dilemma...

scottreiner

scott reiner
went to a restaurant called spina tonight at ave b and 11th. GREAT pasta. simple, fresh ingredients. homemade, fresh, perfectly cooked pasta. but, the wine list was absolutely horrible. nothing at all that i wanted to drink. boring, uninspired choices all around.

i tried to kindly and lightly tell them that while we loved the food, and would return often for it while telling everyone we know that they should as well, the current wine list was a deal breaker. i offered to introduce them to some people who could help...

they stated that they would not allow corkage...

how can i make these people carry good wine? with that, and a change in the music, this place could be really great.
 
You may not be able to. The chef is an ex-sous at I Trulli, which has both an enoteca and an associated wine store. He probably already believes that he has good connections.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
I Trulli,
And just catastrophically, unapologetically abysmal service the last time I was there. Note "last time." Can't think of worse service I've had in NYC. Brought 3/4 mains, the 4th waited 35 minutes for his despite repeated begging. Orders taken for wine, brought an hour later. I kept waiting for the hidden camera to be revealed.
 
originally posted by scottreiner:
dilemma...went to a restaurant called spina tonight at ave b and 11th. GREAT pasta. simple, fresh ingredients. homemade, fresh, perfectly cooked pasta. but, the wine list was absolutely horrible. nothing at all that i wanted to drink. boring, uninspired choices all around.

This is the principle reason I have all but given up on the NYC restaurant scene. It is either bad wine or extremely overprice wine that has driven me away. Other that frequenting the local holes in the wall, the not often enough trip to The Ten Bells, I have lost the urge or desire to go to conventional restaurants. The alternative has been cooking/dinner parties at home or the now ubiquitous Supper Club.

This certainly is a dilemma. I am always open for suggestions.
 
I so wish there were a decent list at Apiary. Scott's cooking is great and wine-friendly, the prices are very fair. No-corkage Mondays are great, but I wouldn't mind stopping in on a Wednesday and there are maybe 2 wines on that list I would drink.

Lee Campbell, where the hell are you? Get to work.
 
originally posted by JasonA:

This is the principle reason I have all but given up on the NYC restaurant scene. ... I am always open for suggestions.
Other than putting yourself in the capable hands of Brother Dalton, you could consider Trestle on Tenth. Used to be Cendrillon, but no more. There is usually a good small list buried in the big list at Landmarc, and it's very cheap.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by JasonA:

This is the principle reason I have all but given up on the NYC restaurant scene. ... I am always open for suggestions.
Other than putting yourself in the capable hands of Brother Dalton, you could consider Trestle on Tenth. Used to be Cendrillon, but no more. There is usually a good small list buried in the big list at Landmarc, and it's very cheap.

I was at Trestle on Tenth maybe two years ago and yes it was good - love those crispy duck necks. I need to go back. Thanks
 
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by SFJoe:
Used to be Cendrillon, but no more.

That's a shame. What's the story? Rent increase? Victim of the economy? Will Purple Yam have a wine list?

Mark Lipton
The landlord wanted a big bump in the rent, and they weren't busy enough to sustain it. It will be interesting to see how long the space is vacant. Poor timing from the owner.

I can't imagine that Purple Yam won't have a fine list.
 
originally posted by SFJoe: The landlord wanted a big bump in the rent, and they weren't busy enough to sustain it. It will be interesting to see how long the space is vacant. Poor timing from the owner..

Indeed. Who asks for a big bump in rent now.

What will Romy do?
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:

originally posted by SFJoe: The landlord wanted a big bump in the rent, and they weren't busy enough to sustain it. It will be interesting to see how long the space is vacant. Poor timing from the owner..
Indeed. Who asks for a big bump in rent now. What will Romy do?
These things don't happen overnight. The owner was asking a year ago. But he had unfortunate timing for all concerned.

Romy and Amy are opening a new restaurant, Purple Yam, though they still have the old website. Unfortunately, rather than being a 10 minute walk from my home, it's in Vladivostok, er, Ditmas Park.
 
originally posted by SFJoe: Romy and Amy are opening a new restaurant, Purple Yam, though they still have the old website. Unfortunately, rather than being a 10 minute walk from my home, it's in Vladivostok, er, Ditmas Park.

Wow. That is quite a different location indeed. Best of luck to them. What a shame.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Rahsaan:

originally posted by SFJoe: The landlord wanted a big bump in the rent, and they weren't busy enough to sustain it. It will be interesting to see how long the space is vacant. Poor timing from the owner..
Indeed. Who asks for a big bump in rent now. What will Romy do?
These things don't happen overnight. The owner was asking a year ago. But he had unfortunate timing for all concerned.

Romy and Amy are opening a new restaurant, Purple Yam, though they still have the old website. Unfortunately, rather than being a 10 minute walk from my home, it's in Vladivostok, er, Ditmas Park.

And it sounds like the emphasis will be on Korean food this time? Don't get me wrong: I'm a fiend for all forms of kimchee and like many Korean dishes, but damn that Filipino food was tasty...

Mark Lipton
 
Romy was interested in Korean food even in the last months at Cendrillon. But it's hard to imagine that he would exile his native cuisine from his menus.
 
Back
Top