Amber "Amber" M.'s Profile

Oh ma goodness.
Had my first Defonte's today: fresh mozz, tomato and eggplant cutlet so paper thin it melted in my mouth.
A $10 sandwich is big enough to share. I'll be back!

For live music, it's an intimate setting with truly superior sound (grand piano). A 3rd floor walk up with an elevator (if it's working) and what appears to be a bar being built on the 2nd floor.
Premises are clean and crowd is respectful of performers. Limited wine, beer, sake selection. Sushi available until 10:30pm from the shop downstairs. No full bar yet.

Miles, the owner will likely greet you at the door. Overall, a good place to hear live music with a reasonable cover ($10 the night I was there). Hope it sticks around.

Sweet, sweet A/C kept me in this Upper West Side market for longer than I needed to. I walked down every aisle.
Produce selection is relatively fresh but not extensive. It's a fine market for the last minute ingredient you forgot to pick up for dinner. Deli counter is staffed well so wait isn't too bad.
In the task of food shopping of New York, you'll find most of what you need here but it's not a weekly shopping destination.

Having stopped in a number of times on various weekdays and on weekends, the space is tight but maneuverable without too much of a crowd.
This is an expensive food shopping option, even for a mindful shopper.

It looks like the kind of place you'd take your grandma but inside, everyone was actually Italian and the food was fresh, well prepared and well plated. Fresh pasta, perfectly prepared meat. Traditional Italian favorites on the menu as well as a good selection of appetizer and fish specials of the day. Nothing special from the outside, ambiance needs to be updated but the food holds it's own for sure.
Affordable for the high quality of food you get.
Will easily come to mind as a good dinner option after a movie or stroll through Central Park.

This snug restaurant has the feel of eating at someone's home.
With only a few tables, if you don't want to sit at the bar (which was perfect for us) call ahead for reservations. Open air shop front is just as good as sitting outside.
Checkered linens and nontraditional glassware.
A small menu offering good variety of proteins and sides. I'll try the mac n' cheese next time. Portions are just right to extend your chance at trying a number of dishes. For appetizer, the shellfish and chorizo. With only two little bits of chorizo I hogged the fresh calamari, creepy squigly bit included. The New York strip was excellent but hadn't had a chance to rest after cooking so it continued to cook hot on my plate with a trio of sauces (bleu cheese Goddess recommended). Order it one level rarer than you like and it will be perfection at the end of the meal. We swapped bites of the steak and the blackened seabass special that came with a beet reduction and creamy butter sauce. It was a bit sweet for my taste but the fish was cooked perfectly - melt in your mouth.
Aperitifs, wine with dinner, shared appetizer and two entrees (plus the citrus panna cota *El Bucco's is better) $120. Great, attentive service in a comfortable and thoughtful restaurant. Completely worth it.
Good for a date or a small dinner party (6 tops).

Tasteful, dim lighting, unique.
You are allocated to your own area (velvet couches or a spot near the door) after arranging for a table with the door man. Once you've got your spot you'll be taken care of well.
Smart cocktails from what feels like someone's kitchen (you're welcome to go through and visit).
Less than obvious tricks like the silent (but lit) doorbell next to your table when you need service. Mind the wallpaper in the restroom as well as the good behavior rules for this establishment (no flash photography, no photos of someone you don't know etc.).
Went once with an out of town guest.
It had a nice novelty to it and I'd probably save it for the next New York tour I'm taking someone on.

Yelp, you are usually so good to me. You're like an old friend that I know well and who knows me. You've been with me through many moves and visits to different cities. You've saved me from potentially disastrous hair cuts and pointed me in the right direction to some truly excellent food.
But Yelp - you let me down on this one.

NOTE: Cash only

A 45 minute wait in a crowded bar next to Supper Restaurant. When I say crowded I mean I was the barback handing bottles to the bartender from a bus boy who couldn't get through the room.
Seated about an hour later in the back room of the restaurant. Snotty crowd who made it difficult to get to our table in the corner. Bus boy who shouted out the options "Tap or spawkling?!". Our waiter seemed genuinely Italian, the 3rd seating of the night moved in quickly with a couple of large groups.
The music (as with most restaurants in New York) was 80's and 90's and was way too loud. That plus the cackling of the 10 top next to us - forget it - I'll talk to you after dinner.
Drinks arrived after our pasta dinners were served. Whereas I admire a timely service, making me feel like you've got a stop watch until you can turn my table is rude buddy.
I just wanted to finish my bolognese and get out of there. Had to run to the ATM at the corner store on the same block.
Won't be back.

Spacious downstairs pub that doesn't smell like a pub.
Full menu (tried spinach dip with pita chips and the short rib dumplings) and a good selection of beers on tap.
Good for an after work meeting with clients, to watch a game with friends or gather a decent size group of friends.
Good service, reasonable prices.

I was surprised to read the New York Times review that   poo-poo'd this restaurant.
Have been twice now, both times with no reservations and despite a full bar the bf and I manage to snag two seats together for supper.
Tiny appetizers of delectable niblets. The tuna carpaccio with grapefruit ice flakes and sharp salt was incredible but really it was just a taste and I would have enjoyed a few more pieces of fish.

Funny enough my favorite thing I've had so far (and both times) is the butter lettuce salad that arrives as crisp green nest lovingly coated with a creamy Gorgonzola and lemon dressing with toasted hazelnuts and bits of kalamata olives. Some people splurge on seafood entrees when they go to a restaurant. For me, it's salads as I never make them at home. Try this one - large enough to share and you'll be fighting over the last bite, I promise.

Pasta dishes are rich and portioned just right. Fresh sauces with an understanding of simple ingredients combined with careful preparation resulting in a taste you'll want to get more of the next time you're in the neighborhood.

Service can be slow or forgetful but once you've got someone's attention they really know their stuff. Fresh juices mixed with unique spirits in the prettiest glassware in town.

3 stars for a good selection of Mexican favorites and homemade quality of food (once we actually got it).
-2 stars for the clusterf...  that was the interior of the taqueria portion of this three part restaurant.
Standing outside on a warm winter day enjoying our soft tacos (carnitas and carne) was worth it I guess.
The line inside and the narrow space jammed full of people cutting in line - no bueno.