New York minutes/Latish August 2008
The adequate: Atlantic Grill, where a friend and I landed after wandering in a daze after a potentially life-changing appointment. We needed somewhere quiet with wine to talk and were running out of restaurants I could think of on that side of town, so we settled on a too-small table half-in, half-out of the bar on a hot day. We both had the $13 crab cake appetizer, which was better than I expected, with a green sauce and a spicy corn salad. The waiter was over the top but mildly entertaining, although someone should teach him or the busboys to clear the table before bringing the check. WIGB? Probably inevitably. It had to be better than JG Melon, where we walked out when the “host” refused to give us either a table outside or a more comfortable one inside because he was holding it in case a party of four showed up late in lunch service. Good luck, buddy. 1341 Third Avenue near 77th Street, 212 988 9200.