New York minute
The pretty good: La Rural, where my consort treated me to my first meal out since the Great Incision and where even a mis-ordered salad could not dampen my outsized pleasure at my escape from my own kitchen. We split the excellent entraña (skirt steak), seriously garlicky Provencal fries and that salad and had enough left for lunch for me next day. The place was less than half-full, so the noise level was painless, and the service was outstanding as always. WIGB? Meat’s still on my RX pad, so I hope so. With a glass of wine each, the bill was $56 before tip. 768 Amsterdam Avenue near 98th Street, 212 865 2929.