Overall I really enjoyed it and will definitely return. Enjoyed the company very much too. Hope to see you again soon.
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A shout out for Bar Bête where my kids and one partner and I ate the other night to celebrate all (!) of their 30-something birthdays (falling within 3 weeks of each other) and Mother’s day (rationale that the birthdays are the reason for that celebration)! We ate our way through a lot of the menu: oysters, chicken liver parfait, tuna toast (two orders, we all love this), scallop crudo, little salad, spaghetti alla chitarra (w/red crab, ramps, ginger-scallion & spinach pesto), duck breast and wagu brochette. Ended with two orders of their yellow cake (one of only two desserts, but doesn’t matter to us, as we are addicted to the cake) with chocolate frosting (they brought three candles!). We love this place. It is on the expensive side. With a bottle of wine and cocktails, the bill was about $450 before tip. Still, for four people celebrating mightily, I thought quite reasonable!
If you don’t know Bar Bête, it’s a happening place in Carroll Gardens with a shifting, seasonal, essentially French menu. Can get quite noisy, so if that’s not your thing, give it a miss! The waitstaff is friendly and helpful. Reservations essential.
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I guess we might have to go back and try it again, as I’ve gotten similarly good reviews from others I trust in the neighborhood as well. We’ve gone several times, none recently, and thought that the food was very good, but that the menu was a bit too limited in choices. I agree that everyone was friendly and the atmosphere lively, but I thought that it came at too high a price point. However, these days, other places in the neighborhood seem to have “caught up” to the cost without providing as good a meal, so maybe approx. $135pp after tip for what you ate/drank isn’t so unusual for Smith St. any more.
By the way, its more a French Canadian place, as the chef is from Montreal (not that this is of much importance - just thought I’d mention it since we’re both on the Paris board a bit).
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Wasn’t sure of the chef’s pedigree, so thanks for clarifying. For this heathen, “French” is a catchall description, but I am sure you are right and that there are differences. It’s definitely not the corner diner, and not white table cloths either. I agree, on the expensive side, but enjoyed by my crowd for sure!
I was all set to write a post about how the prices at that charming little place we visited had inflated like our favorite president’s promises only to realize we hadn’t been there at all. No, it was Bar Tabac, so I consulted their website (which, thankfully didn’t auto-play smooth, french jazz at me), and lo, the prices have indeed ascended. Looks like ordering a bottle of wine now requires a loan application.
best,
Another fun meal at Nowon in East Village. I think the name means if you dont order the burger, there’s Nowon but you to blame. Its best to stick to the classics here like the excellent Black Sesame Caesar Salad, the almost Momofuku Rice Cakes, Burger and some others I didnt order this time. The big one miss - Mushroom Gapchae Noods featuring Mushrooms, glass noodles, soy garlic. Shockingly flat considering the flavors of the other dishes.
The burger has reached legendary status from all the coverage, so if one expects a life changing experience they may be disappointed. But its really just a very solid, well crafted, perfectly balanced fast food like cheeseburger. The tots with the honey butter sauce as per my more local oldest (this is her favorite restaurant) was just a tad too sweet. Great Black Sesame Creme Brulee for the finish
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First meal in New York since December, Saturday night at BORGO; sat in the room with the open kitchen. Went with three others; we were all happy and the total seemed pretty fair considering that our friends had a number of glasses of wine and two of us had cocktails… I only took photos of what I tasted:
Chicken liver crostini (foreground_; could have eaten the entire platter myself and called its a night; bread comes from She Wolf so its excellent (at USQ Greenmarket Mon,Wed,Fri) and the restaurant might begin selling it as well)
Focaccia; I think this is supposed to be influenced by the legendary focaccia of Manuelina in Recco; it was delicious but more cracker-ey than I remember from Liguria, and not as cheesy as I would have liked although it’s made with three cheeses, including stracchino, personal fave not so often found here (just bought some last week at Eataly, though)
Puree of fave, with what they call “marinated greens,” like the fave e cicoria ubiquitous in Puglia (the space was formerly occupied by I TRULLI). Great rendition but it’s it’s always a little bland for my palate, so not my most favorite Pugliese dish: I left it to the others to scoop up…
A smashing whole, butterflied (?) branzino blistered and served atop great ceci beans; I gorged on the appetizers so I ended up taking half of the fish home. You can see a glimpse of the chicken at the far right of photo. And a peek at the pasta at the upper left of photo.
One of my friends had the roast chicken which was so moist and flavorful…just perfect if you want roast chicken. Large portion.
The two others had the rich and terrific pappardelle with guinea hen ragu…big hit at the table and I did not get even one taste…next time. No photo.
Delicious little meringues for dessert, with bill.
I’d certainly go back…it’s a solid spot, warm and adept service…all positive, A great return to the city of great eating! They had an interesting cocktail list; two of us liked the “Party Villian,” vodka, vermouth, bergamot and a couple of other ingredients…very tasty!!
This week will take me to Flushing on a boring errand, so I hope my reward will be some great take-away rice rolls heat up at home…where to pick those up while partner waits in car?? Joe’s Rice Roll??
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I have not had better, although I have had as good.
Thanks…I have a craving!!
I had plans to take two nieces to Lungi a couple of weeks ago, but they are busy young women, one, a head-designer, dealing with shipping containers of fabrics sitting at ports (Accept them and pay tariffs? Return them and pay shipping? Store them in a warehouse at the edge of the dock, technically in no country, and pay storage?) and it was hard to find a common time. So I hosted them in my apartment (allowing them to arrive when they were free), where we drank some very good burgundy from Chambers and ordered in from Lungi. Not ideal for some of the food, but better than nothing.
On the whole the chow was pretty good. The paneer ghee roast has been raved about by Priya Krishna. Despite that, it was very good, with a proper understanding of the use of crisp curry leaves. The fish curry with raw mango was also very tasty, although the texture of the fish might give pause to those who like their fish lightly cooked, if at all. I’m with those who see that there is no “right” texture, just a cultural expectation. I love fish at most stages of cooked – from raw to the almost jerky-like chewiness I’ve had in Kerala. If you can overcome your prejudices, this is an excellent dish.
Their hoppers were on the large side, and not as formerly-crisp on the edges (delivery y’all) as I might wish were I eating in person. The watalappan was OK, but rather overly bursting with cardamom.
On the whole, a place well worth trying again, but not food that on first delivery excited me.
(Can any delivered food excite? In my experience, yes. Chalong, Uncle Boons, Fish Cheeks, Hyderabadi Zaiqa, Parm, come to mind.)
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does she do side gigs? I could use a new head.
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Ci Siamo - The Good, the Great, and the Salty
The good - Focaccia, albeit one of the most expensive breads Ive seen ($17). Fantastic Prosciutto, braised beans, carrots, desserts
The Great - Pastas. In particular Cavatelli Allo Scoglio, Cavateili with crab and chili. Superb. Excellent Stracci with slow cooked Rabbit, and Rigatoni alla Gricia. Some of the best pasta Ive had in a while
The salty - Main courses. Pork Milanese, and the braised mushrooms that came with the Rib eye. Hard to eat after three bites. “salty” is mentioned over 30 times in google reviews. I guess management disagrees.
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what about the art? the awful?
what is that next to the the beans? is it a chickpea flour based foccacia (farinata?) rare in NY if so
That’s a water spitting foot on the Highline, close to the restaurant. Notice the water coming out from the top. That’s controlled by a pedal facing it next to a bench. You can essentially sit on the bench, pedal when people walk by, and run once they realize whats happening.
Next to the beans is the Pork Milanese. Could have been a nice Schnitzel if not for the salt level.
Not merely awful, that “artwork” verges on the disgusting.
I had a very good meal at CI SIAMO last year…it’s not the type of place I gravitate to…too loud, just too, too…but the food was excellent. On second thought, now that you’ve posted such glorious photos, maybe I will think about going back a second time,…
agree, does look delicious!
