I have started to notice a morbid reality in this city, the art of expressing harsh messages in the most dissonant fashion.

Lets think about being in a restaurant. We might expect to see branding, paintings, maybe a blackboard menu on the wall. Instead as I sit down to eat I am confronted with a few of the following wall signs at my table or on the surrounding walls

• “Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects” – interesting that the cancerous effects of a bad diet are not mentioned along with this;
• “Resuscitation kit available” – this comforted me, and I chewed more thoroughly to aid digestion and avoid unnecessary choking;
• “No cell phones” – though I didn’t see a cell phone check-in counter, also I was unclear if my Blackberry counted as a cell phone – I didn’t want to ask, I was hungry;
• “Save water – report those who waste it” – ok now I really am becoming paranoid, “1984” has materialised; and besides if I am not allowed by cell phone in, how am I to report?;
• “No solicitors” – does having a masters in law preclude me from eating here?;
• Oh and one of the better ones, while not at a restaurant, rather at the Social Security office, “You are not allowed to shoot or kill any Federal Government worker” … what can be said to that, ok! I would have taken a photo of that one but you were not allowed camera either.

Categories: Food, New York
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I’m even impressed by myself – brunch before 11.30 am on a Saturday … wooo hooo! Mary’s Fish Camp … ok, I have a new theory of stopping for food within 10 restaurants of feeling hungry. This was number 10, I had no choice.

Question: does it sound just wrong to be eating raw oysters for brunch?
Answer: yes very very wrong, in a very very naughtie kind of way.

I have to say this is the place to come for minimal décor and maximum service attitude. I was fragile (no food until 11.30 am), they were the sweetest ladies, and I love sitting at a counter bar to eat, where you can watch your food being created in the smallest and busiest kitchens in town. It mesmerises me completely. A happy kitchen, with happy front of house staff, all serving up raw oysters followed by Angel Hair Bouillabaisse (spicy stew of baby octopus, squid and cockles in a delicate creamed broth … did I mention, this is so not right for breakfast hahaha).

Awesome option for brunch, but my hang-ups meant I couldn’t bring myself to order a bottle of white wine to go with this at 1130 in the morning. I have my standards people. The cosmo at noon was fine though ;) 

Categories: Food, New York
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