Le Cirque

Dined in the cafe, and with high expectations come very high disappointments. Perhaps service is top notch in the dining room but certainly not in the cafe during Restaurant Week. I dislike how restaurants discriminate their patrons during Restaurant Week. Since when does ordering from the prix fixe menu make you inferior and thrown in the secondary “bourgeois cafe room”? Certainly I felt like a lesser citizen. Aside from the non- existent high caliber five star service, the food was weak. Yes, I said weak. The dishes were a miss. The creme brulee was mass-produced; an unsatisfying piece of supposedly goodness.

I was not excited nor thrilled by the place (though, I was impressed by the many different utensils). Most of the time, I was looking forward to the check. Le Cirque is fancy yet boring. It’s for the desperate middle aged who hasn’t made his/ her first million; envying and trying to fit in with high society. Its pretentiousness extends as far as those celebrity head shots hanging by the hall to restroom.


Le Cirque : 150 E 58th St New York, NY 10155 (212) 644-0315

Dokebi

If you're in Bklyn and craving for Korean BBQ or just Korean, head to Dokebi in Williamsburg. It’s the only Korean restaurant in the neighborhood, hence crowds and waits are often. Very good for groups of friends to eat and chat. Unlimited kimchi and sides, though tiny in portions. Roomy wooden bench seating on the right hand side of the restaurant. There's a bar at the back of the restaurant, lots of space to hang around.

Food:

Seafood scallion pancake was small not much seafood plus not as crispy.

Nakji Bokum (spicy, baby octopus, veggies & noodles) on a sizzling plate (14): Ruby red dish and spicy. Good amount of octopus to balance the heat. Well sized portion. Repeat: Spicy.

Bibimbahp choice of toppings, served w/ vegetables, fried egg and chili sauce over rice with beef (10): typical fried rice but with a sizzling stone bowl for $2 extra. You do get a sunny side up egg, where the yolk is still smooth. Other than that, its fried rice.

If you can't make it to K-town, try Dokebi. Food here is more carefully prepared, though less flamboyant and bustling than K-town.



199 Grand Street (between 1st St & Bedford Ave) Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 782-1424

Marlows and sons

A European feel with all the imported goods displayed as you dine by them. After dining here several times, it is always consistent and rarely disappoints. I always find myself ordering their pressed sandwiches and raw oysters. Known for their oysters, and the demand for them, they are usually fresh. The scene is hip and yup, and everything in between. The young who come to socialize over wine and olives and the young at heart comes to simply enjoy a quality meal. Portions are more than modest but the award goes to the food. Food is not throw into a dish, everything here is well thought out and prepared. Their toasted baguette, a major plus.

Con: Rubbing elbows; very very easy to ease drop. Busy most of the time: wait time.

Pros: Servers have extensive knowledge of the menu. Good place to bring a casual date. Social scene and well prepared dishes.


Marlow and Sons. 81 Broadway Williamsburgh Brooklyn 11211 (718) 384-1441