Restaurant Ravings: September through December, 2011

I never had time to flesh out and really write about my restaurant visits this fall, but here is a (looooooong) list and some brief notes, if only for my memory's sake.

Husk, Charleston, SC (1 September 2011).  John and I went to Husk for lunch with my parents before joining a charming walking tour of Charleston.  The food is outstanding.  I particularly remember the rillettes.

Fig, Charleston, SC (1 September 2011).  Fig is a great restaurant.  I had an egg dish that was out of this world, and our service was fantastic.

Ryder Cup Bar, at the Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, SC (2 September 2011).  I never got around to blogging about our trip to Charleston and Kiawah Isand, but I loved it there!  We relaxed, played some golf, and enjoyed spending some time with my parents.  I'd go back in a second, and not only because the food on Kiawah Island is really good.  We had lunch and drinks at the Ryder Cup Bar a couple of times, and it is great because you can watch the golfers approach the clubhouse as they are finishing their rounds.

The Ocean Course.

Tomasso, at the Turtle Point Course, Kiawah Island, SC (2 September 2011).  This place serves good Italian food; I had a caprese salad that was particularly tasty.

Jasmine Room, at The Sanctuary, Kiawah Island, SC (3 and 4 September 2011).  This restaurant is nice, but we had the most bizarre server at dinner one night.  The fried green tomatoes were really good, as were the she crab soup and the shrimp and grits.

Fatty 'Cue, New York, NY (16 September 2011).  When Fatty 'Cue opened up mere blocks from my office, I couldn't wait to try it and made an early evening reservation as soon as I could.  This place is fantastic; everything was delicious.  We had the "Ham Jam Butter & Bread," the "Smoked Brandt Beef Brisket," the chicken and eggplant salad, and some specials.  Next time I want to try the fried rabbit.

Riverpark, New York, NY (25 September 2011).  I've written about Riverpark a few times, and we still love it.

Macelleria, New York City Wine & Food Festival "Charcuterie 101" lunch, New York, NY (1 October 2011).  This event was timely because of my year-long commitment to Charcutepalooza; the charcuterie tasting we did there was excellent for research!  The food was great, and the basement space was rustic and pretty.  I'd like to go back for a regular meal.

Malaka Spice, Pune, India (11 October 2011).  This place is awesome.  Some Indian friends of mine took me and my colleague here for dinner when I was in Pune on business, which was tons of fun.  The food is great, but my friends also know everybody in town, so dinner was festive, with lots of people stopping by.  I particuarly liked the "top hat" appetizer and the lotus root dish.  Also, I'll never forget the crazy rainstorm that was going on when Tushar came to the hotel to fetch us.

The House, New York, NY (16 October 2011).  John and I always like to go out for a date dinner when I return home from traveling for business, and he chose this restaurant after my last trip.  It was nice!  I liked the deviled egg trio and the truffled mac & cheese.

Bar Pleiades, Surrey Hotel, New York, NY (22 October 2011).  My friends and I popped in here for a snack and some drinks after shopping for bridesmaid dresses, and I was very pleasantly surprised.  Daniel Boulud does the food here, and all of the charcuterie tastes were delicious.  Also, the "Horse's Neck" cocktail (with Buffalo Trace, ginger, lemon, and soda) is a delight.  I could go for one right now, actually.

Jones Wood Foundry, New York, NY (22 October 2011).  John met me and my friends here for dinner after our rest stop at Bar Pleiades.  We have been before, and will continue to go back forever.  The meat pies are not to be missed.

Terrapin Restaurant, Rhinebeck, NY (23 October 2011).  After Tracy and I ran the Inaugural Fall Foliage Half Marathon, we looked around Rhinebeck for a little while and had some lunch here.  After a half, all I ever want is a giant cheeseburger and a beer, so that's what I had.  Oh! Also, I never got around to writing my race report, but here is hers!  She said that I'm not allowed to pick races anymore because that course was HILLY, and the mile markers were stupidly wonky.  Fair enough.  It was pretty, though, and the organizers, runners, and spectators were all really nice.

Look at the dude behind me.  He covets my giant pumpkin beer.

After lunch, we checked out the Walkway Over the Hudson.  Tracy is being nosy, despite the strongly-worded signage.

Walkway Over the Hudson.

Dairy Queen, Hyde Park, NY (23 October 2011).  Obviously while Tracy and I were in upstate New York running races and eating lunch and walking over the Hudson, we made a pilgrimage to Dairy Queen.  Duh.  I'm certain that the promise of a Dairy Queen visit is the only reason she agreed to do this race with me.  I had the pumpkin pie Blizzard.  It was incredible.

Yep.  Proudly wearing my medal.  

Tamarind Tribeca, New York, NY (29 October 2011 and 3 November 2011).  John and I first went here on a date night, but we liked it so much that we took my parents and my dad's training partner and his wife the next week when they all came in for the marathon.  Our visitors had never really tried Indian food, so we ordered an assortment of dishes.  Their dal makhni is really good, and if they have the cauliflower appetizer special when you go, get it!  

Sarabeth's, New York, NY (4 November 2011).  I met my mom and dad here for breakfast before we all went to the ING New York City Marathon expo at the Javitz Center.  I love the porridge there, and we spotted Katie Couric at the next table over.

At the race expo with my dad.

Patsy's Pizzeria, New York, NY (5 November 2011).  I was super anxious the day before the marathon, and convinced myself that I needed to get myself to Lululemon to buy a short-sleeved shirt that I most certain NEEDED because the weather was looking warmer than expected.  I ended up wearing the long-sleeved shirt I already had, and returning the one I bought in a panic, but on the trip I met my mom and dad for a carby pizza lunch.

Paola's, New York, NY (5 November 2011).  Madison Avenue Italian restaurant for pre-race pasta.  This place is nice, but the high prices definitely reflect the neighborhood.

York Grill, New York, NY (6 November 2011).  After the marathon, my dad and I and all of our fans went for dinner at York Grill, which is conveniently across the street from where I live.  I was feeling weird and didn't eat much, but the staff was SO congratulatory and kind.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, New York, NY (12 November 2011).  This day was fun!  It started with a beer run in Brooklyn, moved on to sharing a giant cupcake with runner friends, and ended at Dinosar Bar-B-Que.  I'm actually kind of "meh" on their ribs, but those chicken wings rock.

Rouge Tomate, New York, NY (26 November 2011).  I had been meaning to try this restaurant forever, so I randomly made a reservation for John and I on a date night.  They source locally and serve seasonal, nutritional fare.  I thought the food was great; we particularly liked the seasonal toasts and the butternut squash soup.

Serafina, New York, NY (6 December 2011).  I actually don't like this place that much, but we needed a quick dinner before the Ryan Adams concert at Carnegie Hall.  The calamari was really good, which was a nice surprise, but I was in an uncomfortable spot on a curved booth seat, crowded by the overweight lady and her many shopping bags beside me.  The concert was great, though.

Essex, New York, NY (10 December 2011).  I had "The Aristocrat" platter, which is fantastic.  Potato pancakes, eggs, yum.  And a side of crispy  bacon, of course.  This day involved a Jingle Bell Jog in Brooklyn and a Santacon experience, so click here to read all about that.

Loreley, New York, NY (10 December 2011).  The Köstritzers and pretzel basket hit the spot. Santacon.

Pan Asian, New York, NY (10 December 2011).  After my big Santacon day out, John and I went for some neighborhood Chinese.  The food here was surprisingly good; we had normal stuff, dumplings and scallion pancakes, string beans, chicken, etc., and left happy.

Sarabeth's, New York, NY (13 December 2011).  Back again!  John and I both took this random Tuesday off work, and used it to sleep late, go to brunch, wander around, and go to a Rangers hockey game.   The lemon ricotta pancakes here are the stuff of dreams.  John's burger was really good, too.

Southern Hospitality, New York, NY (13 December 2011).  Went before the Rangers game.  The pulled pork nachos are amazing, but the fried pickles here are surprisingly lackluster.  How can a fried pickle NOT be delicious?  That's unclear, but this place manages to accomplish it.  Too bad.

Dallas Jones BBQ, New York, NY (22 December 2011).  Lunch with C.  Shared pulled chicken sandwich and half rack of baby back ribs.  Love this place, will definitely get lunch again, because it is close by my office and has amazing lunch specials I didn't even know existed.

Eleven Madison Park, New York, NY (23 December 2011).  This dinner is happening TONIGHT, and I cannot wait!  I'm sensing that it will deserve its own blog post.

We are off to Chicago tomorrow to spend some holiday time with my family, so I'm sure there will be lots of good food to be eaten and written about...stay tuned for that.  Happy holidays, everyone!