Hello again!
I hope you all have enjoyed following my blog! I have certainly enjoyed making it.
This was my first experience with writing / owning a blog. The experience of being touch with the social world via the mass communication tools available today has been enlightening. Not to mention all the amazing dining experiences I have gained!
Perhaps someday I will return to the world of blogging. Perhaps I will return to this exact blog and pick up where I am leaving off. Well, that remains to be seen.
Lastly, I want to say thank you to Professor Tropin for a great semester in his Intro to Communications class!
So, for now, this is goodbye.
All the best,
Teddy
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
PER SE
Per Se
The next restaurant I will be covering is Per Se! Per Se is chef Thomas Keller's New American restaurant that offers luxe fixed-price menus and Central Park views. Per Se is located at Columbus Circle, at the cross streets of Central Park West and 59th Street. Per Se earns a $$$$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Per Se is best described as posh. Everything is very luxurious, modern, and stylish. Located on the 10th floor of a Manhattan skyrise, overlooking Central Park, dining at Per Se has a certain allure and exclusivity to it. The entrance to the restaurant is simple while conveying a feeling of luxe. Floor-to-ceiling, shiny blue doors paired with black glass and white stone walls meet guests as they come off the elevator.
For those unfamiliar with Manhattan, views of Central Park are coveted, breathtaking, and reserved for the affluent. The dining room at Per Se features a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. This sets the tone for the dining atmosphere. White tablecloths and napkins and comfortable seating. The jackets-required surrounds is topped off with absolutely unimpeachable service.
Thomas Keller has created a high temple of French–New American cuisine in his Time Warner Center restaurant. A meal at Per Se is truly an event, given the fabulous tasting menu. The tasting menu features a variety of seafood, meats, and other in extremely innovative and delicious presentations. Keller and his team do an amazing job of meshing French and American cuisine beautifully.
Personal favorites include the salmon tartare and crème fraîche fitted into an ice cream cone; the “oysters and pearls,” a savory tapioca pudding under caviar and warm oysters; the cinnamon-sugared doughnut holes with a froth-capped cup of cappuccino; and the lobster poached in butter.
Although the $325 fixed-price dinner menu may seem extraordinarily high, the consensus among food critics and inexperienced guests alike is that the price is justified. The atmosphere and the meal are unmatched. That being said, Per Se is not somewhere guests choose on a whim. A meal here is best saved for special occasions - romantic, family, or business.
The next restaurant I will be covering is Per Se! Per Se is chef Thomas Keller's New American restaurant that offers luxe fixed-price menus and Central Park views. Per Se is located at Columbus Circle, at the cross streets of Central Park West and 59th Street. Per Se earns a $$$$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Per Se is best described as posh. Everything is very luxurious, modern, and stylish. Located on the 10th floor of a Manhattan skyrise, overlooking Central Park, dining at Per Se has a certain allure and exclusivity to it. The entrance to the restaurant is simple while conveying a feeling of luxe. Floor-to-ceiling, shiny blue doors paired with black glass and white stone walls meet guests as they come off the elevator.
For those unfamiliar with Manhattan, views of Central Park are coveted, breathtaking, and reserved for the affluent. The dining room at Per Se features a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. This sets the tone for the dining atmosphere. White tablecloths and napkins and comfortable seating. The jackets-required surrounds is topped off with absolutely unimpeachable service.
The Food
Thomas Keller has created a high temple of French–New American cuisine in his Time Warner Center restaurant. A meal at Per Se is truly an event, given the fabulous tasting menu. The tasting menu features a variety of seafood, meats, and other in extremely innovative and delicious presentations. Keller and his team do an amazing job of meshing French and American cuisine beautifully.
Personal favorites include the salmon tartare and crème fraîche fitted into an ice cream cone; the “oysters and pearls,” a savory tapioca pudding under caviar and warm oysters; the cinnamon-sugared doughnut holes with a froth-capped cup of cappuccino; and the lobster poached in butter.
Summary
Although the $325 fixed-price dinner menu may seem extraordinarily high, the consensus among food critics and inexperienced guests alike is that the price is justified. The atmosphere and the meal are unmatched. That being said, Per Se is not somewhere guests choose on a whim. A meal here is best saved for special occasions - romantic, family, or business.
LE BERNARDIN
Le Bernardin
The next restaurant I will be covering is Le Bernardin! Le Bernardin is an elite French restaurant that offers chef Eric Ripert's refined seafood, expert service, and luxurious decor. Le Bernardin is located in Midtown West, at the cross streets of 7th Avenue and 51st Street. Le Bernardin earns a $$$$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Le Bernardin is elegant. This all begins with the location in a midtown Manhattan skyrise. The entrance, a revolving door. Flanked by perfectly maintained shrubbery, it's all glass as you enter Le Bernardin.
In the dining area, one enormous painting of a brooding sea, “Deep Water No. 1”, looms over all, imparting a sense of motion and immediacy. Wavy blades of twisted aluminum ripple like reeds along another wall. Opposite are shimmering, swaying curtains woven from vines and aluminum fibers. Tthe rug is gray and the windows are covered in shimmery metal-and-bamboo treatments. The chairs are made from shiny steel and covered in dark, cigar-colored leather. Comfort is not exactly the point, here.
The Food
Eric Ripert’s world-class tasting menus highlight transcendent French seafood. The world-class food is complimented by a deep wine list and an exemplary staff. The $120 prix fixe menu is relatively complicated, as it’s stocked with ingredients and laid out over two pages. However, the dishes are divided into Ripert’s sacred categories - almost raw, barely touched, and lightly cooked.
Personal favorites include RRipert’s signature tuna-and-foie-gras creation, the bolognese-stuffed calamari, and the codfish barigoule.
The next restaurant I will be covering is Le Bernardin! Le Bernardin is an elite French restaurant that offers chef Eric Ripert's refined seafood, expert service, and luxurious decor. Le Bernardin is located in Midtown West, at the cross streets of 7th Avenue and 51st Street. Le Bernardin earns a $$$$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Le Bernardin is elegant. This all begins with the location in a midtown Manhattan skyrise. The entrance, a revolving door. Flanked by perfectly maintained shrubbery, it's all glass as you enter Le Bernardin.
In the dining area, one enormous painting of a brooding sea, “Deep Water No. 1”, looms over all, imparting a sense of motion and immediacy. Wavy blades of twisted aluminum ripple like reeds along another wall. Opposite are shimmering, swaying curtains woven from vines and aluminum fibers. Tthe rug is gray and the windows are covered in shimmery metal-and-bamboo treatments. The chairs are made from shiny steel and covered in dark, cigar-colored leather. Comfort is not exactly the point, here.
The Food
Eric Ripert’s world-class tasting menus highlight transcendent French seafood. The world-class food is complimented by a deep wine list and an exemplary staff. The $120 prix fixe menu is relatively complicated, as it’s stocked with ingredients and laid out over two pages. However, the dishes are divided into Ripert’s sacred categories - almost raw, barely touched, and lightly cooked.
Personal favorites include RRipert’s signature tuna-and-foie-gras creation, the bolognese-stuffed calamari, and the codfish barigoule.
Summary
The exquisite dishes and the soigné surrounds justify the sky-high tabs. For a dream-come-true seafood meal, this is as good as it gets. Le Bernardin is the perfect location for the celebration of a special occasion, family or romantic. On the other hand, Le Bernardin is a sure way to impress any business client.
TAVERN ON THE GREEN
Tavern on the Green
The next restaurant I will be covering is Tavern on the Green! Tavern on the Green is a Central Park icon for American fare in an elegant setting with courtyard & garden seating. Tavern on the Green is located in the Central Park, at the cross streets of Central Park West and 66th Street. Tavern on the Green earns a $$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
A Central Park landmark, this storied American has a delightfully updated rustic interior and a splendid tree-lined courtyard.
Classic American is very much the vibe at Tavern on the Green. As soon as you lay eyes on the restaurant, you get the feeling of old, affluent New York. Among the trees in Central Park West, one of New York's most expensive neighborhoods, sits Tavern on the Green. The red awning, the elegant crest, the cobblestone sidewalks, the old-fashioned light posts all have a common theme to them.
The Food
As the atmosphere suggest, the menu at Tavern on the Green is classic American. However, the restaurant does a great job of giving an interesting / modern twist to each dish. They serve everything you would imagine, but in a way that seems classic and innovative at the same time. Brunch, lunch, and dinner are all a pleasure at Tavern on the Green.
Personal favorites include smoked salmon soft scrambled eggs for brunch, and the diver scallops, lobster risotto, and the dry aged sirlion steak for dinner. The Manhattan cocktail is my tried and true favorite.
Summary
Tavern on the Green may be a tourist magnet at times, but it’s certainly worth checking out for an experience that is so very NYC. This is the perfect place for a date, cannot mess up here. For the same reason, Tavern on the Green is a trusted location for family and business meals.
The next restaurant I will be covering is Tavern on the Green! Tavern on the Green is a Central Park icon for American fare in an elegant setting with courtyard & garden seating. Tavern on the Green is located in the Central Park, at the cross streets of Central Park West and 66th Street. Tavern on the Green earns a $$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
A Central Park landmark, this storied American has a delightfully updated rustic interior and a splendid tree-lined courtyard.
Classic American is very much the vibe at Tavern on the Green. As soon as you lay eyes on the restaurant, you get the feeling of old, affluent New York. Among the trees in Central Park West, one of New York's most expensive neighborhoods, sits Tavern on the Green. The red awning, the elegant crest, the cobblestone sidewalks, the old-fashioned light posts all have a common theme to them.
Step inside and you're met by the beamy, comfortable Bar Room, where you can sip cocktails (named for each of the five boroughs). Look around and you'll find another behemoth dining zone, the South Wing, which is colored in soothing country-club hues of green and woodsy brown. In the main dining room, though, the tavern motif explodes in a whiteout. Everything is bright and off-white: tables, chairs, banquettes, floors. The outdoor seating area is beautifully landscaped, with romantic lights hanging above-head.
The Food
As the atmosphere suggest, the menu at Tavern on the Green is classic American. However, the restaurant does a great job of giving an interesting / modern twist to each dish. They serve everything you would imagine, but in a way that seems classic and innovative at the same time. Brunch, lunch, and dinner are all a pleasure at Tavern on the Green.
Personal favorites include smoked salmon soft scrambled eggs for brunch, and the diver scallops, lobster risotto, and the dry aged sirlion steak for dinner. The Manhattan cocktail is my tried and true favorite.
Summary
Tavern on the Green may be a tourist magnet at times, but it’s certainly worth checking out for an experience that is so very NYC. This is the perfect place for a date, cannot mess up here. For the same reason, Tavern on the Green is a trusted location for family and business meals.
KATZ'S
Katz's Delicatessen
The next restaurant I will be covering is Katz's! Katz's is a no-frills deli, with theatrically cranky service, serving mile-high sandwiches since 1888. Katz's is located on the Lower East Side, at the cross streets of Houston Street and Ludlow Street. Katz's earns a $$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Katz's is really nothing to talk about. Vaguely resembling a high school cafeteria, the atmosphere is hectic and crowded. The exterior of Katz's is definitely a fair representation of what is to be found inside. It's old, yet traditional. It appears just as I feel it should. Oh, and it's cash only here.
Tables and chairs are worn, cheap, and not entirely clean. In other words, authentic. The walls are covered in framed pictures of famous people to have dined at Katz's and neon-lit signs of beer and cigarette companies. All these things are parts of what makes Katz's a legendary, Lower East Side landmark that is on the bucket list of many visitors to New York City.
The next restaurant I will be covering is Katz's! Katz's is a no-frills deli, with theatrically cranky service, serving mile-high sandwiches since 1888. Katz's is located on the Lower East Side, at the cross streets of Houston Street and Ludlow Street. Katz's earns a $$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Katz's is really nothing to talk about. Vaguely resembling a high school cafeteria, the atmosphere is hectic and crowded. The exterior of Katz's is definitely a fair representation of what is to be found inside. It's old, yet traditional. It appears just as I feel it should. Oh, and it's cash only here.
Tables and chairs are worn, cheap, and not entirely clean. In other words, authentic. The walls are covered in framed pictures of famous people to have dined at Katz's and neon-lit signs of beer and cigarette companies. All these things are parts of what makes Katz's a legendary, Lower East Side landmark that is on the bucket list of many visitors to New York City.
The Food
Katz's remains the gold standard for sky-high pastrami sandwiches and other real-deal Jewish deli eats. Although Katz's has a relatively large menu, they are most famous for the sandwiches. Sandwiches with pastrami, corned beef, and much more. Surprisingly popular is the hotdog. Katz's also serves hamburgers, soups, cheesesteaks, and much more.
Personal favorites include the classic pastrami sandwich and the pastrami and eggs omelette. I have never tried the hotdog, but I have heard great things about it.
Summary
Katz's is a must if you are visiting New York and looking for a true deli experience. The atmosphere is underwhelming, but that is the beauty of Katz's. They have a formula that has been working since 1888 - why bother changing it?
Monday, December 5, 2016
BLACK TAP
Black Tap
The next restaurant I will be covering is Black Tap! Black Tap serves up creative gourmet burgers, modern sides, shakes & draft beers in a small, casually hip space. Black Tap is located in the SoHo neighborhood, at the cross streets of Broome Street and Sullivan Street. Black Tap earns a $ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
Although the atmosphere is rather tiny and has minimal seating, Black Tap still manages to pack in a lot of wow. A long bar on the right with bar stools, a few community tables, a bunch of booths, and a back room. The tables are wooden and patrons have been doing their own form of decorating on them (bring a marker!) Black Tap is very much no frills.
However, guests most certainly do not chose to dine at Black Tap for the atmosphere - here, it's all about the milkshakes and burgers.
Creative craft burgers are paired with an interesting lineup of beers at this friendly joints. Although, it is the Instagram-ready milkshakes which are spilling over with decadent toppings that garner the insane line. Black Tap has single-handedly launched New York's latest dessert craze. The menu has 12 varieties, including cotton candy, sweet 'n' salty, and Oreo cookies & cream. They're priced at $7 and $15, and diners can add shots of booze to them, if they so desire.
Personal favorites include The Greg Norman Burger and the cotton candy milkshake.
Summary
If you're looking for atmosphere, Black Tap is likely not the place for you. However, if you're looking for an extremely one-of-a-kind milkshake that is guaranteed to earn you a ton of likes on social media and a quintessentially greasy burger, Black Tap is just the place.
The next restaurant I will be covering is Black Tap! Black Tap serves up creative gourmet burgers, modern sides, shakes & draft beers in a small, casually hip space. Black Tap is located in the SoHo neighborhood, at the cross streets of Broome Street and Sullivan Street. Black Tap earns a $ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
Although the atmosphere is rather tiny and has minimal seating, Black Tap still manages to pack in a lot of wow. A long bar on the right with bar stools, a few community tables, a bunch of booths, and a back room. The tables are wooden and patrons have been doing their own form of decorating on them (bring a marker!) Black Tap is very much no frills.
However, guests most certainly do not chose to dine at Black Tap for the atmosphere - here, it's all about the milkshakes and burgers.
The Food
Creative craft burgers are paired with an interesting lineup of beers at this friendly joints. Although, it is the Instagram-ready milkshakes which are spilling over with decadent toppings that garner the insane line. Black Tap has single-handedly launched New York's latest dessert craze. The menu has 12 varieties, including cotton candy, sweet 'n' salty, and Oreo cookies & cream. They're priced at $7 and $15, and diners can add shots of booze to them, if they so desire.
Personal favorites include The Greg Norman Burger and the cotton candy milkshake.
If you're looking for atmosphere, Black Tap is likely not the place for you. However, if you're looking for an extremely one-of-a-kind milkshake that is guaranteed to earn you a ton of likes on social media and a quintessentially greasy burger, Black Tap is just the place.
CAFETERIA
Cafeteria
The next restaurant I will be covering is Cafeteria! Cafeteria is a swanky take on an American diner attracting people-watchers all day and post-clubbers late night. Cafeteria is located in the Chelsea neighborhood, at the cross streets of 7th Avenue and 17th Street. Cafeteria earns a $$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Cafeteria is, simply put, fun! The all white color scheme, close quarters seating, and huge street-view windows make for an undeniably enjoyable dining experience. The outdoor seating available during warm months is very popular. Not to mention the prime people-watching location (you’re sure to run into someone you know, or at least recognize from US Weekly) and a downstairs bar to get you through the wee hours of a Saturday (or Monday) morning.
The next restaurant I will be covering is Cafeteria! Cafeteria is a swanky take on an American diner attracting people-watchers all day and post-clubbers late night. Cafeteria is located in the Chelsea neighborhood, at the cross streets of 7th Avenue and 17th Street. Cafeteria earns a $$ price rating from Zagat.
The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Cafeteria is, simply put, fun! The all white color scheme, close quarters seating, and huge street-view windows make for an undeniably enjoyable dining experience. The outdoor seating available during warm months is very popular. Not to mention the prime people-watching location (you’re sure to run into someone you know, or at least recognize from US Weekly) and a downstairs bar to get you through the wee hours of a Saturday (or Monday) morning.
This unquestionably hip Chelsea setting is open 24 hours a day. It’s a formula that works. Even though Cafeteria’s no longer got that new-restaurant vibe, well-dressed boys and girls keep returning, brunch after brunch and night after night. With their 24/7 open-door policy, this longtime Chelsea after-the-clubs spot is here to stay.
The Food
Cafeteria is famous for its dressed-up American comfort classics. This amped-up, comfort food menu features everything from meatloaf, to grilled cheese, to mac and cheese, to milkshakes and beyond. Amazingly, the menu at Cafeteria is just as perfect for a casual dinner with a friend as it is for a 4AM fill-up after a long night of partying in Manhattan.
Personal favorites include the fried chicken and waffles, mac and cheese spring rolls, and the crispy fish tacos. Excluding the cocktail menu, the peppermint milkshake is a must-try.
Summary
Cafeteria is a New York City classic, any time of day or night. Perfect for brunch, lunch, dinner, or late night with a friend or a casual date. It's very difficult to find a place of this quality to eat at in the odd hours of the morning, so Cafeteria is never taken for granted.
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