So many Italian restaurants on the Upper West Side. Most of them mediocre. Cotta is casual with outside tables. Inside it is dark and loud with blaring music. But. The homemade pasta is superb. Sauces fresh and delicious. Sets it apart from any of the other choices. For the food.
We experienced two distinctly different restaurants at Del Posto. The first one a few years ago was perfection. Great food and understated yet sophisticated service. We left singing superlatives. The second one, under the new regime was a tacky touristy vibe with superfluously showy service. And underwhelming food.
Saturday in the Park. March 2014. PopUp Piano Man. Warm sun. Pure Joy. Outdoor tables ready and waiting. Shake Shack opens. Crowds soon gather. Can Spring be far behind? MadisonPark Onze it. Quatorze–course tasting adventure. Pricey. Priceless. Grilled lobster lunch with friends at ABC Kitchen. Specially good. Roasted octopus, striped bass downtown at Colicchio and Sons. Delectable. Memories of a Mad March Birthday Weekend 2014. Indelible. Folie en food.
Visited and lived on the UWS in the 1970’s – 1980’s. There was a vibrant if gritty bar & dining scene which centered around Ruskay’s on Columbus & 75th. Richard Ruskay also owned Empire Diner down on 10th Avenue. Ruskay’s later turned into a fun hot spot for the Manhattan swells called Ruelle’s. The others I remember from those times – Victor’s great Cuban. Mughlai authentic Indian. Ginger Man an upscale gem. China Club. Oenophilia. Museum Cafe. Since then, spent lots of time at The Excelsior Hotel visiting family and moved back again in 2016. It… Read more The Old UWS →
Dogs drool and rule at most restaurants. Getting worse by the day. Don’t want to share a meal with people’s pets. Yuck. That’s why we mostly stay in and cook or take-out. Nobody else seems to mind I guess, yet there are more boarded up bistros every week. Good luck out there! Woof. Woof. NYPost
West Side Rag posted New York Magazine’s Best Restaurants on the Upper West Side. To say the list is sad is to be polite. On the list are a couple of actual restaurants rather than hot dog stands and Asian food chains. The good ones include Oxbow Tavern, Sushi Kaito, The Milling Room. Not there and should be Osteria Cotta, The Mermaid Inn, Da Capo, Santa Fe, Arte Cafe.
Large attractive venue on 7th Avenue in midtown. Beautiful bar area. Grilled octopus, fried calamari excellent. Red Snapper special frozen and overcooked. Braised short ribs said to be very good. Large prawns mealy and inedible according to another diner at our table. Wine list mediocre. Service uninspired. Okay for a large older group.
A former neighborhood hot spot with lethal margaritas rediscovered in a new venue on 71st & Columbus. Enchiladas Suizas, Burrito excellent. Sauces sabroso. Not sure about the underground venue, but the food is so much better than other choices such as Frida and Calle Ocho. Miss AG Kitchen so happy to have found this again.
Quests de Cuisine 