Believe it or not, it’s possible for Immaculate Infatuation to love a place even when the food isn’t the main attraction. It’s rare, but it’s possible, and Esperanto is the perfect example. A local Infatuation mainstay, Esperanto’s got that little something special that keeps it in heavy rotation despite average food. It’s consistently packed with people looking to hang out and have a good time. The vibe is contagious, especially after a couple six dollar Caipiroskas (vodka, lime, sugar) to the dome. Going out on the town on a Friday or Saturday night? Esperanto is the perfect choice for your pre-game food and drink, especially when it’s nice out, with the windows open and the outdoors in full effect. The price is right too; all entrees are under twenty dollars. Just beware, there’s almost always a wait during primetime but they move pretty fast. Big group? Make a reservation.
If you’ve ever been to the Maritime Hotel for drinks on the patio, you basically know the drill when it comes to La Bottega – everybody is way too cool, ultra Euro, and nobody seems to have a job, including the wait staff. The Maritime patio is always crazy in the summer months, and its proximity to Meatpacking and Highline action ensure that even in colder weather, La Bottega could be slinging Totino’s Pizza Rolls and still turn out a nice dinner business. There are a lot of reasons to expect mediocre food out of a place like La Bottega, but surprisingly, this Italian restaurant is far better than it needs to be. The tagliatelle bolognese is incredibly good as are the rest of their homemade pastas, and the pizzas are also a nice size and tasty. A respectable wine and beer selection makes the environment a little more tolerable, but let’s be honest – you’ll have to take La Bottega as it comes. You might as well embrace it and throw on a really tight t-shirt, some silver Pumas, and one of those Gucci fanny pack things … you know you kind of want one of those anyway.
A few things to note before we get into it. First, this is a review of the Boqueria on 19th St., not of the newer SoHo location, and not of both. Boqueria Soho has a different dynamic and clientele. Second, let us preface this by saying that we’ve been coming to Boqueria for a while now, and we generally enjoy the place. The only problem we have is that it’s slowly becoming to Spanish food what Sushi Samba is to Japanese. What does that mean exactly? It means that it’s on the short list of venues for Girls Night Out, and that the food is hit or miss. Don’t get us wrong, we’re absolutely fine with going to a restaurant loaded with girls, but consistency is what we crave and Boqueria seems to be all over the map these days. The best bets on the menu tend to be the more simple items like Brussels sprouts, pan con tomate, and anything with chorizo. The wine list is good and reasonably priced (plenty of bottles priced under forty dollars), and the churros are pretty excellent. Maybe even better than the ones that dude sells on the L train platform. At the end of the day, the good at Boqueria is definitely good, and if you stick to the right things, you’ll probably walk away happy. Then again, when we’re craving some Spanish food we’re probably headed to Bar Carerra, Mercat, or Casa Mono instead. For the purposes of this food rundown, we’re going to stick (mostly) to the stuff we liked.
Lure Fish Bar needs to change it’s name. Maybe Lure Raw Bar. Or Lure Party Boat. Either would be more appropriate, and here are a few reasons why. The cooked fish entrées at Lure are almost all disappointing. Generally, they suffer from a lack flavor despite potent accompaniments like ponzu sauces, dashi glazes, and red curry broths. The raw bar, on the other hand, is a large selection of high quality seafood and is worthy of the namesake. I’m throwing Lure Party Boat out there because this place kicks out the jams like it’s 1992. Hit after hit from MTV’s Party To Go albums, slick yacht décor, and sushi on the menu make it feel like you’re at sea with Arsenio Hall or one of the Wayans brothers. Don’t get us wrong…all in all we like Lure Fish Bar Party Boat. The service is great and earns them some points but a few tweaks on those entrées would bump up our rating into the more than respectable range. We’ll come back a few more times, if only to hear some Salt-N-Pepa and Heavy D on the playlist.
I can’t make up my mind on how I feel about BLT Fish. We’ve had an up and down relationship over the years. It all started with a bad experience – a $90 whole red snapper that didn’t taste right going in and had our entire table paying the price on the way out. On the other hand, staying away from the whole fish and going heavy on octopus and scallops has led to some enjoyable meals here recently. Quite the conundrum, I know. Downstairs, I feel like their whole “fish shack” thing is contrived. A big sailfish mounted on the wall doesn’t make you authentic. Upstairs, it’s hard to see past the extreme price tag that often leaves me angry and bitter even though the food is indeed quite tasty.
BLT’s restaurants are new school upscale, sleek dining halls whose service most closely resembles that at a white tablecloth, fine dining establishment. While this formula has resulted in a successful chain of meat markets and steakhouses, it just doesn’t translate well with fish. I’m fine with paying money for good seafood, but oysters and octopus in such a refined environment just doesn’t do it for me. I like my pricey seafood a bit more laid-back, with more character and less Blue Water Grill, if you know what I mean. If my parents want to mess with some upscale fish action then sure, I’ll go to BLT Fish again. If I’m paying, my money’s going to The Mermaid Inn, Mary’s Fish Camp, or Marlow & Sons.
Feature: Infatuation TV: P.O.S.
