If anyone happens to be in New York City, be sure to swing by the Bergdorf-Goodman Men’s store window display on 58th St. & 5th Ave. They have the models and sets from the extraordinarily beautiful movie “The Fantastic Mr. Fox.” – Just lovely!
If you haven’t yet seen the movie – we highly suggest that you do 
Open Hours Dinner:
6:00pm – Midnight Sunday-Wednesday
6:00pm – 1:00am Thursday- Saturday
Open Hours Bar:
5:30pm– 2:00am Daily
The word Matsuri means festival in Japanese
At the Maritime Hotel
Chef Tadashi Ono’s wonderful Matsuri transports you directly into the Edo period- giant paper lanterns vaulted ceiling, dark wood floors, jade-green ceramic tiles all create an ambiance to rival a movie set. Born in Tokyo, Chef Ono started his career at age 16, and then moved to Los Angeles to train at La Petite Chaya and L’Orangerie. He then moved east to NY heading up the kitchens at La Caravelle Restaurant; nine years later he opened Sono on 57th Street and now we are so lucky since 2003 to have Matsuri. Where, in the lushest of environments, Chef Ono presents authentic Japanese comfort food. Flying in organic grains daily from Japan and offering more than 200 kinds of sake.
Special items for us include:
Keep an eye out for Chef Ono’s new book: Japanese Hot Pots; where he directs you to the creation of hot pot meals. Recipies from the book will be featured in the restaurant’s menu as of late September 2009.
Edamame
Bar
Kampachi sashimi with yuzu and green pepper sauce
Lotus Roots
Kinpira (sauté and simmer Burdock)
Uni and Fatty Tuna Sushi
Mushrooms baked in parchment paper
Goma-ae Spinach
Main Dining Room
Open Hours:
Noon– Midnight Sunday-Wednesday
Noon– 2:00am Thursday-Saturday
Neighburrito is exactly what its namesake suggests- and a bit more. The owner is a San Franciscan, forward thinking and green minded. He sources quality ingredients, cooks without epic amounts of grease and uses biodegradable / compostable items for their deliveries.
The burritos are quite yummy and true to their mission roots. The Fajita- Rita is a stuffed heaven of portobello mushrooms with sautéed peppers and onions, black beans, jack cheese, and roasted corn salsa.
The Red Menace is an all vegan house specialty, made with marinated crumbled tofu, rice, pinto beans, soy cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, and tofu sour cream wrapped in tortilla smothered in enchilada sauce.
They are easy and allow you to suplement any of the meats in the menu for portobello mushrooms, Vegan Soysage, or Lime-Cumin Marinated Crumbled Tofu. As with most burrioto places, you can also build fom scratch and choose from white or whole wheat tortillas. A few salads, quesadillas and soft corn tacos finish off the menu.
On the drink side they prepare Horchata, Hibiscus Iced Tea and Tamarindo juice- which really compliment well.
Fajita-rita Portobello Burrito
Fajita-rita Portobello Burrito
Opening Hours:
Noon - Midnight Everyday
October 2009 will the 10th year anniversary of Lupa; the creation of Jason Denton- who also brought us our favorite ‘Ino, Joseph Bastianich- son of Lidia Bastianich of Felidia Ristorante fame, Mario Batali- the well known TV Celebrity chef, and Batali’s protege Mark Ladner- the executive chef.
Lupa follows the formula that ALL long-term successful restaurants follow: good food at a good price with comfortable service. We have gone a few times and always have been treated with courtesy and the feeling that we certainly could have spent a lot more for a lot less.
The menu is very meat heavy (as are most in NYC these days) and there are few non-meat options. Exceptions being the wonderfully fulfilling Bavette Cacio & Pepe and the clean Spaghetti Aglio E Olio or con Pomodoro.
Bavette Cacio & Pepe
Spaghetti con Pomodoro.
Corn Salad With Oregano Flowers
A special of the day when we last dined was an excellent corn salad with lavender. This mix was one of those effortlessly simple ideas that once one tastes you wonder why no one has ever done it before. Less then exciting desserts are made up for with an amazing cheese selection.
When you are wanting a safe bet, where you are assured of taste, value and service- then Lupa is an excellent choice.
