New York minutes/End of August 2009
The respectable: Tue Thai Food in the Village, where my consort and I headed after the Greenmarket after finding the enticing Laut was apparently hours away from opening (do they understand how much business they miss by starting lunch so late on the biggest shopping day of the week at Union Square?) We also passed up Petite Abeille on 17th when Bob pointed out that it had nothing on the menu but fries that we could not make at home (we are getting fussy about our food dollars). We both remembered Tue being cheap and better than Spice, and we were not disappointed and even rewarded: It now has a weekend brunch special of app, salad, main course and (non-booze) drink for all of $9.50. I’m a sucker for crab Rangoon, and this was way, way above average. Bob ordered Thai fish cakes, the first we’ve had since that memorable night in Hong Kong when we heard a shit-drunk British lout, post-soccer match on the teevee, inform a local cop that “You, sir, are a wanker.” And recalling that only made these more satisfying, with a great balance of heat and sweetness. My spicy eggplant with rice was just okay, but Bob scored with green curry chicken. His lemongrass drink was too sweet, and the salad was mostly iceberg with thin peanutty dressing. Still, who could complain when the service and setting were charming once again? WIGB? We told two tourists studying the menu outside as we were leaving to get their asses inside. You could eat way worse for lots more. 3 Greenwich Avenue off Sixth, 212 929 9888.