<< previous review   next review >>

reviews

“Daisy May's”

Occasion:	Cuisine:	Area:	Cost:	Rating:
Night Out	New American	Midtown	Moderate	Great

MY DINNER AT DAISY MAY'S
Before sitting down to dinner at Daisy May’s last week, it was important to go through my checklist: Surgical gloves? Check. Bib? Check. Stack of napkins? Check. Wet Naps? Tongs? Check. Check. Ponytail holder? Yup. Light, loose summer dress? Got that too.

Okay, I was ready. And so were the fifteen or so other friends that had gathered with me for the Big Pig Gig, a new menu of gargantuan cuts of meat—whole or half suckling pig ($200/400), smoky pulled pork butt ($120), and a full rack of American lamb ($95), all prepared by chef/owner/barbecue legend Adam Perry Lang, a guy who honed his chops at Guy Savoy and Daniel and ended up deciding he’d rather spend time with his head in a smoker than his hand on a sauté pan. I am happy about this decision. His ‘cue is spectacular. But more on that later.

First, the logistics. The Big Pig Gig is a commitment. You need to order everything two days in advance (other than the lamb that must be ordered by 5pm the day you want to eat it.) You must come at eight pm. That is when dinner is served, because that’s when the pigs are ready from their eight hours in the smokers. You will be served in a bare bones wood paneled dining room set with three long rows of picnic tables under bright (unforgiving) florescent lighting. There is little service at Daisy May’s. It’s not that the place is inhospitable, quite the opposite. There’s love and pig in equal amounts. Lang and his staff—Chris and Jeff—are eager to make you comfortable, but this is not four star dining. This is whole hog pig out. If you want a soda or water, you go up to the counter. Don’t sit there and wait for someone to ask what you want to drink. Just get up and get it. Speaking of beverages, Daisy Mae’s is BYOB. So you will have to bring your own beer or wine (or beer, wine, and bourbon as we did) and your own cups and your own corkscrew. Daisy Mae’s is BYOB and cannot even facilitate the service of alcohol. If you want to keep stuff cool, bring a cooler too, or just drink fast.

The night we were there, the A/C had gone out and it was hotter than a horse’s, well, you get the idea. I was glad I remembered my ponytail holder because my hair functions like a heater in summertime. I pulled it all back and up, then dressed myself in a full-length plastic apron, and pulled on my surgical gloves. I felt like I ... [more, click below]

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  

 Make a reservation

<< previous review   next review >>

Posted: July 30, 2006

Other restaurants in Midtown :
+ Lever House   + Aquavit   + RM   + Joseph's (formerly Citarella The Restaurant)   + Town   + Artisanal   + The Oyster Bar   + Geisha   + David Burke and Donatella Restaurant   + Riingo   + Amma   + Cafe Sabarsky   + The Stone Rose Lounge   + BLT Steak   + V, The Steakhouse-- Closed   + Bar Masa   + Cafe Gray   + The Bar Room at The Modern   + The Cafe at Aquavit   + The Cafe at Aquavit   + Bistro du Vent-- Closed   + Shaburi   + Xing   + The Modern   + Bar Americain   + Alto   + Park Blue   + Mainland-- Closed   + Nobu 57   + Quality Meats   + Dona-- CLOSED   + Daisy May's   + 7Square-- CLOSED   + Amalia   + Fireside   + Anthos   + Patroon   + BLT Market   + Toloache   + Mia Dona   + Park Avenue Summer   + Convivio   + The Oak Room by guest reviewer Julie Besonen   + At Vermilion by guest reviewer Elaine Weiner   + Lunching at Inakaya, by guest reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Marea, by Guest Reviewer Susan Kane Walkush   + Le Bernardin   + New York Central -- A Reason To Eat at the Grand Hyatt Again   + Pampano Botaneria by Dara Pollak   

Share ! Post a comment