Restaurant Spotlight - The Waverly Inn

I recently was treated to a nice surprise on a business trip to New York City – dinner at The Waverly Inn.

This cozy restaurant is located on a side street in The West Village and occupies the ground floor of two adjacent brownstones and a garden area in the rear area.

The restaurant is owned by Graydon Carter, Editor of Vanity Fair magazine and I confirmed the hard way that they don’t allow photographs inside the restaurant. Huh? Yes – that’s right. It’s an establishment that is frequented by celebrities and others whose pictures are sought out, so NO PICTURES is a house rule of this restaurant.

When I asked my waiter if I could just take a picture of my plate (thinking it was understood that I was not a paparazzo), he politely but firmly informed me that pictures were not allowed in the restaurant.

As you might imagine, the photograph prohibition became a discussion topic at our table that inevitably led to (you guessed it) picture taking. Well, I forgot to turn the flash off on my iPhone, so taking a picture of my plate caught the attention of the maitre d' and his response was swift and sure. So, I responded with an apology and told him I'd delete the pictures, which I proceeded to do.

I can’t even remember anymore what was on the plate,

but I do remember getting my hand slapped for taking a picture of my food.

From there, we continued to enjoy the good food and wine, and one discussion theme became the way I immediately deleted the photos.  I joked that the dim lights and picture phobia surely meant the restaurant barely passed the latest restaurant inspection.  Comments around the table varied between “you shouldn’t have deleted the picture - who are THEY to tell you that you can’t have a picture of your food” to “Wow – that was admirable. It really says a lot about you, John.”

On that last comment, I just have to publicly admit right now that I am an incurable and unabashed rule-bender. So my deleting the picture was not so much due to my being “a man of honor” per se, it’s that I was being respectful of my hosts and a well-known author who was also at the table with us. And yes, it just so happens that the VP of my division was also at the table and I like (and need) my job.

Naturally, the next thing that happened was more picture-taking and giggling about it, but with our flashes off. Having to snap the pictures surreptitiously, only a few of them came out clearly. But we had a good time being reckless. So I’m pleased to share a few of the purloined pictures in this post.

My name doesn't figure anywhere in the world of food writing. I am just a guy in North Carolina who likes food and enjoys a good restaurant experience.  So I share my recipes and food experiences with my friends on this little blog.


And aside from the whole picture taking thing, dinner at The Waverly Inn was really nice. It has a cozy, clubby atmosphere with low ceilings and dim lights, attentive waiters and good food. I had a nice roasted chicken with perfectly cooked green beans. Some of the shared appetizers included a truly delicious truffled mac and cheese. Other folks ordered salmon or a steak and everyone was very pleased with their meal.

For a special occasion, I’d recommend the Waverly Inn. It’s fun and different. I think part of their cachet is that they’re even secretive about their menu, so don’t expect to find the full menu online anywhere.

 

The Waverly Inn website is unexpected for a restaurant’s site because it’s basic and informative but there’s no evidence that they’re trying to entice you to stop by or make a reservation - for instance, the site has no photographs and the “reserve now” button doesn’t actually let you make a resevation (I’m more amused than offended by that). Zagat’s publishes a Waverly Inn menu on their site, but notably missing from the menu is that amazing truffled mac and cheese. 

So come to this place intent on having a good meal and a nice time and you will - but do your best to follow the rules. And then on the way out, please do me a HUGE favor:

Shout "SAY CHEESE!" at the maitre d'.

Then snap a picture of him and run like hell.

It will be an unforgettable evening for all involved.

My experience at The Waverly Inn was unforgettable because I particularly remember thoroughly enjoying myself. And for that I thank my gracious hosts, Gail, Angelia, Maria and MaryAlice at Harvard Business Review.

Restaurant Spotlight - Superdawg

The northwest side of Chicago has a classic 1950's style "hot dog joint" known as Superdawg. It's actually been around since 1948 and probably has not been updated since then.  It has a vintage atmosphere, with the drive-up stalls that you can pull your car into and order off the menu from your car.

The menu is straight-up diner fare with a heavy emphasis on Chicago-style hot dogs, polish sausage and similar items.  Their french fries are crinkle-cut and touted as being "never frozen," in fact you can hear a recording of one of the founders of Superdawg on their website FAQs tell you about their fries.  Whatever the case, they're delicious and you get a bunch of them with your order.

Their items are served in individual boxes that fall right in line with the whole 1950's theme of the place.  What's most noticeable, however, is the cult-like devotion that its patrons have to the place.  My good friend Barry has been a fanatic for Superdawg since he was 9 years old and he says he's never ordered anything but the Superdawg.

The original Superdawg is tantalizingly close to O'Hare airport about 1 mile north of the Kennedy Expressway off the Nagle Av. exit. They've now branched out and have a second location further out in the Northwest suburban Wheeling.  Both locations have the same vintage atmosphere and the same menus.

It's definitely worth a visit when you're in Chicago!

Restaurant Spotlight: Everybody's Pizza

Years ago and before having children, Lauren and I lived in an in-town neighborhood of Atlanta called Virginia-Highland and we soon became regulars at an awesome eatery called Everybody's Pizza. Virginia-Highland is recognized far outside Atlanta as a chic center of urban coolness and Everybody's Pizza was one of the institutions at the center of the neighborhood that defined the whole area because (as implied by the name) you could find "all types" in there at any given time. We make it a point to visit Everybody's whenever in Atlanta out of nostalgia, but most definitely because they have incredible pizza.

.

Our two favorites are the "Paradiso" pizza and the "Thai Chicken" pizza crisp. The Paradiso is made with chicken, pesto, 4 cheeses, roma tomatoes, onion, house roasted chicken and toasted sesame seeds. The ingredients are nicely balanced so it has a flavorful delivery in every bite, and by toasting the sesame seeds they intensify the sesame flavor in a way that really adds to the mix. The picture to the left shows a pizza that is half "Paradiso" and half "Everybody's" (with pepperoni). We ordered that split to appease a skeptical child, who enjoyed the pepperoni and also wholeheartedly agreed that the "Paradiso" is an outstanding pizza.

.

The "Thai Chicken" pizza crisp has a satay-like "Thai peanut sauce" where on a traditional pizza you might have a tomato-based sauce. There's chicken, peanuts and fire-roasted garlic and red peppers where you might find sausage or pepperoni on a traditional pizza. It does include cheese as well, and they finish it off with a sprinking of bean sprouts that make a cool, crisp counter-point to the spice in the sauce. It all rests on a very thin, crispy crust and the overall effect is light and quite delicious. The Thai Chicken Pizza Crisp also received the skeptical child seal of approval, so I present it here as something worth traveling to Atlanta for.

.

Another favorite of ours at Everybody's is the Greek Salad. It has a nice vinaigrette, plenty of feta cheese crumbles with kalamata olives and is definitely big enough to share. As if the pizza and salad were not reason enough to visit Everybody's, they also serve Foster's Lager on tap. Great food and great beer - enough said, as far as I am concerned.

.

In a sense, this post is as much about nostalgia as it is about sharing a great food find because since our last visit, I've come to find that Everybody's has closed their Virginia-Highland location and now can only be found nearby at Emory University's Emory Village (the original location). I am grateful Everybody's continues on, but I'm saddened because I associated Everybody's with all that was unique and appealing about Virginia-Highland.

.

When we lived there, our house was just a short stroll away from Everybody's, and we were only the second owners of the house. Being young and motivated, we tackled the renovation of our 1939 bungalow in such a way that we did not have a fully functioning kitchen for almost two years. As a result, it's no understatement to say we were "regulars" at Everybody's and other places nearby. When not in Home Depot, we'd be around the corner at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in the pottery studio. We'd often show up ravenous at Everybody's in studio clothes and covered in clay, but never feeling out of place because we'd also see other people dressed similary (the neighborhood is known as an enclave for artists and writers).

.

On our last visit with the kids, I came to realize in retrospect that we were part of the "local color" that makes the area so appealing. The kids were not impressed, but I can only hope that at some point they have the opportunity to become part of the "local color" somewhere. I think "local color" is what makes memories more vivid and life more interesting.

Restaurant Spotlight - Peking Gourmet Inn

My dear wife Lauren grew up in Northern Virginia, and as it turns out she and her best friend celebrated almost every birthday at Peking Gourmet Inn (“Peking”) since the late 1970s. This place is so special that we try always to have a meal there when we visit the area. I always knew this place was good, but for years I harbored suspicion that Lauren’s devotion to this place was too wrapped up and dunked in the nostalgic hoisin sauce of happy childhood memories. The tests of time proved my suspicions wrong.

So, as we moved to Dallas, Tampa and now Raleigh, and as we continued to vacation in many far-flung places, we’ve come to appreciate good cooking as well as fine cuisine. And in all our journeys, Peking Gourmet Inn has never lost its appeal for us. And my suspicion of Lauren’s devotion melted away as I became an ardent fan of this place right along with her. And the reason is simple – it’s really all that.

The owners of this restaurant are the Tsui family – Robert, Eddie and Lucy are all siblings that took over the restaurant from their father. Over the years, we’ve had many chances to chat with Robert , who’s also a chemical engineer who helped develop some of their recipes. During one visit we got to taste his hot garlic mustard sauce before he actually rolled it out and I knew it would be dynamite.

We were up in the D.C. area this Labor Day visiting relatives and, of course, we stopped in at Peking for lunch on Sunday and ordered a barrage of favorites. We started with the Peking Duck, which is lean and succulent. As they carve it at your table, you can see them scrape the residual fat off the meat and skin before they present it. Their hoisin sauce is made in-house, and it’s rich and flavorful. The hot garlic mustard sauce is a Peking exclusive and is one of those sauces that’s so well balanced that none of the underlying flavors dominates and the result is truly a delicacy. The garlic sprouts served with the duck are organically grown on their own farm.

Our favorite entrée is the Szechuan Beef Proper – also a Peking exclusive. It’s made with strips of beef and sesame seeds that are dry-fried (no oil) at a very high heat with scallions, carrot strips and hot red peppers. The result is a delectable crispy-chewy dish that’s unlike any I’ve ever tasted. I usually eat it on a bed of rice with hoisin sauce drizzled on top. Out of this world!

Needless to say, a meal like that needs to be balanced out – so usually we eat very light that day and try to stay hydrated and find ways to work off the extra indulgence. I highly recommend Peking Gourmet Inn – it’s worth the trip if you’re in or near Washington, or would like to make it a destination restaurant and build a trip around it. Do call ahead and make reservations because it’s very popular.

George Bush the elder ate there frequently and it became a hit with the whos-who of republican Washington in the ‘90s, so prepare yourself for seeing walls lined with the photos of famous republicans. Under other circumstances, all those pictures would induce stomach cramps for me and Lauren faster than Harry Potter’s scar burning in the presence of Voldemort, but we like Robert, Lucy and Eddie and we also stay focused on our food at this place anyway.

Peking Gourmet Inn is located outside D.C. about a mile away from a Fuddrucker’s that was probably a favorite of George Bush the younger in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia at 6029 Leesburg Pike (phone = 703-671-8088).