Le Marais. Prime Grill. Solo.

(What? There are summer associate worthy kosher eats outside of midtown Manhattan?)

I concur with 12:32 re: Prime Grill:

http://www.greatrestaurantsmag.com/KOSHER/restaurant_view/45/

Lord, political correctness gone awry, even on ATL.

Second Le Marais. Also, My Most Favorite Food on 45th (formerly My Most Favorite Desert Company).

Maybe I don't know them all, but I think there's only one kosher restaurant in downtown D.C. since Jack Abramoff's deli, Stacks, and fine dining restaurant, Signatures, went down the drain with him: there's Eli's in Dupont Circle. And it's not exactly fine dining. I remember feeling bad that the only strictly kosher summer at my firm had to go there for every "special" meal out. But then again, can you really feel bad for summer associates getting free meals?

Isn't some Top Chef dude cooking at one of these Kosher restaurants in NYC?

What the bleep is a kosher resturant?

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't the ultra orthadox types who never eat except kosher eshew resturants altogether (along with music, radio, television)?

Is this just a way of saying "we feature jewish cuisine" or "we cater to a predominantly jewish clinetle"?

Last, my impression from livng in SF is that jews favor Chinese food above all other food styles.

Do I have this stuff all wrong?

--Boychick

What the bleep is a kosher restaurant?

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't the ultra orthodox types who never eat except kosher eschew restaurants altogether (along with music, radio, television)?

Is this just a way of saying "we feature Jewish cuisine" or "we cater to a predominantly Jewish clientele"?

Last, my impression from living in SF is that Jews favor Chinese food above all other food styles.

Do I have this stuff all wrong?

--Boychick

(OOOPs, spell checked)

Can we do vegan restaurants next?

12:50 beat me to it.

New York: Prime Grill, Le Marais, Solo, Va Bene, Tevere 84, Abigails

yes boychick, you've got it wrong. Orthodox jews do not eschew TV, Radio and music. I believe you're thinking of the Amish. On the sabbath, orthodox jews will not watch tv or use electricity, but they do have to eat! The problem is that restaurants do not adhere to kosher laws (cleanliness, no pork, mixing of dairy and meat) so it makes more sense to eat at home. Oh, and because most kosher restaurants are terrible

For lunch, Colbeh & Abigails. Neither gets much respect, but both are excellent

For dinner, Darna on the UWS is excellent. Le Marais is damn good too.

Prime Grill is overpriced and not that good.

New York: Mike's Bistro is amazing

>yes boychick, you've got it wrong. Orthodox jews do not
>eschew TV, Radio and music. I believe you're thinking of
>the Amish.

I believe he was thinking of the gedolim. But I digress.

Solo. Solo. Solo.

12:35 - political correctness?

Yes, this largely appeals to the minority that only eat kosher, but don't forget the poor non-kosher summers stuck in departments where many attorneys are kosher--we get more than our share of kosher meals, and appreciate anything that helps ease the burden.

12:40 - Yes. Hung the winner of Top Chef 3 is the Chef at Solo. Madonna has been spotted there when in New York with her entourage of kabbalah rabbis.

I'll second the vote for Abigaels. Also La Carne Grill if you are on the East Side.

kash and lat: can we please have a vegetarian version of this thread!?

Steaks at Kasbah are great, if you don't mind constant videos of the rebbe clapping.

REMINDER: If you impress the host with your vort, you can get a free glass of wine for your associate host. Wouldn't that make for a great summer review?

I had all sorts of vegetarian issue when I go the gig at my firm. They asked if I had eating restrictions. I didn't want to write veg and sound weird as hell, but I did anyway...

How many times I've been forced to smile while going to a kosher restaturant because one of the ten summer associates in that days' "lunch group" is kosher. Us other nine all want to throw him under a bus but of course have to play along -- interesting how no parners ever join for those.

Abigaels has the best food, followed by Solo of the ones in midtown. Abigaels has an inconvenient location for those midtown easters.

Levana and Mike's Bistro are great if they are convenient for you. Le Marais is good, but not good enough when on someone else's time.

Carne Grill?

If I were in LA, I'd give a testicle to go to Tierra del Sol, but it's near Oxnard and not exactly convenient for lunch.

Clubhouse Cafe. Stupid name, but fun place. Directly across from Le Marais, same ownership. Similar food. Hipper, younger, cheaper.

I'm curious as to where LA SA's go? As I recall, downtown LA is a kosher wasteland.

Avoid: Olympic Pita. They give you one skewer of meat and call that a shawarma.

What about restaurants for those allergic to peanuts???

The halal cart (kosher for Muslims) at the corner of Wall and Pearl is fantastic. Lamb and rice with extar white sauce. Not only can you get a great meal of halal meat but you can bridge the gap of cultural misunderstanding between the Jew and the Muslim. Can't we all live together in a world of delicious felafel? Pita for everyone! Kumbya my Lord, kumbaya ...

The halal cart (kosher for Muslims) at the corner of Wall and Pearl is fantastic. Lamb and rice with extar white sauce. Not only can you get a great meal of halal meat but you can bridge the gap of cultural misunderstanding between the Jew and the Muslim. Can't we all live together in a world of delicious felafel? Pita for everyone! Kumbya my Lord, kumbaya ...

Veggie thread!? Unlike people who adhere to Kosher laws, vegetarians can order a salad anywhere. Next!

Kosher dining? Guys in my summer associate class used to drench pork chops in hog's milk and force-feed the stuff down the throats of kosher summers all the time. It was no big deal.

I'm not kosher but had the misfortune to eat at Abigails a few years ago. It was terrible - I've had better food at Denny's (but at least Denny's doesn't charge $35 for an entre).

I'm not kosher but had the misfortune to eat at Abigails a few years ago. It was terrible - I've had better food at Denny's (but at least Denny's doesn't charge $35 for an entre).

When I venture outside of Portsmouth, I enjoy Yorgo's Bageldashery. Can't get enough of that challah!

PORTSMOUTH SALARY/RESTAURANT POST, NOW!

http://www.toojays.com/ for $100 Alex.

- Anonymous Coward

Nothing in downtown D.C. besides the Y (not terrible, actually) and Eli's. Both are par-for-the-kosher-course overpriced, though.

What a waste of time. Seriously? People who choose to constrain their eating choices based on the text of a nonsensical, ancient, and silly book should suffer the consequences of their choice--bland, bad, awful food.

Is there anything good in downtown Manhattan, or do I have to schlep all the way up to Midtown?

1:41 - Guys in my Yeshiva used to misapply the milk and meat rule to pork all the time, it was no big deal.

Bnei Akiva Stud

Hmm...what I find most interesting about this thread is that all of the people with silly or intolerant posts inevitably post them twice, while the people who keep kosher or are at least understanding have enough brains to post once and give the system a chance to put it up.

Los Angeles (Pico/BH area): Pat's, Shiloh's, Delice Bistro, Cow Over The Moon, Shanghai, La Gondola, Milk 'n Honey, Milky Way (owned by Spielberg's mom). For quick lunch: Jeff's Gourmet, Circa or Pico Kosher Deli.

1:41 = funny.

2:17, Very insightful comment. I definitely agree that those who restrict their dietary choices ought to be forced to eat only what they permit themselves to eat. I believe that's what we call axiomatic.

I think Gusto Va Mere is great and I've noticed summer associates there in the past. It's on the East Side of New York. It's a non-meat restaurant.

I'm surprised no one else has mentioned it.

And I'm a fan of La Carne Grill, which has been mentioned. And Mike's Bistro (also mentioned above) gets my recommendation as well.

1:54, I know Yorgo's. Popular among the superjew crowd in Ghent.

For associates in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington DC, check out the results of the Kosher Community Surveys for those cities at www.Kosher-Community-Surveys.com.

In NYC, Prime Grill seems to be the favorite among the velvet kipa crowd, but I personally think it's pretty bad by any normal, non-kosher restaurant standard. Solo is the best fine-dining kosher restaurant I've ever been to. I don't think I'd ever send someone there who didn't have a reason to eat at a kosher place, but if you have to eat at a kosher place, it's quite acceptable food-wise (especially if someone else is buying).

As for truly good kosher restaurants that I'd actually send people to who didn't keep kosher... there aren't many. But Azuri Cafe at 51st and 10th (a little falafel place) and the famed 2nd Ave Deli (no longer on 2nd Ave) both rock. Unfortunately, some folks may not accept their kosher certifications.

boston has only milk street.

1:31, what's the problem. Kosher food isn't bland or boring. There is nothing better than a corned beef sandwich with choppped chicken liver on it, or chopped chicken liver on bread or crackers. There's matzah ball soup, in which you can put chicken and vegetables. A well done brisket is juicy and falls apart when your fork touches it. Nova and cream cheese on a bagel with capers, onion and egg is delicious. All of these are yummy -- I don't see the problem.

DC has a new upscae kosher restaurant that is pretty good, The Pomegranate Bistro in Potomac. The GW Hillel has a recently opened home style restaurant. There is also a very nice cafe at the JCC on 16th and Q I believe. Eli's has been mentioned, I think it is on N and 20th.

By vegitarian request:

http://www.didntyouhear.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/peta.jpg

For kosher italian, can't beat Va Bene on 2nd between 82 and 83.

Solo is great, but the menu gets boring after a few visits.

The hidden gem of NYC kosher restaurants is Taam Tov- Bukharian grub in the diamond district.

http://events.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/dining/reviews/07unde.html

The quality of the food is only surpassed by the quality of the shadiness. Cheap lamb kebob + Russian mafia = awesomeness.

2:22, there is nothing downtown. (Ain't we all lucky down here). For a short time pre- 9/11 there was Le Marais on John Street but that is history. Also Circa used to exist on Dey Street till they started construction there.

Now there is one meat restaurant - Essex On Coney Downtown. There is pita express next door to J&R (Ann Street). A pizza shop on Broadway (120?) near Liberty Street. A kosher subway also exists somewhere though not sure where.

In Midtown Solo is great and so is Prime Grill. Get them to take you on Tuesday which is delmonico steak night. LE Marais is not that league but also good and better priced. Tevere 84 also has excellent food. Lots of other places are also very good. If you are dairy then the best desserts are in Va Bene.

I had just about the worst steak of my life at Le Marais. And the place was empty and depressing. A terrible meal. Luckily I only had to eat there once. If I were asked to go again, I'd decline. Maybe I should insist on eating Italian on the grounds that I'm a Pastafarian. (Don't know? Look it up on Wikipedia.) Or, more specifically, maybe I should insist on eating at my favorite authentic Italian joint in NYC, Sbarro. (Apologies to the commenter who used that joke on the NY summer lunch thread the other day. Too good to pass up repeating it.)

It's normal, not fancy, but Cafe Classico on 57th b/w 5th and 6th has great burgers and fantastic cajun fries. I mean the upstairs one; downstairs, I think they have a kosher dairy place.

go back to israel

4:14 - go back to hell

I love to chew on a good piece of Weinerschnitzel.

@2:37, Gusto Va Mare is the most overpriced of all kosher restaurants, and that's saying something. Also, they refuse to hire more than one waiter.

Can we start a thread for vagiterians?

Dear Latty and Kash,

I am a slightly tubby associate. In the interest of inclusiveness, could you compile a list of restaurants that are acceptable under:

1) The Wall Street Diet
2) The Zone
3) South Beach
4) Atkins

Thank you. Previously I was feeling left out.

Not to be snarky, but don't ALL of these cities have YELP!? Why go to ATL for restaurant advice when you can go to the source?

4:14 F you. we'll go and take the cure to polio, from salk and sabin, with us.

oh for that matter there would not even be an america without Haym Solomon, from Philadelphia, giving away his fortune for this country.

In Chicago, for business lunches there is the MetroKlub which is in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It's a regular sit down restaurant. It is just past the Metra train Station on Madison.

Also, there are 2 "grab and go" places - one at the Chicago Loop Synagogue on Clark (which brings in daily meals for purchase from Sandwich club in Skokie - meal consists of deli sandwich, chips, soda, dessert, small salad, etc) and a cafe at the Spertus Jewish Institute on Michigan (catered by Wolfgang Puck catering). Both places you can take to go or eat there.

Up on the northside, for nice dinners - Shallot's (in Skokie) and Taboun (in Rogers Park) are the places to go.

In Chicago, for business lunches there is the MetroKlub which is in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It's a regular sit down restaurant. It is just past the Metra train Station on Madison.

Also, there are 2 "grab and go" places - one at the Chicago Loop Synagogue on Clark (which brings in daily meals for purchase from Sandwich club in Skokie - meal consists of deli sandwich, chips, soda, dessert, small salad, etc) and a cafe at the Spertus Jewish Institute on Michigan (catered by Wolfgang Puck catering). Both places you can take to go or eat there.

Up on the northside, for nice dinners - Shallot's (in Skokie) and Taboun (in Rogers Park) are the places to go.

5:18--LOL

La Carne is really aweful, can't believe anything likes it. it's the most expensive and i've never had more rubbery steak.

Guys in my shul used to trade testicles for all expenses paid trips to Oxnard all the time, it was no big deal. (Incidentally, it's an effective birth control technique, though unfortunately not approved by the Code of Jewish Law.)

It seems tougher to keep kosher than be a vegetarian to me, so I can see why this thread came first. Vegetarians can just get the depressing couscous dish wherever, but entire restaurants are out of the running if you keep kosher.

Chicago - head on out tot Devon (West Rogers Park) for good pizza, kosher Baskin Robbins, or go farther north into skokie for pizza at D'nali's and Burger Buddies at Ken's Diner. Try to avoid Slice (off your) -of- Life, though it does do both Meat and Dairy

Solo's great; but the best lunch is Dovid's kosher food stand downtown; the fried flounder with lettuce and mayo on a whole wheat roll - with a danish on the side; oooh i'm kvelling!!

Solo is as good as any non-kosher restaurant, with a 20something zagats rating, just with less (non-kosher) options.

Honestly, I took a job in Wilmington - great work, but the food is terrible. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do one on Wilmington - and if it mentions the Melting Pot I will jump off a bridge.

I'm not Jewish or vegetarian, but I know there's a lot more vegetarian diners (and restaurants) nationwide. Ever stepped outside of Manhattan? Wow, this is parochial to say the least.

How about Halal restaurants? I promise the food tastes infinitely better. Hare Krishna? Despite the non-use of garlic and onion it's surprisingly delicious.

This is one of the stupidest threads I have ever seen.

A number of good big-city hotel restaurant kitchens have kosher equipment, plates, silverware, etc., and can prepare a very nice parve meal on request. Or you can bring your own flat-edge knife and paper plate to the local sushi bar and ask the chef to make you a nice shellfish-free sashimi special. Or you can bring your own fish -- a four-day-old mackerel would do nicely -- and force-feed it to 12:12.

3:27, I do like Fois Gras. Is that Kosher?

Maybe we can do thread on good shellfish places. Best lobster? Or cheeseburger? It would appeal to a lot more people outside your tiny universe of people who pack knives to "good big-city" hotels and sushi bars. But then that's the only relevant universe, isn't it?

Instead, we suffer through the best examples of a middling cuisine. I'd rather hear about best British restaurants, if that's the case.

Geez, 9:06, can it be that you don't like folks from my my tiny universe?

Speaking of knives and shellfish, when I was a kid the best seafood restaurant on the planet might've been one outside of Hue City, in Vietnam, Republic of. It didn't have a name, but it was quite popular among us American sightseers. We all carried knives (Ka-Bars, not sushi slicers) and used them to cut up the fish when it was served. Then we used them to cut up other things. Just a memory, which for some odd reason you jogged.

And yes, foie gras can be kosher.

It boggles my mind how many people have come in to this thread just to comment on how much they hate Jews. (I know, they didn't actually say that, but they found plenty of ways to be insulting towards people who may appreciate this thread).

If you don't care for Kosher food...ignore the link! I don't care about good places to eat in Chicago--so I didn't bother reading the thread. Are you all so bored with your own lives that you can't help but insult people who don't act or think like you?

"Instead, we suffer through the best examples of a middling cuisine. I'd rather hear about best British restaurants, if that's the case."

I think you would rather hear about German cuisine, Mein Herren.

Best old school kosher dairy in NYC - Diamond Dairy in the Diamond Exchange on 46th & 5th. You get the best blintzes in the city overlooking the hustle of the diamond dealers. And cheap as hell. On a $50 a person budget, you'd get 25 blintzes each, which is about right

I'll second "My Most Favorite Food" It also has the benefit of being one of the few midtown eateries where Kosher and vegetarian food can be found together.

The vegan thread might be relevant, since vegan food is almost by default Kosher. However, only some have bothered to get certified, so it depends on where you draw your line. Blossom has, and is delicious, but is in Chelsea.

Midtown NYC: In addition to those already mentioned, Wolf and Lamb (Meat) and Cafe K (Dairy), both on 48th st off of 5th ave.