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- Nearest Transit:
-
Houston St (1, 2)
Spring St (A, C, E)
W 4 St (A, B, C, D, E, F, M)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
Mussels & Seafood with various flavor profiles from all over the world divided by international regions. International Beer & Wine. Specialty cocktails.… read more »
151 reviews for Ditch Plains
Review Highlights
"Next time I'd pair my lobster roll with an IPA."
(in 30 reviews)
"The hot dogs were awesome - very very cheesy."
(in 25 reviews)
"Mac and Cheese was very creamy and good."
(in 26 reviews)
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151 reviews in English
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Review from Trang N.
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I were in town for our annual christmas trip to the city. We walked in after salivating over the menu. Unfortunately, there were just enough people to hog up all the window booths, but did get a nice two top facing the window.
Our waitress made some great recommendations, I ordered the Crab Melt, every bite was a perfect mouthful of lump crab meat, swiss and tomato, I should have asked for it on a baguette as the white toast didn't hold up to the flavors very well, the green salad was fresh and tasty, he had the pork three ways, talk about a gut sinker! The sandwich came to the table with mounds of heaping pork, he would have gotten a doggie bag if we didn't have a day full of shopping, walking, picture snapping + drinking ahead of us!
Most places always advertise that they have the 'Best Bloody Mary' but Ditch really delivered- ask for an extra spicy kick, it'll be guaranteed to get jump start your day! There was a decent beer selection for my hops craving husband.
I was really bummed to see that there was 'Surfer Sundays and Mondays' alas, we were one day shy of the $30 LOBSTER BAKE!! 1.5 lb lobster, corn on the corn, potatoes + sausage, coleslaw, drawn butter & old bay aioli!- you seriously can't beat that price ANYWHERE!! Not to mention I completely overlooked the oyster shooter on the menu!
We were unaware that the 'Ditch Dog' was somewhat infamous, we peered across to the table next to us at a concoction of what looked like, chili, cole slaw, mac and cheese, and French fries on a hot dog? Maybe I was seeing things, but there was definitely some foodie adventure going on over there. The couple really seemed eager to dive head first into it!
All in all, a great laid back, corner spot in the West Village to grab a quick drink or three and bite to eat! We will definitely make our way back here at some point. -
Review from Alicia G.
Brooklyn, NY
1/29/2012
I went here with some friends for brunch, well, more like breakiie, since it was 11:30 and no one was really in the restaurant.
I must say the staff was nothing but friendly and great. The menu had many choices as well.
I got the shrimp po bo and it was pretty good. I must say that it was hard to eat though, maybe a bigger bun? The fries were slammin (yes, I got fries..mmm) and a friend ordered the french toast, which consisted of huge slabs of bread..mmmm nutmeg...they tasted d.i.v.i.n.e.
After eating, we all agreed that we will be returning. It's nice it's off the beaten path, but right around the corner from Film Forum, S.O.B.'s and so many other late night places. -
Review from Tracy K.
Charlotte, NC
1/25/2012
After going with various friends and everyone ordering something different I have to say that there wasn't anything I tried that I didn't like and I'm a pretty picky eater. The stand outs though to me are, of course, the mac-n-cheese hot dogs & the lobster roll, followed by the deep fried candy bars!
I decided to spend by 30th b-day here with 8 of my closest friends and family, some coming in from out of town, and everyone enjoyed themselves. The only complaint we had was that it was noisy, but the restaurant was packed so I guess that it so be expected. -
Review from Jorge R.
Manhattan, NY
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hot Diggity Dog!!!! Eat Drink and be merry!!! I come here for their signature mac n cheese dog and the sloppy joe dog! Its just sooo good!
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Review from David W.
1/16/2012
Wandering through the West Village like a vagabond, I stumbled (okay actually my date did) across Ditch Plains after being too impatient to wait elsewhere. The wait on a Saturday night at 930ish was only 20 minutes, perfect.
We started with the jalapeno and cheddar tater tots, solid, but I'm not sure if there was anything that wowed me about it. Next up was the calamari salad and wow, they pile on a lot of calamari there. This was definitely a very solid salad, I mean, anytime you throw fried calamari on something it should be right? Last was the lobster roll. Overflowing with lobster, I kinda wish they would just get a bigger roll. Also, if they would toast the roll, it'd do wonders and make this review jump to 4 stars, but unfortunately that change hasn't been instituted yet.
I think 3.5 stars is perfect for this joint, casual, not too pricey, great for those occasions where you just want to grab a bite in the village without going through the hassle of having to plan in advance. -
Review from Talia R.
1/14/2012
DP has pros & cons. I have been coming here for many years, work lunches, late night munchies, delivery to my apt, a good bloody on a sunday. The food has gotten better since they changed chefs & modified the menu within the last year. But, oh, how I miss those little pigs in a blanket.
Main issue is overpriced wine. Like the concept of half bottles only, but at ave $30, really not worthwhile given mediocre quality of the list. We all accept mark-up on single glasses of wine in a bar/restaurant, but moving to a bottle (even a 1/2 of one) should bring some cost savings. At these prices we are talking $15/glass, of which most of the selection here is not.
Service is friendly. -
Review from Santino S.
SoHo, Manhattan, NY
1/11/2012
There are so many good things here. I dont know where to start.
How about the cocktails....
Best bloody mary in the city...they make their own pickles....I always get double vegetalbe.
On a related note i love the oyster shooter w/vodka of course
Spicy Tecate is an AMAZING hangover cure especially when mixed with a Sloppy Ditch Dog.
I spent over 4 hours in this restaurant eating and drinking on a sunday.
I like it =) a lot!
Fried Pickles rule.
Lobster rolli is solid.
Salads are off the chains.
Damn this place is steals my brains. -
Review from Amy W.
Manhattan, NY
12/9/2011
This is a really solid late night option, and a place I stop by all the time with my coworkers. Service a little inconsistent (for example, last night we had a churlish and surly bartender, a fantastic server, then a rushed and abrupt server who took over at the end of the night. Lighting is a little low and the wait a little infuriating for a regular dinner, so this is definitely a late night place.
The hot dogs are pretty great. Just ask for extra toppings (as if mac n' cheese dogs weren't enough) - I've gotten lobster, fried jalapenos and chicken chili. The pork shank on grits and oyster shooters are also incredible. Once upon a time they had a wonderful jambalaya (bring it back!), but I'm guessing the shrimp + andouille is a decent substitute. We also never leave here without an order of the spicy fried pickles.
They aren't all hits though. The seafood cobb is really salty, the lobster roll is anemic. The tacos and chicken chili are both rather oddly priced for what you get (around $16 for a bowl of chili?!?!)
If it's late and you're in the neighborhood, stop by! And don't leave without some fried candy bars (the perfect end to a long night). -
Review from G F.
Manhattan, NY
1/23/2012
This review is for the UWS location of Ditch Plains, I have never been to the one in the West Village. I've been here twice and really want to like it, but just don't. Everything on the menu looks good, but only tastes okay. The service is good, but prices are expensive. Each time, I felt like I had lost in some way---ordered the wrong thing or just left broke and with a bad taste in my mouth. It's a really great concept, but I think unless they improve the food and/or lower the prices, I won't be coming back here anytime soon.
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Review from Sascha M.
1/5/2012
Casual little spot that also delivers. That's honestly my main reason for this place. Almost everything here is pretty yummy. Fish tacos are good, the mac & cheese is super rich and creamy but doesn't have breadcrumbs on top. The fries are also good.
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Review from Danielle J.
West Village, Manhattan, NY
11/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Haven't had any of the food (although my boyfriend says the steak sandwich is 100% grease), but the bloodies are GREAT. Not phenomenal i'll be here every day great, but it's cold out and I still will walk from the north village to the very south village hung over for one of their bloodies the day after halloween partying great.
Slightly spicy, SUPER low key and casual, so a good spot to actually get a table and relax. Also, they always have footballs on the TVs on sundays (a negative to me, positive to the boyfriend). Service is so-so, our waitress last time seemed pretty frazzled, but sitting at the bar was better (although she also forgot our food order)... -
Review from Shu Jin S.
New York, NY
11/12/2011
It's a pity I wasn't hungry on my first visit to Ditch Plains. The first thing that hit me (in my sleep deprived state) during a work lunch on a Weds afternoon is the smell. It was very fishy. I am not one to shy away from smells, but it was a little overwhelming at first.
I loved the deep-fried nommi-ness of the Jalapeno & Cheddar Tatter Tots. and I ended up taking (most of) the Fish and Chips home, because I really wanted to enjoy it when I had a real appetite. (Oh, and I did)
All in all, it's delicious and chill. I'll come back for sure. -
Review from Zvezdana O.
New York, NY
10/24/2011
I wasn't sure whether to go with two or three stars.
First of all, this place introduced me to the white wine named CONUNDRUM which is FUCKING AMAZEBALLS!!! But at $25 bucks or so for a little mini bottle, its steep, but so delicious. I am a huge fan. The Wine Hut has a big bottle for about the same... I think I'm gonna try to order some online for under $20... heaven in a glass.
OK, now that is out of the way.
I thought the service was mediocre, we wanted a midnight meal and the bar had a group that completely occupied the waitress and we had to flag her down with airline runway signals to get her attention or go up to the bar ourselves when, I get that you're busy, but you should check on us after serving our meals AT LEAST ONCE.
I had the steak salad. I thought the steak was delicious, but the salad was otherwise unremarkable and a little expensive at $17 for the "small" size (I think the entree size was $24). My friend had a shrimp salad and she thought it was kind of blah. She wasn't at at all impressed. At least I really liked my steak. It was perfectly cooked. But at those prices, you expect a pretty freaking fancy ass salad and honestly... it was good, but not $17 - $24 bucks worth of good or fancy.
I guess its good if you want something thats not McDonalds at 1am in the West Village and you wanna sit down and hang out. I probably would not eat there again.
Also the lollies that they hand out after they return your bill to you are GROSS. Yuck. You guys should get new lollies. (Lollies = Australian for candy.)
Now if you will, excuse me while I go hunt down an entire case of Conundrum and drink myself into oblivion. I'm not even a big drinker, but Conundrum could make me one. It really, really could! -
Review from Melinda C.
New York, NY
9/25/2011
Yup. Eat @eat_ditchplains. The first time we came here, we came somewhat on a whim and promise.
Looking to try a new place for dinner, I remembered getting served up some good ol' fashioned cross-sell (a little card almost a bookmark) at other Marc Murphy restaurant Landmarc... For you young'ns out there, this means I held a physical piece of card stock that read "Surfer Sundays-- lobster bake for $30"... think of it like a v1.0 banner ad. --but I digress... So we gMapped the location, realized we were pretty close by, and said, "Let's do it!"
When you walk in, the vibe is casual, but not "surfer" casual. No one is wearing flip flops or rocking dreads. It's city-casual. It's also noticeably not real sunny inside. The fixtures and seating are cool, dark, masculine in nature. It worked for us but again wasn't exactly what we expected.
Food is solid, filling and worth going back for. And per any good Lobster bake.. messy. =)
Oh.. Don't skip on the blueberry pie (even though it's almost more like a crumble). -
Review from Jenny L.
Manhattan, NY
11/14/2011
I went here for some drinks & apps on Friday night after work. If you go a little early you can get some seats, otherwise the place gets really packed. The bartender was a bit crabby at first but lightened up a little later. I ordered the fried pickles (SO GOOD!) & the tator tots (homemade!). They have alot of vegetarian selections which makes me happy. I ordered the chopped salad (it was just ok) & the tofu wings (not good at all, just sliced pieces of tofu)
I would go back again for drinks & light apps, but probably not dinner. -
Review from Judy C.
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Jalapeno Cheddar tater tots: check.
Oysters on a half shell: check
Ditch Plain dogs: Check
Can we say yummoooooo??? I feel like a fat happy camper when I come here. I did also order the fish and chips, but by the time that came out I was full from my hot dogs, oysters, and tater tots. Maybe I was full or maybe I was being stuck up about my fish, but the fish was a little too fishy for me, and the batter was too bready. Then again, I've eaten fish and chips at the Chip Shop in Park Slope and no one has beat them. Not even my old school favorite school food - fish filet with cheese strategically placed inside. The place could also use an extra server. I felt kinda bad for the one waitress running around to all tables. You can tell some of the patrons were being neglected and getting annoyed, but the manager tried to pick up the slack. Rule #1 in the restaurant business: always have 1 extra server on a Friday night and the weekend. Anyway, I love that they give you taffy at the end of your meal. I asked for an extra cup, and the nice waitress was good about packing the second cup with taffy. I took that bad boy home and ate them all week! Yummo!
P.S. They play random music in there. It goes from Michael Buble to Jay-Z. -
Review from Theresa P.
Brooklyn, NY
11/9/2011
I normally love this place - it's one of my faves for a lobster roll and a good glass of wine after work (they have a great wine selection). However, after dropping in today for a quick lunch, I was really disappointed with the fish & chips. It was COLD, dry and altogether awful. Not up to par at all.
Service, as always, was friendly. But a place that prides itself on fish can't be serving fish & chips this bad. -
Review from Vanni P.
Manhattan, NY
12/22/2011
Went here for brunch with 3 friends, and was not impressed. Most of the food was edible, but just not exciting and always missing a little this or that. especially the mussels and the seafood salad. You're probably a lot better off focusing on more traditional dive bar grub, which makes sense, because that's what this place essentially is: a dive bar. It has restaurant aspirations, but it's a dive bar.
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Review from Kelly M.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
Get ya hot dogs here! Yes, they have hot dogs. And ditch dogs, and dogs slathered with mac and cheese, it happened. The place is great set up, not crammed at all and nice lighting. We started with the jalapeno poppers, those were exactly as you'd imagine, nothing to rave about. And when there's hot dogs on the menu, at a place you'd take your parents willingly, why not give it a shot! Well, beware, if you do not typically eat massive hot dogS, yes they come in pairs of 2, split this order with a friend. Overall, a nice little bad food treat, but again nothing to rave about. Someone got the dog with mac, that was a heart attack on a plate. But looked very naughty and delicious. The tacos looked great but were ~$20, even in Manhattan, that is pricey. So, I think as far as returning, I would go to try their brunch, because I've heard good things about that. But, I don't think I'll return for dinner, prices were too high and I don't often crave hot dogs outside of a baseball stadium, but fun experience and a fun dinner.
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Review from Elle P.
6/9/2011
I can't comment on the food, but this is definitely a nice place to hang out at the bar area and have drinks.
The stools are very heavy, which I actually like because I didn't feel like I was going to tip out accidentally. The bartender was friendly, and knew how to balance chatting with us and leaving us alone.
Naturally I ordered Professor's Dream and indeed, it was a dream. I can't remember all of the ingredients, but the two most prominent flavors were pineapple and gin. The cocktail was light and refreshing. Perfect summer drink. -
Review from Lissa V.
8/15/2011
I've been here both for drinks at the bar and for dinner. It's a good neighborhood spot and the food is quite yummy. It's just a bit on the pricey side for what you're getting. Lobster role is quite yummy as are the scallops (you only get 3 for $28) and the fish tacos. I really like the fried pickles, but the fried desserts did not impress me.
The wine here only comes by the half bottle not the glass, which I can't decide if that's pretty sneaky of them or a great excuse to drink more wine. Either way brings the price of the bill up a bit.
Service is great. The staff is all very friendly, just a tad forgetful. All in all fun place with fresh "surf" style food in a modern setting. The taffy at the end of the meal is a nice touch. -
Review from Tim B.
7/7/2011
Great place to hang out, have a few beers and enjoy some pretty good bar food. Hot Dogs, Sloppy Joes, Burgers Mac N Cheese, Hot Dogs with Mac or Sloppy, Jalapeno Tots, Deviled Eggs with Fried Oysters(fantastic). Not Gourmet, but good. Good music, service and pricing.
I will agree with fellow Yelper Benoit. The hostess/manager was hacking away on her iMac as we walked out and couldn;t be bothered with a "good night" or "thanks for coming" Struck me as odd. -
Review from Rafael D.
New York, NY
8/22/2011
Great location. Pretty much any table or bar stool has great views since this bar has huge windows allowing you to people watch.
Try the made to order sangria with pineapple chunks. It is the perfect summer drink. Also good was the cosmo made with Hangar One Kaffir Lime vodka. If you need a quick bite, the jalapeno cheddar poppers are excellent. And apparently the hot dogs here are great. -
Review from Michelle L.
Livingston, NJ
11/1/2011
We usually go here for work lunches. Small place but good eats and reasonable prices. I really enjoy the shrimp po-boy and get plate envy when someone orders the Ditch Dog - hot dogs with mac and cheese! Seriously!?!? The atmosphere is really chill and the large booths are great for parties of 6+. The few times I have been here, the service has lacked, but all in all, it's a solid find in the West Village.
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Review from Cassandra M.
New York, NY
I don't care what Lizz K thinks, I was not stalking her. Is it my fault that like minds think great? I find myself in this neighborhood more often and stumbled into Ditch Plains for a late night bite to eat.
as this played overhead
http://www.youtube.com...
i decided to try the big Marc:
a hamburger served with spicy vodka ketchup on a cheddar pepper brioche bun with a side of homemade jalapeño cheddar tots and mixed greens. tastier than your average burger, it was the perfect size and cooked to perfection. the cheddar pepper bricoche was a nice change from your average hamburger bun.
service is always great and the salt water taffy you get with the check is worth fighting over. the lobster roll however is nothing to write home about, i'd skip it if i were you. -
Review from Benoit D.
Manhattan, NY
6/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I would rank it 2.5 stars if I could.
It took them 10 minutes before bringing us water and 15 minutes before the first waiter come to take our order.
Service was very slow. No one was eating in the restaurant, everyone was waiting.
Food is good. Grilled fish of the day, very good. with a huge amount of salad.
No one said bye to us when we left = fail. -
Review from Chelsea D.
New York, NY
6/4/2011
A friend posted a link on Facebook to an article that detailed ten ways you must consume mac and cheese. Thus, I learned about Ditch Dogs, a fancy step up from the mac and cheese and cut up hot dogs I greedily devoured as a child at Friendly's and at home. So I dragged another friend to Ditch Plains.
We were seated immediately by a friendly waiter and experienced good service throughout the meal. Our water cups were always filled and the waiters and waitresses were very attentive. The place was a bit darker than I'd like, but I could see enough to eat my meal & that's all that matters, right?
He got fish tacos (ha ha ha) which I can't comment on because seafood is absolutely not my thing, so let's just skip ahead to the dogs.
They were pretty good. I'd give them a 3.5 star rating. A little difficult to eat (the mac and cheese falls out if you tilt the dog too much), but everything was cooked well and delicious. I'm not sure I would eat the mac and cheese on its own (whatever the combination of cheeses, it was not the most inspired), but it went well on top of the hot dogs and that's all that matters. The fries that came with the meal were also very tasty and heated up well in the toaster oven because I had to finish my meal at home... it was a seriously heavy carb load!
What pushed Ditch Plains over the edge from a 3.5+ star experience to the 4 star range was the presentation of the check. It came in a little cup full of salt water taffy, my favorite candy ever. Each of us had four or five of them, which is a generous amount of free candies! And they were good salt water taffies, with patterns and designs in the pieces, not some solid cheap candies. -
Review from Randy F.
New York, NY
5/7/2011
Rustic cuisine in an all American setting.
Been hearing great things about this Ditch Plains restaurant since this is the also the guy who opened up Landmarc.
The seating areas are very cramped. For the obvious reasons, I wasn't able to score a booth table so we had to sit in these tight, middle passage like seating. So if you are a big guy.. I don't know.......
Ordered the Oysters, which were pretty fresh. However I did taste some sand which I guess it was a bit too fresh? I also god the grilled fish of the day but it was just pretty average. I wanted to ordered the famous mac and cheese on hot dog roll but thinking about the repercussions of eating that heart attack concoction, I decided to hold it off for another day. My friend also got the steak salad but according to her it was a bit too rich.
smh. The mac and cheese that my friend and I shared was pretty good but it seemed like it was something anyone could make at home. But what I kinda threw us off was the fact that the server didn't tell us that the wine prices were by the bottle and not buy the glass hence the steep bill of 120 dollars for 2. -
Review from Sarah L.
New York, NY
3/31/2011
After waiting what seemed like forever at Ino Cafe & Wine Bar, Jen C. and I mosied on down to Ditch Plains because our stomachs could not bear to go through another minute without food.
Right when we entered, we were greeted by a friendly hostess who seated us right away. Unlike Ino Cafe, Ditch Plains was quite spacious.
Our meal consisted of the following:
-Deviled Eggs (which came under mess of shredded cabbage): it was a little bland, but it was still good, although it could have used a little more salt)
-Spicy Pork Meatballs with fontina & grilled bread: this dish came out in a pan with the meatballs smothered in sauce and cheese. There were also four grilled pieces of bread which were great because of the excess sauce/cheese combo.
-Mussels with Rosemary & Bacon with French Fries: The star of this dish was the big pieces of bacon that were bigger than the Bac-O's that you put on a salad. The broth had an unusual aftertaste, although Jen C. seemed to enjoy it.
Lastly, the check was delivered in a glass jar with salt water taffys (which was a nice surprise) by an ADAM BRODY look-a-like waiter, which was definitely the highlight of Jen C.'s and my dinner. :) -
Review from Lizz K.
I'm a big fan of Landmarc so when I found myself in the West Village, it was an opportunity to try out their sister restaurant, Ditch Plains. As this was my first proper meal of the day (cigarettes & coffee could only hold you over for so long..), something hearty, carby & salty was needed.
Hello, breakfast food! Ditch Plains offers their breakfast menu until 4:00pm on weekdays which is awesome because who actually wakes up early enough for a proper breakfast? I know, I sure don't. More restaurants should do this to cater to lazy folks like me who want a later breakfast without having to visit a boring, old diner. Anyway, I digress..
I opted to take advantage and ordered myself the baked eggs with andouille sausage, spinach, and potatoes. The dish arrived in a super hot cast iron skillet that I accidentally burned myself on a couple times. So much sausage. So much spinach. But why so skimpy on the potatoes? As this was breakfast I was hoping for more potatoes to soak up that runny yolk, more so because the dish does not come with toast unless you order the bread on the side. Despite this, the dish was a deliciously light and balanced breakfast option.
The decor looked more industrial chic rather than the seafood shack or surfer lounge that Ditch Plains was intended to be - but still a handsome set up with modern booths by the window and additional tables along the wall. Like Landmarc, Ditch Plains offers inexpensive neighborhood comfort foods that compliment a casual day/night out. The kitchen stays open late for you party goers so you can nosh on some less refined options like the mac & cheese hot dog, seafood po boys, s'mores, beef chili, or some sloppy nachos. Me, I've got my eye on their Sunday lobster bake.
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- Options are geared more towards the seafood lover but there are great choices for others as well.
- Kid friendlyListed in: Late Night Nibbles
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Review from Cathy M.
Yonkers, NY
3/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have been to Ditch Plains twice, fortunately when everyone, I mean every single server, was in a fantastic mood!!! They were so nice, not rude or condescending, went out of their way to make sure you had a pleasant dining experience..
the first time I went i had the fish and chips.. 2 pieces of well seasoned fish in a very light batter atop of sweet potato chips.. awesome! second time i had their lobster roll... so filling and delicious. The best iced tea from the gun that I've ever had...but the most fun was the ice cream sammys and the salt water taffy that comes with the check. Really, this is a great neighborhood place that I would be willing to go over and over again. -
Review from Kitty C.
Oakland Gardens, NY
3/22/2011
The ditch dog is average, really nothing too special. Before coming here I was extremely excited and really looked forward to this. I have to tell you I experienced the complete opposite. The food was a little disappointing but I have to tell you that the service was one of the worst. The waitress was not pleasant at all during the whole time I was there.
Trust me, I'm not a harsh rater. I'd give food a 3 star here but service definitely a -2 star.
NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE =( -
Review from Anthony F.
Astoria, Queens, NY
3/8/2011
My first experience with Ditch Plains had nothing to do with food. I was shopping in JC Penney and walked past a table that had a bunch of surf/beach style t-shirts with the name plastered all over them. Is this a new brand?
Swiftly getting over it, I moved on with my life (sans those shirts). When a company we work with decided to take us out for a lunch meeting and suggested Ditch Plains, you'll understand how I was confused. I fired up the trusty Google and discovered that Ditch Plains is actually a town/beach out in the Hamptons! That's cool. But what does it have to do with lunch? Well, the theme of the restaurant by the same name, that's what!
Into Ditch Plains (restaurant), with it's modern maritime styling, we went! Obviously this place is about seafood, which I don't eat, but the menu doesn't stop there! You name it, you probably got it! Steak sandwiches, sloppy joe's, fries, fried pickles, etc etc (I'm going off of what we ordered here!).
My sloppy joe was good, but certainly not great. And cost $12. Hmmm. $12 for what amounts to a couple spoonfuls of Manwich on a potato roll? Yikes. For that price I could make a dozen sloppy joe's! The fries and fried pickles were amazing (though $5 a pop...). I also had a glass of the Surfer's Sangria, made with white wine, rum, pineapples, and guava. While really tasty, it was definitely weak.
For dessert I had the s'mores. Yes. S'MORES!! Kudos to the out of the box thinking on dessert, Ditch Plains! You get two per order, which is perfect to share. They come wrapped in foil for easy saving, but don't bother. Whip it open and devour it while the chocolate is melty!!
Will I go back? Definitely. If said company is picking up the tab! Out of my pocket? No thanks. When spoken aloud, $12 for lunch at a sit down restaurant isn't bad. But the quantity of the food given should only run $4-5. Mind you, this is based off of my single sloppy joe. Those steak sandwiches looked quite filling...
Lastly, the service. Friendly waiters, but really slow service. Some co-workers got coffee, and were first asked if they wanted milk after the coffee was delivered. This should just come standard. Anyway, it took well over 5 minutes for the milk to arrive. Speed it up guys, speed it up. -
Review from Leese H.
Washington D.C., DC
5/2/2011
I was in a mood for new American rustic cuisine, and found this listed on the Zagat. My friend and I came here, determined to fill our hearts with a soulful seafood meal.
Ordered the oysters, which were really fresh. I ordered the grilled skirt steak salad, and found myself really enjoying it, although the dressing was a bit too much. I think my friend ordered their grilled fish of the day, and he thought it was okay. We also ordered drinks and other appetizers that were not really memorable.
I remember the place was pretty poppin' with top40 music. They also had a decent size bar, which encompassed a large part of the restaurant. But seating was tight, and it could be uncomfortable if you're a hefty one...
The bill was over $120, so it was steep... but you either go big or you go home if you wanna feast like kings and queens. -
Review from Persia T.
New York, NY
9/16/2011
food is average and overpriced.
my boyfriend compared it to food your roommate would make you... like this would be good if you're not paying for it and someone with no culinary skills created it...you'd say "Good first try at making a fish taco -- I can kind of see what you were going for"
we ordered the steak salad - the steak was pretty low quality and no taste and the fish tacos ($21). 3 fish tacos for $21 = 7/each. I have no problem paying $$$ for good food, but these were very average and they charge $3 for a thimble of guac. Barrio chino is the spot for fish tacos and in comparison to B.C. these are not even deserving of the name.
In retrospect, we probably should have just gone with hot-dogs and mac n cheese bc you can't really go wrong there, but I was hoping this place was something more than a high priced hot dog joint.
bottom line: don't waste your time or $ -
Review from Marie B.
11/4/2010
My family and I dined here before the insane and ravenous Halloween crowds invaded the West Village.
A bit hungover from the night before, we indulged in all things fried and greasy that Ditch Plains had to offer: fried pickles, hot dogs smothered with macaroni and cheese, barbecue chicken nachos, a burger, and a lobster roll. (P.S. I hear they have fried macaroni and cheese as a special sometimes, but not on the day of our visit. Sad face.)
The fried pickles were surprisingly different than the ones I have had before; they were thin and crispy, but still packing a tangy punch. The hot dogs were awesome - very very cheesy. And the barbecue chicken on those nachos were smoky, sweet, and just plain delicious. I did not get a chance to try the burger or the lobster roll because they were out of my fork's reach.
Oh, we also cured our hangover with the best known cure: more alcohol. How can one resist the drink special of $4 until 9 pm?? (It was a bad decision btw....)
Overall, we had a blast at Ditch Plains. Definitely visit this place to spend some time, good fare and drinks with your favorite company.Listed in: I Heart the West Village
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Review from Keith T.
2/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ditch Plains is literally across the street from me, so for convenience alone, I love this place. It is also where my boyfriend and I had our first date, so it holds sentimental value as well.
Atmosphere: It's dark and moody; the lighting is flattering and the music is unobtrusive and really good (IMO). I think I've heard "Kids" by MGMT every time I've gone, which is a good thing. The booths are huge and could easily accommodate a group of 6. The wait-staff is attentive and friendly. The crowd is usually made up of 20- and 30-somethings of a more reputable sort than can be found at a typical "bar."
Food: I haven't had their seafood, but their hot dog products are to die for. I occasionally get overwhelmed by a craving for a Ditch Dog on my way home, but can't bring myself to stuff my face with one alone, so I go without. The Pigs in a Ditch (Pigs in a blanket) are delicious. I don't know what's in the dough, but it has a very unique flavor.
Drinks: Their wine selection has yet to disappoint me. It's not terribly cheap, but not ridiculously high-priced either. Most wines can be purchased by the half-bottle, which is convenient and not as much of a commitment as a whole bottle.
All in all, I'd recommend coming here if you're looking for a comfortable, laid-back place to have a few glasses, talk and treat yourself to processed pork products covered in cheese. -
Review from Lindsey G.
Beverly Hills, CA
1/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I've only ate at the bar but it is amazing. the salmon, fish & chips, mac & cheese, crab dip - all fantastic. But here is the kicker...the DESSERTS!!! OMG every time I go and I realize that I get to have the s'mores for dessert I get really excited. Ditch Plains is a small little place and always a good time and a good crowd. Lisa, the bartender on sunday nights, is awesome.
So why not 5 stars...the bar stools could not be more uncomfortable. You want to stay for the food, for the drinks...but there gets a point where you physically have to stand up and move. -
Review from Daryll H.
New York, NY
12/12/2010
If you set your expectations properly, this can be a really good place. I didn't do that, so it was just so-so.
I thought Ditch Plains was going to be a restaurant. It's not. It's a bar with some tables and great bar food that you can eat at those tables.
Had some great oysters from maine and fries. Mussels were so-so -- nothing compares to the mussels at Markt, so I'm probably just biased.
The biggest problem was the noise at the bar and the terrible music. The first one can be overlooked by setting proper expectations. The second one, well, jeez. Even pandora could do a better job. -
Review from Suzie C.
New York, NY
2/13/2011
I'm from the South and we fry everything, but I had honestly never seen fried pickles until Ditch Plains, and now I dream about them. I might even try and fry some at home (although my fried green tomato incident left me with a Gorbachev-style purple burn). The menu enhances the cool factor of this establishment.
I like meeting old friends here for happy hour and catching up in a booth while we eat crab dip, drink, and complain like on Seinfeld. The smores make me whip my hair back and forth every time they come out of the kitchen; still haven't ordered them yet so I'll have to go back soon.
With so many lame watering holes in the area, this is a refreshing drink of water or beer or wine, pick your poisson and wash it down with pickles and the saltwater taffy they bring with the bill, it's like the American bar version of a fortune cookie after your food.
