New York minutes/November 2011

The pretty good: Elizabeth’s around the corner, where my consort and I headed with two neighbors on co-op newsletter reconnaissance and where we were thrilled until we came home and rode the elevator up with another neighbor who said it rated only a B+ for location. But that’s pretty damned good for this neighborhood. Certainly the owner’s wife could not have been more welcoming, insisting we take her favorite seats, in an elevated booth in the bar, and spending time to talk through the concept (sustainable/accountable) and the back-story (cut it a break for being related to abysmal Gabriela’s next door). Whoever is in charge earns extra points for letting the kitchen get its street legs, holding off on the specials of the day while the place is slammed. Our shared starter of three spreads was marred only by a bit o’ olive pit in the tapenade; the whipped feta and white bean puree were fine. My fish and chips, billed as made from Chatham cod, was fine, and Bob liked the fried chicken, with non-gummy macaroni and cheese plus greens, even though the Red Rooster version was fresh in his taste memory. Our friends also seemed happy with the butternut squash soup, crab cakes and Cobb salad. The Chilean chardonnay we ordered was priced right and tasted close enough to sauvignon blanc that we had a second bottle ($28 an unscrewing). WIGB? Location, location, location. Plus the tiles in the bathrooms are almost vaut le voyage. 680 Columbus Avenue at 93d Street, 212 280 6500.