New American – Page 2 – Rays Picks NYC

Riverpark: A Tom Colicchio Restaurant

Last year celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio along with Executive Chef Sisha Ortuzar opened Riverpark in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan. It is the latest addition to Tom and Sisha’s ever growing restaurant empire. The restaurant is located on 29th Street by the FDR Drive and tucked inside the Alexandria Center for Life Science building. When I first came to Riverpark, I asked myself, “Why on earth would anyone open a restaurant in the middle of nowhere.” But after countless visits I grew to enjoy this place and its location – removed from New York’s usual congestion and people traffic.

The entrance is also not so obvious, guests must pass through an office building where a security officer will escort diners to a small door next to a wall inscribed “Riverpark.” The place is spacious and full of lights. There are lighted beams on the ceiling that run just about the entire length of whole space, a signature design feature of Tom Colicchio’s restaurants. The décor is contemporary with sleek blue copper colored chairs and several leather booth seats also of the same color. Riverpark is divided into two sections – guests can choose between the spacious front dining room with bright lights and several long benches, ideal for large groups; or the back room which is a more subtle and intimate setting. The backroom has floor to ceiling windows (providing great views overlooking the FDR Drive and Long Island City) dim lights and a bar. An outdoor heated patio is also an option for guests year round.

Executive Chef Sisha Ortuzar’s New American cuisine uses seasonal ingredients that serve to satisfy the palette. Very recently Riverpark opened their own farm in the building to grow their own produce. I had the chance to have lunch and dinner here and both times I completely enjoyed the food. For starters I’ve had the Salt Cod Droquette, made with lemon puree and parsley; Ramp and Ricotta Ravioli, made with rhubarb and thyme; and the Roasted Provolone, made with oregano, garlic and pickled chilies. All were very delicious; the jalapenos really went well with the Roasted Provolone while the Salt Cod Droquette had a saltiness that is not overpowering. For Entrées I’ve had the Roasted Artic Char, made with potato puree, brown butter and parsley; Warm Prawn Asparagus Salad, made with ramps and spring onions; Roasted Branzino, fingerling potatoes, pickled red onions, capers and salsa verde; and a delicious chicken dish that is no longer in their menu. The Artic Char, the restaurant’s signature dish was amazing and the Wild Prawns Asparagus Salad was very tasty and fresh. The desserts were pretty solid as well. I’ve had the Beignets, vanilla custard and strawberry preserves; Ice Cream and Sorbet, a selection of various flavors of ice cream and sorbet; and the Cinnamon Panna Cotta, rosemary ice cream and caramelized pumpkin seed.

The restaurant service is top notch. The servers, the bus boys and the hostess all provided consistent service each time. The crowd consists mainly of mature diners who live in the area and business people who have some dealings in the building.

Riverpark is great for lunch and dinner whether for business or just to satisfy hunger. You can never go wrong with the $28 three course lunch. Also come and enjoy a drink or two with friends on their outdoor patio during warm weather or even cool weather (the patio is heated.) With a great setting and wonderful views, Riverpark is one of my recommended ‘go to’ places for drinks and dining in the Kips Bay area. It’s a bit out of the way but in the end you will be glad you made the trip.

Riverpark
450 E 29th St
New York, NY 10016
212 729 9790
Official Site

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Red Rooster

I finally made it to Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster in Harlem after waiting nearly a month for my highly sought-after reservation. Considered to be one of the hottest new restaurants in NYC, Red Rooster has received a complimentary review and a two star rating by Sam Sifton of the New York Times and was the site of President Obama’s recent $30,000 a plate fundraiser.

When we walked in the restaurant we were greeted by a funky shaped bar that preceded the dining area. The striped mahogany bar was in the shape of three semicircles all looping into each other. The brightly lit bar wall that also doubles as a divider between the bar and the dining room, displays various bottles of liquors and wines. There was plenty of room at the bar for comfortable movement and conversation. At the left of the bar is a café-like area with bar stool s and tables next to a rustic wooden book shelf that artistically displays books, plates and photos. At the right of the bar are the hostess, the coat check room and the entrance to dining area. We waited for our table at the bar and enjoyed a nice variety of mixed drinks. One particular drink that I really enjoyed was The Savoy, made with vodka, lemon, muddled grapes and agave, it was very fruitful and tasty.

The main dining room was pretty cool, a semi open kitchen with a communal table next to it. On wall panels that resemble a blackboard’s surface, there is large stylized writing in chalk which adds to the hip, artsy yet subdued decor. Also on the walls, are appropriately hung contemporary paintings. The design concept is reminiscent of DBGB Kitchen downtown. Red Rooster has a very chic and hip atmosphere.

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The buzz of the crowd is audible but never loud or noisy. The beauty of this uptown restaurant in the heart of historic Harlem, is the diversity of the crowd. Persons of various races and ethnicities, the mid-town crowd, business men and women in suits, fashionable hipsters, locals, etc, all coming together having a great time and enjoying Samuelsson’s dishes.

Red Rooster serves American comfort food with a twist of Scandinavian cuisine. I came here for dinner and really enjoyed it. I started out with the Gravlax with Purple Musta for my appetizer; the salmon was very good and tasty. I then had the Grilled Red Snapper made with sour tomato broth and Israeli couscous for my entrée. My first reaction to this meal was it seemed to be too watery, it me made me feel like I had ordered a soup with fish. But when I tasted the dish it was so good!!! It has a sour taste from the broth that compliments the fish. I had a taste of my friends’ entrees: Ox tails and Lemon Chicken, both were great. For dessert I had the sorbet which was good but didn’t stand out from other sorbets I’ve had. The food prices are affordable, no entrée exceeded $33.

Unfortunately Marcus was on vacation when we dined there but I did meet Tiffany Derry who was a contestant on Top Chef Season 7 and Top Chef All star Season 8. She was cool, we chatted for a bit about Top Chief.

For those who are creatures of the downtown and midtown restaurant scene, Red Rooster is definitely worth the trip uptown to Harlem. The food is good and so is the service; the atmosphere and the vibe are also great, what more can you ask for in a restaurant? With the addition of Red Rooster alongside other noteworthy restaurants in the neighborhood, Harlem is a forced to be wrecking with in NYC dining scene.

Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave
(between 125th St & 126th St)
New York, NY 10027
(212) 792-9001
Official Website

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a medication prescribed to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you should ask your pharmacist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In addition, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are as a rule able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may include erectile malfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other folk even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.

Wall and Water

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Wall and Water
@ the Andaz Hotel
75 Wall st.
New York NY 10005
212-699-1700
Official site

*This venue is now closed.

While walking along Water and Wall Street I discovered Wall and Water Restaurant, contemporary American cuisine in the heart of the Financial District. Although the entrance is located on Pearl St., the restaurant is actually above the lobby of the Andaz Hotel. When my friend and I arrived for dinner we had to pass through Bar Seven Five (a pretty cool looking bar) and go up a marble staircase to the restaurant. A huge marble table that mimics a kitchen center table is the first sight you will encounter. Situated at the center of the restaurant, the table showcased a variety of fresh sea food. I was impressed with overall décor; contemporary, simple and stylish. The layout was designed for comfort with nicely spaced tables and chairs allowing for diners to have the right amount of intimate space. The interior was designed by David Rockwell’s Rockwell Group the same group that designed NOBU TriBeCa and NOBU 57. I like the open space dining room which gives you a view of the action in the open kitchen. I requested to be seated near the kitchen to witness the chef prepare our meals. Pretty cool stuff!!!

Wall and Water uses seasonal ingredients that are grown from local Hudson Valley farms. We both opted for the chef family style tasting menu ($95.) which consisted of 4 courses with wine pairings ($63. without wines pairings.) We let the chef perform his magic and prepare a meal that he designed just for us. We were not disappointed. The ingredients were very fresh and the servings were large enough to share. The presentation was simple and the food was very tasty. The $95 price tag for the chef tasting menu was actually a bargain in NYC.

The staff was very friendly and the service was great. Our server was very knowledgeable and attentive. The chef de cuisine was also very friendly. Before he prepared our food he came over and introduced himself and asked for us if we had any dietary preferences or restrictions. Throughout the dinner he came by our table multiple times to chat and to make sure everything was ok. The Executive Chef Maximo Lopez May would be pleased to know that he has a very good chef de cuisine running the show.

The bar and restaurant had a generally good atmosphere. The crowd was the typical men in business suits from Wall Street, out of town business travelers and some locals catching a break to relax from the grind.

Although the Financial District is not typically known as a dining destination, but with restaurants like Cipriani, the Michellin star SHO by Shaun Hergartt, the Financial District might become more than just a place where people go to work. A bit premature to be compared with TriBeCa or the West Village dining scene, lower Manhattan has a few great restaurants worth taking the downtown hike – Wall and Water is one of them. I would recommend Wall and Water to anyone. Great atmosphere, stylish décor, amazing service and good food are the makings of a very good restaurant.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a curing prescribed to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you must ask your dispenser about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In addition, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are ordinarily able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other people even if their status appears to be the same as yours.

Robert @MAD (Museum of Art and Design)

Robert
@ MAD(Museumof Art and Design)
2 Columbus Circle
New York NY
Tel: 212 299-7730
Official site

Robert Restaurant, named after the event planner for the rich and famous, Robert Isabell, is located on the 8th floor of the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) overlooking Central Park West and Columbus Circle. With all the great restaurants in the area, Robert definitely helds its own.

Robert’s has an “L” shaped space combined with a very modern and futuristic décor. The interior is filled with funky colorful dining room fixtures and neon lights that hang above in stylish linear designs. The floor to ceiling glass windows aid your incredible view of Columbus Circle and Central Park West. Near the entrance sits a sleek black grand piano from which you are treated to pleasing jazz music Wednesday through Thursday nights from 8PM to 11PM.

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I came here twice, first for dinner and then for brunch. Both times I had a great experience. The service and food was very good. When I came for dinner I had the sashimi of wild striped bass citrus and soy for an appetizer and Pan Roasted Hake with wild mushroom and fingerling potatoes for my entrée, they were both very tasty. For dessert, my waiter recommended the Bombolini – very light mini donuts (holes) filled with ricotta cheese and dusted with powdered sugar. The waiter was right on point, the Bombolini was delicious. For brunch, you can’t go wrong with a $29 pre-fixe selection. The dinner entrees will run you on average between $25-$30 pretty normal for the city dining scene. The portions are very descent and will certainly leave you satisfied.

This is a great looking restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere and very attentive and knowledgeable servers. Robert’s only drawback is that it lacks a bar which would be ideal for diners who are waiting to be seated or waiting for their parties to arrive. When making reservation be sure to request a window table overlooking Central Park West for the ultimate dining experience.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a treatment prescribed to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you should ask your druggist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In addition, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are ordinarily able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may include erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other people even if their state appears to be the same as yours.