Help me play this genuinely gastronomical, generally gustatory game?
March 6, 2012 7:56 AM Subscribe
Suggestions for restaurants in New York with of cuisines that start with the letter "G"?
A few coworkers and I (in NYC) have begun to get lunch every week. The catch? Every week one of us chooses a restaurant of a cuisine that begins with a particular letter of the alphabet. The word "cuisine" is used very, very loosely. For "A" we got Afghan food, but for "B" we got brunch, for "C," cajun, and for "D" we went to Max Brenner's (a dessert place, though we didn't get dessert, just regular food).
Now it's my turn at "G" and I'm looking for help. Any suggestion for good places to eat which could possibly be categorized in such a way so as to begin with that letter? Something like gelato would work, but we need to be able to make a full meal out of it, so it shouldn't be a gelato place that only serves gelato. But it would need to be considered a "gelato place" instead of just italian, for instance, so as to qualify for the letter.
Does that make sense?
Caveat: The place should not be too far from Madison Square Park. No more than the distance to Union Square, really, though that distance can be in any direction. 10 blocks or so.
A few coworkers and I (in NYC) have begun to get lunch every week. The catch? Every week one of us chooses a restaurant of a cuisine that begins with a particular letter of the alphabet. The word "cuisine" is used very, very loosely. For "A" we got Afghan food, but for "B" we got brunch, for "C," cajun, and for "D" we went to Max Brenner's (a dessert place, though we didn't get dessert, just regular food).
Now it's my turn at "G" and I'm looking for help. Any suggestion for good places to eat which could possibly be categorized in such a way so as to begin with that letter? Something like gelato would work, but we need to be able to make a full meal out of it, so it shouldn't be a gelato place that only serves gelato. But it would need to be considered a "gelato place" instead of just italian, for instance, so as to qualify for the letter.
Does that make sense?
Caveat: The place should not be too far from Madison Square Park. No more than the distance to Union Square, really, though that distance can be in any direction. 10 blocks or so.
Rolf's on 3rd Ave & 21st St. for German. Fun place.
posted by neroli at 8:04 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by neroli at 8:04 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you can find a good Georgian restaurant in Manhattan, you let me know. We've got plenty of them down in Brookyln, however.
posted by griphus at 8:07 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 8:07 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Greek, obviously. Gastropub. Garden dining. The Garden. Ginger Man. Or choose your neighbourhood and then sort alphabetically.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:08 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by DarlingBri at 8:08 AM on March 6, 2012
Greek and German will be easier to find.
I had a good time at Rolf's, though my experience was not recent.
I was hoping to send you off for West African food from Ghana or Guinea, but the suggested restaurants there are in the Bronx and Brooklyn, respectively.
posted by Jahaza at 8:09 AM on March 6, 2012
I had a good time at Rolf's, though my experience was not recent.
I was hoping to send you off for West African food from Ghana or Guinea, but the suggested restaurants there are in the Bronx and Brooklyn, respectively.
posted by Jahaza at 8:09 AM on March 6, 2012
Gross food. Use the new DOH map thing to find the lowest rated restaurant, pop some pepto pills before you go, and hope for the best.
posted by rmless at 8:10 AM on March 6, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by rmless at 8:10 AM on March 6, 2012 [6 favorites]
Oh, and I've never been and can't recommend it but there is an Indian restaurant that promises to "celebrate the true flavors of Gujarat" within your requested area.
posted by mskyle at 8:12 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by mskyle at 8:12 AM on March 6, 2012
Greek is boring. Get Ghanaian food in the BRonx.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 8:12 AM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 8:12 AM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
Um, it's called Vatan. I am going to leave this thread now before I am tempted to post again, given that I do now know what I'm talking about or how to form a coherent comment.
posted by mskyle at 8:15 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mskyle at 8:15 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
The easiest one will be "game." There have to be dozens of restaurants in your defined area serving venison or duck or rabbit or quail or...
posted by slkinsey at 8:32 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by slkinsey at 8:32 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
I came here to say Greek or German, but I see that's already been done.
Guatemalan? I know I've seen Guatemalan restaurants in San Francisco, but if I had to guess we have a larger Central American population than New York does.
You could always go with soul food and argue that they eat it in Georgia, the state.
Whatever you do, don't go out for gum.
posted by madcaptenor at 8:40 AM on March 6, 2012
Guatemalan? I know I've seen Guatemalan restaurants in San Francisco, but if I had to guess we have a larger Central American population than New York does.
You could always go with soul food and argue that they eat it in Georgia, the state.
Whatever you do, don't go out for gum.
posted by madcaptenor at 8:40 AM on March 6, 2012
Seconding Ghanaian! The restaurant I have been to (Florence's at 2099 8th Ave, out of your range anyway) is closed according to yelp but still on campusfood. They had for-reals ground nut stew and fufu. I haven't been to the one in the Bronx, but when I recommend Ghanaian food, I recommend ground nut stew and fufu. (And if it isn't on the menu, ask, because it may be something that they make for people who know the cuisine already.)
Georgian is also awesome cuisine, especially with the meats, the spices (flavor not hot), and the cheese breads Khachapuri. NOM!
posted by whatzit at 8:54 AM on March 6, 2012
Georgian is also awesome cuisine, especially with the meats, the spices (flavor not hot), and the cheese breads Khachapuri. NOM!
posted by whatzit at 8:54 AM on March 6, 2012
Definitely Rolf's for German; you'll be a hero for the decor alone.
posted by anildash at 8:56 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by anildash at 8:56 AM on March 6, 2012
Chiming in to say Rolf's for German food as well. It fits all your criteria including location and the decor is awesome.
posted by bedhead at 8:57 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by bedhead at 8:57 AM on March 6, 2012
Seconding Vatan for Gujarati food! So good!
posted by judith at 9:10 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by judith at 9:10 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
You may want to save Greek for H -- as in Hellenic. Though I suppose you could also go with a Halal food cart for that...
posted by me3dia at 10:27 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by me3dia at 10:27 AM on March 6, 2012
The Breslin is a fantastic gastropub just a few blocks from Madison Square Park. Also seconding Rolf's, but more for the experience than the food.
posted by psycheslamp at 3:01 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by psycheslamp at 3:01 PM on March 6, 2012
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posted by Grither at 7:59 AM on March 6, 2012 [3 favorites]