Gothamist: Moroccan Discovery in a Northern Land Called Inwood

Jamie

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 11:42:36 -0500

MisterZ, we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. Inwood does indeed need a diversity of places to eat. Conversely, Inwood needs for its places to eat to be diverse, and in my opinion this restaurant is priced so far out of the neighborhood that it raises issues of exclusivity and gentrification. There's a reason this place spent its first few months of existence with heavy curtains drawn across the windows. PTB is calculated to appeal to a small slice of people which doesn't include me and the vast majority of the rest of the neighborhood--so be it. It's a free country, and one can open a business as one sees fit. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be any less cranky when I have to walk around their sidewalk tables every time I go to the bank. In my opinion your comments (and to a lesser degree, the writing of the original author) seem to imply that I should be grateful that PTB has come along to save Inwood from being a culinary wasteland. Actually, though I've not yet eaten at PTB, I've eaten extensively in the area and to say about PTB that "it's got practically no competition above Dyckman St." misrepresents the culinary diversity and excellence to be found if one travels east of B'way for something besides going to the 1 train. BTW, I've done the math on the menu, and I stand by my $100 estimate of the cost of a proper dinner, which to me includes a starter to split, two mains, some wine, dessert, perhaps coffee after, tax and tip (as a former waiter, that's 20% for me assuming good service). And there have been several entreés on the specials board at $30+, although I agree that the standard menu is as you say. : ) Jamie

MisterZ

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 09:05:04 -0500

Not understanding Jamie's comment on "$30 mains" -- looking at the menu, the average entree cost is $17.45, with the highest-priced entree being filet mignon at $23.95. Also a rather decent wine list, with some surprises available by the glass (it's hard to find a glass of Bordeaux even in Midtown unless you pay through the nose). I've eaten several meals here and not come close to spending $100 for the two of us. (For four, yes, but not for two.) Sure, the "competition next door" has a lower-priced menu, but that's the kind of place it is. The Bistro is a more upscale restaurant than the Cafe, just as Veritas is more upscale than Metrazur. No shame in that. Inwood needs a diversity of places to eat.

janine

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 17:47:19 -0500

If you're in the market for cheap and delicious eats up there, try the Mirage steak house on Broadway and 177th. Similar vibe to the Malecon, down-home prices and good food.

Jamie

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 15:40:02 -0500

Republi-k/DR-K was indeed a great place that attempted to go a bit upscale with a cuisine that was in keeping with its surrounding area. There's lots of great food in upstate Manhattan--a great starting place is El Malecon at 175th/B'way. I'll say this, since the author of the piece and the comment both seem to have an "in" with the owners of PTB: I can't afford to spend $100 for dinner for two on faith. Put something on the menu that's accessible to someone who doesn't have the financial means to take a chance on $30 mains not being any good, and maybe I'll give it a try, instead of just walking by every day from the subway. Much like your competition next door did. I tried something there at a lower price point, liked it, and return often to spend more money on higher priced items. I'd guess that there's a reason that this restaurant is priced so incredibly far above the norm for the neighborhood and the average resident's ability to pay. I wish you success, but if you want to expand your base of customers past a slice of people northwest of B'way and Isham, make your restaurant more welcoming to ALL of the neighborhood. I've looked at your menu often, am often intrigued, but have yet to cross the threshhold.

MisterZ

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 12:05:35 -0500

The Bistro is owned and run by a local Inwood couple who decided to put the restaurant there after being talked out of Brooklyn by their neighbors during the blackout of '03. It's got practically no competition above Dyckman St. now that DR-K seems to have gone under, and frankly, we're glad to have it around.