve enjoyed other Hash House locations, so I was happy to see this place was taking over the location on I-Drive that has hosted a variety of restaurants in the past years. The building is a bit odd, but the surface remodeling done by Hash House is better than the previous incarnations, and the food is pretty much identical to elsewhere.

I don’t know what the fuss is about chicken and waffles. The waffles are pretty good, but the chicken is really pretty flavorless. I’ve tried it in Chicago and here, and it’s the same. A better choice is one of the hashes, which are really thickly chopped up potatoes with other chopped up stuff. I had the vegetarian one, and it was actually fairly healthful. I ordered it with eggs over easy, and they were about the freshest eggs I’ve ever gotten in Orlando. The biscuit was also great, and I’m not a big biscuit person.

My companions had burgers and the BBLT, and liked them. The bread pudding was a good shareable dessert.

All in all a good solid (i.e. heavy) choice for breakfast or breakfast type foods, with enough other offerings to keep the non-breakfast eaters happy.

Hash House A Go Go
5350 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 370-4646
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hash-house-a-go-go-orlando

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

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*** (3 stars)

Flemings is an adequate steak house with little to differentiate it from all the others in town. The decor is a bit lighter than some, I guess. The happy hour small plates in the bar seem to be the big draw. Wine pours, served in portion enhancer carafes and glassware, are some of the stingiest in town; I wonder if they’re getting seven glasses from a bottle. I think you’re better off paying corkage to bring your own.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
933 N Orlando Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 699-9463
http://www.yelp.com/biz/flemings-prime-steakhouse-and-wine-bar-winter-park

Seasons 52

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***** (5 stars)

This is the original, and I think still the best Seasons 52. It’s hard to believe this is a chain owned by Darden, the same people who bring you Olive Garden. The food here is delicious, nutritious, and low in calories; in fact, the original concept was that everything was less than 475 calories, which given its flavorful nature was amazing. Now there are some exceptions, but it’s still pretty healthful.

I like the quarterly updating of the menu. Favorites are all of the flatbreads, the cedar plank salmon, the vegetarian plate and the hummus. Less successful are the burgers.

While many people like the little dessert shot glasses, they’re not what I want in a dessert; they remind me of supermarket pudding cups. But that’s okay, it makes it easy to skip a course that could double the meal’s calorie count.

Although the wine list has been dumbed down since the early days, there are still some interesting offerings, even by the glass.

My favorite thing about Seasons is the architecture, both inside and outside. Drawing upon elements of Frank Lloyd Wright ad the 1950s, it is elegant, interesting and restful. A great place for business lunches, family dinners, single (there’s an active bar scene here) and dates–quite an accomplishment to work for so many different interests.

Seasons 52
7700 Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 354-5212
http://www.yelp.com/biz/seasons-52-orlando