Maialino

2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: Rare
When our last visit was a disaster, Maialino, graciously sent us a gift card inviting us to come back. We very much appreciated the gesture, and were happy to make another trip on this gorgeous summer day. While we don't want to dismiss the good food and warm atmosphere, we were yet again not impressed with the service. We opted for the 3 course prix-fixe and while they very promptly cleared our plates, silverware for the next course was brought out 3 minutes later, another 10 minutes passed before the pastas came out. Biscotti was brought out at least 3 minutes after the espressos (where you start worrying that your espressos will be cold). It's a place to have a leisurely lunch for sure, but the timing is just off, and it's not like the place was noticeably understaffed. I don't think we would swear off going there again, but perhaps not when you are hungry or trying to maximize the time spent with your dining companion.

Park Avenue Summer, with Liz and Peter

360 Park Ave S, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 1 - Wonderful
Visits: First Time
Time for our bi-annual lunch with Liz and Peter! M. and I had been to Park Avenue Summer back when they opened in the Upper East Side but we hadn't yet gone to the newly opened location further downtown. It's a beautiful space, I am definitely tempted to go back in its next season's incarnation. The food was absolutely fantastic, everything we had was spot on. If you're looking for a quiet and upscale spot, this is where to go.

Just Salad

315 Park Ave South, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visit #: 1
In brief: Rarely do we have a salad craving but something about the impending hot weather made me want a tart vinaigrette. There is little, to us, that distinguishes Just Salad from Chopt from Sweet Green, except maybe the decor. And after a bowl of leafy greens I started feeling a bit like a rabbit. 

Dos Toros

295 Park Ave South, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visit #: 9
In brief: It's not that we haven't been by the newly opened Dos Toros at Park and 23rd, we just haven't blogged about it. But just as well because when it just opened, the grill hadn't acquired quite enough seasoning and our favorite pollo asado quesadilla was not up to the snuff of the other locations. Today, however, it's good again. 
Oh, and happy Cinco de Mayo! And spring! Yay!

Lamarca Express

161 E. 22nd St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visit #: 1
In brief: It's rare to find a place for lunch under $10 up here in the twenties, but Lamarca manages to do it for $7.60. 
And it's customizable! Pick your own sauce, pick your own pasta. We were kindly informed which were the popular ones, that people like to combine sauces, and that salads and soups were available too. A couple minutes later, presto! Hot pasta to order. The sauces are similar enough that you can mix the bolognese and the arrabbiata for something in-between. For under ten dollars and practically instantaneous gratification, the over cooked pasta can almost be over looked.

Terakawa Ramen

18 Lexington Ave, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visit #: 6
In brief: Probably every time we have ramen at the only ramen joint within a 10 block radius of the office, we bemoan the lack of noodle soups in the Flatiron District. 
Today was no different. It wouldn't have to be ramen, but what we wouldn't give for a bowl of pho or a good, piping hot bowl of egg noodle and roast pork. Don't think this will be the last time we whine about it now that winter has truly hit. At least Terakawa Ramen was less crowded than it normally is, though as hectic as always.

Terakawa Ramen

18 Lexington Ave, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visit #: 5
In brief: As usual, packed and passable ramen at Terakawa.
Why oh why Flatiron District do you have so few lunch options by way of Asia? Terakawa is always a hectic and loud dining experience, but if you need a bowl of ramen, this is practically the only place to find one. It was especially crowded today, but the line moves promptly and quickly.

Via Emilia

47 E. 21st St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visit #: 3
In brief: The pasta is always fresh at Via Emilia.

I was already looking forward to a piping hot plate of tagliatelle al ragu at Via Emilia when I left the office to go to the dentist to get stitches taken out. It was every bit as hot and tasty as I imagined it would be.

Gramercy Tavern, with Mark

42 E. 20th St, NY, NY 10003

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visit #: 1
In brief: Lunch tip from us to you, sit in the front "tavern" area and ask if to have the soup and sandwich lunch special.
Just the other day someone recommended the soup and sandwich combo at Gramercy Tavern to us, and a scant day or two later Mark said the same thing. That's a lunch that's meant to be.

Almond

12 E. 22nd St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visit #: 1
In brief: Generous dining room, warm and cozy with energy, Almond is the kind of place you want to go with your mom when she's in town. 
Tasting Table just put out a list of good places to get steak frites, putting me deeply in the mood. M. was out this morning so I went out for a bar lunch at Almond where I had absolutely the nicest experience. The bartender was spot on with his attentiveness, meaning not too much and not too little. Afterward, when I had ordered the $24 prix fixe but not the glass of wine to go with, he charged me a little less, all the time refilling my ginger ale and not charging me for that either. It was a small, but very much appreciated, gesture that makes me understand why the dining room was so bustling filled with diners on this cold rainy day. Almond is a little pricier than our everyday lunch, but definitely a place I'd want to return too.

Schnipper's

23 E. 23rd St, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visit #: 2
In brief: Better the second time around

The french fries were much better this time, almost worth going back to. At any rate, we ran into two different friends there, illustrating that maybe Schnipper's is, in fact, the place to lunch. The hot dog is ok, not fantastic, if they buttered the bun it would be stellar though. And the chicken fingers I liked enough to go back for another time.

L'Express

249 Park Ave So, NY, NY 10003

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visit #: 2
In brief: It's open 24 hours, carries nostalgic value and serves ordinary bistro food.

The roast chicken was better than expected but I always think a French bistro should serve french fries with their omelets. L'Express goes classic American and serves them with breakfast style home fries.

Old Town

45 E. 18th St, NY, NY 10003

Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visit #: 7
In brief: When it's not crowded (lunch) it's one of the best pubs in the city. The frankfurters are not to be missed, but otherwise it's not really about the food here.

I rattled off a dozen or more lunch spots for M. to decide, but none of them struck her fancy until I got to Old Town. You can't beat their hot dogs and french fries for sheer coziness of a meal.
Old Town Bar, 45 East 18th St, NY, NY 10003 (btwn Park Ave So & Broadway)

Maialino

2 Lexington Ave, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 7 - Offended
Visit #: 2
In brief: Normally a paragon of a place, excellent service and food. This visit was neither.

We were met with the most dismaying service today at Maialino of all places. I have such love for Danny Meyers that I was willing to overlook the initial lack of attention but by the third time I had to flag down a server for something, even patient M. was getting antsy. A soup and sandwich lunch special should be ready to go, we didn't order wine, we didn't need to linger. We had to ask for someone to take our order, someone to bring bread, someone to notice the first course soup was done, someone to take our empty plates away. After an entire lunch of being ignored (was it because we were only spending $15 each?), we asked for the check and found ourselves again sitting there. By now I was so irritated at having to ask for everything, that we stood up, threw two twenties down and walked the fuck out of there. As my hand reached for the door to leave, a waiter came running up to say we hadn't paid. I frustratingly explained that we had paid but not because a check was brought to us. He said thanks and turned around. No apology or explanation. I have to say one of the more disappointing lunch services we've ever had. And normally we quite adore Maialino.

Terakawa

18 Lexington Ave, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visit #: 4
In brief: The only ramen joint in the Flatiron, it's passable and almost always packed, worth it if you need a craving fixed.

Cold weather is comfort food eating time and today is no exception though the inefficiency and haphazard service at Terakawa was anything but comforting. They ran out of chopsticks at one point, soup spoons at another point and finally when we had asked for a check three times already I was almost tempted to use the trick of standing up and putting on one's coat to get the damn thing, but instead we politely waited and waited and waited.

Terakawa Ramen

18 Lexington Ave, NY, NY 10010

Rating: 6 - Decent
Visit #: 3
In brief: The only ramen joint in the Flatiron, it's passable and almost always packed, worth it if you need a craving fixed.

While I don't crave ramen in too much in the summertime, when Y suggested we go to Terakawa Ramen, I was hoping they'd offer some summertime cold noodle. I wavered a bit between the hiyashi chuka and their special I forget what it was called. But I'm glad I went with my summertime favorite (hiyashi-chuka). Like everything else here, the flavors and ingredients are a bit too heavy handed. But the vinegary sauce appealed to me, enough that I prefer this to any of their ramens I have tried. I will go back soon to try the other cold noodle dish, as the photo showed some okra bits, and that alone makes me hungry.

Forcella, with Nat

Downtown Forcella is a little quirky but Gramercy Park Forcella is downright bizarre, and by that I mean the decor, not the food. We caught up with an old college friend, Nathaniel, to talk about apartment renovating and the tiered levels of acquisitions. Forcella's pizza survived the expansion - we still love the chewy yielding crust and we still think the centers are too soggy. Don't get the arugula salad, it was nothing to write home about.
Forcella, 377 Park Ave South, NY, NY 10016 (btwn 26th and 27th)

Wildwood BBQ

225 Park Ave South, NY, NY 10003

Rating: 5 - Disappointed
In brief: What happened to the Carribean jerk wings from last time? At least the tater tots were good.
Visit #: 2

I've kind of had a craving for the Carribean jerk wings at Wildwood Barbeque ever since we tasted them a couple months ago. I must have built them up in my mind because they were perfectly good today but not enough to warrant major cravings. We also tried the smoked brisket sandwich which was strangely dry despite being served saucy. The tater tots we completely devoured.

Wildwood BBQ

225 Park Ave South, NY, NY 10003

Rating: 5 - Disappointed
In brief: The first visit was the best.
Visit #: 2

The presentation is super plain, but the brisket platter at Wildwood Barbeque is a cacophony of deliciousness in your mouth. Everything was divine, whether a simple bite of the mashed potatoes or a taste of everything at once. The pickled jalapenos were an especially nice counterpoint to the lushy fattiness of the brisket. We flirted briefly with ordering a salad or vegetable side but could not give up the Carribean jerk wings. Next time we need more friends so we can try more things, if what we had today was any indication, there is an entire menu left to try.

Barbounia, with Mark

It would be really fantastic if restaurants posted their noise levels along with the cost of the meal, good for groups, ratings, etc. We're often picking restaurants based on sound levels, it plays such a major factor in whether or not the meal is enjoyable or stressful. I hate yelling while trying to eat. Maybe Julian Treasure should tackle the restaurant industry. At Barbounia, we chatted with Mark, or rather talked loudly, over a very delicious meal, though next time I might ask M. to share the burger. It was large, very good, and super juicy.
Barbounia, 250 Park Ave S, NY, NY 10003 (at 20th St)