Location, location, location.
The Upper West Side is not known for fabulous dining experiences so when a new place pops up in my ‘hood, I rush to judgment.
April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman are culinary stars in NYC.
Their reputation precedes them with The Spotted Pig, Salvation Burger, The Breslin, John Dory Oyster Bar and now White Gold Butchers.
White Gold is both a whole animal butcher shop and a casual dining spot.
Here’s the drill…order at the butcher counter then you are handed a number stand and the food is brought to you.
White Gold’s focus is just as much on the butcher shop as the restaurant.
Butchers Erika Nakamura and Jocelyn Guest are co-owners in the project.
The place gussies up a bit at dinner time.
There is a host, although the vibe for the 38-seat restaurant still is relatively casual. The limited menu offers about five options in each category (appetizers, snacks, entrees), and the dishes are simple.
Courtny and I wandered in recently for a midday snack.
Lunch service begins at noon.
It is also open for breakfast, offering an egg & cheese sandwich ($5). Bacon, ham, sausage $3 extra.
The menu is concise. We stepped up to the counter surrounded by cases filled with meats and poultry.
Courtny opted for the chicken soup which was hearty and loaded with chicken, root veggies and topped with parmesan cheese ($8).
I ordered the meatball sandwich on a poppy seed bun with parmesan cream.
It was good, not amazing and for $12 not shareable.
We also selected the Gem Salad with sliced watermelon radish, mint and buttermilk dressing. While it was tasty, it was meager, thus not worth the price and included a mere 2 slices of radish ($10).
Additional items include Bone Broth ($6), Hot Dog with kimchee and mayo ($7), Ham Sandwich with cheddar and mustard creme fraiche ($9), Roasted Endive ($8), and Mince Pie with dried fruit and brandy ($7).
Adult beverages are also available.
I just don’t get all the hype surrounding White Gold Butchers.
Perhaps it is more advisable to purchase the food in its natural state and cook it yourself at home.
Now that Courtny has moved on, we went to a restaurant in her new ‘hood.
Bed, Bath and Beyond has become a close friend so after yet another visit we headed to Burger & Lobster in Chelsea on West 19th Street and 6th Avenue.
The year old British based restaurant is large (340 seater) and when we arrived it was empty. By 12:30 it was packed with a line down the block.
The menu selections reflect its’ name.
We ordered The Pounder.
The Nova Scotia lobsters can be steamed or broiled.
We opted for the whole 1 pound broiled lobster. It was delicious, meaty, sweet and prepared perfectly. It came with fries and a salad for $20.
The burger, blended by Pat LaFrieda, looked fabulous.
The Original is a 10 oz. burger served with fries and salad for $20. Another option is to have it smeared with foie gras ($33).
There are three different Lobster Rolls available ($20, $25).
The Big Boss Combo is on the menu, consisting of a 60z. burger with foie gras, 1 pound lobster, fries and salad for $50.
Burger & Lobster is a great deal for NYC. The food is delish, service attentive and ambiance relaxed and welcoming.
Burger & Lobster was started by four friends in 2011.
It all began with 4 school friends in Moscow drinking wine on a roof-top. They came up with the idea to set up a restaurant where the focus was perfecting the craft of just one or two main ingredients. In a small Irish pub in London the first Burger & Lobster was born.
Additions restaurants are located in Bath and Manchester, England, Genting Highlands in Malaysia, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait and Stockholm.
What a difference a neighborhood makes.
White Gold Butchers 375 Amsterdam Avenue at 78th Street NYC. Open Monday-Thursday 10am-11pm, Friday 10am-12am, Saturday 8am-12am, Sunday 8am-11pm.
Burger & Lobster 39 West 19th Street NYC. Open Monday 11:30am-10pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 11:30am-11pm and Friday 11:30-12am.
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