Ariyoshi
810 Broadway, nr. 12th St. (212)388-1884 TYPE: Japanese izakaya VIBE: Lackluster neighborhood spot OCCASION: A “something for everyone” Japanese outing DON’T MISS DISH: Cooked taro with baby shrimp & special sauce DON’T BOTHER DISH: Toro tartar with quail egg DRINK SPECIALTY: Sake and Japanese beers PRICE: $35 & up HOURS: Dinner, 7 days a week, 6 PM – 4 AM; Lunch, Mon – Fri, 12 – 2 PM. RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted, but not necessary. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 5.5 FINAL WORD: With a menu that reads like a culinary encyclopedia of all things Japanese, Ariyoshi overextends itself, resulting in a flurry of well-priced, but unmemorable dishes. Seeing at it was the night after Christmas, I was in the mood for something other than peking duck and moo shu shrimp. First, I squired a reservation at Dennis Foy’s new Tribeca haunt...
Read MoreBest & Worst Dishes Roundup of 2006
BEST DISHES 2006 – Restaurant Girl’s Roundup It was the year of the burger, pork, local produce, steak and retro desserts of the parfait sorts. Though threatened with a potential ban, foie gras graced us with its ubiquitous presence on the newest menus around the city. Duck confit, brussels sprouts, gelee, and salty & sweet desserts were in fashion, and lest we not forget the now painfully cliche, caviar-topped scallops atop cauliflower puree. As 2007 looms just days away, some of these trends will happily die away, while others will become culinary fixtures. So without further ado, here are my picks for the best & worst dishes of 2006: SLIDERS – A cross between a meatball sandwich and a mini-burger, The Little Owl’s sliders still linger fondly in my memory. Thanks to Joey Campanaro (The Harrison & Pace), these...
Read MoreFrederick’s Downtown
I’d like to thank Frederick’s Lounge for hosting Restaurant Girl’s first holiday party on Tuesday, December 12th! The champagne was flowing and festive cocktails were had by all. But of course, it wouldn’t be a Restaurant Girl party without food – we happily feasted on sumptuous short ribs and fresh sushi! In celebration of the opening of Frederick’s Downtown, a chic West Village bistro serving Provence-inspired French fare, we are giving away a FREE DINNER to this already popular spot! In order to win a three-course dinner with wine pairings, simply forward Restaurant Girl to five of your favorite friends, including restaurantgirl@restaurantgirl.com, by December 25th and enlist them to SUBSCRIBE! That way even if you don’t win, you can guilt your friend into taking you to dinner. If you’re not subscribed, simply enter your email in the SUBSCRIBE box...
Read MoreAureole
Palak Solanki has won a FREE DINNER for two at Charlie Palmer’s Aureole, which earned three stars from the New York Times! Palak will feast on a three-course dinner with wine pairings at this elegant townhouse on the Upper Eastside. Congratulations! Until we eat again, Restaurant Girl **Don’t forget to subscribe for Restaurant Girl’s Weekly...
Read MoreRestaurant Girl's 2006 Roundup
Best New Restaurant Picks for 2006 – A Year in Review After a year of gluttonous feasting at some of NYC newest restaurants, I thought I’d offer a Restaurant Girl Roundup of the best and worst of 2006. While the mega-restaurant trend of the Asian fusion sorts, has thankfully fallen flat, New Yorkers seem to be embracing the little guy. The Buddakan’s of the city have taken a back seat to intimate newcomers with impossible to score tables, like Little Owl. Equally, a new genre of genteel steakhouses are on the rise, as are tapas bars, small plate spots, and Asian street food chains. Seasonal cooking continues to seep its way into Spanish, Italian, and even gastropub fare. So without further ado, for better or worse, here are some of the top restaurants and trends (* indicates highly recommended):...
Read MoreSwich
104 8th Ave., btwn. 15th & 16th Sts. (212)488-4800 Hours: 7 days a week, 11AM- 11PM (soon to keep hours until 2AM) The newest player in the lunch arena, Swich, short for sandwiches, attempts to put itself on the map with pressed sandwiches. This modern, lunch cafeteria is sparsely outfitted with wood floors, a white communal table, and bright green & mirrored walls. Though sleek in that futuristic, Pinkberry sense of the word, Swich manages to evoke a warm vibe. Perhaps that’s due to the contagious excitement of owner, John Garguilo, who personally welcomes customers into the space. Swich even encourages its customers to linger over a cup of damn good, Le Colombe coffee (Le Colombe) and a hip, ipod playlist. But dedicated to the almighty sandwich, John has crafted fresh and creative combinations with cutesy names, all served...
Read MoreAureole
‘Tis the season for giving, so give the gift of Restaurant Girl’s Newsletter to your friends – your personal dining guide to the NYC restaurant scene! I’m giving away a FREE DINNER at Charlie Palmer’s Aureole, which earned three stars from the New York Times, to a lucky SUBSCRIBER. In order to win a FREE three-course dinner with wine pairings at this elegant townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper Eastside, simply forward Restaurant Girl’s newsletter to five of your favorite friends, including restaurantgirl@restaurantgirl.com, and enlist them to subscribe! That way even if you don’t win, you can guilt your friend into taking you to dinner. If you’re not subscribed, simply enter your email in the SUBSCRIBE box at the right of Restaurant Girl. The winner will be announced Friday, December 15th on my...
Read MoreKobe Club
68 West 58th St., btwn. 5th & 6 Aves. (212)644-5623 TYPE: Swanky Steakhouse VIBE: Clubby lounge dining OCCASION: A date or festive group gathering DON’T MISS DISH: Roasted bacon with black truffles DON’T BOTHER DISH: Crab cake “double stuffer” DRINK SPECIALTY: Netsuke fizz PRICE: $70 & up HOURS: Dinner, 6 days a week, Mon – Sat, 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM; Late-night dining menu, Thur – Sat, 11:30 PM – 2 AM (beginning in January). RESERVATIONS: Reservations highly recommended, especially on weekends. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 7 (opening night rating) FINAL WORD: Despite its uber-swanky setting, Kobe Club deftly deals in juicy Wagyu from around the world. Attempting to erase the memory of Mix, Alain Ducasse’s failed attempt at casual French/American home-cooking, Jeffery Chodorow has literally raised the roof, dangling 1865 Samurai swords from the ceiling, and refurbished the modern...
Read MoreSpotted Pig Winner
Gail Grant has won a FREE DINNER for two at Michelin-starred gastropub, The Spotted Pig. Ken Friedman took NYC’s dining scene by storm last year when he opened this now, uber-impossible to score a table hot spot with Italian-accented delights, courtesy of chef, April Bloomfield. ‘Tis the season for giving, so stay tuned for the next dinner giveaway to be announced in Restaurant Girl’s Weekly Newsletter this Thursday, December 7th! Simply enter your email address in the SUBSCRIBE box to the right to receive weekly...
Read MoreBar Martignetti
406 Broome Street, at Cleveland Place (212)680-5600 TYPE: American brasserie with a French bent VIBE: A definitively social spot OCCASION: A casual date, bar dining, or group gathering DON’T MISS DISH: Skate with cauliflower puree, maitake mushrooms & brussel sprouts DON’T BOTHER DISH: Tuna tartare DRINK SPECIALTY: Bar Gibson (the house favorite) PRICE: $45 & up HOURS: Dinner, 7 days a week, 6 PM – 2 AM; Lunch, Sat. & Sun., 10 AM – 5 PM; Lunch, Mon. – Fri., 11 AM – 6 PM. RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted & recommended for dinner. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 7 on food, 9 on scene FINAL WORD: Not your ordinary restaurant du jour, Bar Martignetti is intent on reinventing the lost art of table-hopping. With some kick-ass cocktails and a satisfying menu, this spot will undoubtedly breed a following of aspiring regulars. After...
Read MoreCheck out My Book – Try This
