Filed under New York Restaurant Reviews · Print This Post
2nd floor of the Hudson Hotel, 356 West 58th Street off Ninth Avenue
212/554.6500
about $150 for two, with two drinks, with tip
We walked in at 4pm, way past brunch time for early risers like me, but we still enjoyed a civilized lunch with the afternoon sun seeping in at the Hudson Cafeteria. We ordered the foie gras in honor of our Chicago friends who won’t be able to enjoy it anymore. It came with country ham and pickled watermelon and black eyed peas. The Peking duck pizza hit the spot and was absolutely delicious. The scallions in the hoisin sauce was a nice kick with the fresh mozarella and tomatoes.
Mmm, mmm sautéed foie gras
Peking duck pizza
We could have stopped there but two glasses each of the Pinot Gris and the Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand made us order the Hudson burger with Niman Ranch bacon served with fries and cheese.
The space is gorgeous and perhaps the most good looking “cafeteria” you will lay your eyes on. The dark wood, high ceilings and tall windows make the space inviting that you forget you’re inside a hotel in the first place.
Filed under American, Midtown · Print This Post
3rd floor of the Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle at 60th Street
212/823.9366
$64 for two, without drinks, with tip
♥ ♥ ♥
It’s in the mall, but it has Thomas Keller’s name on it, so how can anyone say no to Bouchon Bakery even though it’s just really a bunch of tables and chairs outside the Samsung store on the third floor of the Time Warner building? Bouchon Bakery is for those who can’t score a table at Per Se on the fourth floor or don’t have the $200 to feed themselves. It also serves lunch to the corporate employees around the area during the day from a take-away counter.
We started by splitting the haricot vert soup. Creamy but oh-so-light, we just couldn’t figure out how it was done. The peekytoe crab meat, poached scallops, shrimp and squid fruits de mer tasted so fresh. The sweet and sour dressing was so refreshing, you can absolutely taste the fresh herbs used. The tuna sandwich is made to look like a tartine, topped with eggs like a niçoise.
The service is Thomas Keller all the way: a waitress asking us to pardon her reach when she would offer us freshly cracked pepper, a waiter knowing what exactly was in the dessert when asked, another waitress refilling our water glasses without intruding. It’s a great place to have a simple brunch and to experience a tiny part of the Thomas Keller enterprise without paying more than $30 for a dish. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything good at a food court until Bouchon Bakery.
