Concierge In The City

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Lambs Club

Step back in time where dining rooms were dominated by red leather banquettes with touches of chrome highlighting the room, the fog of cigarettes hung in the air and Sinatra played to the crowd of the cultural elite with old money dining on the best the menu has to offer.

Ok; well thank goodness the smoke is gone and the music is not live, but everything else seems to have been preserved beautifully from the past. The red leather and chrome is there, almost evoking the image of a perfectly restored car, and the waiters in white suits gliding to the sounds of the Rat Pack. This is The Lambs Club, Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's ode to the upscale eateries of yesteryear, his modern take on American cuisine.

They offer a great deal for both Pre-theater dining with 3 courses for just under $50 and Post theater dining with 2 courses at $35. In addition, their normal menu offers 3 courses for $72 with wine pairings at additional price. The food was all full of flavor and beautifully presented. I had a comforting bowl of Sugar Pumpkin soup that had all the flavors of Thanksgiving in it. Followed that with a New Zealand Snapper which came pieced out looking vaguely like sushi but fully cooked. Paired with chantarelles and a warm beef tongue vinaigrette which gave the dish a nice balance of earth and sea. The meal finished with the Apple Crisp with Quark ice cream. Another American classic re-imagined in a creative way that tasted fantastic, yet familiar. Special mention to the bread brought out before any of the courses, it was maybe the best bread I have ever had. Warm, soft and slightly sweet, so good!

The Lamb's Club is a very good option for the Theater District littered with chain restaurants and places that are too casual to were your "dress-up" clothes in. If you are wanting a more upscale option in the Theater District with very good food and service, try this.

THE LAMBS CLUB

Thursday, December 6, 2012

"Dead Accounts" quick take

Dead Accounts, currently in a limited run on Broadway, is a must see in my book. A comedy written by Theresa Rebeck (Seminar) is a story of small town values vs. big city vice. Featuring another fantastic performance by Norbert Leo Butz (Enron, Speed The Plow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as a small town boy returned home after making it "big" in New York City. The show also features Katie Holmes in her return to Broadway as Mr. Butz's sister.

While Ms. Holmes is certainly a star in her own right, the star if this show is Mr. Butz. He with impeccable comedic timing and stage presence draws in the audience and has us pulling for him, even if the morals may not all be in the right place.

This play in 2 acts directed by Jack O'Brien flows seemlessly without any lulls or dead spots. Go see this now as it is in a limited run and Mr. Butz is at the top of his game!

Dead Accounts on Broadway

Friday, October 26, 2012

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Now appearing at Studio 54 is the Mystery of Edwin Drood, a musical murder/mystery/comedy that incorporates audience participation to determine the ending.

Drood is based on a Charles Dickens novel of the same name. This novel was never finished as Mr. Dickens died before he was able to reveal the ending. The identity of the murderer has been the subject of debate. Rupert Holmes wrote this theatrical adaption with the audience voting at the end as to the identity of detective and murderer. Adding to this are a number of interesting characters of which almost any of them could serve as the murderer.

Set in an old Victorian theater, it is a play within a play as we are watching "actors" perform Drood for us. At first this may seem a bit confusing, but the asides and breaking of character all adds to the hilarity of the show. And it is laugh out loud funny. There are strong vocal performances and the music, which can be complex, is handled with seeming professional ease by the whole cast. Costumes and set are detailed and beautifully rendered.

I really enjoyed this show and would recommend this to a variety of people looking for some entertainment. This could work for a whole family , a couple on a date or theater newbies. The fact that the actors break the fourth wall and includes the audience sets its apart from all the other Broadway shows. Go see this for a fun time and let me know how you voted!

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD on Broadway

Friday, October 19, 2012

ZOMG! NYC Thompson Hotels Have Food Truck Concierges

Here is an interesting idea from the Thompson Hotel Group, Food Truck Concierges to help you find your favorite food truck. Article on Hotel Chatter: ZOMG! NYC Thompson Hotels Have Food Truck Concierges

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

East Coast vs. West Coast battle

Vs.

So I was out in Los Angeles this weekend and I wanted to make my own decision on a monumental battle of East vs. West.

First thing is first, I grew up on the west coast. My favorite football team is a west coast team (Seahawks) and my favorite basketball team was a west coast team (Supersonics - RIP). I continue to favor a lot of west over east and see myself eventually moving back there someday. That being said, I have found some things are inherently better in the east. The first thing that comes to mind is Pizza, you can't match a New York pie with anything on the west coast, you just can't. i grew up eating Pizza Hut, Dominoes, etc. and it was an eye-opener the first time I had a true slice of pizza. The way you fold it up and the grease drips down your arm, classic. Next is public transportation. Despite all the complaints I have about the MTA and fare hikes, there is no other city, especially in the west that can hold a candle to our trains and buses. Finally the hamburger. "What's that" you say? Yes, the hamburger. I'm talking Shake Shack vs. In and Out Burger. The take-out throw down, the battle of the beef.

I'm not going to go into the history and a bunch of facts about the two establishments other than to say they are the two arguably best hamburgers on either coast. Well I am here to throw my napkin into Shake Shack's camp. The In and Out Burger I had was good, but it just wasn't anything special. It didn't have that secret something that a Shake Shack burger has. What that something is, I don't know. I have heard rumors of the burgers being dipped in melted butter and other stories. Whatever it is, it's magic and has not been duplicated according to my taste buds.

So nice try In and Out Burger, but my vote goes to Shake Shack. And all you crazies for In and Out Burger, get thee to a Shake Shack and do your own review. I'll be curious to hear your vote.

Posted with Blogsy

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Chef's Table at Gordon Ramsay NYC

It's been 5 or 6 years since I last dined at Gordon Ramsey at the London NY and I had the pleasure of dining at the Chef's Table recently.

The restaurant is divided into two main rooms; Maze, the more casual room with a large active bar and the more tranquil and upscale Gordon Ramsay dining room. In addition to those rooms, there is the Chef's Table, this I did not even know about. This is located in the kitchen with a raised spectator view of everything going on. It can seat up to eight and have sat as few as two. The views offered and access to the kitchen staff makes this table a truly special experience in New York City. The staff was extremely accommodating even inviting us on the line to prepare and plate a dish.

The food is described as New French and everything served was phenomenal. The wine pairing with the food was perfectly complimentary and the service was attentive without being overbearing. I cannot overstate how great this experience was and it is something that will definitely be something to remember for anyone who gets to experience it. We even got a surprise visit special person...keep scrolling to the end!