New York, New York
at it’s Best
with Costco Prices

We recently advised our rather limited number of friends that we would be out of town, visiting New York City for about 5 days. Many just shrugged shoulder’s and with squinty but perhaps unknowing eyes… asked….. Why ?

I have to admit that I might be a special case because I was born in Brooklyn, raised  in Queens and before I was 10,  had eaten serious Chinese food at Mott and Pell in Chinatown, Italian food on Mulberry Street (meals at both were under a buck), cheesecake (35 Cents) at Lindy’s Deli on Times Square and all those Hebrew National  hot dogs off the carts in Manhattan.  Along with only a classmate at age 13. I saw Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Lefty Gomez play in Yankee Stadium. Bleacher seats were then 55 cents, hot dogs and ice cream bars were a dime apiece and the subway from Queens all the way to the Bronx (with transfers) was 5 cents each way.  Do the math. I had to give my mother15 cents back from the buck she gave me.

But while I may be a special head case, the facts are that New York City today, cleaned up (and also made very friendly) by its no monkey business mayor, is still the most exciting city in the world. It is so dense with varied and exciting activities that if you were standing on the Corner of Central Park South and Broadway which is actually Columbus Circle, you would be exposed to enough remarkable attractions to keep you busy non-stop for almost a week; and all within a vigorous and stimulating walk. No cabs, not even public transportation needed...... if you have been playing a lot of tennis. That  is, however, sort of the High Rent District since  The Plaza, Essex House, Helmsley Park Lane and The Mandarin, among other hotels with Central Park views are all within 3 blocks. (deals are being offered) along with.... three of the five  most expensive restaurants in the Western Hemisphere !!!!! See below

If you do feel the need for some faster than walking, North-South or Cross Town trips, clean modern buses come along less than every 5 minutes in all directions and enable you to be exposed to the habits and attire of the multi- ethnic and perhaps eccentric habitués of New York. Public transportation here  is the  “Real” Reality Show. The locals are all still in a hurry to get “somewhere” or often too old to find the tokens or exact change for the fare.

It is $2.50 prox for an all day pass and that even includes subways for those longer trips to the Southern tip of Manhattan where The Village, Soho, Chelsea, Wall Street, and  The Battery  are located as well as notorious Canal Street with its  blocks and blocks of  $2,000 knockoff purses, watches etc stretched in front of you at prices  95%  prox below the real McCoy …. if you have larceny in your heart. Right there you can also check out a Chinese Soup Dumpling lunch for about $5 or a slice of nearby Mulberry Street Pizza or a fresh Canole for $2.50.

To the West of Columbus Circle is The Hudson River Drive and New Jersey, To the North is The Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center, Zabar’s  Famous Food Emporium. plus all of Central Park's attractions. Avoid Tavern on the Green, Across the Park is The Guggenheim, The Met, The Whitney and the Frick.  East are The Famed Shops of Fifth or Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Center. South is The Museum of Modern Art, Carnegie Hall, The infamous Carnegie Deli, a very renovated  Times Square and the jammed Theater District.

Macy’s, the largest store in the world is at 34^th Street and Broadway. That would be a 25 short block  walk. Many tourists have been known to do it, finding  the entire walk enlightening..  Grand Central and Penn Station are in that vicinity along with Madison Square Garden.

More heavily dependent upon tourist and business traffic than any major city in the United States, competition is now fierce throughout the very dense food and lodging business.  And it has now even permeated the previously untouchable upscale world class luxury spots.

We snagged a deluxe corner room overlooking the city on the 33^rd floor of The Crowne Plaza centrally located in the theater district of Times Square for 4 nights. See the heading.  After all the discounts, it netted down to about $200 a night  and that.......... included full deluxe breakfasts for two worth well over $20 a person daily . Do the math.

Every person in the hotel was charming. The convenient business office provides 10 minutes free on the computer every day which is usually enough to clear most social or business e-mail action if you know what you are doing.  There is even a built in special free computer icon that hooks you into your airline. It provides instantaneous boarding passes within 24 hours of check-in.  Thus, even though you have luggage to be checked in, you can go to the special no lines airport kiosk that clears your baggage in about 3 minutes and sends you on your way to security ahead of the crowds. Or use the Sky-Cap.

As noted, It is true, that The Time Warner Building overlooking the above mentioned Columbus Circle houses or is adjacent to three of the five most expensive dining spots in the United States, namely  Thomas Keller’s  Per Se,  Masa’s (formerly of Rodeo and Wilshire) Sushi Bar  and world famed  Alain Ducasse with three Michelin stars in Monaco and Paris. 

But just 50 yards across the street in The Trump International Tower sits Jean George Vongerichten’s Nougatine Room. Forget “The Donald”. Many people…. including me consider Jean George to be far and away the best and most accessible chef in the Americas. We have met him and dined with him for years.

At his Nougatine room, (there is an upscale adjacent dining room) he offers what I consider the finest fine dining value in America.. We had a wonderful complete 3 course meal for about $25 at a late pre-flight  lunch (He was in the kitchen cooking).  It is also a perfect pre-theater meal that you can then follow with a post theater snack. Service is top of the line amiable.

We were lucky enough to score 5^th row center Sunday matinee tix for Billie Elliot at the regular price of $123.  It is the most brilliant stage production I have ever seen with great Elton John music, staging, casting and dancing.  The show is sold out for months. But tix for many of the other shows are available at last minute 1/2 prices from the special and accessible outdoor Times Square kiosk.

We walked two blocks from our hotel to  the theater, then walked two blocks to Daniel Boulud’s DBBistro Moderne.He also has other New York restaurants and one in  the Wynn. Many rate him with Jean George, not quite???? We did, however, have a fine 4 course meal in a very sophisticated room for $40 each  It was a bargain. We then walked the 4 short blocks back to our hotel. No cabs needed for the three stops.

Now for the final and exciting bargain.

I am a serious Jazz fan and my wife surprised me on our final night by announcing that we had reservations for dinner at Dizzy Gillespie’s Coca Cola Room which is part of the Jazz Program of the Lincoln Center and is under the direction of Wynton Marsalis.

It is not, however in the Lincoln Center complex. Instead it is on the 5^th floor of that ubiquitous Time Warner Bldg. with a giant picture window overlooking Central Park and adjacent architecture at sunset. The lead artist was Marsalis’ pianist protégée, the brilliant Marcus Roberts and the drummer was Jason Marsalis.  Cover was $20 only per person.

The food is New Orleans Cajun Creole created by the #1 Creole cooks in NYC and under observation by Wynton.  We had excellent and authentic Gumbo and Jambalaya at about $20 each. A pleasant Zinfandel to go with the spice was about $35. Oyster Po’ Boys are also available. just like at the famed Acme Oyster Bar in The French Quarter of N'Awleans!!!

Think center seats for a brilliant and intimate Jazz experience in a fantastic setting with excellent  food, a bottle of wine, tax and tip for less than $150. a couple. Then think Las Vegas.  Oh Boy!!!!

Oh yeah, cab fare from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan is a non-metered $45. plus tip. In our inimitable manner we located a doctor on the plane from Australia going to a hotel near ours.  We split the bill.

On our trip home we arranged for a cab to pick us up right after lunch at Jean George and take us to get our checked luggage at the hotel  for  the trip to directly to the airport. All for that city regulated  $45.... plus tip.  The Cabbie was double thrilled because he could go to his home near JFK early while being paid for that desired big airport fare. He would then surprise his wife with a romantic Bangladesh dinner in Flushing .See below.

However, this is a warning! While New York is now offering wonderful values in most dining, Californians  used to the the array, pricing and quality of all Asian food in Socal  will be disappointed by the choices in Manhattan. It is often inferior and overpriced even in Chinatown which is touristy . We had Dim Sum at Shun Lee across from The Lincoln Center. It was twice the price of Monterey Park and perhaps not as good. Shun Lee's standard Chinese food at their  55th street location is about the same price as a steak dinner at Mastro's. $125 a couple plus!!!  Be wary.

To satisfy  your Asian dining withdrawal pains, you would have to "schlep" to the above noted Flushing in Queens near Shea Stadium. There is an amazing array of both Indian and Chinese cuisine there and you will be a minority person.  Many think it is worth that ride on the  subway which is also partly elevated and fun  But in all cases stay away from Sushi until you get home.

Finally!! If you have any specific questions about any aspect of a trip to New York, contact me via e- mail as shown on the home page. I will answer any questions you throw at me and even respond by phone if you provide the number. I'm waiting.

Other Fine Dining Values In The Conejo Right Now

While the Chairmen of The Federal Reserve and The New York Stock Exchange and the Secretary of the Treasury tell us that prosperity is “just around the corner”, many of us with perhaps more practical economic training remain very skeptical, especially based upon the declines in business reported in The Conejo.  Those continuing unemployment rates and foreclosures cannot be ignored.

And  these problems have been especially relevant in the fine-dining category of the “Hospitality” industry. Most reports indicate drops in revenue from 20%-40%. Within the wide world of business, there are thinker-fighters and there are weepers. Think about it. The Pitifully Weeping Auto Industry.  But the Restaurateurs of the Conejo are responding in the same way as the fine restaurants in New York where competition for the dining dollar is fierce. See above article.

Thus….we did an extensive survey of the entire area to locate the thinker-fighters. In only one case did we find a local restaurant that was still doing every table busy business. We won’t reveal their name but you should be able to figure it out by default.  As with Allesio, Dakota, Joannafina, Sushiko, Suki,  etc. there are a number of other hyped or   overrated absentee-managed dining spots in T.O, .Westlake and Agoura  that are in the suspect category. Sadly, the venerable  Mandevila  now joins the list.

Rumor also has it that hair dresser John of Italy is attempting to dip his comb and scissors act back into the dining  biz with the takeover of the Mandevilla location.   Based upon his previous record, one wonders ....Why????  Oh yeah....maybe because he does have an "Italian" Attitude.

But here is our list of locally owned on-site fighter-thinkers, along with their special-value offers that deserve your attention and your patronage. If you have additional suggestions please let us know and we will add them to our  list. A true reality show........  also without Paula Abdul.

Now At Both Locations

Riviera in Calabasas - Ritrovo in North Ranch - Casual Summer Promotions

Tomasso Barletta, Ventura County's famed true and most serious celebrity chef- owner announces The Menu Turistico for his two very popular  above Italian  casual dining restaurants.

For $29.95 you get an Amuse Bouche, Appetizer,  Entree and Dessert. at Dinner. The two above are closed for Lunch.   The premier Tuscany, however  remains open. for lunch and dinner. . 

        Sushi Yusho- Newbury Park- Now All You Can Eat Sushi !!                         Lunch $26.95-Dinner $32.95 UnbelievableValue Plus See Below                     

Universally recognized as far and away the oldest, best and truly authentic Japanese  restaurant in all of Ventura County, Sushi Yusho  also offers 20% off on luncheon items  Monday and Tuesday only as well as a special  $9.95 luncheon all week.

Traditional Cooked Japanese meals are now discounted daily 10% (Tempura is wonderful!) and All Individual Sushi is now  discounted 5% daily. Their Uni  (Sea Urchin) equals the freshest and the best any where. Owners are all Japanese with over 40 years of traditon. Uni the real test of a sushi bar is superb. Do not settle for less. Avoid Non-Japanese pseudo sushi bars.

The  restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Bellavino Wine Bar and Restaurant - Westlake

Brewski in Camarillo:

All day every Tuesday, 1/2 lb Snake River Kobe Beef Hamburgers for $7. That’s just a buck or so more than those supposedly aphrodisiacal Carl’s Jr.  sex toy products which represent adolescent, “lickingly bad”  taste at every opportunity. Ugh!!!! If you haven’t tasted a Snake River burger before, you may never go back to an ordinary one no matter what the price.

Onyx - Hampton’s at The Four Seasons:

Some thing special is going on here every night except Friday and Saturday. as they fight to get some one inside the building and keep the valet parkers busy.  That is $5 when validated.