Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Chikalicious puddin is super amazing. We had the three puddings with hot chocolate (valrhona) All thre choices were so yummy, the presentation adorable-cutesy! The bite-size portion was perfect and the anglaise, one of a kind. A true NYC one of a kind. I also love the crepe place on rivington...another gem.

We' ve all forgotten "Tides." Headed-up by (Judy?)...a Mary's alum.

Have yet to try Ed's, but hear really wonderful things...things that differentiate it from its predecessors. As was the case with Mary's (my fav. restaurant on the Island of Manhattan), which is quite different from Pearl as well. Though we are all cowards thus carfeul not to declare one better than the other, Mary's refrains from the use of knuckles in her roll--she sells them seperately as an app. That's why I PREFER Mary's roll. Simply more significant lobster to be had...and looove the knuckle app.!! So what, they look alike..(I disagree). All of these places are fabulous and we ALL know whose name appeard first, second and third. Perhaps these ARE ALL Mary's recipes, but it took a team of the committed to creat this behemeth. Let us simply go to our chosen lobster bars and enjoy.

zabar's, a huge emporium with all kinds of first rate deli and appetizing, breads, cheeses, prepared foods, coffees, cooking supplies, chocolates, pastries, olives, preserves...

ditto kalustyan's, a must visit for any serious cook.

chelsea market is big fun. make sure to visit the italian grocery store and have lunch and an espresso at zia tonia.

It is amazing how many people are commenting about this when A) they have not seen the complaint and B) they have no idea what the issues are. Inane gossip, speculation, and erroneous conclusions just muddy the waters. The complaint is online and Rebecca Charles is suing for trade dress, identity theft and breach of fiduciary responsibility.

She doesn't claim to have invented anything but HER OWN restaurant, which she is trying to protect.

She doesn't want to stop you from getting your cheaper, closer lobster roll, nor does she lay claim to inventing them, just HER OWN. (Pearl's roll is a completely different animal than the traditional New England shack roll, which is why it's the one everyone copies.)

She couldn't get more customers in the joint and if she were trying to make money, she would have opened several, which brings me to the next point.

It seems McFarland is partnered with businessmen (one a millionaire/political wannabee, according to google) who intend to open of these.

In NYC on biz this week I went to both places for lunch and dinner and ELB looks exactly like Pearl. This is not Ed Levine's bias, it's reality. The paint colors down to the green in the bathroom, gray wainscoting and the white painted brick wall are identical; as are the marble bar and side bar; the beer tap; bathroom furniture; pendant lights; window seat; chairs; floor stain; odd long cabinets behind the bar; glassware, plates, coffee mugs, and doilies; waiter's station; large mirror like Pearl's placed in the same way behind the bar; and the actual layout of the dining room. The placement of the pictures, "sconces," chalkboards, what is written on them and how, menu and wine list are all identical.

Almost every item on Ed's menu is something I have eaten at Pearl in the past or can get today and this includes the lunch menu which no one is mentioning. The presentation of the dishes is identical; the sides are the same, the tartar sauce, the mignonette, etc. The mussel dish and the bouillabaisse (not clam shack dishes) were exactly the same as was Pearl's pot pie. He even makes her blueberry crumble pie. The quality paled but the intent was clear.

I lived in SF for more than a decade, went to Swan all of the time and the restaurants are nothing alike. And anyone familiar with clam shacks knows that Pearl Oyster Bar is much more than that. Tie up all these ends at Ed's and you have AN ILLEGAL FRANCHISE. Right, which I understand is a bit of an esoteric, obsolete concept these days, and the law are on Rebcca's side.

Nobu Nextdoor

Tom415: Facts wrong, again. Bobby Flay was Executive Chef, Neil was Chef de Cuisine, Mary was Sous Chef. The lawsuit never went to trial before a judge. It went into mediation. Enough said.

Tom415: let's clear up some "facts." Before opening Pearl WITH Rebecca, Mary was the Sous Chef at Bolo for Bobby Flay (you've heard of him, right?). As for the menu coming from Rebecca's love for Maine - it was actually the restaurant concept - not the entire menu. Some of the recipes on the menu were and are Mary's and Mary's alone, some were collaborations and some were Rebecca's - they were Co-Chef/Owners. As for the "chatty waitresses" at MFC, they have their facts wrong too. There was no law suit, and Rebecca won nothing. There were shareholder disagreements - as many corporations have. Rebecca bought out Mary's shares. Mary moved on - taking her recipes with her. MFC has a Florida fish camp vibe - nothing like Maine or New England - and has it's own, original menu.