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NYC — No Comments
22
Sep 09

Authentic Italian restaurant @NYC Financial District: Barbarini Alimentari

by John M

A little bit of Italy in New York’s Financial District. Barbarini Alimentari is a solid attempt at a charming Italian restaurant. The South Street Seaport area has much charm with its narrow, cobblestone streets. This lends to the credibility of this restaurant. Barbarini Alimentari has an adjoining market with hard to find items from Italy. A definite plus for the foodie who wishing to stock their fridges with some treats.

Barbarini Alimentari boasts a solarium, with seating for dining in the natural light. Overall, the decor and style are hits, and provide a relaxing environment for dining.

The food is top-notch, and while slightly on the higher-side price was, it is within range of other establishments in NYC’s Financial District.  Each of the pasta dishes I have tried have all been fresh. Barbarini Alimentari is consistent with its food, and its portions are plentiful. The gnocchi on one occasion was fresh, and the varying size of the gnocchi a sure sign that the pasta was made in-house.

All things food here are wonderful. Unfortunately, the service can be inconsistent for New York standards. In Europe, the service standards would not pose an issue, but this reviewer was slightly disappointed. However, Barbarini Alimentari should still stay on the radar. If in the area or if in need of take-out/delivery, I would most definitely return. However, I probably wouldn’t focus my evening around dinner here, as there are better service options with Italian fare in the neighborhood. Let’s hope they can remedy their service inconsistencies and bring it to the level of their wonderful food.

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General — No Comments
8
Sep 09

How to get into exclusive restaurants?

by John M

Having lived in most of the major cities in the US, and even some major ones in Europe, I have always enjoyed dining at the top restaurants those cities had to offer. It struck me that, while I have never had a problem getting into restaurants I love, my friends have not been as lucky. Sometimes it was through my connections that I was able to get a table, but most times it was just through smart planning. Here are five tips on how to get that table at the current “it” spot:

1.  Sometimes, smaller is better — This should be obvious, but trying to secure a table for a large party at Per Se in New York City isn’t going to work.

2. Reservations open 30 days in advance for most US restaurants — Pre-planning has never been so important. Some exclusive restaurants open reservations 2 weeks in advance, others are 60 days, and some go up to 1 year; but a majority are 30 days. Make sure you call the restaurant on that exact day when the reservation opens or you may not get your spot!

3.  Avoid rush hour and prime days — Most people tend to want to eat at restaurants between 7:00 to 9:00PM, and the prime dining evenings are usually Wednesday through Saturday. If you are flexible, dining during the off hours is a great way to get into that hot restaurant. This is a good strategy for those on vacations, who usually have more flexibility on their eating times.

4.  Walk-in accepted — Don’t be afraid to walk into a hot/hip restaurant if you are a couple or by yourself. You’d be surprised at the number of times I was able to get seated using this strategy, without suffering through a long wait. Most exclusive restaurants would accept walk-in patrons.

5.  Take advantage of the concierge — If you are staying at a top quality hotel, this is by far the best strategy. If you are trying to get into a tough restaurant, and you are flexible with day and time, you would be surprised at the amount of “pull” that the concierge service has. Some restaurants reserve tables specifically for those favorite concierges who consistently make reservations with them. Note though, that while they can pull off reservation miracles at times, you shouldn’t expect to show up on Friday morning and get a reservation at Nobu New York that very same evening at 8:00PM!

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Boston — No Comments
1
Sep 09

When in Boston, try the Paramount for brunch

by John M

I often gravitate towards restaurants off the beaten path. The main criteria I use when deciding upon whether to eat somewhere, or return to a place I have dined at before, are whether it’s low-key, affordable, and serves good food. The Paramount is one such place, and I inevitably dine there at least once whenever I am back in Boston.

The Paramount is located on Charles Street, in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. I recommend you try this place when you need a good breakfast or lunch destination – preferably on a weekday, as it can get very crowded on weekends.

The Paramount has a very interesting setup that deserves mention; you place your order at the counter, and then wait on line to pay at the cash register. The line can be long, but moves quickly; and your order is almost always ready by the time you get to the register. It’s a very efficient setup, and I’ve always been able to find seating by the time my order is ready, no matter how crowded the tables are when I get on line. You can also browse The Paramount’s menu on Unimenu (link) before you get there to improve efficiency!

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