I'll admit to being very picky about Mexican restaurants, having grown up in Southern California. My experience with Mexican restaurants in New York City has been nothing short of abysmal. So I was prepared for the same here, particularly when the salsa showed up and was something closer to cream of tomato soup.
But then the short rib tacos with bone marrow arrived, and things changed completely. This was one of the best items I've ever had in a Mexican restaurant, and could easily have been served in many of the top fine dining small plate restaurants in the city.
I'm not sure this one item fully justifies the four stars, but since the guacamole, Margarita, and ceviche were fine, it's at least a 3-1/2 star place. Just be sure to have the short ribs.
Gabriel Kreuther is wonderful in all respects, from ambiance to food to service. For me, it is the successor to Eleven Madison for the crown of Best Restaurant in New York, and one of the best in the US.
The dining room, with its dramatic arc of salvaged wood beams, is both open and intimate, with the tables spaced far apart to make each one cozy, and the ceiling high enough to afford a pleasant sound level. A glass wall affords a view of the kitchen, which is a busy hive of about twenty chefs and cooks under the supervision of Chef Kreuther. The atmosphere seemed more convivial than in many of the Michelin kitchens I've encountered.
The restaurant's recommendation for first-time guests is the Six Course Tasting menu. This is not only a great recommendation but a great bargain. At $215 (as of this writing) it is, in short, a steal. I don't know how they came up with the number six, but including amuse bouche and ending sweets, there were at least 15 different dishes over a three-hour period.
Speaking of dishes, these were some of the most beautiful serving pieces I've ever encountered, and the glassware is stellar as well.
As for the food, it is almost pointless to describe it, as everything was wonderful, and it was impossible to pick favorites. It changes regularly, but I will mention a few that rank among the best dishes I've ever had: pate de foie gras (best flavor/texture I've encountered), smoked heirloom tomato consume (more of a gelatin, and endlessly intriguing), sturgeon tart (delicate flavorful and complex), and all the breads (there were at least four, accompanying various dishes).
As mentioned earlier, service was near perfect, with two dozen wait staff performing an intricate (and high speed) choreography to synchronize each course at each table.
Compared to the food prices, the wine bottle prices seem like less of a deal, but are certainly not unreasonable for Manhattan. The wines by the glass are an interesting assortment of styles and places of origin.
Big Beef with sweet peppersSpicy Chicken SandwichChicago DogInteriorExterior
**** (4 stars)
If you're looking for the authentic Chicago dog experience, look no further. I've been to the Portillo's in Chicago many times, and this place has exactly the same food. It's even better, because the interior is stunning–spacious, bright, and trendy, with an efficient layout.
That said, I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about. Yes, the Chicago dog is exactly a Chicago dog, but there are more interesting types of hot dogs. And the Italian Beef is fine, but it's not the most interesting sandwich; it's sort of a low-brow French dip.
The best sandwich here is actually the new spicy chicken, which is almost as good as the one from Popeye's that everybody is trying to copy.
And the very best item I had here was my order of fries, which I asked for well done. They were crinkle cut, spectacularly crispy on the outside, and light and fluffy in the middle, served hot and with the perfect amount of salt.
I was also very impressed by the staff bussing tables. They kept checking that I was enjoying my meal, brought extra napkins without my asking for them, and were just really into the whole customer service role. Well done!
Portillo’s Hot Dogs 7715 Palm Pkwy Orlando, FL 32836
Trio of bao with Peking duck, pickled veggies, spider rollInterior
**** (4 stars)
We went here as part of the Epicurioius progressive dinners, and really enjoyed the three offerings: pickled vegetables, spider roll, and steamed bar bun with Peking duck. The latter was the group's favorite.
The only problem is that the room is extremely austere, all hard steel and stone surfaces, so it's not necessarily the coziest Asian dining experience.
The service was wonderful.
Zeta Bar & Sushi Lounge 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Ln Orlando, FL 32821
ExteriorInteriorGnocchi with spinach, mushrooms and truffle oil. Yum!
***** (5 stars)
We attended the Epicurious progressive dinner that started here with two courses: speck wrapped figs stuffed with gorgonzola, and gnocchi verde. The gnocchi was the group's favorite from the entire progressive dinner, because of the delicate wrappers and rich truffle-flavored mushrooms.
I definitely want to return to LaLuce for the full dinner after this amazing taste of what they offer!
The room is a bit austere, but not too noisy, and the service was wonderful.
La Luce 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Ln Orlando, FL 32821
Bibimbap in a hot bowlInteriorExteriorSide dishesInterior
**** (4 stars)
This is an interesting concept for Bibimbap. It offers more customization options, including type of bowl, type of rice, type of protein, and a wide assortment of vegetables. It's sort of an Excel spreadsheet approach to dining!
We ordered what is traditionally called Dulsot Bibimbap, served in a very hot ceramic bowl so that the rice at the bottom gets crunchy. I thought the result was good, although I have had crunchier rice elsewhere, and the bulgogi beef could have been more tender and more marinated. The assortment of vegetable addons was great, with several items I haven't had in bibimbap before.
The space is the former Pei Wei, but it has been opened up, and is now full table service.
The service was efficient and pleasant.
One oddity is that they don't offer tap water, however bottled water is less than a dollar.
BaBbi BaBbi Korean Kitchen 8015 Turkey Lake Rd Orlando, FL 32819
My favorite sports bar in the area! Not really sports, music, but the same idea. Great interior decor and a much more extensive menu than a lot of places
Excellent pizzas and wings. Also a great selection of beers including lots of my favorite dark beers.
CevicheInterior70% Hamachi and Tuna by TunaSashimi combo lunch
***** (5 stars)
This is my favorite rendition of the sushi places that have been in this spot. The decor has been refreshed, and the menu is quite extensive. The ceviche was one of the best dishes I've had. It's an interesting fusion of Japanese ingredients and traditional ceviche preparation. Service is very attentive.
