reviews

Looking for a hot new restaurant to go to for a birthday dinner, or a swanky downtown joint to grab dinner and drinks with friends? Search my reviews below, or email me if you can't find what you're looking for. Wanna get the low-down on the newest restaurants going up? Get the strong buzz. (Please note: You can freely link to my restaurant reviews, but republishing any part of them without written permission is expressly prohibited. For information and syndication details please email syndication@thestrongbuzz.com).

“Alta”
The rain was ridiculous. It was pouring out of the sky at river speed—coming at me sideways, straight on, upside down. It was everywhere. Standing on the corner of Third Avenue, trying to get a cab, I almost turned back. But then, like ...
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Posted: July 18, 2004

“Shake Shack”
I finally got around to having lunch at Shake Shack this week—Danny Meyer’s sleek, retro concession stand in Madison Square Park. I loved it. Apparently, I am not the only one. The place is teeming with people—suits, hipsters ...
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Posted: July 18, 2004

“Kittichai”
Apparently Thai is the new black. With the opening of Highline, and now Kittichai, all things chic must end (or begin) in Thai. Kittichai is the stateside debut of Ian Chalermkitttichai, a young chef who is renowned in Thailand—he is the chef b ...
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Posted: July 11, 2004

“Pure Food & Wine”
As you probably know by now, Pure Food & Wine, Matthew Kenney’s first restaurant since he shuttered Commissary in April 2003, is a raw food restaurant—the menu features fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and sprouted grains ...
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Posted: July 5, 2004

“V, The Steakhouse-- Closed”
Do you just love meat? Do you like it really tender, moist, meaty and rich and sealed up with flavor? Do you love it when you don’t need to even dress it with steak sauce (a Niman Ranch Strip, $38)? Do you love it when your knife can sit idle o ...
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Posted: June 19, 2004

“Per Se”
I turned 35 this week. And as the clock struck midnight, turning Monday into Tuesday June 8th, I was feasting on chef Thomas Keller’s food at Per Se. Not a bad way to break into the declining age bracket known as 35-44. In additio ...
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Posted: June 10, 2004

“The Neptune Room”
Jeff Lefcourt and Glen Harris know the right way to lure a fish—especially when the fish in question is a school of New York City diners. Like Jimmy Bradley and Danny Abrams (Red Cat, Harrison, and Mermaid Inn), this young restaurateur-chef team b ...
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Posted: May 20, 2004

“Blue Hill Stone Barns”
While most stories start at the very beginning, I’d like to start our story—the tale of my dinner at Blue Hill Stone Barns—with the way it ends—and that would be with a $400 check and with my friend Steven wearing chef Da ...
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Posted: May 16, 2004

“August”
The block of Bleecker Street between Bank and West 10th Street is booming. Formerly the home of trinket shops and random stores like Condomania (still there in case you are looking to bring some variety to your collection), this s ...
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Posted: April 25, 2004

“Bar Masa”
I went over to see what Stephan Trummer, the fabulous bar chef formerly of Citarella, was up to over at Bar Masa. Well, lots of good stuff. Sure, the sushi menu here is reason enough to visit, but Trummer’s artisan cocktails ma ...
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Posted: April 21, 2004