Retro Is Not Always Better

Inside The Lamb's Club

From the Brooklyn expansion of 1960's inspired burger joint, Cheeburger Cheeburger, to the peanut butter rules all menu at Peanut Butter & Co., New Yorkers are fond of nostalgia and quirky food fare. One of the city's newest restaurant's is a reminder why some things are better alone. The Lamb's Club in Midtown West has it's up's and down's from less than wowing food choices to wavering service. 

The Ambiance

As far as hotel restaurants go, I am not a fan. However, the Lamb's Club has such an interesting back story that it could stand alone from the hotel. The Lamb's Club Restaurant takes its name from the Lambs, the first professional theatrical club in the country. With theater greats such as Charlie Chaplin and Fred Astaire gracing the building, the ambiance of today is an ode to elegant and classic Hollywood retro style. 

The old time Hollywood decor at the Lamb's Club

Along with the red seating and red light accents splashed with chrome the black walls are the finishing touch to highlight the Hollywood star framed photos that line the walls. For some, this is a gimmick that is too often seen. Personally, I appreciate the effort but could do without the ogre-sized fireplace that awkwardly sits in the main dining room. 

The scene itself is what will have many flocking to the restaurant and bar. Actors, models, writers and socialites have already come out in droves which will help make Lamb's a celeb stakeout. Will the Lamb's Club be the new Sardi's? Probably not. 

The Food

For a meat and potatoes man like myself, I am usually left with a growling stomach at higher end restaurants. Luckily, the Lamb's Club offers varied portions for all. To give you an idea, I brought along my usual tiny dining companion and her even tinier friend so we could sample meals large and small. 

For appetizers, we had the grilled octopus with lemongrass, turnips and potatoes, the foie gras terrine with black mission figs an grilled country bread, and the Lamb's Club Salad with crispy egg dressing and fresh tarragon. I would highly recommend the octopus. It has a light outer crisp that gently hides the inner softness you want from octopus and not overly deep-fried calamari. My friend's foie gras was fine but nothing too great. A thinner cut served warm and lightly seared would have made this much better. As for the salad, if you are going to include the name of your restaurant in it then it better be damn good. Unfortunately, it was uninspired and I could have saved the money and made this at home. 

For our entrees, I had the roasted lamb saddle served with polenta and pignoli and a side of roasted fingerling potatoes. This was the saving grace for The Lamb's Club. In my experience lamb is often overdone but here it was rich, savory, tender and lightly sweet.

My friend's enjoyed their dishes of wild striped bass with fennel, lemon, olives, tomato and seared scallops with porcini mushrooms. While there was nothing particularly wrong with these dishes, they were prepared and presented exactly how you would expect. Nothing surprising. Nothing joyfully different that pleasantly makes me want to come back again. We skipped out on dessert but what was there to compel us to order more?

The Drink

Hefty $18 cocktails, "The Lambs Cup"

What redeemed much of this visit to the Lamb's Club was their drink menu. If you are coming to mingle with beautiful people and drink quirky infusions then swing by here after the 9 to 5 in Midtown. The offering is not the best in Manhattan but it seems so varied that there is something for all tastes. 

Out of all the drinks we had, I will give special mentions to the Lamb's Cup infused and garnished with fresh pomegranate and cucumber and 2006 Haye's Vineyard Pinot Noir. My only complaint would be that there seemed to be no cohesion as far as the entire wine list was concerned but that is forgivable in a hotel restaurant that cater's to all. As a side note, the cocktail list which is worth the visit was designed by Milk and Honey's Sasha Petraske.

Service

I am not a stranger to average entrees for high prices. Even the $18 cocktails were bearable considering the atmosphere. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was the service. The service was hit and miss. The hostess who was lovely at first got a bit annoyed after asking more about the history and opening of the restaurant. 

I chalk this up to being busy even though the place was half empty. What I am a little taken aback by was the waiter's inattentiveness to our requests i.e. medium rare, fingerling potatoes not mashed potatoes. For the prices and the apparent prestige they are trying to pull off I hoped for a better trained staff. But Rome wasn't built in a day. These are kinks that can easily be fixed if done fast.

Froggr Rating: 2.5/5

Visited the Lamb's Club for yourself and want to chime in? Send your comments, suggestions, etc. below.

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Froggr Guide to Midtown West

Midtown skyscrapers set the tone aside Chelsea homes

Midtown as a whole is the most heavily used commercial district in the United States today and holds the title for one of the most diversely used pieces of real estate in the world. Midtown West has much to do with the areas immense success. The area is bounded by 6th to 12th Avenues and 34th to 59th Streets. This  25 block area alone holds Hell's Kitchen, the Theater District and much of Times Square and the Garment District. 

Transportation

The Glitz of 42nd St- Times Square Station

Getting to any of these neighborhoods of Midtown West is equally as easy for tourist and native New Yorkers alike. Along 8th Avenue, the A/C/E stops along 34th St. Penn Station, 42nd St. Port Authority and 50th Street. Along 7th Avenue from Times Square to Central Park, service on the 1/2/3, B/D and N/Q/R lines are available local or express. 

While many people do it daily, taking a bus through the Midtown area is very difficult because of high traffic at all times. Consider alternate (and fun) above ground forms of transportation such as a rickshaw carts. For tourist, the double decker City Sightseeing Tour buses are a great way to see the city while getting to where you need to go as a "hop on, hop off" style tour. 

Local Attractions

A little bit of everything at Times Square

Midtown West is perhaps the epicenter of what the outside world sees as New York entertainment. The Times Square area caters much to tourist and youth but has a bit of something for even the most experienced New Yorker. For the younger crowd, parents don't have to go far as Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Madame Tussaud's, M&M World and Toys R' Us are all close by. 

With attractions such as sword swallowers, a Marilyn Monroe wax figure and 60 foot tall Ferris wheel you can bypass the trek to Coney Island. Old or young, everyone can enjoy the movie theaters, Dave & Buster's Arcade and the many special events that take place in the area such as the New years Eve ball. 

A scene from La Cage aux Folles

Outside of the main tourist center of Manhattan, New Yorkers can enjoy a number of live shows, musicals, and sporting events. The Theater District and Theater Row is where many Broadway and off-Broadway shows take place. With theater classics such as Lion King and Mamma Mia to newcomers of Memphis and American Idiot, the district is welcoming of all tastes. 

Get your celebrity fix as well by seeing The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino, La Cage aux Folles with Kelsey Grammer or A Little Night Music with Bernadette Peters. If you prefer the art of dance, the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater is nearby for great performances choreographed by Ailey and Judith Jamison. 

For sporting events and popular musical acts, Madison Square Garden is located at 4 Penn Plaza near 34th Street Penn Station. Come see the New York Knicks ball it out or revel in the concert atmosphere with upcoming acts such as Usher, Ozzy Osbourne or Andrea Bocelli. If you can't handle the large crowds, hop in a taxi to the nearby Daily Show with John Stewart, The Colbert Report with Steven Colbert or The Late Show with David Letterman.

Lanes and lounge at Lucky Strikes

Finally, away from the hustle and bustle of it all past 11th Avenue there is one great Midtown West attractions that cannot be left unmentioned. Finding many classic forms of entertainment in Manhattan is difficult due to the metropolitan atmosphere. It was more than likely that you would find an arcade or bowling alley in one of the outer boroughs up until now. Lucky Strikes Bowling is a perfect blend between big city appeal and classic entertainment that our parent's our accustomed. With late night happy hours, lounge areas, upscale finger food and all the alcohol you can want, this is bowling done right. 


Dining

Russian Tea Room Main Dining Room

While the area has large restaurants such as Dallas BBQ's and Red Lobster in Times Square, Midtown West has many unique food finds that the most seasoned new Yorker should give a try. For fine dining and business lunches, the Russian Tea Room and Capital Grille are some of Midtown's best. At the Russian Tea Room, opulence is the only way to describe the carved gold leaf decor, red drapery and juggling bear shaped aquarium. The extensive wine and vodka list is followed up by well prepared traditional Russian dishes such as beef stroganoff and chicken kiev.

What a porterhouse really looks like at Capital Grille

Stop in before 4pm for the royal high tea tasting menu served with caviar on blinis,  exotic loose teas, sandwiches and champagne. Just 6 blocks uptown, Capital Grille resides inside the Time Life building. The restaurant is well known for their dry aged steaks and wine collection over 7,000 bottles. With dish offerings of kona crusted dry-aged sirloin with shallot butter and double cut lamb rib chop, the 3 course pre-theater menu at $39 per person is a reason enough to see a show. 

If you are not fortunate enough to have the time for a sit down meal, Daisy May's BBQ USA Cart will save you time without skimping on flavor. Daisy May's cart comes straight from the kitchen of Daisy May's BBQ USA restaurant on 11th Avenue. The cart, located on 50th Street between 6th and 7th, is known for its Southern style cuisine. Ranging from Kansas City style ribs to Tennessee bourbon peaches, Daisy May's takes the eclectic approach to Southern fare. While you cannot order a whole roast pig at the cart, you can order everything else served at the restaurant. Try the Carolina pulled pork sandwich with a mustard base or the sweet tea served in a mason jar for a true Southern touch.

Food orgy of sweet cherry pie at Little Pie & Oklahoma Beef Rib at Daisy May's

For those readers with a sweet tooth, Midtown West has more than just Crumb's Bakery. There is no real gimmick with Little Pie just good old fashioned diner style pie. Some of their classics are remade with a new twist such as the sour cream apple walnut pie. The traditional apple pie is done up with cinnamon crust, a crunchy coffee cake-like top coat and a blend of sour meets sweet. By far one the company's top sellers with their lemon meringue and Mississippi mud pie are close contenders. All of the pies are rich, creamy and can be served warm with a la mode. The red vinyl stools and small shop has great throwback appeal that you can enjoy with a few friends or all by yourself. Either way, the 5" wide pies are perfectly portioned to share or alone.

Shopping

Assortment of great finds at Hell's Kitchen Flea Market

The area can be great or horrible for shopping depending on who you talk to. Many tourist and natives alike find the plethora of stores such as Macy's, Coach, H&M, Forever21 and the Manhattan Mall all within walking distance to be convenient. Aside from larger stores, the area has many smaller ones with deals seldom seen in other Manhattan locations. Even if department stores such as Rainbow and Clippers are not your fancy, who can pass up deals on essential items like tanks in every color, on the go sweats and even last minute party wear.

Versace Store along 5th Avenue

Higher end fashion can be found one block over in Midtown East, fashion flourishes along 5th Avenue with stores such as Saks 5th Avenue, Emilio Pucci and Prada. To the vintage fashion connoisseurs, major chain stores and major bucks does not always equal true fashion. Luckily, Fashion Avenue rests smack dab in the middle of Midtown West for a reason. For those who want to get their fashion off the beaten path, venture over to Hell's Kitchen Flea Market. Many of the vendors in this large market operate at both The Annex, a Chelsea market, and at Hell's Kitchen. From ethnic Tibetan apparel and decor at Mountain Nepali to mid-century steamer trunks at George's Collectibles anything and everything with vintage appeal can be found here. 

Residential

Brownstone lined streets of Hell's Kitchen

Living in the area has its major advantages. Located in the heart of Manhattan, everything is easily accessible whether it be shopping, dining, entertainment or work. With the good comes the bad however. The major complaint about living in the area is perhaps the noise traffic and sheer crowding in the area. With over 45 million visitors in 2009, many passed right through the Midtown West area at Times Square. While some people love the hustle and bustle that is New York, Midtown residents still have a choice to living quietly. In the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, many brownstones still remain that add to the neighborhood appeal. With small shops and eateries the area feels much like that of East Village or Chelsea compare to the skyscraper clad area we all know as Midtown. 

Residences at The Rushmore

On the outskirts of Midtown West, also known as the Far West Side, new developments are on the rise. As one of the last undeveloped areas of the city, the city and major developers are doing it big. A mix of affordable housing and luxury rentals will complete the area. Large tracts of the area will be dedicated to retail space, new schools and open green space. Riverside Center South by Extell is already in the works with The Rushmore and Aldyn completed. Further east on 36th between 7th and 8th, Glenwood has built another successful addition to their roster, Emerald Green. By green, they mean EnergyStar appliances, rooftop garden terraces and bamboo flooring.  Representing the New York way of variety and a little bit of something for everyone, Midtown West has some for everyone. 

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The Sky's The Limit For Midtown, FiDi

The sky is the limit for not only a select number of developers bank accounts but the buildings themselves too. These soon to be built and completed buildings defy convention as some of the city's tallest and most inventive undertakings in recent years.

Carnegie 57

Rendering of Carnegie57 Residences & Hotel

One of Extell's most daring ventures yet is Carnegie 57. At a planned 75 stories high, it will be the city's tallest residential building surpassing Trump's World Tower. Extell also plans to create the city's most high priced and luxurious apartments as well. Designed by famed French architect Christian de Portzamparc of the LVMH Tower, Carnegie 57 creators aim to complete the project by 2013. The ground floor will contain retail space while the first 20 stories will house the 210 room Park Hyatt Hotel.

Carnegie57 view from Central Park

While there are few details as of yet, Extell has spilled the beans on a few amenities. With a 63 car parking garage, screening room and fitness center, the buildings is going for large scale for its large price. Units will include duplexes and set back roofs up to the 72nd floor. With elevators going up to the 75th, many can only speculate that there will be a rooftop attraction soaring high in the sky for only the brave.

Tower Verre

Rendering of Tower Verre along 53rd

The Tower Verre, also known as MoMA Tower, is as impressive as it is difficult to get passed public opinion. While many find the sheer height and design of the building a push towards the future for Midtown, others find it obtrusive. The outcry of public opinion from both sides has helped to delay the building from even getting past the planning stages and into construction.

Lounge in proposed tower public space

The international developer, Hines, and architect of the vision machine, Jean Nouvel, are the minds behind the mixed use building. According to Hines website, the building will become the city's 3rd tallest rising up to 75 stories at 1,050 feet tall. The building will include a 100 room 7-star hotel, 100 luxury condominiums, below ground-level restaurant/lounge and the 60,000 square foot expansion to MoMA gallery space. The interesting design concept was supposedly inspired by the shape of man's finger. 

No matter what your opinion of the building itself, the one thing that is certain is that community board roadblocks will leave this empty lot next to MoMA for a while.  

Riverside Center South 

 

The Rushmore, one completed building of Riverside South

Charting the last frontier of New York, Extell plans to go hard or go home. Even though the developer has the most active number of projects in the city, they too have come face to face with the "community board" roadblock that has stalled others.

The 8 acre, 5 building project will be designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc bordering Midtown West and Upper West Side. 2 of the 5 residential buildings, The Avery and Rushmore, have already been completed. 

Outdoor space and view of Riverside Center South

In addition to the 5 buildings, Extell plans for a movie theater, 3.2 acres of park space, an elementary school, Costco, restaurants and retail space. As of yet, the project has been slightly scaled back after community complaints of a Costco.

Even though the developer has agreed to partially fund the school, add affordable units and incorporate open space, the community board was hoping for more. In addition to the agreed upon changes, Extell will be expected to entirely fund the 150,000 sq ft school space, remove one of five buildings to create less density, increase affordable from 20% for 20 years to 30% permanently and make a substantial contribution to the Miller Highway relocation.

Water walkway apart of 3.2 acre open space

Proposed changes will require at least 40 million in funding for the school alone. Many hope the developer can make it work since they are only one of the few planning for expansion in the area. The city itself will fund the development of an additional 75 acre space with 10,000 new housing units, an amphitheater, community gardens, public art, cafe terraces, boardwalk, restaurants, parking and retail space.

Beekman Tower

On the other end of town, the Beekman is one of the only buildings to go up without a hitch (almost). Despite the falling debris due to powerful winds that stalled construction, the Forest City Ratner building is set to open in early 2011.

Architect Frank O. Ghery has created a unique design for the lower Manhattan FiDi neighborhood. Rippling curves and a steel facade give to illusion of movement from as far as Brooklyn. At 77 stories tall, the tower is a stand out sight amongst the area rivaling the  nearby Woolworth building. Residences will go up to the 76 floor and supposedly a rooftop lounge or terrace will top off the building.

Not too many details have been provided about the inside of the building. There will be 903 rental units ranging from 500 to 1600 square feet. Every unit will be at market rate without incentives. Artistic wise, Ghery's inspiration comes from Baroque sculpture artist Gianlorenzo Bernini.

Towards the base of the building, a lot of talk has been going on about the new features. There will be a public elementary school on the first five floors of the building with a 4th floor outdoor play terrace. Beekman's other tenant will include NY Downtown Hospital with public underground parking and 2 public plazas.

Stay tuned for building updates and developments.

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Feature: Emerald Green

Entrance at Emerald Green

 It looks like green is the new black in the Fashion District. The new addition to Midtown, (specifically the Garment District), Emerald Green, mixes clean living with modern design. As Glenwood Management expected, units are leasing quickly. Out of the 569 units, over 400 have already been leased, including 52 signed leases the first weekend. This has been credited to their quality reputation as a management company with successes including Barclay Towers and Liberty Plaza.

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The Jay-Z Movement: All Black Everything

 Jay-Z, the megastar rapper and entrepreneur, is ushering in the World Basketball Festival with signature air force ones. The all black air force ones include the Nike emblem and “Hov”, one of the rapper’s aliases. The sneakers will be auctioned off on Ebay tonight with funds going towards the Sean Carter Scholarship Foundation. 

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Not Just Another MTA Train

As New Yorkers we all share a few similar experiences and the train is one of them. Have you ever wished you walked through Times Square and saw this:

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