I guess I'm not really sure. I was hoping for something a little more unusual and fun than just a private dining room. The group might end up being as small as 8, but I really prefer not to be seated in the main body of a restaurant. Barbuto has a Chef's Table that seats up to 12 I believe. If I go the private dining room route, I was also looking at Il Buco, Maialino, Ciano or L'Artusi. If anyone has any experience with any of those I'd love to hear it.
A reasonable lunch can be had at Le Pain Quotidien on 58th St & Seventh.
For dinner I would suggest Whym, on 58th St & 9th Ave. The food is unadventurous but tasty, the service warm, and the prices good for the area. You could also try PizzArte, 69 W 55th St. Very good Neapolitan pizza and good pasta. I guess that could be a lunch option too....
I make an eggplant gratin from the Greens Cookbook which is divine (I roast the eggplant slices though, rather than fry them.) It's the best eggplant dish I know.
Also, ratatouille freezes exceptionally well.
One cannot eat breakfast all day,
Nor is it the act of a sinner,
When breakfast is taken away,
To turn his attention to dinner.
-WS Gilbert (Trial by Jury)
This quote graced the fridge door at my father's house until the day he died. The same handwritten note now hangs on mine.
I always make ratatouille which everyone is thankful for as it's not heavy. For the bird-eaters, it also goes well with the turkey. My personal favorite is Julia Child's recipe. The secret is cutting the eggplant and zucchini into bigger pieces, and sauteeing before you put it all together. This is not the mush most people think of as ratatouille!
Petrossian Cafe
My grandmother took me to this place when I was a child in the late 1960s....I had skating lessons at Rockefeller Center and then we always came here for Hot Chocolate and a burger. I thought the swing out trays were so cool! I had no idea it was still there. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Ed.
You can get it at Whole Foods at the deli meat counter.
Ratatouille (Julia Child's recipe) with some rice or farro. I make big batches of it and freeze it in dinner-size portions. 15 mins slowly reheating (from frozen) on the stove and I have a fantastic dinner.....
Do breakfast at Barney Greengrass. (Weekday, not weekend). I think this place is much more authentic than some delis mentioned above. There is really no place else like this in the world, in my opinion. Quintessential NY, (without the tourists)
Jacques Pepin makes a great risotto with broccoli stems. I think it's from his current series/book "More Fast Food my way" He compares them to artichoke hearts. (You do need to peel them)
I will be turning 50 in June and am looking for a restaurant to host a somewhat private dinner for about 12 people. I'm intrigued by the Chef's Table concept and wonder if anyone can recommend anywhere specific. Is this setting going to be too hectic for talking? I want it to be fun and unique, but not chaotic.
I am travelling to the Basque region as well as Barcelona in June. I speak no Spanish, but even if I did, I doubt it would help me in these places. I'm really looking forward to the great food but am worried that deciphering menus will be difficult. I've seen a number of posts here about online food translation sites, but unless I'm mistaken, those would require you to be on line (with Wi-Fi) while you are sitting in a restaurant. I am wondering if there is an actual book available, or a list which could be downloaded and printed, with the most common foods/dishes translated (in Catalan and Euskara!).
Can anyone help?
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I decided to go with L'Artusi. They have a small wine room on second floor, and serve a family-style 4-course dinner for $75@. Maialino was booked and Il Buco has a very high guarantee plus a room charge. I will report back!