All stories about "Good News Bad News"

Good News/Bad News Txikito

Krieger, 11/14/08

The tiny, hard-to-pronounce Txikito from former Tia Pol/Quinto Pino team Alex Raij and Eder Montero has been open for about a week and has already racked up a variety of reviews from commenters and bloggers. Both Gourmet and Ed Levine have already weighed in with fairly positive accounts of recent meals there, and commenters add some early critical analysis.

The Great News: An enthusiastic Eater commenter has a brief but effusive account of the food/service: “Went Thursday night, amazing food and attentive waiters. All was good except for the Hermes shoe wearing douche who tried to tell the staff that they were doing their shrimp wrong (they should do how Americans expect it, not Basque).” [Eater Comments]

More Good News, and of course, the Bad News>>

Good News/ Bad News: Almond

Krieger, 10/23/08

Almond, the new 170 seat restaurant in the cursed Borough Food & Drink Space opened ten days ago, and surprisingly it's the Eater readers, not the Yelpers and Chowhounders, who have written in with the majority of the early reviews. Fans of the original Bridgehampton Almond are generally approving of the new addition. But there are some serious concerns here. To the good news and the bad news:

The Mostly Good News: An Eater commenter chimes in with an early positive write up: "I ate here on Saturday night and must say the food was really good. IT was pretty empyt feeling until about 8:30 and it filled up. Check for 3 people with two apps, wine and three entrees was under $150 so we were happy about that. I'd recommend but don't know about the location; not exactly a place you'd stumble upon." [Eater Comments]

The Bad, the Good, the Great.>>

Good News/ Bad News: Tom: Tuesday Dinner

Tom Colicchio has served two meals so far (on the Tuesday debut two weeks ago and a surprise repeat performance that Wednesday) at his new experiment Tom: Tuesday Dinner, and already the pro critics, commenters, and user reviewers have weighed in. Tom is serving his second menu tonight (here later), and those lucky enough to have a resy or a spot on the waiting list can see what may be in store:

1) The Great News: Ryan Sutton is the first critic to weigh in after just one meal, and he has some good news: "Can the man still cook? The grub is pretty darn good. A stew of duck hearts (funky), cooked with bacon and paired with a bone marrow panini (oozy) spiked with aromatic white truffles could be the best-ever reinvention of the soup-and-sandwich...This is what Craft is famous for -- straightforward flavors, intensified. A slab of salty lamb bacon topped heady lamb loin. Warm, crispy cubes of pork belly crowned a cool terrine of pork. Too rich? A Riesling cut the fat." [Bloomberg]

Good, Great, Ok, ahead.>>

Good News/ Bad News: Corton

Corton, Drew Nieporent's re-do of Montrachet, opened almost three weeks ago with Paul Liebrandt at the helm, and the bloggers and critics have already have time to file their early raves. Typically we like some bad news with our good, but in this case, there really aren't too many detractors (wait until more Yelpers join the fray). Take a look at what the reviewers are saying so far:

1) The Good News: An Eater commenter doesn't say much about the food but has a rave for the decor: "Having dined at Corton this past Monday night, I can say without reservation that the physical appearance of the restaurant has changed dramatically, and contrary to the previous comments, it feels comfortable and charming. The walls have what I guess one would call a bas relief textured design of a floral pattern...Our party enjoyed the food, and I'm certain that the critics will all have their say in due time." [Eater Comments]

More good, great news ahead.>>

Good News/Bad News: Five Leaves

Will Femia, 9/17/08

Five Leaves, the Greenpoint/Williamsburg bar and restaurant backed by the estate of Heath Ledger, opened just two weeks ago at 18 Bedford Ave. While we're hardly ever surprised by how fast user reviewers write up a place, there is a surprising amount of early feedback, mostly in our comment section. And given the multiple reports of the place running out of food, we can only imagine they were slammed since day one. Not all of the reviews are great of course, and it sounds like there have been some serious service issues. However, not all of it is bad either. We'll start with the good news.

1) The Good News: An Eater commenter realizes there are some bumps but is an early fan: "i went last night and they were slammed. the staff was really lovely...which is a nice change. i had the five leaves burger which was really awesome. it is a small place with a more laid back vibe and once they iron out the opening problems i think this place will be a sure fire winner. they only opened a few days ago and have been super slammed from the start (i live up the street) which is not the case for a lot of new places so taking this into consideration i was very impressed! i will be a regular." [Eater Comments]

The OK, the decent...and the bad.>>

Good News/ Bad News No 7

Fort Greene newcomer No 7 soft opened right outside the Lafayette C stop just ten days ago and already we've had reports coming into the tipline, left in the comments, and posted on Yelp, Chowhound, personal blogs, and more. Looks like the nabe really needed a new place (from alums of Perry St. and Lil Frankies no less). Let's take a look at their good news and their bad news:

1) Good News: A reader writes in with an early positive review: "Had dinner there last night. They had a soft opening last Friday. Their chef is Tyler Kord who was a sous at Perry St. Highlights were his roasted chicken, the hangar steak with kimchi pierogies, and the vanilla and miso banana pudding. The latter made me say 'oh my fucking god'." [Eater Inbox]

2) Bad News: Almost all of the Yelpers are raving about No 7. All except this one: "It's really really cute but the food ain't so great. Specifically--the hangar steak was chewy and accompanied by an unidentifiable mush pile (aka squash ??) as well as the unfortunate kimchi pirogi. The 'pork face' appetizer was just plain weird. The tempura broccoli was hard. The veggie lasagna was bland. The wines were so-so. Dessert was a straight-up disaster--even the highly touted pudding tasted like store-brand. Sorry to say -- there are tons of other super-cute Brooklyn eateries with better chow." [Yelp]

It gets better ahead.>>

Good News/Bad News Bloomingdale Road

Ed Witt's new Upper West Side American restaurant in the old Aix space, Bloomingdale Road, opened less than a week ago and already the locals have been writing into the tipline, getting in on the comments, and crowding Chowhound threads with reviews. For the most part, the reviews are middling. However, you can tell from the strong early attendance that the people up there are hankering for a new spot (one can't go to Dovetail every night apparently). But let's get to their good news and their bad news:

1) The OK News: Right after the restaurant opened, we received the following review in the inbos: "So, day one at bloomingdale road I must say, the food tasted was decent. Unfortunately, the suckling pig meatballs tasted like turkey or chicken...Luckily, the smoked deviled eggs were quite tasty as was they sea bass tar tare and the heirloom tomato and watermelon salad. Also, we ordered the 'tuna ribs', but they never came. In all, the food shows potential for day one. There is a lot of work on the management and service side that needs to be addressed. I did see Gael Green and am curious to see her review." [Eater Inbox]

2) The Good News: A recent Eater commenter has a mostly good review: "I ate at Bloomingdale Road tonight and it was delicious. Most of the dishes are meant to be shared, so it makes it possible to have several small plates. I especially recommend the crispy ham, fig and goat cheese salad with vanilla vinaigrette. The kinks need to be worked out but it's nice to have a new place in the neighborhood." [Eater Comments]

It gets pretty bad ahead.>>

Good News/ Bad News Black Iron Burger Shop

East 5th Street's somewhat delayed new burger spot Black Iron Burger Shop opened to the public after brief soft opening at the end of last month. Considering a new burger is in town, we're slightly surprised more bloggers haven't weighed in. That said, two weeks is plenty of time for the user reviewers on Menupages and Yelp to jump into the game. They have some good news, and of course, they have some bad:

1) The Good News Bottomless Dish is the first blog to chime in with a report: "It has a casual, worn-in feeling, with bar stools, exposed brick walls and classic punk tunes on the radio. The burgers themselves were delicious and well-worth the very reasonable $7 price. The griddle created simple, misshapen burgers that let the natural flavor of the beef really shine--no fancy special sauces needed here. What really impressed me was the beer selection, which ranges from Sixpoint Brownstone to Saratoga Lager...The best thing of all? It's open until 3am." [Bottomless Dish]

2) The Bad News: Menupages comes in with the hammer drop: "Tried it out as its close to home and the service/wait for food was a miserable 45 minutes. Frozen fries and onion rings lost their batter and soaked up the oil. Burger tasty but overcooked to grayness even though they only cook them to medium rare (seemed well done to me). Horseradish cheddar was good, bacon good but sparing, cooked onions virtually missing." [Menupages]

More kinks to be worked out.>>

Good News/Bad News Apiary

Apiary opened just a month ago in the NYU Zone of 3rd Ave near East 11th (yes, right by the Village Pourhouse) to an impressive amount of buzz. And while the Chowhounders, eGulleters, and bloggers have yet to file on the place, our trusty Yelp and Menupages users have had ample time to visit the space, try ex-Flay protege Neil Manacle's "seasonal New American" fare, and report back. To the good news and the bad news:

1) The Great News: Almost all the Yelp reviews so far are raves. Here's one: "After being open just a week, I can confidently say that Apiary has all the qualities of a classic New York place: stylish/chic decor, well-prepared/tasty food and respectful/attentive service. For appetizers, we had the chilled tomato soup, the peaches/prosciutto, the Halibut crudo and the mussels. All delicious - nice blending of flavors, good portion size. For entrees, we tried the lamb, the pork, the rabbit and the scallop/prawns. Again, amazing." [Yelp]

2) The OK News: Andrea Strong seems more impressed with the decor than the food in her brief NYPost write up, but there are no complaints: "Ligne Roset has entered the world of restaurant design, furnishing this sleek neighborhood restaurant with ebony wood, wine-hued banquettes and chrome lights. The robust American menu comes courtesy of chef Neil Manacle (who worked with Bobby Flay for more than two decades). Must-have meal: Chilled golden tomato soup ($8); Moroccan-spiced chicken with green olives, lemon and couscous with apricot and mint ($21); and the chocolate cashew tart with cashew ice." [NYP]

Not so great news, up next.>>

Good News/ Bad News Convivio

Convivio, the newly made over space that was once L'Impero, has been open for just half a month. However that's been plenty of time for the user reviewers, foodies, bloggers, and even one Ruth Reichl to file their reports. We have to say, almost everything online about this place so far is glowing. We'll have to see what the major critics say in the next few months, but for now, here's the good news and the bad news:

1) The Great News: Ruth Reichl filed her review on Convivio just as it opened, and she gave it a rave: "...last night at the new Convivio...I fell head over heels for his food. Nobody else in New York is cooking these authentic Southern Italian dishes. The menu—4 courses for $59—starts in Rome and moves south. It’s filled with gutsy, flavor-forward food that comes rushing straight at you...Pastas are extraordinary. I’ll be going back just for the rigatoni." [Gourmet]

2) The OK News: eGullet has a meal play-by-play. The assessment? It's pretty good: "Restrained, elegant decor. Mostly older crowd...Service was very good...wine list by the glass is excellent...had a fried red mullet dish...interesting and good and I had the porchetta...the outer part was quite tasty but the center was unfortunately dry and overcooked. the only negative note in the entire meal...it's not revelatory but it is very good Southern Italian..a lot of it not really seen in NY. Definitely recommended." [eG]

Some bad news and some more raves, up ahead.>>

Good News/ Bad News Macondo

Macondo, the new Latin American "upscale street food" restaurant from the owners of Rayuela, opened just two weeks ago on the LES, and already there are user reviews, planted shills, and write ups about everything from the cocktail list to the stools on various food sites. It sounds like the place has experienced more than a few service blips in their short existence but that they still have some early fans in the nabe. Let's take a look at the Good News and the Bad News:

1) The Good News: Gastro Chic is the first blogger to report on the new space and she has some mostly good news: "The decor verges on the kitschy, with rope baskets slung above the bar holding bananas and pineapples, but it's also creative...We came more for the cocktails for the food, but the food at this pan-Latin spot...more than stands up to the drinks menu...All in all, Macondo looks like a promising place to bring friends, especially that bizarre breed of friend that always wants to meet at the dinner hour 'for drinks'...Cocktails for a liquid diet, food for everyone--what more could you ask for? Macondo should be around for the long haul. [Gastro Chic]

2) The Bad News: The Macondo Citysearch page has a suspicious number of five star reviews by users who have only reviewed it and its sister restaurant Rayuela. But there are a couple detractors with bad news: "I was very excited to try this new restaurant, but unfortunately was extremely disappointed. First of all it was about 100 degrees inside...The food was very average. We ordered the lamb tacos, vegetarian arepas (completely tasteless), patatas brava -- but the rest of our order was forgotten. When we pointed out that we were still charged for the plate we never received, it took a very long time for the waiter to return with the corrected bill." [Citysearch]

More good and more bad, next.>>

Good News/ Bad News Clover Club

Krieger 6/17/08

Clover Club, Julie Reiner's fancy cocktail lounge on Smith Street opened almost two weeks ago, giving the cocktail hounds in Manhattan and Brooklyn alike plenty of time to get drunk on the bar's offerings and breathlessly relay their experiences on the internet. So far the reviews are surprisingly mixed. Some people can't get enough of the debonair decor and the pefectly made, beautifully presented cocktails, while others say the space is contrived, the cocktails, weak and unoriginal. At least no one's shy about sharing their opinions. Let's get to the good news and the bad news on Clover Club.

1) The Good News: Cocktail expert Robert Simonson offers up his thoughts and gives the place a bit of a rave: "The barstaff...was making dozens upon dozens of four select attractions from the cocktail menu, and I tried one of each...All were beautiful. The New York Sours dense and dark. The punch was not exactly deceptively strong, as punches can be—just plain strong. The swizzles were lovingly prepared with twirling palms swirling dancing swizzle-sticks. And the Juleps were ice cold and attractively frosting up their silver mugs." [Off the Presses]

2) The Bad News: Doree Shafrir of the Observer penned a piece yesterday pointing out exactly where Clover Club gets it wrong: "The biggest problem with Clover Club...is that it gets Brooklyn pretension all wrong. Everything looks like it came straight from the Jazz Age section of a Restoration Hardware catalog: tin ceiling, dark wood paneling, etched-glass light fixtures, black-and-white photos of indeterminate provenance of mustachioed men at a bar...and an overly descriptive menu of cocktails like the 'Hemingway Cobbler' and the 'Highland Smash.' In other words, it's all just a wee bit too contrived." [NYO]

More Bad news and a bit of a rave or two, coming up.>>

Good News/ Bad News Five Napkin Burger

Any new burger will get attention in this town. Not only do Chowhounders and Yelpers need to update their '10 Best Burger Lists' as frequently as possible, but we also have a blog dedicated solely to the meat patties and their whereabouts. Naturally, the one week old Five Napkin Burger has already amassed a number of early reviews on a variety of food sites and blogs. The consensus seems to be burger: good, service: bad. But let's get to their good news and their bad news:

1. The OK News: His High Holiness of Burgerdom, Adam Kuban and his pal Ed Levine try out the Five Napkin for A Hamburger Today: "It was juicy, sure, but with that name, you've gotta step your game up to a whole 'nother level....Mine was perfectly cooked to temperature...The beef—ground chuck—had a comforting old-school flavor that, surprisingly, I realized I'd been missing, what with all these places doing custom blends of this and that. But the caramelized onions...and the Comté cheese...I don't know...Ed complained that the burgers here are what I call 'snakejaw burgers': They're so thick you need a snake's hinged jaw to get your mouth around it." [AHT]

2. The Bad News: A Yelper notes that while the burger may be tasty, you need good service to succeed: "SERVICE. IS. HORRENDOUS. But the burger was absolutely delicious. I hope this place works out the kinks, because it could be a hit. Kinks include: poor service; bizarre menu; overall aesthetic/atmosphere. Why does the menu have two major sections: burgers and sushi? So weird. And why does a place called 5 Napkin Burger use white cloth napkins? Be more casual, and give me a bunch of paper napkins for your delicious burger." [Yelp]

The Good, the Better, the Bad, next.>>

Good News/ Bad News Sheridan Square

Sheridan Square, Gary Robins' new giant West Village space opened one and a half weeks ago, and, naturally, a number of internet-savvy foodies have found the time to dine there and file their reviews. We've found some shills here and there, and almost everyone has some caveats to their positive reviews (including the fact that the restaurant is always empty), but for the most part, the people just seem to like the place. So of course, we have some good news and we have some bad news. Let's get to the good.

1) The Good News: A number of Chowhounders are on the Robins train, including this one: "...the food was great. But, the place was EMPTY and it was their 4th night open. odd. The shrimp app was stellar (with a white bean salad and artichokes), the pasta special (with braised veal) was flavorful and a very big portion. The seafood dish (clams, shrimp, mussels, calamari and scallops in a tomato broth) was also really great. The service was overzealous, but since the dining room was empty, I suppose they were just bored." [CH]

1) The Not Great News: NY Journal likes it too, but notices some misplays: "...Long Island Duck Breast ($27) was very good, though it was undercut by the gloppy plating of creamed cauliflower, braised fava beans and spring peas. Rack of Lamb is one of two dishes appearing on the menu with “m.p.” instead of a price, and diners may be surprised to find that it costs $42. It is a larger portion than it needs to be: my girlfriend couldn’t finish five hefty ribs. However, it is an excellent dish...There are some glitches to be worked out, but so far it seems to us that Sheridan Square is one of this year’s better additions..." [NY Journal]

Some bad news, ahead.>>

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