Friday, February 24, 2012 Le Bernardin

Le Bernardin

155  West 51^st Street 

Extraordinary, but…….  Ed received the call at 4:25PM, and we were good to go at 8PM for our dinner at Le Bernardin.  How awesome to be moved from the wait list to a reservation!  We had been at the renovated restaurant on opening night for a drink at the bar, but on my birthday night we were overwhelmed again with the architectural beauty, the striking photography on the main wall of ocean waves and the amazing floral arrangements that adorn the room.

It is difficult to find the appropriate superlative to describe the level of service.  It was extraordinary. It seemed as if we had a staff that was solely dedicated to serving our table.  The sommelier lovingly assisted us with our selection of wine and carefully monitored our glasses throughout the meal. She even presented the label of the wine enclosed in its own plastic sleeve. The wait staff was more than just attentive and friendly. They attuned themselves to our every need and relished in pleasing us.  When the table cloth became soiled, it was discreetly covered with clean napkins that provided camouflage.

The food varied between very good and excellent. The prix-fixe menu included two appetizers, entrée and dessert. For our first appetizer, we both had the lovely wild striped bass tartar with baby fennel and crispy artichoke. It was a decent-sized portion and was accompanied by paper-thin slices of toasted bread.  For my second appetizer, the rare yellowfin tuna over spiced gelee was interesting, but not wonderful.  Ed’s charred octopus in sun dried tomato sauce was sublime. The octopus was succulent and beautiful. A definite high point to the meal!   We were hopeful that the remainder of the meal would achieve such heights.  Ed’s entrée choice of crispy black bass was well- prepared, but the accompanying vegetable was laughable --- six quarter-sized pickled cucumbers on a tiny separate plate.  My entrée of baked Maine lobster was beautifully presented with a caramelized pear and was delicately sliced and arranged to its original shape. We must not forget to make mention of a critical element of the Restaurant Epiphany dialogue----the bread and butter.  A choice of six kinds of bread and rolls each with their own wonderful texture and taste were delivered to our table by a staff member who knew exactly the right moment to return to replenish. A silver-domed dish with softened butter (definitely not for Rene) was replaced simultaneously.

Then, there were the desserts.  You know how you cringe when you are at a party and someone asks you to cut a small piece, and it is never small enough.  Desserts at Le Bernardin would have risen to the occasion at that request.  The parting petit-fours had the same theme.

Extraordinary, but…..oh so memorable and definitely worth a return visit when seeking out that genre of restaurant.

Saturday, February 18, 2012 Ocean Grill

Ocean Grill

384 Columbus Avenue

To lure Jimmy and Martha out of the New Jersey suburbs into NYC for dinner, we had to think of a restaurant with a solid reputation.  Ocean Grill on the UWS is part of a group of seafood restaurants that have a following.  As one enters the restaurant, a formal staircase leads to two charming dining rooms on the second floor whose walls are anointed with oversized mirrors and beautiful sconces.  We were seated immediately and presented with a sample of the chef’s tasty white bean soup.  The warm whole-wheat rolls arrived simultaneously and received high marks for their texture.  Our waiter presented the specials with flair, and we were confident that our meal would be exciting.  The food is simple and well-prepared at Ocean Grill.  A problem is not the quality of the food but the staff’s failure to serve it in an elegant manner.  They reached over guests and carelessly placed dishes on the table.  Additionally, they failed to clear appetizer plates before the entrée was served.  When an establishment hits the mark so well on the food side of the ledger, it is unfortunate to see service drag it down.

Having the right energy at a restaurant is a fine balancing act with the noise level enhancing or diminishing the experience.  Ocean Grill is a vibrant spot with diners obviously enjoying their meals.  Yet, in the background, there is an unnecessary layer of music that turns that bustling dynamism into an environment where conversation is difficult.   

Friday February 17, 2012 La Vela

La Vela

373 Amsterdam Avenue

When my friend Ron suggested Italian fare, La Vela, a local Italian spot on West 77^th and Amsterdam Avenue came to mind.  The red-and-white checkered table cloths and brick walls gave the room that seated about 40 people a quaint touch.  Quality bread is an integral part of an Italian meal, and, here at La Vela,  both the standard Italian bread and the focaccia reminded us of industrial white bread.  La Vela’s strategy is to serve large quantities as a substitute for presentation, and each entrée lacked both the finesse and seasoning that would have lifted this neighborhood restaurant to the next level.  My black risotto with seafood dish was bland and had a dearth of seafood.  Ed’s order of rare grilled tuna was thinly sliced leaving the poor fish to quickly become room-temperature sushi.  Ron enjoyed his meal of Fruitti di Mare although from our vantage point the dish needed a larger plate.

Wednesday February 15, 2012 Osha Thai Kitchen

Osha Thai Kitchen

1711 Second Avenue

The best parts about dinner at Osha, a Thai restaurant,  on 88^th Street and Second Avenue were the crispy calamari and getting to spend time with our nephew Michael (not necessarily in that order).  This compact spot is convenient to UESers and has a large selection of noodles, salads, meat and vegetarian fare that is satisfactory with a price point that is hard to beat.            

Sunday, February 12, 2012 Mamajuana Cafe

Mamajuana Cafe
570 Amsterdam Avenue

Adhering to the Restaurant Epiphany mandate requires creativity and dedication when the thermometer is below freezing and one is looking for a local restaurant.  It seems that we have almost exhausted all the restaurants in the five block radius near our house. We were going out to dinner with my sister and her friend Ron who is from North Carolina. He thinks that anything below 50 degrees is like Alaska so we could not venture too far on foot. 

We went to Mamajuana Café, a new restaurant to the neighborhood,  that serves Latino cuisine.  The food and service were mediocre, a problem that could be attributed to growing pains. More importantly, the management did not read the bible used by restaurant gurus who know how patrons should and like to be treated.  At Mamajuana, one could order guacamole with chips from the menu.  Ed just wanted the chips and was more than willing to pay for them.  A lengthy discussion ensued with the waiter, and he reluctantly finally brought a plate of seven chips to the table.  Another misstep was that a charge was added to our bill for additional condiment to augment the miniscule portion that came with the entrée.  Penny wise and dollar foolish! 

Friday, February 10, 2012 Persepolis

Persepolis
1407 Second Avenue

We were in the Cayman Islands for a few days, and on the second leg of our return journey from Miami, we found ourselves next to a NYC dentist who is of Iranian descent.  Talking about restaurants proves to be quite an equalizer.  People start writing lists of their favorites. His list, of course, included the names of his favorite Iranian restaurants. I never realized there was a choice.  Persepolis, located on the UES on 2^nd Avenue in the 70s was his favorite.

For our appetizer, we shared a ‘three-yogurt medley’ that was smooth, creamy and definitely worth trying. Yet, it was difficult to distinguish one yogurt from another, and they were served on plates that clearly needed updating.   As a matter of fact, the entire restaurant needed a facelift. 

 My entree of grilled saffron marinated shrimp was delicious, but it was not prepared in a manner that was strikingly exotic.  It was accompanied by spinach and a choice of a rice side.  Our waiter recommended the ‘sour cherry rice'  --- the signature dish of the restaurant.  Had I not known this was the specialty, I probably would have concluded that Persians prefer their rice on the dry side. For those that enjoy diner-size portions, Persepolis is the place to head.