Based on one visit, I think the review is fair. I was intrigued by (and enjoyed) the meal I had there, but I haven't found myself craving chickpea flan, cauliflower-almond puree, or parsnip cake since then. I'll go back though!
Posted by: Eliot at June 18, 2003 01:00 PMisn't two stars pretty darn good?
Posted by: tp at June 18, 2003 01:31 PMI had a delicious dinner at WD-50 about 3 weeks after it opened.
My cousin and I sat at the bar, and the bartenders couldn't have been more charming, accomodating, or on the ball. Everyone who works there is handsome, in an understated, engaging way.
We weren't famished, so we decided to share the infamous flattened-oyster appetizer and the beef entree with marrow chunks. We ended our meal with a citrus panna cotta with grapefruit sorbet and the thinnest, most delicate slice of dried grapefruit perched in between. We waited a very long time for our entree, but other than that, things seemed pretty under control. The bathrooms are like Logan's Run, though -- be sure not to leave your glsses at your place, otherwise you will have as tough a time as I had finding the goddamn edge of the counterintuitive doors -- they're kind of hidden in the wall. Maybe I don't frequent hiply designed places enough, but it was embarrassing/frustrating.
The meal: I enjoyed the flavor juxtapositions. I liked the white bean puree way better than the beet puree on the beef plate. The fun presentation is delightful. I thought the portions were a little dinky, though. Call me Midwestern, but I felt like I definitely wouldn't go there if I was *really* hungry.
I wish it felt cozier, more like Savoy, but they were probably matching the food with the decor. It's colorful, appealing and interesting, but not a place I would necessarily be psyched about sitting. Then again, I might have had a different experience had we actually sat at a table.
The crowd is definitely random -- a weird mixture of food snobs and New York Magazine types. I felt like probably every person there either worked as an ad exec or was a Brooklyn Heights lawyer with a bike. Nobody from the hood is in there -- I hope when the frenzy dies down that we might be able to go in there and have a little nice snackie.
If WD is stressing about 2 stars he shouldn't -- I think it's pretty much understood by everybody who cares about this kinda stuff that he will have a long, glorious career with many different kinds of outposts and legacies.
Posted by: Colleen Werthmann at June 18, 2003 04:39 PMIt won't surprise the media-savvy out there that Jayson Blair was just the tip of a throbbing iceberg of lies over at the New York Times. History has given us Pinocchio, Ollie North, and now the esteemed Willie Grimes. The foul stench of inaccuracy in his review crinkles up my delicate chef-nose.
First, Willie claims that my restaurant was built in place of a bodega. In fact, it stands on top of what used to be a tobacco field.
He claims that my lemon gnocchi is "bitter and intrusive". In fact, it is delicious.
My onyx centerpiece is "hideous". In fact, it is a marvelous work of art. In addition, the racial overtones here are hard to miss - what if it were an *ivory* centerpiece, Mr Grimes? Would it still be hideous? Your taste in art is hopelessly rooted in a Western paradigm, which you can't hope to escape.
Grimes says there is a harsh citrus note in artichoke soup. In fact, Grimes is a son of a bitch.
I could go on, but let me just leave you with this: taste is 80% smell, and everyone on the circuit knows that Willie has a monster coke habit. There is no blood orange in any of my dishes, Grimes, for the last time. Don't expect the executive editor of the Dining section to step down anytime soon - as a devout Republican uberchef, I am used to taking it from that left-wing rag.
Two stars is really good, especially for a chef so early in his career. Grimes can't be giving up three stars for everyone, though I'm a little suspicious of three stars for Bolo. I hate Bobby Flay. I hate him I hate him I hate him.
Posted by: Jen at June 19, 2003 12:22 PMPlease don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Hate me because I cook better than your mom's.
That's right, Wylie, Mesa Grill rules your ass! WD's-Fifty-Cent to my million dollar smile.
Cause, I Bobby Flay am taking down all culinary comers! Jean-Georges, Daniel, Bouley, Bouloud, I don't care who you are, boo, I kick your ass.
Dude, have you seen Chillin' and Grillin'? Bobby Flay's Hot Off the Grill? Bobby Flay in Bobby Flay Grills The Meat, the Movie. I've got more star-power in my pinky than Grimes can put in the sky. I'm the king of all media. I'm the real Iron Chef. I'm the Fonz of the food world. I'm Elvis, baby. You're Elvira.
Stuff that in your oyster pancake and suck it.
In case some of you have not figured it out, that is NOT the real Bobby Flay.
Posted by: Wylie Dufresne at June 19, 2003 02:49 PM...or the real Wylie Dufresne, i suspect...
Posted by: Duh at June 19, 2003 02:54 PMBut this is the real Jesus. And I give WD-50 two stigmatas up.
Posted by: Jesus Christ at June 19, 2003 04:28 PMI think two stars is generous. I had the monk fish and remember it tasting bland-like air. Nothing. Nada. I liked the set up of the place however. I think it's a good sign to peek in the kitchen and see the cook drinking a pint which he was doing. I do feel sorry for the person that has to wash all those towels in the bathroom tho.
Posted by: KDunk / More Than Donuts at June 20, 2003 10:42 AMI smell JVG
Posted by: EMA at June 20, 2003 01:40 PMUNCLE JACK'S STEAKHOUSE
COMING SOON
UNCLE JACK'S STEAKHOUSE
COMING SOON
Geeze , my monk fish turned out to be Lobster,
man was I pissed off. Lay off Bobby, I got his back, he's an ex-dishwasher who made good.
Last time I tried to use the loo , I opened some wierd circut breaker room and almost shut the place down.
I'll be back.
Posted by: booby prize at July 6, 2003 10:45 PMTwo stars is not meager. Actually, for the Times that's very, very good. Usually, Grimes gives out none or one star.
Posted by: Nomi-Malone at July 10, 2003 09:40 AMthe first and the last time for me. i give him credit for attempting to place flavors that are not typical. however, oysters DON'T taste better beaten to a pulp, frozen between saran wrap, defrosted, and placed on a platter to look like the new armstrong faux marble vinyl tile! and the consistency of phlem?!?! nice try. i prefer them freshly fished out of the ocean, shucked in front me,and paired with a mignonette. why ruin the texture and flavor of such a simple, yet gratifying experience? the portions are small, bland and of course completely overpriced. the lamb and fish in miso broth were typical of other clone new american cuisine restaurants. you can make it at home, probably better. if you want to actually support the neighborhood and its original spirit, go to where the residents actually eat: excellent pollo a la brasa, chicharrones, and pernil at the corner of Rivington and Clinton. leave the WD clinton st conglomerate for the palate-less trust fund babies and followers.
Posted by: cl at August 27, 2003 03:10 AMThe Pork belly was one of the GROSSEST things I have ever put in my mouth (shut up). The anorexic waitress said she "really liked it" (yeah, right) Sardines and fois gras? Come on. The lemon gnocci tasted like lemon Pine Sol. I'd rather eat high school cafeteria food than some of this stuff.
Posted by: Bob P at September 10, 2003 04:39 PMOuch! You people are harsh... and besides, chef Wylie is **FREAKIN** hot !! So you all just shut up!! that's it, thanx 4 reading ;oP
Posted by: heather at September 19, 2003 07:45 AMOh chef, by the way... are you single ???
Posted by: heather at September 19, 2003 07:46 AMhey wylie remember me . soory about the review grimes is an ass.
I found the oyster appetizer to be singularly unappetizing. It looked like a square of marbled stone, but had both the consistency and taste of mucus. Most of the dishes appeared to have been tortured; they were frozen in order to slice them very thinly (and destroy any flavor) shaved or, in the case of a rabbit's rib-cage, wound into a bun. The dinner was disgusting, the she-devil waitperson rude and condescending, and the bill was $300. By all means, go to Clinton Street if you must, but then run like hell in the other direction!
Posted by: Herbert at October 21, 2003 01:48 AM