There is an Indian restaurant called Saravanaas. They food is fabulous, the decor minus 7 and the service spotty at best. It is all depends on what is imprtant to you.

<<<BTW - re Zagat's ratings - I find that the lower rated restaurants get them because that's what they deserve - but many of the higher rated places seem to be getting inflated ratings. Why? Good question.>>>

I've noticed this recently too. I received a copy of the Zagat guide for San Francisco, and looked up some of the restaurants at which I've eaten most recently. I almost all cases, I thought the "points" given for the food were 2-3 points higher than what I would have given them. It's like grade inflation in school.

Adu - your problem is you are spending too much of your life below 14 Street and so some of your views are skewed - or skewed up. Yes - a good number of what are considered top notch places are not cheap - and they do have to charge considering their location (East 50's and 60's are not E. 4 or E. 5 streets - rent-wise). they also have big investements in design and decor, larger staff, ingredients, and et al. Note also that despite what they charge there is a market for their product and a clientele that is more than willing to pay. It's when they have pretenses of top service, food, etc. but it just does not come off - look out. Cipriani is a classic example of that. But places like Jean George, Daniel, Bernardin, Gramercy Tavern and that ilk charge - and they are entitled and they deliver.

jroth, the only problem with your analysis, is that it would seem to suggest that ALL locals have good taste, while tourists do not. There are many locals in NYC as anywhere else whose opinions I would never agree with, while there are some traveling "foodies" who are far more discriminating than many local NYC diners. Don't forget Tavern on the Green has tons of local supporters, not just tourists. So before you can "trust" any local's opinion, you'd have to know something about that local's taste -- bringing us back to the point already given, that the only real way to weigh opinions is based on previous recommendations and comments and whether or not you agreed with those.

And don't forget, some recommendations are for what a poster is specifically asking for -- and not necessarily a personal recommendation. I was once taken to task for recommending Carmine's. Why? Because the poster needed a "fun" place to take a group of hungry teenagers on a low budget before a show practically next door. Does that mean I love Carmine's? No, it means I'm listening to what the poster is asking for not pushing my own personal tastes. And no one, but no one seemed able to come up with another recommendation that made even half as much sense for that situation as Carmine's.

Joe-

Over the years I have ventured above 14th Street. And I have very good meals at Café Boulud, Acquavit, Nougatine and others. But I find found many lacking considering the price and that includes Felidia's and Le Bernadin.

And there are many losers below 14th Street that I do not recommend.

<< It is all depends on what is imprtant to you.>>

I have eaten at restaurants with wonderful food, but no ambiance or special decor. That is well and good, but the price is usually gentle. If we are dining out at a very, very expensive restaurant (which is usually for a special occasion), I not only expect great food, but service and decor to match. And if I'm dining in that special type of establishment and all is not stellar, I am not forgiving.

My compliments to the posters on this thread for proving that there can be significant and meaningful disagreements on the forum without it resulting in a shouting match of insults!

Oh shut up Howard!

(I could not resist)

Why couldn't you resist? I think you should be proud of your restraint!

It is a joke Howard.

Being nice tires me out. BSpeil, JRoth, and I have had this discussion numerous times in the past. And it has gotten out of hand. I am afraid of JRoth he is an ex-nose tackle.

NeoP - Of course, I totally agree that merely because one is a l,ocal they have good taste in restaurant recs and tourists just don't have that. And I never said or suggested that. What I say is that there are a host of locals (many to be found herein) who have had years of experience in NY's restaurant scene and have displayed through their comments that they have certain standards - and I get those vibes in reading their posts. But a tourist who is here for a week or so just doesn't have that sort of experience - and I appreciate hearing from those who have been around town over the years. Your example of a rec for Carmine's for that specific group does work for them. But I have also seen comments from visitors recommending Carmine's as a "great" Italian restaurant.

Adu - I am surprised that you concede publicly to venturing on occasion above 14 Street. But be aware that the authorities are now on the lookout for undocumented immigrants to these areas of Manhattan. And if any of them pick you up be very careful about what you say about Le Bernardin.

Adu, of course, I know you were jesting...............and, so was I!

Some of my favorite art musems are above 14th Street. A mistake of geography and sensibility, I know that will never be rectified.

God I love New Yorkers. They're truly the best part of this city! :D

But I have also seen comments from visitors recommending Carmine's as a "great" Italian restaurant

Which also reminds me that absorbing the views of a bunch of strangers requires reading between the lines. Take TripAdvisor hotel reviews, for example....one person rates a Holiday Inn Express 1* because they like the service better at the Four Seasons, another person gives it 5* because it's clean, the bed is comfortable and it's in a great location. Or Yelp....it never ceases to amaze me that In 'n Out Burger consistently gets great ratings - often 4-5* - while In 'n Out makes a very decent fast food hamburger, it's still a fast food hamburger (not to mention that their fries taste like cardboard, despite being made from whole fresh potatoes). And the fact that "a lot of Chinese people were eating there" (a statement regularly made to indicate it must be a good Chinese restaurant) is totally ridiculous -- lots of Americans frequent bad American restaurants, so who's to say lots of Chinese people don't frequent bad Chinese restaurants.

All this talk about Carmine's - here's today's obituary for Michael Ronis, the man who help to start it, he died last week at age 60.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/ny...ref=obituaries