I am not talking about California. That’s why I used the word ‘most.’ Do you realize just how many Mexican restaurants there are in the US? They do not rise to that level or even try. If they didn’t sell margaritas their business model would tank.
You don’t miss out on anything. We had it twice before in 25 years (and the second time was after 10 years to see if it is really that bad - yes). Independently if one thinks it is Mexican, Tex-Mex or anything else it is even for fast food horrible food and some of the worst we have ever eaten.
Yes, there are pockets of places, especially New Jersey, NY, Philly, etc.. But that is still not most of the US. Where I live in the DC area, there a tons of Italian American places that do not live up to those standards. There must be a dozen places in Arlington, VA (where I live) that I would not set foot into again.
I can make my own spaghetti and open a jar of red sauce.
Yes, you can seek out and find good places. Not everywhere. But those places still do not represent most of the possibilities. I can do better at home on a day when I don’t even want to make an effort.
Gaia?
Looking forward to seeing your version of this.
And this.
Heck, even these! Doesn’t need to be 'spensive.
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That has little to do with Italian food
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I think I tried to get us into Pure last year for a company dinner thing, but there were many more of us than 6 and the logistics of a rez didn’t work out.
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Wow, I step away for a couple of hours and y’all really went to town.
In terms of who we are:
one Canadian-Chinese (born in China, lives outside Toronto)
one Canadian-Indian (I think born in Canada, lives outside Toronto)
one Indian-American (born in India, now lives in NYC)
one American residing in Utah
one American who’s mostly lived in California
Me 
(I work for a Canadian company, and our meetings are very frequently in Toronto, and sometimes Montreal or Ottowa, but this one is in New York.)
The Canadian-Chinese colleague initially said she wanted something other than Chinese, but has since walked that back. The two folks of Indian descent don’t really want Indian, which is secretly OK with me because it’s not my favorite (she said, cringing.)
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Haven’t been there for years, but Al Dente, Greifswalderstr 29, was one of our favorite Italian places in Berlin.
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I’m actually having another big work conference in NYC the following week, and a couple of us from that group have agreed we’re getting on the subway to go to Queens for hot pot. That’ll likely be an extracurricular meal, though (my favorite!)
At these meetings, there’s always one semi-required “team dinner.” I have big feelings about these, so when the meetings are in NYC, I do my best to pick a restaurant where I won’t be miserable sitting between random colleagues for two hours (after having spent 8 hours with them in a windowless conference room.)
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I’m pretty sure I have a picture of my sister’s Sweet 16 that included some food! I’ll look for the cheese!
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Where have the past NYC dinners been?
Indian American (the other way around is who Columbus ran into when he got lost)
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We’d guess you’ve already proved to be a good host. If this exercise is at heart about teamwork and not foodie-ism, and the NYC meetings recur, then draw straws and form pairs that decide for everyone the cuisine/style and ask you for local possibilities and logistics under $50. When the cycle of three pairs is over, draw straws again . . . rinse, repeat . . .
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i’m afraid i don’t understand what you’re saying.
several of the nyc dinners have been terrible, which is what happens when i don’t pick the place like, we went to a dreadful “new orleans” themed restaurant in lower Manhattan where the “family style” food came out in painfully slow dribs and drabs and most of it was forgettable. the whole thing took over two hours and it was the most pointed test of my sobriety i’ve encountered in approx ten years.
last time we wound up at Buddakan, but only because the big boss paid for it herself, so the 50/pp limit was moot. and the food was pretty good for such a hyped-up joint!
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Does it have to be a full dinner? I’ve had to do these sorts of things in the past and often cocktails with some snacks sufficed. And then people could grab their own dinner with their per diem. This keeps it to a lower budget and a slightly more entertaining 90 minutes. The dangerous part there, though – especially with NYC prices and the tight budget – is if people start ordering too many rounds, so you need to tell the place in advance to shut people down after two.
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Dinner.
I’ve tried so many things to make this convention more tolerable, and anything that removes an actual sit-down dinner with everyone seated together is rejected. So lame!
And just a note that the practice of drinking with colleagues as a “work activity” is fast disappearing. The kids™ are not about that life.
So maybe east or southeast asian is the sweet spot.
How far into the boroughs do you want to venture / whereabouts will you all be meeting or staying?
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yeah, in terms of cuisine, the group has enjoyed that vibe in the past.
office and hotels are very near chelsea market.
group is willing to travel. i don’t think 45 min on the subway should be a problem at all.
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