April, 2011

Dos Caminos Meatpacking- More Like Gross Caminos

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: Prime Real Estate to watch the show that goes on every night in MPD; inside is brick walls, generic
  • sip: Tequila rocks; the sangria and margs are too sweet and clawing
  • savor: Guac...
  • sit: With friends who like chips and salsa and share an ironic jaded view of what goes on in MPD; possibly pervy dudes to like to watch girls strut by in Serena Van der Woodsen-sized dreses
  • spend: $$$
  • address: 675 Hudson Street
  • phone number: 212-699-2400
  • website: www.doscaminos.com

My So-Called Birthday

Per the Post, Claire Danes was unfortunately seen heading into Recette carrying her own presents to her own 32nd birthday party. I’m not exactly sure why she’d schlep presents in there for fun, but she was definitely in store for a great meal. Recette is such a cute, warm place to celebrate with friends, and ideally the people passing by...
3

Buttons Bursting

Ciano

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: Mix of people from the hood, and people who sought it out; On this particular Sunday, there happened to be lots of great looking families
  • sip: Lemonata Menta - enough said! Also extensive wine list via fancy sommelier
  • savor: All the pastas sound amazing, and there wasn't one salad (I know, I know) that I wouldn't choose; Chicken for two in a clay pot, striped bass
  • sit: There really isn't a bad seat in the back dining room; If you are lucky, you can sit by the "fireplace"
  • spend: $$$$
  • address: 45 East 22nd Street (btw Park and Broadway)
  • phone number: (212) 982-8422 ‎
  • website: www.cianonyc.com
1

Button Open

The Stanton Social- The United Nations in my Belly

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: noisy noisy bi-level space that features bar/lounge seating upstairs; vibe is lively and usually full of large tables, because the food is so conducive to sharing; look is slightly industrial
  • sip: they have a number of specialty cocktails, The Strawberry Fields is amazing, as is the Cucumber Vanilla Cosmopolitan and the Pink Grapefruit Mint Martini
  • savor: French Onion Soup dumplings; everything from the Brunch Menu- especially bacon egg and cheese sliders, the baby benedict and the huevos Rancheros soft tacos
  • sit: groups are best, lots to share; I have been here on a date, and it was not a bad choice, but the soup dumplings are awkward to eat if you don't the person well or want to appear dainty; the best stuff here, like most places, is not good for you, so I suggest going with guests that you are not afraid to eat in front of; it is also one of the most established and biggest restaurants on the LES, so it is a good spot to take people who might not be so familiar with that area- it just gets very LOUD
  • spend: $$$
  • address: 99 Stanton Street (between Ludlow and Orchard)
  • phone number: 212-995-0099
  • website: www.thestantonsocial.com
2

Buttons Undone

Oceana- Under the Sea of Skyscrapers

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: Gorgeous grown up dining room, in airy shades of blues and whites; less formal front room with prominent raw bar display and ample room to sidle up the bar
  • sip: Specialty cocktails and wine
  • savor: Raw bar; clam chowder; lobster cobb salad; anything simply grilled; Thai fish; brussel sprouts
  • sit: For lunch, its great for a business meeting or a special occasion get-together; the location lends itself to after-work cocktails, and similar Corporate people get togethers; there is a large menu features both seafood and meat, and I am fairly confident that any Finicky Fiona could find something yummy here
  • spend: $$$$
  • address: McGraw Hill Building 1221 Sixth Avenue, enter on 49th Street between 6th and 7th
  • phone number: 212-759-5941
  • website: www.oceanarestaurant.com
2

Buttons Undone

The Grey Dog- “Fetching” Eats

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: dark wood and random artwork and signage; long lines waiting to order/sit, made up of everything from angsty NYU students, women in Lulu lemons and families
  • sip: Coffee; also wine and beer
  • savor: Nachos; the country salad; tuna melt; any egg dish that comes with the hasbrowns
  • sit: By yourself! with the guy that slept over the night before, a girl-friend, anyone
  • spend: $$
  • address: 90 University Place (multiple locations)
  • phone number: 212-414-4739
  • website: www.thegreydog.com
3

Buttons Bursting

Chin Chin- Fine China

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: Hmmm...large open dining room and smaller rooms off the main entrance; lightly colored walls showcase sepia tinged family photos
  • sip: full bar available; bartenders are happy to put on NY sports and remember when you like a team...
  • savor: pan-fried pork dumplings; peking duck; hot and sour soup; spare ribs; shredded garlic chicken; Grand Marnier Shrimp; softshell crabs when in season
  • sit: with your family; with your friend who doesn't buy into "fancy" Chinese food; anyone who wants Chinese on a Sunday night
  • spend: $$$
  • address: 216 East 49th (right off of 3rd)
  • phone number: 212-888-4555
  • website: www.chinchinny.com

Charlie Sheen and the Hookers at Daniel

The weirdest part of the whole Charlie Sheen/Plaza/Drug/Hooker situation (old news I know) is the fact that he went to dinner with this crew at Daniel.  Daniel! The refined, elegant Daniel, where people actually care more about taste than tits.  If Charlie was in fact doing coke in the bathroom, why bother to go somewhere so pricey and delicious- he...

Pants Rant: Reservations

“Hello, thank you for calling X, how can I help you?” “Yes, hi, I wanted to see about making a reservation for tomorrow evening, for two people at 7:30”. “Well, we don’t have 7:30, we only have 7:20 or 7:40 available”. “Really?  There is no way you can put us in for 7:30?” “No, its our system, we can’t do...

The Odeon: Bright Lights, Small Appetite

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: Tribeca families and people on dates
  • sip: Wine, specialty cocktails
  • savor: French fries...
  • sit: This is a place for locals really; it is not remarkable enough to bring out of towners, its better suited as a go-to when you can't decide where else to go and are not in the mood for any specific type of cuisine
  • spend: $$
  • address: 145 W Broadway (between Duane St & Thomas St)
  • phone number: (212) 233-0507
  • website: http://theodeonrestaurant.com