10/30/08

Good Food but SERVICE???

by WingMich

I thought this place was ok but partially due to the fact that we only got one piece of bread and that the food wasn't as good as I would have liked. The environment was nice. The wait staff didn't come to our table often, and when wait staff did it took so long to bring our order/fulfill our request. I'll keep this short and simple. The grilled ssparagus was definitely a recommend. While the food tastes good the service definitely took out from the overall rating.

Total 3.5 stars (I still think we should have the option of rating with half stars)

• Pros: Food,ambiance
• Cons: service

06/06/08

Sleepy and deserted

by seminario

Empty it is on most nights, and for good reason. This place is overpriced and the wines are limited and uninspired. The servers are bored to tears and don't want to be working there. It is also a little pretentious. You have to earn your meal it seems by squinting to read the menu on the blackboard (full of spelling mistakes by the way) and constantly try to get someone's attention when you would like to order something else. There are so many other great spots in the East Village. Don't waste your time on this one.

• Pros: non
• Cons: plenty

05/20/08

great comfort food

by lola1074

we've visited the restaurant a few times and have enjoyed each experience. the service is attentive, even when it gets busy. i love the design of the communal table that's in the center of the space. the food is also delicious. my friend especially loves the chicken dish and the garlicky white bean dip. the skirt steak is tender and the chimichurri sauce is especially flavorful. the fries are also well-seasoned and crunchy. we've recommended the place to friends who have also enjoyed themselves and will definitely be going back soon!

• Pros: atmosphere, food
• Cons: parking

05/12/08

Great Atmosphere

by foodhawk

We recently had dinner on a Saturday night and the place was really hopping. In spite of the crowd, we found the atmosphere to be very relaxing. We really enjoyed the food. My wife had the grilled brook trout with the shoe string fries which she loved while I had the burger which was also excellent. Both dishes were cooked the way we like them and were plated very nicely. We found the prices to be fair for what we got and plan on going back to try some of the other dishes. It's a place we recommend.

• Pros: Great Food & Atmosphere
• Cons: Could be a little noisy

05/09/08

just straight on good food

by value

Went there with some friends and we all found the place tasty! We started out with some dry, but smooth prosecco that tasted great with the complimentary bread and ?white bean spread. We shared some appetizers: fried clams-they were succulent and juicy and the crust was crunchy- not too oily. Personally, I hardly ever eat fried foods so for me to like fried anything, it has to be well prepared. Grilled yellow and green sliced zucchini with feta cheese-perfectly salted and grilled, crumbles of feta and drizzled with olive oil. Good thing it was a large serving- it was delicious! I almost ate the entire dish. We also ordered the brussel sprouts and mac and cheese. The brussel sprouts were sauteed with bacon ahd had this smoky, sweet flavor that had the skeptics at the table nodding happily. Someone else ordered the mac and cheese-I usually wouldn't order this but it had this rich cheese, ?bechamel sauce with a browned crust of (some kind of) sharp cheese on top. We all loved this. I had the grilled trout stuffed with herbs-it was delicate in texture and flavor. Others had the hamburger and roasted chicken. I didn't try the hamburger but the chicken was excellent-tender, juicy and full of flavor. By the time we ordered dessert, we were all pretty stuffed-the portions are plentiful. I had the apple pie with caramel ice cream. The pie was decent but the caramel ice cream is amazing!-creamy with intense caramel flavor. One area of disappointment, the coffee is served french press and had bits of grinds in it.... The vibe was definitely low key, which I like. The wait staff were sans attitude and nice. The interiors are a bit shabby-like the whole shabby-chic thing but maybe a coat of paint... Overall, we all had a great time.

04/29/08

Greasy and unappealing

by katzend

Let me start by saying that there is nothing unique about this place. It is a hotchpotch of recipes stolen from everyone who has made a name for themselves in New York, and it isn't even executed that well. The owner/chef straddles around like some high art foodie, but try to engage him in conversation about the food and the restaurant and he gets all cocky and testy. And then in walks a pretty woman, ... and his attention is elsewhere. The place is also not that clean and the waitstaff couldn't care less. The East Village has so much more to offer and homestyle comfort food is best sought elsewhere, so you don't feel as though you need to skip dessert and wash it down with something that cuts through all the fat that everything has been cooked in.

• Pros: ?
• Cons: Not clean, lazy service and food not worth it.

03/25/08

Late, lamented East Village restaurant Le Tableau has been reimagined as a down-to-earth American-style bistro.

by Kathleen Squires

The Scene
Peeling paint and slanted floors exaggerate the hard-hat, blue-collar ambience, so much so that diners might wonder if the kitchen is meant to be open, or just awaiting drywall. The Facebook-friendly crowd digs the down-to-earth vibe around the communal table, the one area of the restaurant that feels finished.

The Food
Winners on Seymour's comfort-driven menu include soft top-neck clams with a crispy cornmeal crust, lemony roast chicken, and a juicy, loose-meat burger with an artisanal English muffin bun. Some of the other dishes, however, mirror the room's work-in-progress feel: a curious appetizer pairing three overly briny oysters with two sausage patties; smoky yet sodden Brussels sprouts with brown butter and bacon; and disappointingly soggy French fries. For dessert, creamy chocolate pudding brings back better memories than the clunky, thickly-crusted apple pie.

Hits: An unpretentious atmosphere pervades the place, whether it's the earnest service or the local purveyors (Katz's salami, Russ & Daughters babka, Pat LaFrieda meat) sprinkled throughout the menu.

Misses: The "charm" of wobbly chairs and tables wears thin quickly.

03/17/08

Good burger and Mac N' Cheese

by bobbyhbobby

Went on a Sunday, not packed at all. Menu is fairly straight forward, on the wall in chalk. Seems like they excel at the staples. Had the Mac N' Cheese as an appetizer and burger for an entree. Mac N' Cheese was pretty good, creamy, a little heavier on the cheese then I'm used to (think melted cheese sticking to the dish while you're trying to take it out). Burger was awesome. Big and served on a toasted english muffin. I particularly don't prefer toppings on my burger other than cheese and this was served with cheddar and onion. I thought it was pretty good, not sure if it should grace the list of best burger, but definitely a solid choice. Fries were good too. Finished the meal with the homemade chocolate pudding. Thick but delicious. A desert to share, not for one (unless you prefer to die young).

• Pros: Solid menu, high quality burger. Good atmosphere
• Cons: Feels like they're still redecorating, limited drink menu, waitress sometimes absent-minded.

01/16/08

YUM!

by mereditheats

Did you know that you can now have pancakes for dinner? I came here with my family last week for dinner. JW Pancakes are out of this world. We also had the burgers which were outstanding. The place is a little rough around the edges, but it is the lower east side, that is what makes it such a great location. Wine list is amazing and the owners are there to help you pick something wonderful. I highly recommend and i will definitely be back.

• Pros: Food & wine were terrific
• Cons: a bit of a walk from the subway