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.
When East Side Social Club opened at the end of last year, it did so amidst a lot of hype, especially for a Midtown restaurant. The Employees Only pedigree and old-school Italian dining club vibe certainly helped create some of that chatter. But people were definitely throwing things around like this is “the Waverly Inn of Midtown” or “the accessible alternative to Monkey Bar.” After spending some time here, our experience is that East Side Social Club is neither of those things. What it is however, is a decent option for dinner and/or drinks if you’re stuck in Midtown, and a fantastic place to watch cougars hammer back drinks in the company of business dudes and European tourists (the restaurant is attached to the Pod Hotel, which is basically an upscale hostel). It’s also a place that, unlike Waverly or Monkey Bar, you will actually be treated well. Everyone from manager on down to busboy has been incredibly attentive and welcoming on our visits, and that goes a long way in our book. There are a few great dishes on the menu, and the wine list is decent. For us, that’s enough to flag East Side Social Club as an Infatuation Approved option for Midtown East. Just don’t get suckered into paying fifteen bucks for one of their specialty drinks. They aren’t worth it.
After being hyped on this place by friends and food media for the last year, I was pretty confident Aldea was going to be a John Starks over the entire Bulls team kind of slam dunk. Not the case. While some of their highly touted dishes – namely the sea urchin toast and duck paella – were certainly quite good, the rest of the food wasn’t nearly as impressive. Some of it even had to be sent back, and we rarely ever play that game.
Aldea pimps out their chef, George Mendes, New Orleans style. In NOLA, chef photos and accolades greet you at the front door and decorate restaurant walls, watching you eat. By the time your meal is finished, you know damn well that John Besh or Donald Link is the man that made it all possible. Aldea revolves its world around Mendes in a similar way. Our waiter must have dropped George’s name three or four times, and I guarantee he’s required to do that. It all feels a little desperate…if your food is that good, New Yorkers will recognize. No need to shove it in our faces. Despite all the name dropping, Aldea is a very comfortable eating environment. We lucked out and got the best seat in the house, the back booth right in front of the kitchen, which you should absolutely request when you’re making a reservation. Overall, we’re not saying Aldea is a bad restaurant, it just doesn’t live up to all the hype. We’ll go back sometime, we’re just not in any rush.
Critical acclaim and blogosphere acceptance doesn’t come easy in Midtown, but Beacon’s wood burning oven separates it from the majority of the cookie cutter garbage that lines 56th street. We pass on reviewing a lot of restaurants in these parts, mostly because average filler doesn’t necessarily deserve to be ripped apart, and certainly doesn’t warrant praise either. The Beacon is deserving of an Infatuation write-up though, it’s a reliable option that’s got enough flair among a sea of stuffy restaurants and suits to stand out in the crowd. While Beacon isn’t a restaurant on par with our favorite downtown haunts, it’s definitely towards the top of our list near the office. Working late and need a burger/beer break? Grab a stool at the bar and get to business. There’s an all day happy hour at the bar, everyday starting noon: two cocktails, beer or wine with a burger or pizza for $19.95. That’s a solid deal. As you might expect, aside from the bar deal and their new lunch takeout window ($10 burgers), prices are steep. One can only imagine what rent is on this enormous, double-decker space. Thankfully, unlike many of its overpriced neighbors, the food is actually worthy of your currency. You really can’t go wrong with anything from the Open Fire Specialties appetizer menu. Are we getting in a cab and heading uptown just to eat at Beacon? Absolutely not. Is it worth a trip if you’re stuck in Midtown too much? Absolutely.
