Need help with NYC Restaurants
 

I have narrowed down my choices thus far:
Babbo
Pastis or Balthazar
Becco or Nanni's
We're searching for somewhere with great food preferably Asian (not Tao) or Latin (but not Cuban) for about $100 for 2 people without drinks.
I'd really appreciate your input. After reading through the posts still confused as to where to go for a nice meal for our last night. Thanks!

You do know that none of those choices are Asian or Latin and some of them will cost you more than $100 for 2, right?

I was curious too about that Latin or Asian thing, but guess that maybe conchyo is saying these first three choices are for other nights and now they are looking for Asian or Latin for the final night?

I don't think any of those mentioned would be over $100 for 2 (WITHOUT DRINKS).

I'd choose Nanni's over Becco and Balthazar over Pastis, by the way. Both are the more expensive choices, but still easy to order a full meal for under $100 for two.

Ok the first three are the ones I will be going to for sure. And as you said I will probably be going to Balthazar. I think I will like that one more as well. As for the 4th night this is where I am asking for either Asian (Vietnamese, Japanese, or Asian fusion are preferred) or Latin. Does anyone have any recommendations. Thank you.

BABBO is a MUST!!! I just hope you have reservations there. If not, try another restaurant by Batali/Bastianich...LUPA on Thompson St. Same amazing food...also open for lunch.

I would pick Balthazar over Pastis..only a personal opinion. I do not care for Becco and I have nver been to Nanni's. Why don't you try Felidia? I belive its on 58th, but I could be wrong. Amazing food there as well. Owned by Lyida Bastianich.

Do you like seafood? Milos (also Greek) is wonderful, but $$$ pricey. Or a great steakhouse ..right down the block from Milos is DelFriscos.

I am so in love with any of Mario Batali creations, so look into his restaurants. Others include, Otto, more recent and French is Bistro du Vent, he used to be an owner at Po in the village, still amazing.

Go to menupages.com and look up menus first to see if they look exciting. That always helps me.

Hope you have a lovely trip!

Two fun Latin places you might like: Tapas at El Cid on West 15h street - small, homey VERY spanish a real scene after 10pm - reservations essential, even early. Also, Pipa, on East 19th and broadway - nuevo latino, terrific appetizers and drinks. Suenos, wonderful Mexican, incredible chile tasting menu on W. 17th St.
For Asian - Regional Thai Cuisine on 7th Avenue around (20th?) St. Or for Chinese, Our Place on the Upper East Side or Shun Lee on the West Side near Lincoln Center, or very hip, but still delicious Thai food at Kittichai on Thompson street.
You've got a fun list, have a great time!

topping

Balthazar over Pastis any day of the
week. A wild card would be
Union Square Cafe - its fab.

What about Calle Ocho on the Upper West Side for Latin food? Hip, fun, nuevo Latin.

Bouley's in Tribeca section for pre-fix lunch is the BEST! $35-45 per person, but worth it.

Bouley -- no "s". Why do people insist on doing this all -- the -- time! If you're talking about going to, say, Babbo, just say "Babbo" not "Babbo's". Or "take a look in the Zagat guide" not "Zagat's". Sorry... pet peeve!

Michelle that makes me CRAZY when people put an 's' on the end of a restaurant.

No such restaurant as 'Beccos'.

Aaarrrrggggghhhh!!!

Have you heard of En. It is a new Japanese place. I haven't been but have a friend who works there and says it is good. She says a lot of celebrities go there as well if you are into that.

The design at EN is very beautiful, but I found the food to be more interesting than actually good. And tables for 2 sit around a communal table, so if that is going to bother you I would pass (we didn't mind, but I know some do). I think I would do Kittichai instead. Or Bao 111 (though I haven't been in ages, so I would try to get a more recent endorsement).

Gee, it doesn't take much to drive some of us crazy, I guess. I realize that those s's may not really belong, but I'd rather see those than the often misused possessive form for a regular name. "I've been to a bunch of Olive Garden's", people say. What is the apostrophe for? Are we talking about the Olive Garden's parking lots for example? But it seems a little different when the name of a restaurant is a person's name. In other words the restaurant does belong to him, so it's not such a stretch to refer to it as his. But if you're going to do that then please do use an apostrophe. What is Milos? More than one Milo! What is Milo's? A restaurant belonging to Milo. Big difference.

I have a friend name Jane. She's invited me over for dinner tonight, so
I'll be going to Jane's for dinner.

I know a restaurant named Otto, so I think tomorrow I'll go to Otto's for dinner. And while the restaurant mentioned may be called Bouley, Bouley is the owner/chef's name and even Zagat says "Daniel Bouley's TriBeCa New French provides. . .", so it's pretty eazy to see why someone would simply say, "I'm going to Bouley's" just as they'd say "I'm going to Mario Battali's new place".

Easy to see why people do that.

And I have a Webster's Dictionary, so it doesn't seem such a stretch to refer to Zagat's Guide. But by the way, there is no such thing to my knowledge as a Zagat Guide, anyway. There is a "Zagat Survey".

Ok, I'll stop preaching.

Red faced poster admits he knows the correct spelling of EASY.

Patrick, you would say, "I'm going to dine at Otto or I'm going to dine at Bouley".

Yes, the only time you would refer to them at Otto's or Bouley's is when you are describing the actual restaurant owning something (parking lot). The owner and the restaurant would be two different things, correct?

Well, the "Zagat Survey" is used to create the "Zagat Guide". Even though "Zagat Guide" does not appear in the title of the "book" it is, in fact, a "guide". The only way I would say "Zagat's" is if I was personally visiting with Nina and Tim at their home -- the home of the Zagat's.

'Nuff said... :D

Patrick, let me tell you what Milos is. It is a Greek Restaurant located on W.55th St. in NY. No Milo's. That is incorrect. Where do you find time in the day to worry about such nonsense? Michelle only posted a pet peeve. I hope this post helps you. Have a great day!

For your consideration:

Sumile

Japanese ingredients (heavily seafood of course, but not sushi) with some classic French influence as to preparation. Everything I had there was really good, a couple of things sublime. Everything on the menu is $14, so you can spend as much as you like. For reference, I had 3 things.

They have a website where you can see the menu. Also it was reviewed quite favorably by NY Metro, that's what sent me there.

If you think you are interested, I'll describe what I ate in more detail.

I went to Becco once in the mid 90's. It's no Babbo, but I think if you need a theater district location and very reasonable prices, you could do a LOT worse.

Wow. My only point was why get so upset about someone saying Zagat's or Bouley's? I thought I was anal, but I've been outmatched here. I was merely trying to explain that I think it makes SOME sense that someone would make such a "mistake" and that it's not the end of the world to do so. I sure wasn't trying to argue the point that such things are actually correct, but rather trying to explain why I don't think they're such a big deal. I just think there are bigger things to get upset about than somebody putting an s on the name of a restaurant, particularly when it is the name of a person. I realize now it's OK to say "I'm going to Bouley's restaurant, but it is a MAJOR sin to say "I'm going to Bouley's". I normally wouldn't say that myself, but now in the future, I'll be sure to carry a gun and shoot anyone who DOES say that to prevent the spread of evil, rather than to excuse them for their HORRIBLE mistake.

Thank you for your assistance Patrick. I do think these people need to be shot:-D

Babbo is not $100 for 2 people!! My husband and I ate there last July (best meal ever!) but it was over $300 for the 2 of us. That included a bottle of wine but it wasn't that nice of a wine! Also I'm sure you know that you have to really be on top of it to get reservations there (and Balthazar).

If you go you will love Babbo though!! :)

I think we all got a grammer lesson today. haha just kidding. This was a very amusing post today about really nothing to do with conchyo's post. It made me smile, as Patrick certainly always make me smile. or should I say smiles...haha

Have a great night everyone!

Patrick, not to be anal, but it's DAVID Bouley.

Duh, guess I was thinking of Daniel Boulud. Just can't keep those DB chefs straight.

Actually, it is DAVID Boulud and DANIEL Bouley.

Oh crap. Now I'm confused.

Help.

Is it David Bouley or David Boulud?

Is it Daniel Bouley or Daniel Boulud?

Well, I just looked at a ZAGAT'S GUIDE (sorry, I couldn't resist) and see that it IS Daniel Boulud and David Bouley.

Thank you, as always, for making me smile (and laugh rather loudly), Patrick. Work is sometimes (most of the time) so incredibly tense and stressful that this board (and you Patrick ;) ) really help to alleviate a good part of that "yuck".

I swear that whenever I screw someone's name up MICHELLE is always there to bust me:-D



:-D

Heeheehee.... well, yesterday on a post about airline seats, you mentioned (jokingly) that the airlines should give you "helmuts" for those outside seats. I didn't correct you because, of course, you had Helmut Lang on your mind and, well, that's ok by me....

:D

Babbo's was not good and not worth the money. We love fine dining and that was not even a good meal. Sorry!

I agree with Mattsmom

Uh-oh. Look out. Someone has now put an 's on Babbo. Beware the wrath of the powers that be! Who is Babbo anyway? And why is Babbo's restaurant being slammed?

I agree that Babbo isn't very good. Casa mono and Lupa are better Batali alternatives...

I haven't heard of Casa Mona....can you tell me more?

Catalan Spanish on Irving Place. Teeny,tiny. Very good. Wine bar called Bar Jamon around the corner.

Casa mono is Mario Batali's take on Spanish tapas. Tough to get a reservation on weekends so book early. Bar Jamon is a wine bar that is attached - no reservations, also has some good, light fare. You can check out the menu on menupages.com.

:D Babbo is excellent, in my opinion. If you have the opportunity and can get a reservation, you most certainly should experience it. And by the way, "Babbo" means "Dad" in Italian.