I was afraid I'd be totally late with this post since NYC Restaurant Week was supposed to end July 31st...it's now extended...to LABOR DAY! Yes, so it's now the Restaurant Summer Prix Fixe apparently. This is not too surprising seeing how a lot of these places are hurting in this economy and I feel particularly happy to help a place out by gorging myself on their specialty dishes. As long as they're done right. And being under $30 helps. i'll drink to that.
Again, thanks to twitter and countless food blogs, I narrowed down my two dinner locations: The Modern at MOMA and The Harrison. Two different types of places, but both excellent choices and amazing food all around.
The Modern: RW special was at the "The Bar" portion of the restaurant which was absolutely fine because the interior was amazing. A simple white wall separated the two locations but you could see into the light and cool "Dining Room" which had a dramatic wall of glass with a beautiful view of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. The bar area was the opposite, dark and warm, with leather, mirrors, and fresh flowers accenting a sleek, modern design. What else would you expect at MOMA?
The food was amazing. I spent 15 minutes (not even an exaggeration) talking to the waitress about wine ($40 menu) and her favorite dishes. She was as conflicted as I was between deciding things, so she went over everything on the menu. Check out the menu here to be stunned.
PICTURED: (left to right)
Appetizers: Wild Mushroom Soup, Braised Tripe.
Main: Crispy Atlantic Cod, Duck Confit.
Fin: Pistachio Dark Choco Dome, Caramel & White Choco Trifle
Not Pictured - Gazpacho, Pea Salad, Salmon, Snapper, Panna Cotta, Cheesecake (all amazing and photogenic, but this is a blog not a photo album). Which reminds me, I need to get a flickr account. Read a great review of our Modern experience (that was a little post-modern) here.
The Harrison: Tucked away in Tribeca a few blocks away from the Franklin St. stop on the 1 train, the location is charming and the interior is so warm and inviting, i would come here every day if i could. The best thing about this reservation is when I checked in with the hostess and she said, "OH! we cancelled your reservation because some woman called and thought someone was playing a trick on her and calling her about fake reservations." Apparently, I mistyped my phone number into opentables.com and the woman who was unlucky enough to have my phone number sans one digit got a lot of calls. Sorry 1027!
Our table was oddly close to the bar and the bar was an old apothecary table (may or may not be true). We had an amazing rose - i need to start writing these things down...but the food was also fantastically plentiful. A big ups to Lisa who ordered OFF the RW menu because she does not eat meat. Here is the RW menu. And of course, Lisa's account of the evening here.
Cripspy Skate Fingers, Bacon-crusted Blue Fish
Hangar Steak, Summer Berry Shortcake
Regular Menu: Troutlings
crispy, fresh and pure joy
Truffled Orzo
Broccolini, pecorino romano and magic
Duck-Fat Fries
They're known for these and they didn't disappoint!
Our RW meals were great and very plentiful, but as you can see, the regular menu was spectacular. I would come back anytime - to either The Modern or The Harrison (slight post-modern) for a meal. Though, now that RW is extended...why not go back!
We had an amazing adventure to Bully Hill and like 10 wineries around Seneca Lake. This pic was taken at Ventosa - the first stop at Seneca Lake. The rest of the trip was a whirlwind of tastings, laughter, cases of wine and wegman's subs. I took a million pics - here a few.
Paula and Eric @ Red Cat
