My spouse and I visited Philadelphia on New Year's Eve in December of 2012. (We have visited Philadelphia previously on NY's Eve - because New York City is just too crazy - in 2010 and 2011.) On this visit, after checking into the Holiday Inn Express Midtown, we walked around the historic area, stopping in at the National Constitution Center and observing the Liberty Bell from afar. We had lunch at Jose Garces' Amada, followed by dinner at Kevin Sbraga's restaurant named Sbraga. After dinner, we changed into warm clothes and viewed the fireworks display at Penn's Landing. On Sunday, we watched some of the Mummer's Parade, before my spouse dropped me off at the airport to catch a flight to visit my parents in Florida. (My company imposed a mandatory vacation policy during New Year's week, and I decided to make the most of it by traveling.)
Hotels:
Restaurants:
Philadelphia: Amada (December 2012)
My
spouse and I dined at Amada for lunch in late December 2012. We arrived
at the restaurant at 2:00 pm, and we were (not nicely) informed that
there was no space available for us, despite the restaurant being rather
empty (it was New Year’s Eve day). We asked if we could sit in the bar
area (again, we were told there was no space, and that at least was
true; all the tiny tables were occupied). Our last request was to sit at
the bar (the bar-bar, not the food-preparation bar) and were told that
it was acceptable. As it turns out, we think lunch service ends at 2:00
pm; we wish the hostess would have just mentioned that, instead of
giving us the cold shoulder. Amada serves lunch on weekdays, brunch on
weekends, and dinner daily. You can reserve a table using the Open Table
reservation system. (We tried to use Open Table to book on NY’s Eve
day, but the system was set for the evening meal which was a set menu
for about $75. When we e-mailed the restaurant to find out whether their
regular menu would be served for lunch, we were told that it would be,
and that they would make the necessary changes on Open Table to reflect
that at lunchtime; however, they never did. So we arrived without a
reservation.)
We ordered the La Mesa de Jose, the chef’s-choice tasting menu ($35 per person), which was not as easy to eat at the bar as if we had been seated at a table, but we wanted to eat at another Jose Garces restaurant after dining at Chifa a few years ago, so we made do with the bar seating. The bartender provided good service, and our tapas dishes were delivered one-by-one as soon as they were prepared. It was a good opportunity to try several different dishes; however, none of the menu items that we truly wanted were presented (such as the shirred eggs and the fava/lima bean salad). Some of the menu items that we did get, we would not have chosen for ourselves (like the crab-stuffed peppers, mushrooms, chicken brochettes), and yet they were delicious. We also had one meat, one cheese (with lavender honey), hanger steak, the fig salad, and the Spanish tortilla - so we probably tried at least 8+ dishes. Some of the hand-crafted cocktail combinations sounded interesting, although we opted for beer instead.
We appreciate all the various Garces restaurant options in Philadelphia, and plan to try another restaurant the next time we are in town.
We ordered the La Mesa de Jose, the chef’s-choice tasting menu ($35 per person), which was not as easy to eat at the bar as if we had been seated at a table, but we wanted to eat at another Jose Garces restaurant after dining at Chifa a few years ago, so we made do with the bar seating. The bartender provided good service, and our tapas dishes were delivered one-by-one as soon as they were prepared. It was a good opportunity to try several different dishes; however, none of the menu items that we truly wanted were presented (such as the shirred eggs and the fava/lima bean salad). Some of the menu items that we did get, we would not have chosen for ourselves (like the crab-stuffed peppers, mushrooms, chicken brochettes), and yet they were delicious. We also had one meat, one cheese (with lavender honey), hanger steak, the fig salad, and the Spanish tortilla - so we probably tried at least 8+ dishes. Some of the hand-crafted cocktail combinations sounded interesting, although we opted for beer instead.
We appreciate all the various Garces restaurant options in Philadelphia, and plan to try another restaurant the next time we are in town.
Philadelphia: Sbraga (December 2012)
My
spouse and I dined at Sbraga for dinner in late December 2012 on New
Year's Eve. On holidays, we tend to look for a restaurant that serves
its regular menu, rather than an overpriced set menu, so Sbraga fit the
bill in that respect (although they did offer a holiday menu in addition
to their regular menu, in which each course was accompanied by a
different champagne). We requested to sit at one of the six seats at the
chef's counter, which was quite enjoyable because we were able to watch
the chefs creating and plating every course in the restaurant on an
extremely busy night. Sbraga is located on the Academy of the Arts, and
serves dinner only Monday through Saturday. You can reserve through Open
Table, although we e-mailed instead because we had a question about the
availability of the regular menu on NY’s Eve and the potential of
sitting at the chef’s counter. The manager, Ben, was quick to respond,
and quite pleasant and helpful in arranging our spot.
The bar area is cozy, and was crowded on the festive night that we dined. Parties seemed to be lingering longer than usual, so the wait times seemed extensive, and people had nowhere to wait because the small bar area and entryway were full.
The food was fantastic - great presentation, unique ingredients, and creative flavor combinations. The 4-course menu is $49, and there are four to six choices in the appetizer, entree, and dessert categories. Two dishes that stood out as particularly fantastic are the foie gras soup and the pasta with a squid ink fettuccine topped with a 60-degree egg, which we broke and mixed into the piping hot pasta to lightly cook it. We had hoped to try the special chef's 6-course $75 tasting menu (only available on weeknights, because NY’s Eve was a Monday), but even though we dined on a weeknight, it was a holiday, and therefore, the chef's menu was not available.
Service was good, delivered by waiters and waitresses from the main room, not simply passed over the counter. The chef/owner, Kevin Sbraga, a Top Chef winner, was cooking that night, but he seemed a bit overwhelmed with the crowds and did not interact with us in any way. Some of the other chefs were personable, though.
We loved the food and the chic atmosphere, and thought that it was a tremendous value for the money. We will return, particularly if we can sit at the chef’s counter on a weeknight and try the 6-course tasting menu.
The bar area is cozy, and was crowded on the festive night that we dined. Parties seemed to be lingering longer than usual, so the wait times seemed extensive, and people had nowhere to wait because the small bar area and entryway were full.
The food was fantastic - great presentation, unique ingredients, and creative flavor combinations. The 4-course menu is $49, and there are four to six choices in the appetizer, entree, and dessert categories. Two dishes that stood out as particularly fantastic are the foie gras soup and the pasta with a squid ink fettuccine topped with a 60-degree egg, which we broke and mixed into the piping hot pasta to lightly cook it. We had hoped to try the special chef's 6-course $75 tasting menu (only available on weeknights, because NY’s Eve was a Monday), but even though we dined on a weeknight, it was a holiday, and therefore, the chef's menu was not available.
Service was good, delivered by waiters and waitresses from the main room, not simply passed over the counter. The chef/owner, Kevin Sbraga, a Top Chef winner, was cooking that night, but he seemed a bit overwhelmed with the crowds and did not interact with us in any way. Some of the other chefs were personable, though.
We loved the food and the chic atmosphere, and thought that it was a tremendous value for the money. We will return, particularly if we can sit at the chef’s counter on a weeknight and try the 6-course tasting menu.
Philadelphia: Holiday Inn Express Midtown Philadelphia (December 2012)
My
spouse and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for one night in late
December 2012 on New Year's Eve. We remitted Priority Club points for a
free night's stay, and we were pleasantly surprised that a room was
available on a holiday night for a standard award “price”.
The hotel is located in Center City, adjacent to a parking garage, and although the rates are not less than a nearby parking garage, as a hotel guest, you are afforded extra time for your rate. Whereas a regular garage (which we used) charges by the hour or day, the garage associated with the hotel allows guests to park there until 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm as part of their nightly rate. (We ended up paying for nearly two entire days parking with the independent garage because we picked up our car later than the 24 hour limit.) There are many bars, restaurants, and shops within walking distance of the hotel, and you can walk from here to all of the historic sites (like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Center) as well as nearby hospitals (like Jefferson). The Convention Center and Reading Terminal Market are an easy walk, with Penn’s Landing just a bit farther (but still walkable). There is a deli/market across the street that sells drinks and snacks, including beer, which is somewhat of a rarity in Pennsylvania. The hotel is two blocks from Broad Street and Avenue of the Arts. We walked out of the hotel and watched the Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day, and it was not necessary to stake out a spot hours before the parade began.
We had a standard room, but it was larger and better maintained than we expected. The bathroom (tub/shower and toilet) was tiny, but the sink/vanity was located outside of it, which helps when more than one person is trying to get ready. We had a king-bed room, with an easy chair/ottoman, desk/chair, and two small wing chairs and a tiny table, and still had plenty of room to move around easily. Our room had a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker. Wi-Fi is free, and we even got a morning paper delivered (we are Priority Club members, but we do not have any special status with our membership).
A complimentary breakfast buffet was available, and there are computers and a printer set up in an alcove off the breakfast area. The entrance to the hotel from the main street is kept locked from approximately 9:00 pm to 11:00 am, so you must use the entrance inside the parking garage. The hotel offers an affordable shuttle to the airport, although you can also take the train or go by cab. In warmer months, the hotel has an outdoor pool that is on the roof of the second or third floor (not on the top roof of the hotel). We were able to see down to the pool deck from our window; it must be a great place to relax for an hour or two on a hot summer day. This hotel also offers suites, an executive/club level, and meeting/event space.
The staff (from the front desk ladies to the cleaning people to the maintenance people) at this hotel was so pleasant! Even though they were working on a holiday, they could not have been nicer, and went out of their way to make sure that we had a good stay.
We enjoyed our stay and thought that the location was great for the sights that we wanted to visit. The hotel is well-kept, and the staff is friendly and efficient. We will gladly stay here again when we visit Philadelphia, particularly if we visit in the summer when the outdoor pool is open.
The hotel is located in Center City, adjacent to a parking garage, and although the rates are not less than a nearby parking garage, as a hotel guest, you are afforded extra time for your rate. Whereas a regular garage (which we used) charges by the hour or day, the garage associated with the hotel allows guests to park there until 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm as part of their nightly rate. (We ended up paying for nearly two entire days parking with the independent garage because we picked up our car later than the 24 hour limit.) There are many bars, restaurants, and shops within walking distance of the hotel, and you can walk from here to all of the historic sites (like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Center) as well as nearby hospitals (like Jefferson). The Convention Center and Reading Terminal Market are an easy walk, with Penn’s Landing just a bit farther (but still walkable). There is a deli/market across the street that sells drinks and snacks, including beer, which is somewhat of a rarity in Pennsylvania. The hotel is two blocks from Broad Street and Avenue of the Arts. We walked out of the hotel and watched the Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day, and it was not necessary to stake out a spot hours before the parade began.
We had a standard room, but it was larger and better maintained than we expected. The bathroom (tub/shower and toilet) was tiny, but the sink/vanity was located outside of it, which helps when more than one person is trying to get ready. We had a king-bed room, with an easy chair/ottoman, desk/chair, and two small wing chairs and a tiny table, and still had plenty of room to move around easily. Our room had a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker. Wi-Fi is free, and we even got a morning paper delivered (we are Priority Club members, but we do not have any special status with our membership).
A complimentary breakfast buffet was available, and there are computers and a printer set up in an alcove off the breakfast area. The entrance to the hotel from the main street is kept locked from approximately 9:00 pm to 11:00 am, so you must use the entrance inside the parking garage. The hotel offers an affordable shuttle to the airport, although you can also take the train or go by cab. In warmer months, the hotel has an outdoor pool that is on the roof of the second or third floor (not on the top roof of the hotel). We were able to see down to the pool deck from our window; it must be a great place to relax for an hour or two on a hot summer day. This hotel also offers suites, an executive/club level, and meeting/event space.
The staff (from the front desk ladies to the cleaning people to the maintenance people) at this hotel was so pleasant! Even though they were working on a holiday, they could not have been nicer, and went out of their way to make sure that we had a good stay.
We enjoyed our stay and thought that the location was great for the sights that we wanted to visit. The hotel is well-kept, and the staff is friendly and efficient. We will gladly stay here again when we visit Philadelphia, particularly if we visit in the summer when the outdoor pool is open.
Frederick Maryland (December 2012)
My spouse and I visited Frederick Maryland for a 1-night stay in late December 2012. On the day that we were to depart for Frederick, we experienced a snowstorm. We waited until the snow stopped, but encountered some treacherous driving en route. Upon arrival though, the skies were blue and sunny. After checking into the Hampton Inn, we drove a few miles to the cute downtown area and walked around a bit before eating lunch at Firestone's Culinary Tavern. We dined that night at Bryan Voltaggio's Table 21 at VOLT, which was amazing! On Sunday, we dined at Bryan Voltaggio's Family Table for brunch before returning home.
Hotel:
Hotel:
- Hampton Inn Frederick Link to my review
- Firestone's Culinary Tavern Link to my review
- Table 21 at VOLT Link to my review
- Family Meal Link to my review
Frederick MD: Family Meal (December 2012)
My spouse and I dined at Brian Voltaggio’s Family Meal for Sunday brunch
in late December 2012. We had dined at Table 21 at VOLT the previous
evening, so we wanted to try the chef’s more casual restaurant in
Frederick. The restaurant is housed in a stand-alone building (that used
to be a car dealership), the interior of which is reminiscent of an
upscale diner (some booths, some tables, and some counter seating).
There is also outdoor patio seating in the warmer months. Family Meal is
open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, and you can make a
reservation using Open Table (although we just walked in for Sunday
brunch). The atmosphere is comfortable; somewhere you can take your
grandmother and your children and everyone will feel comfortable.
The restaurant was busy but not overly crowded at brunch time. There were not a great number of menu options, nor did they sound particularly unique, but everything was plated nicely and was a step above regular diner food. (To be fair, we are not big breakfast eaters, and rarely dine out for eggs, pancakes, and the like.) We saw the lunch and dinner menus, and they sounded much more to our liking. Service was efficient and pleasant.
We think that Family Meal is a great complement to Voltaggio’s more formal venture, VOLT. We would like to try Lunchbox some day, too!
The restaurant was busy but not overly crowded at brunch time. There were not a great number of menu options, nor did they sound particularly unique, but everything was plated nicely and was a step above regular diner food. (To be fair, we are not big breakfast eaters, and rarely dine out for eggs, pancakes, and the like.) We saw the lunch and dinner menus, and they sounded much more to our liking. Service was efficient and pleasant.
We think that Family Meal is a great complement to Voltaggio’s more formal venture, VOLT. We would like to try Lunchbox some day, too!
Frederick MD: Firestone’s Culinary Tavern (December 2012)
My spouse and I dined at Firestone’s Culinary Tavern for Saturday lunch
in late December 2012. We were in Frederick to dine at VOLT restaurant
that evening, and we took a drive to the downtown area in the afternoon
to acclimate ourselves to where we would be eating while there was still
daylight. Frederick is such a cute little town! There are many
restaurant options, many of which look pretty upscale, including
Firestone’s.
The website address for this establishment includes the word “restaurant”, however, the name on the building that says “culinary tavern” is a much catchier description that better represents the creative food they serve and the atmosphere in which they serve it. Firestone’s is open for lunch (Tuesday through Saturday), dinner (Tuesday through Sunday), and brunch (Sunday), and they take reservations using the Open Table reservation system, by using their website form, or by telephoning (or just walk in, like we did!). The restaurant space used to be a department store, and it still retains its high ceilings, balcony, hardwood floors, and grand staircase. This restaurant has seating on two levels - on the street/ground level as well as on the upper/balcony level that overlooks the main floor and bar. There is more casual seating on the main floor, as well as at the large bar. (From what we could see from the balcony, it seemed that the menus might even be different depending on where you were seated.)
Every item on the lunch menu sounds delicious, using unique ingredients and flavor combinations, and each dish is composed and presented with flair. We loved the presentation of the deviled eggs (instead of being cut lengthwise like most restaurants do, just the tops were cut off, with the yummy stuffing topped with caviar squeezed down to the bottom. The beet salad with duck prosciutto was beautifully presented. We are not normally food “paparazzi”, but we felt compelled to take a few photos of the dishes served here. From outside the restaurant, we expected to find standard bar fare, so we were thrilled when we received so much more! We also shared the charcuterie plate and a complex orange-flavored cake/ice cream layered dessert accompanied with homemade jellied candies.
We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch dining experience, and we would highly recommend this restaurant!
The website address for this establishment includes the word “restaurant”, however, the name on the building that says “culinary tavern” is a much catchier description that better represents the creative food they serve and the atmosphere in which they serve it. Firestone’s is open for lunch (Tuesday through Saturday), dinner (Tuesday through Sunday), and brunch (Sunday), and they take reservations using the Open Table reservation system, by using their website form, or by telephoning (or just walk in, like we did!). The restaurant space used to be a department store, and it still retains its high ceilings, balcony, hardwood floors, and grand staircase. This restaurant has seating on two levels - on the street/ground level as well as on the upper/balcony level that overlooks the main floor and bar. There is more casual seating on the main floor, as well as at the large bar. (From what we could see from the balcony, it seemed that the menus might even be different depending on where you were seated.)
Every item on the lunch menu sounds delicious, using unique ingredients and flavor combinations, and each dish is composed and presented with flair. We loved the presentation of the deviled eggs (instead of being cut lengthwise like most restaurants do, just the tops were cut off, with the yummy stuffing topped with caviar squeezed down to the bottom. The beet salad with duck prosciutto was beautifully presented. We are not normally food “paparazzi”, but we felt compelled to take a few photos of the dishes served here. From outside the restaurant, we expected to find standard bar fare, so we were thrilled when we received so much more! We also shared the charcuterie plate and a complex orange-flavored cake/ice cream layered dessert accompanied with homemade jellied candies.
We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch dining experience, and we would highly recommend this restaurant!
Frederick MD: Hampton Inn Frederick (December 2012)
My spouse and I stayed at the Hampton Inn Frederick for one night in
late December 2012. We were in Frederick to dine at VOLT restaurant's
Table 21. What a cute town! It made a nice weekend getaway destination
for us; we live about 3 hours away by car.
This property is a better-than-average Hampton Inn; it seems as though it may have been another chain property prior to becoming a Hampton Inn because of the layout and the additional amenities. There was an independent restaurant/bar (Pastimes Cafe) on the property; however, it closed just weeks prior to our arrival after being in business for 20 years (or so the sign claimed). An on-site restaurant/bar would have been a welcome amenity; it would have been somewhere that we could enjoyed a nightcap after dinner without worrying about the drive home.
Complimentary hot breakfast buffet is provided (or you can grab a bagged breakfast on weekdays if time is short) in the cafe area, which has both indoor and outdoor (seasonal) seating. Wi-Fi is free to certain levels of Hilton Hhonors members. There is an outdoor pool that is open in the summertime; we think that we saw a sign indicating that the maximum occupancy for the pool was 100 or so people, so it is rather large, surrounded by concrete decking. Lounge chairs were stacked for the winter, but seemed numerous. There is a natural-looking pond with a lighthouse-type structure in the center (it used to be the bar for the restaurant). Plenty of free parking is available, and many chain restaurants and a shopping mall are nearby, along with many retail and commercial properties. Downtown Frederick (the historic part) is a 10-minute drive (it is too far to walk; you also cannot walk to the mall, even though it is close, because of the busy roads). The hotel is located adjacent to the highway, but we did not hear any road noise. It shares a parking lot with some office buildings. A fitness center, laundry facilities, and event/meeting space are also available. We did not see the pantry/store area that we have come to expect at a Hampton Inn, but it seemed that the hotel had plenty of space for one, so perhaps it is tucked out of sight.
Our room was a king-bed study, standard Hampton Inn issue, with a king-size bed, sofa bed, coffee table, and desk/chair, and the bathroom was a decent size. The exit map on the back of our door indicated that there were larger rooms available, and the hotel did not look anywhere near filled to capacity, but we seemed to have received the room that we booked - no Diamond Hhonors upgrade. Our room had a mini-refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker.
We would stay here again if we were traveling, or if we visited Frederick again, particularly in the summertime when we could relax for an hour beside the pool.
This property is a better-than-average Hampton Inn; it seems as though it may have been another chain property prior to becoming a Hampton Inn because of the layout and the additional amenities. There was an independent restaurant/bar (Pastimes Cafe) on the property; however, it closed just weeks prior to our arrival after being in business for 20 years (or so the sign claimed). An on-site restaurant/bar would have been a welcome amenity; it would have been somewhere that we could enjoyed a nightcap after dinner without worrying about the drive home.
Complimentary hot breakfast buffet is provided (or you can grab a bagged breakfast on weekdays if time is short) in the cafe area, which has both indoor and outdoor (seasonal) seating. Wi-Fi is free to certain levels of Hilton Hhonors members. There is an outdoor pool that is open in the summertime; we think that we saw a sign indicating that the maximum occupancy for the pool was 100 or so people, so it is rather large, surrounded by concrete decking. Lounge chairs were stacked for the winter, but seemed numerous. There is a natural-looking pond with a lighthouse-type structure in the center (it used to be the bar for the restaurant). Plenty of free parking is available, and many chain restaurants and a shopping mall are nearby, along with many retail and commercial properties. Downtown Frederick (the historic part) is a 10-minute drive (it is too far to walk; you also cannot walk to the mall, even though it is close, because of the busy roads). The hotel is located adjacent to the highway, but we did not hear any road noise. It shares a parking lot with some office buildings. A fitness center, laundry facilities, and event/meeting space are also available. We did not see the pantry/store area that we have come to expect at a Hampton Inn, but it seemed that the hotel had plenty of space for one, so perhaps it is tucked out of sight.
Our room was a king-bed study, standard Hampton Inn issue, with a king-size bed, sofa bed, coffee table, and desk/chair, and the bathroom was a decent size. The exit map on the back of our door indicated that there were larger rooms available, and the hotel did not look anywhere near filled to capacity, but we seemed to have received the room that we booked - no Diamond Hhonors upgrade. Our room had a mini-refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker.
We would stay here again if we were traveling, or if we visited Frederick again, particularly in the summertime when we could relax for an hour beside the pool.
Frederick MD: VOLT Table 21 (December 2012)
My spouse and I dined at Bryan Voltaggio’s Table 21 in VOLT in late
December 2012. To dine at Table 21, you must telephone the restaurant no
more than 30 days prior; the reservations that you can make on Open
Table are for the regular restaurant menu/tables only. VOLT is open for
brunch on weekends (either 3-course or 5-course menus available) and
dinner Tuesday through Sunday (either 4-course or 8-course menus
available). The Table 21 menu is served daily at 7:00 pm only and
features 21 courses for $150 per person; there are only seats available
for 8 lucky diners abutting the garde manger station where the cold
dishes are prepared.
We will not go into detail about the food, but every dish was stunningly presented and unbelievably delicious. Of the 21 courses that we were served, there was only one that we found less than fantastic (although the woman sitting next to us said it was her favorite, so clearly everyone has a different opinion), which are pretty good odds! From the chips and dip to the mignardises, every dish was amazing!
The restaurant, housed in a mansion from the late 1800s in Frederick’s 75-block historic district, is totally modern inside, with several different areas: the bar, with counter seating and some couch seating, an outdoor patio (which was not open in December), the front dining room, and the rear dining room (which features the chef's counter as well as regular tables). Even the restrooms at this property are cool, with a spa-like feel and sliding door panels. There is parking on the premises, which we thought would fill up as the night progressed, but the parking lot seemed adequately sized for the number of diners.
Chef/owner Bryan Voltaggio was not in residence on the night that we dined, but the Chef de Cuisine, Graeme Ritchie, did a fantastic job of managing the kitchen. The food and service were phenomenal - as good as any meal we have enjoyed had at places like The French Laundry, Alinea, and Per Se. If you cannot score a reservation for Table 21, we are confident that the regular menu will impress you!
We will not go into detail about the food, but every dish was stunningly presented and unbelievably delicious. Of the 21 courses that we were served, there was only one that we found less than fantastic (although the woman sitting next to us said it was her favorite, so clearly everyone has a different opinion), which are pretty good odds! From the chips and dip to the mignardises, every dish was amazing!
The restaurant, housed in a mansion from the late 1800s in Frederick’s 75-block historic district, is totally modern inside, with several different areas: the bar, with counter seating and some couch seating, an outdoor patio (which was not open in December), the front dining room, and the rear dining room (which features the chef's counter as well as regular tables). Even the restrooms at this property are cool, with a spa-like feel and sliding door panels. There is parking on the premises, which we thought would fill up as the night progressed, but the parking lot seemed adequately sized for the number of diners.
Chef/owner Bryan Voltaggio was not in residence on the night that we dined, but the Chef de Cuisine, Graeme Ritchie, did a fantastic job of managing the kitchen. The food and service were phenomenal - as good as any meal we have enjoyed had at places like The French Laundry, Alinea, and Per Se. If you cannot score a reservation for Table 21, we are confident that the regular menu will impress you!
Delray Beach: Sundy House (December 2012)
My spouse and I dined at Sundy House in Delray Beach with another couple
for lunch on a Saturday in late December 2012. We had visited Sundy House
previously to see the property, but this was our first time dining there. By
Florida standards, it was a somewhat chilly day, and it was late in the
afternoon (we had their last seating of 2:00 pm, which we reserved using Open
Table), so we were some of the only guests presents, but we were rewarded with
a choice table in one of the gazebos in the tropical garden. The restaurant and
boutique hotel property are very attractive, with lots of gorgeous foliage. Be
sure to take a stroll around to see the natural-looking swimming pool. Inside
the main building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, the
dŽcor is trendy, with the most unique spot being the main bar under the tented
awning. The lunch menu is somewhat limited, although the dinner menu contains
twice as many choices. Sunday brunch at Sundy House is also available. The food
is good quality, accompanied by good service.
New York City (December 2012)
My spouse and I visited New York City for a 1-night stay in late December 2013. After checking into the Hampton Inn SoHo, we walked around Little Italy before choosing to dine at SPQR. We were blessed with a freakishly warm December afternoon, and we were able to dine outdoors on their front sidewalk patio. We had happy hour drinks at Nancy Whisky, which we had visited once previously. For dinner, we were lucky to snag a reservation for the chef's tasting at Torrisi Italian Specialties. On Sunday, we had brunch at Osteria Morini before driving home.
Hotel:
- Hampton Inn SoHo Link to my review
- SPQR Link to my review
- Nancy Whisky Link to my review
- Torrisi Italian Specialties Link to my review
- Osteria Morini Link to my review
- Little Italy Link to my review
- Canal Street
New York City: Torrisi Italian Specialties (December 2012)
My spouse and I dined at NoLita’s Torrisi Italian specialties in mid-December 2012. Securing a reservation for the 20-course $160 per person chef's tasting menu at Torrisi proved challenging; for months, we called every Monday morning at 9:00 am, only to be told that the spaces for the Saturday evening chef's tasting menu were full, but that they could offer us either a regular table or the chef's tasting menu on another night of the week. (Because we do not live in Manhattan, logistically, we could only dine there on a Saturday night.) We are sure the reservationist was as happy as we were when we finally scored a reservation - she was probably tired of answering our call every Monday, inquiring about availability, and then asking for our name to be placed on the waiting list. Securing a reservation for their regular 7-course $75 per person menu is not as difficult, and can even be done via their website (or of course, by telephoning). The regular menu is listed on a chalkboard wall in the dining room (you choose from among four appetizers, two pastas, two entrees, and two desserts). We are not sure that they also provide a printed menu, because we did not order from the regular menu; there was no printed or verbal menu for the chef’s tasting, so each course was blind (although they sent us home with a list of the courses that we ate that night). Much has been written about the chef’s tasting, however, so if you do a little research beforehand, you can get an idea about some of the dishes. Torrisi serves dinner daily, as well as lunch on the weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). They serve wine by the bottle, half-bottle, and glass, as well as beer. Unfortunately, after my spouse drank one beer and order another, the server informed us that they had no more of that particular kind, and that he would have to choose an alternative, which was a bit of a disappointment for a restaurant of this level on the busiest night of the week.
The restaurant space is small but rustically attractive, with exposed brick walls lined with shelves housing Italian products, with an antique-looking furniture piece dominating the center of the room that works as a serving station. There is no bar area or waiting area at the restaurant, so do not arrive early. There is only one restroom for all the diners and staff, so you may have to wait. Expect to be seated very close to other parties. Prior to our dining there, we read reports that said that the restaurant had been slightly modified/enlarged to add an additional 4 seats at the former lunch counter. The diners who are partaking in the chef's tasting menu are seated amongst the regular diners; they are not segregated at one table or in one area of the restaurant. We will not go into great detail about the food, since the menu could change, and also because so much has been written about the various courses already, but everything was tasty and uniquely presented. Our favorites courses were the “olives”, the “cigar”, the steak tartare and foie gras, oyster and scallop, caviar, ricotta gnocchi (one of the few dishes that is also on the regular menu), the cheese danish cheese course, cherry float, and the incredible cookie plate. We enjoyed using the plates from Delmonico’s and the Tiffany silver. After paying our bill, we were presented with a menu and a take-home box containing a few more cookies.
As we were dining, we could not help but think that the restaurant should offer more spots for diners who want the chef's tasting menu - it seems like they could sell every seat every night at $160 (or at least on weekend nights). We would certainly return!
The restaurant space is small but rustically attractive, with exposed brick walls lined with shelves housing Italian products, with an antique-looking furniture piece dominating the center of the room that works as a serving station. There is no bar area or waiting area at the restaurant, so do not arrive early. There is only one restroom for all the diners and staff, so you may have to wait. Expect to be seated very close to other parties. Prior to our dining there, we read reports that said that the restaurant had been slightly modified/enlarged to add an additional 4 seats at the former lunch counter. The diners who are partaking in the chef's tasting menu are seated amongst the regular diners; they are not segregated at one table or in one area of the restaurant. We will not go into great detail about the food, since the menu could change, and also because so much has been written about the various courses already, but everything was tasty and uniquely presented. Our favorites courses were the “olives”, the “cigar”, the steak tartare and foie gras, oyster and scallop, caviar, ricotta gnocchi (one of the few dishes that is also on the regular menu), the cheese danish cheese course, cherry float, and the incredible cookie plate. We enjoyed using the plates from Delmonico’s and the Tiffany silver. After paying our bill, we were presented with a menu and a take-home box containing a few more cookies.
As we were dining, we could not help but think that the restaurant should offer more spots for diners who want the chef's tasting menu - it seems like they could sell every seat every night at $160 (or at least on weekend nights). We would certainly return!
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