The Spotted Pig

If your ideal restaurant is one where you are jostled around in cramped spaces; if you can't carry on a conversation with your dining partner because of the decible-shattering noise around you; if you enjoy being over charged for small portions of food--then this is your kind of place! Obviously, I won't be hurrying back anytime soon.

It ain't all that. I had a high-priced shepherds pie that was TINY. Decent wine list and the owner is nice, but an hour wait for a table? Go to Cafe Topsy round the corner its beaudiful.

After reading all the rave reviews, I took my sister to SP for her birthday. The host was very nice and gave us a table after waiting just 15 minutes. The waitress was equally nice if a bit slow. The restaurants tauts itself as an English pub, but all the appetizers are Italian, even the specials. Even the food was tasty, the portions and prices were not worth it. We had the heirloom tomato bruschetta special one night. We got one piece of bread. I wouldn't go back.

Terrific food. Eclectic menu. Clueless service (I had to track down our server who was deep in conversation with the mattress'd to ask if we might order dessert.) And while it is a tough job juggling guests kept waiting for an hour and a half, the maitress'd handled it all without an ounce of charm or humor. If I were the chef, producing all that great food I would be sobbing in my brown butter and sage sauce.

The chef, April, can cook. The place is as warm as a winter's hug in front of a cozy fireplace, but the bugs need to be worked out of the system for service and food delivery, Our server said "I'll bring your salad out first becuase that will be ready the quickest." Well, twenty-five minutes later it was out & what turned out to be a mistake, was three bites and gone of a delicious salad of roast pumpkin, arugala & what was a "hint" of pecorino cheese. I know this order was a mistake because the second salad of Lonsa & granny smith apples was quite a nice portion and the same was true for the orchiette & sausage appetiser. The halibut came to the table with delicious potatoes and veggies. Oh, the second delivery of food after the twenty-five minute salad was one hour after placing the order with our waitress. The waitress never came back to our table to see if we got our food, if we wanted anything else, even another drink. We didn't even stay for dessert! We ran into someone outside the restaurant, also on their first visit, who said they had the sheppered's pie & was quite surprised to find that a bowl of potatoes was all he got and the hunt for a piece of lamb. "It was quite awful and I thought the spices were so nice, I was truly dissappointed." The crowd was packed and one had to almost fight to get out of the place. I would give it a shot again, but give it a chance to get the "bugs" pot of the system.

Take a date to the Pig and sit @ the bar.. Get the nudies as an appetizer.... Shepherd's Pie?, Roasted Wild Striped Bass or a burger..... 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine and enjoy. The staff is busy and very friendly. I will go back again and again...

my favorite new restaurant in nyc & my fave bar