RuddWire » restaurants

New Leaf Restaurant in Fort Tryon Park

Colin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:24:38 +0000

Inside Fort Tryon Park in Northern Manhattan. Only had drinks at the bar there late one Sunday night. What a great place. The bartender was genial, the vodkas were home infused, the cocktails were a delight. The building itself is quite a charmer. Old beams and bricks from the early years. Drive up on a foggy night and you’re sure to feel cozy.

http://www.nyrp.org/About/New_Leaf_Restaurant_Bar

La Bonne Soup in Midtown

Colin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:08:24 +0000

The Maitr’ D is a good fellow, and knows how to handle a busy night. Our waiter was a little slow, or a little busy. The food was great, and reasonably priced for midtown Manhattan. Get a table on the balcony on a warm night, like we did, and sparks will surely fly.
http://www.labonnesoupe.com/

48 West 55th Street

between 5th and 6th avenues

New York, NY 10019

A Very Cozy Bar

Colin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:40:02 +0000

A sad update:

The Cafe des Artistes has closed, and the Parlor Bar closed with it.

The last time I was in the Bar, the owner was sitting next to us, having dinner with his daughter. He was very nice, very friendly, and happy to share a little history. He told us about the night Clinton bought out the whole dining room (the menus for that dinner are framed on the wall), and how Rumsfeld would always reserve a window table. Maybe he thought that was the kind of stuff we wanted to hear.

But everyone retires sometime, and I suppose he picked a pretty good moment. Struggling through this economy at his age – as a restaurant owner, why?

Hopefully the Cafe won’t disappear, and a new owner will be able to take it on.

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The Parlor Bar at the Cafe des Artistes, 1 West 67th Street, New York, NY.

The smallest bar that I know of, except for a closet in Key West on Duval Street, but that’s another review. The Parlor Bar is very, very cozy. 5 small tables for two, and maybe room for three at the bar itself. The whole room is about the size of a large elevator, dark, with no music, very nice flowers, and the day’s newspapers. You can just have a drink, or order dinner from the Cafe menu. Very cozy, very intimate, very charming on a date. Very fun after a show at Lincoln Center. Not recommended if you intend to discuss secret business. Everyone will hear you.

Blue Hill Restaurant – exquisite, exceptional, irreproachable

Colin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:52:09 +0000

Blue Hill Restaurant
75 Washington Pl., New York, NY 10011.

I had the crab cake appetizer, the venison main course, and tastes of several desserts: chocolate something, chestnut ice cream, and an apple crisp like tart. We went several weeks ago. The tastes are still on my palate, the correct names for the dishes are fading. Sorry, I am not a professional reviewer.

But, without a doubt in my mind, this is one of the best restaurants in New York City. Every dish had wonderful tastes that just simply surprised me. I could write it off to the fact that all the food is organic and locally grown, but I don’t think that would give the chef, Dan Barber, enough credit.

He truly is a master of his profession, and probably knows how to bring out every flavor in any ingredient.

Prices will hurt, but will not be regretted.

Bistros Cassis – Don’t Bother

Colin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:21:04 +0000

Bistro Cassis, 225 Columbus Ave. The moules marinieres were good. The french bartender was a jerk, and the rest of the waiters were dying to leave at 9:30 PM. No one working there seemed to have any interest in the place. This is not surprising, considering the bistro is actually part of a chain owned by this corporation which, seeing as it tries to cover all of Europe’s flavors, might do better servicing Epcot pavillion kitchens. You might have more fun making the moules yourself at home. To avoid.

Earthen Oven

Colin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:35:12 +0000

Indian restaurant at 53 West 72nd Street, New York, NY, 10023. On the northeast corner of West 72nd Street and Columbus Ave.

Nice place, friendly waiters, good Indian food. Reasonably priced. I’d go again. Isabel liked it.