Monkey Bar--Manhattan

212-404-0365

So in the same spirit as the Minetta Tavern, we went bougy pub grub..  Couples.  Boozy.  Pricey.   Holy bananas.  I have much more to say on this one.

The food was exceptional, however the portion sizes are enormous.  You can easily split an entree between two people.  The apetizers are also enormous. The cesary salad was an entree size, and the tar tar is too.  All of the food was great, there wasn't anything (save a single dessert) that disappointed.  

The drink service, however, was abysmal. There's nothing worse than piss poor drink service.  The explanation was even dumber.  Our incredibly chatty, gregarious waiter was all too eager to share that there's only a single bartender for the entire restaurant.  They have two seatings, 5 and 9 and all of the 5pm drink orders come in at the same time.  Given a stringent seating time, you think they would account fror that. Idiots!  Our solition was to order a cocktail the second our cocktail was delivered.  It seemed to work out after the first twenty minute wait. 

Nonetheless, eventually a fine time was had by all.  If coming here, order a cocktail and bottle of wine immediately, that should stay you over.

Minetta Tavern--Manhattan

(212) 475-3850

I'd surprisingly never heard of or been to this place before.  I went with the ol' wifey wife and the 2nd wife and her machismo companion for what has turned into an expensive and boozy routine.  This place was no different, in both its expense and booziness.  

The food?  Fantastic if a touch pricey.  We generally order most of the menu, and though my memory is a bit hazy I can tell you that I had a burger (world renowned--though I say Donahue's has it beat) and the Mrs had the mussels.  

A quick aside, I had exactly one dip of one french fry in the moules frites buttery goodness at the very tail end of our meal.  And it dripped right on my mother-fucking-Hermes tie!  Tie killer.  

Yakitori ToriShin--Manhattan

212-757-0108

Traditional Japanese restaurants all have a similar vibe.  I'm not sure why, but they all insist on the quaintness of Japan, the geisha-esque hospitality, Omotenashi.   It's humble, you know?   This place lived up to the billing in that department, provided it's the most notable Yakitori restaurant in the city.  Then they turn it all on their head with their wine list.  Mosel riesling, Opus One, Jack Daniels, a Westerner's liver's greatest hits.  Sort of blows the cover fore me.  For whatever that's worth we ended up with beer and saki, opting for a more traditional Japanese buzz.

The food?  No idea what I ate.  I mean I know the basic ingredients, pork, chicken, beef, etc...but it all came on little Japanese tapas plates and skewers.  It was like a dinner of Japanese canapés.  It was all tasty, if a touch expensive.   We got the 14 course tasting menu--so probably tried 50% of the menu and I think we ate everything and left satisfied.

For what its worth the restaurant spit us out on 9th avenue, which was awesome.  we ended up in an Irish bar that was a railroad apartment, it was maybe 15' wide, and drank Guinness and shot the shit. It felt like we were 20 again.  The beverage list of this place, made sense.