March 20, 2011
Resto @9:47 pm
Gramercy Park
Live from New York, It’s Corndog Saturday Night! Starring Crif Dogs and featuring the not ready for prime corndog player, Marty Wombacher. And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our host...Crif Dogs!
Okay, you may be wondering what in the fuck happened to "Cheeseburger Saturday Night?" Well, MAD commenter, ragin rr informed me via email that today is National Corn Dog Day, so I thought that warranted a change in plans tonight. And I've been meaning to go to Crif Dogs and check out their corn dog ever since Gene of the BBC recommended it in a comment. So it's off to Crif Dogs we go. It was warm out yesterday, but it's pretty chilly out here again tonight.
So I hopped in a cab. Traffic's horrible, but at least it's warm in here.
Okay we're here on St. Mark's Place. Tons of people out...I really hate Saturday nights.
And here we are, Crif Dogs, let's check it out.
Goddamn, it's a small space and packed to the fucking gills.
There's a small opening up front, but I have claustrophobia and this place is grinding my gears. It's noisy and I have to get out.
Okay, back into the night. You know what? I've decided to grab a cab and go to the Papaya in Penn Station and have one of their giant beers and a corn dog. What better way to celebrate National Corn Dog Day!
And so it's off we go!
But a funny thing happened on the way to Penn Station. I saw a blast from my 365 past. Resto! This place had one of the best cheeseburgers on the bar crawl. Fuck Corn Dog Saturday Night! Cheeseburger Saturday Night is back on, baby!
The place looks just like I remember it and there's plenty of seats at the bar! Let's settle in.
Bill the friendly bartender recommended a Belgian beer and here he is pouring it out.
Lisa and Dick were seated next to me at the bar. They live in the neighborhood and are regulars at Resto. We had a nice conversation about New York and blogging and other subjects. They said they might show up at the Mars Bar this Easter for the second annual pizza dinner. I hope they make it!
And here's the first course, deviled eggs on pork toast. I had these last time and they are delicious!
And Bill was nice enough to bring out a free sampling of tet de cochon. Which, loosely translated is a pig's head sandwich. They cook meat from the pig's head, give it a pastrami rub and add slaw, jalapeno sour cream and brioche. It was really good!
Here's long shot of the marble bar.
And the main course arrives! Looks even better than last time.
Dick took a shot of me plowing into the burger at 117 mph.
That is one tasty burger!
And since I've returned to my 365 roots here...Fire!
And what the hell, why not close with an obligatory bathroom shot? Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
If They Do Say So Themselves
“About Resto,” from their website.
Resto, French slang for a casual restaurant, opened its doors in April 2007. The concept of a laid back neighborhood gathering place with approachable Belgian food in the style of New York was created by owner Christian Pappanicholas.
Resto has become a destination in Gramercy Park / Murray Hill for a delicious dinner, weekend brunch or a late night bite. The knowledgeable and friendly staff is well versed in the extensive Belgian beer list and the thoughtful wine list which focuses on a varied selection of European wines. The menu is crafted using traditional French technique, with an emphasis on seasonal, local, farm fresh ingredients. Resto also emphasizes group / nose-to-tail dining with options likeCote De Boeuf, Poularde in Half Mourning and our Large Format Feast Program.
Resto's dining room can accommodate 70 guests with 10 seats at the bar. We encourage bar dining. We also offer seasonal, outdoor seating which can accommodate 6 guests.
We encourage reservations but always hold tables for for walk-in customers. Our bar and sidewalk seating is offered on a first come, first serve basis.
Resto
111 E. 29th St. (Near Park Ave.)
212-685-5585
Further reading: New York magazine, Serious Eats, Grub Street and NY Times.
---------------------------
Some Things I Did Yesterday
Overslept
Posted my blog post of the day.
Read some chunks of “High Priest” by Timothy Leary.
Watched some Denis Leary videos on YouTube.
Googled the word “Leary.”
Read the Wikipedia entry on Timothy Leary.
Read the Wikipedia entry on Denis Leary.
Quite a day, huh?
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Nightcap
Goin’ home, runnin’ home,
Down to Gasoline Alley where I was born.
Bonus Linkage!
Here's a link to the final post at my long dormant, TMWS. As some of you know, MAD commenters Jason and Zioum Zioum met at that blog and a couple weeks ago they got married. So, I thought it only fitting that the final post would be pictures of their wedding. Check it out here: The Final Post.
28 Comments
Reader Comments (28)
Glad you walked out, and Resto had so much more to offer than a corn dog, guess its because Im not really into hot dogs or corn dogs that much, to each his own. The deviled eggs on pork toast is something out of this world, I will have to go there and try that. Ironic thing seeing Rod Stewart here, he just canceled a gig down here this weekend with Stevie Nicks, he came down with the flu.
A timely return to your 365 roots...nice touch Marty, and my that really is one tasty looking burger!
Saturday nights are hard almost everywhere in the City ... but it looks like you caught Resto at just the right time !
Maybe you can do corndog night today !
@Al: That was a real feast and I'm glad I saw it from the cab! I heard Rod Stewart was on tour with Stevie Nicks. The Faces were one of the great bands of all time.
@Jaws: Just like stepping back in time! And it was one tasty burger!
@GENE: I have plans for tonight, but I'll try Crif on an off night and try again, in honor of you and rr!
The french are so rude that even their sandwiches are pig-headed?
@csp: Jason and Zioum Zioum aren't going to be too happy with that one!
...errr,I meant Walloons.
@CSP;" Mangez mon short mon américain amie!" - Pepe LePew.
i remember that place! hey what happened to the papaya man dialogues??? i'm going to go check out the wedding photos at your other blog!
Yeah cheeseburgers win out to corn dogs any day in my book! Looked like a great one, although I would have passed on the pig head.
Denis Leary is hot and very yummy in Rescue Me. Maybe I need to do some reading...
Great pictures from the wedding! I've told my family that I would love a costumed funeral, but never thought of a wedding, very cool.
Great photos of Jason and Zioum Zioum's wedding, something tells me I would have been right at home attending the event tricked out as the Xenomorph from the Sigorney Weaver 'Alien' movies.
damn sorry that you had a fail on ncd...would have ran from the scene at crif's myself...damn that place was packed...glad to see that MAD is gonna give it another shot sumtime in the future... can't believe how many are down on corn dogs...oh well... MAD bounced right back 365 style...resto's was a great substitute...everything looked damn good...thanks goes out to jason and zioum zioum for sharing their day...really looked like a "good" time...
“Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.”
—Lawrence Peter Berra
rr
@rita r: I didn't hear back from the King today, I'll try asking him something tonight.
@kari: I never would've ordered the pig's head before, but I would now, it was great!
@Jaws: I would've tried to pay for your plane ticket if I would've known!
@rr: I will try again until I succeed. The place looks like it has a first-rate corn dog, although the clientele was a little on the hipsterish side, but what are you going to do? Always love the quote of the day!
@rr .... I love that Yogi quote ! ... I've always used that one :)
GENE...you got it...sort of joke within a quote...
rr
http://images2.memegenerator.net/ImageMacro/6337511/I-cut-off-pigs-head-I-make-u-good-samwhich.jpg?imageSize=Medium&generatorName=Sandwich-Chef
@csp, I hope you're keeping that samwhich for yourself
In the war between Cheeseburgers and Corn dogs, The New York Cheeseburger wins. All heil the Saturday Night Cheeseburger. A mere Corn dog will simply not suffice. hey, It's Monday...and that means that it's my Saturday! Cheeseburger it is!
I can see this thing catching on, Marty.
BTW...I've been reading Fishwrap this afternoon. It's like I'm in a humorous time machine. I love the ads for the 90's bands. I googled one of them...Big Hello. I remember Brad Elvis from a few posts on 365. He was the drummer. I can see that it wouldn't have been the safest magazine to be featured in...I'm having a little trouble getting my head around it because of it's mega 90's vibe....I guess some things, mainly celebrities and trends, lose their relevance with time, but It's still creates some quality laughs, for example "Humour in Reader's Digest" + "Fishbag mail" and "Other peoples mail" That's my type of childish gutter humour!....I'm left wondering ...what would Fishwrap be like today?
I'm taking my time with the Conan issue. I haven't read the Madonna issue or Natalie Word yet...
Thanks again for sending them down here!
Resto's is just awesome...And they treat you nice.
which is good:)
I'm not big on corndogs. funny huh cause i love hotdogs so much.. It's the fried thing.
don't eat french fries much either.
I used to fucking love them.
every now and then i will eat one when i go home to Santa Cruz and I am walking on the boardwalk.
Or if I am at the fair.
cheeseburgers are food of the gods though and I am gonna choose a cheeseburger over a corn dog anyday.
unless it's at the fair.
I usually don't eat meat at fairs. hence why I would choose a corndog.. hahaha
plus round here you can get bunny burgers at fairs. and umm that kinda makes me not eat all day anyway.
Fuck, it's been four days since i had a cheeseburger.
I better fix that today!
Long Live The Marty Wombacher Show !!
Thank You So Much Marty !!!!!
French Are Not Rude , It's because there is allot of people in NYC that aren't true New Yorkers , & they are rude to the French that come here , so that is why . When my wife was here she couldn't understand why people don't respond to " Good Morning " , or " Hello " , & look at you like your a freak for asking .
French don't tip , because in France tip is included in price of the meal , so they aren't used to that custom .
The only people whom responded to my Wife where people born & raised in NYC , because I ask them , when they responded back to her .
@Clacky of Bunt's Downunder: Glad you're enjoying the fishwraps! What would fishwrap be like today? I guess it would be like this! Enjoy your weekend!
@Gidgie: Enjoy your cheeseburger!
@Jason: You're welcome! csp wasn just kidding! I'm from Peoria and I'm not rude to the French.
A wedding gift for Jason and Z.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmlVCQ_WDHQ
But Marty , You Live Here Long Enough & Your Writing Gives You New Yorker Status !!
TO : Marty A True New Yorker
@csp: Looking forward to seeing that clip when I get home.
@Jason: Thanks! And you know csp was just kidding, right?
I would very much like to go to here on my next visit, Marty. That pork toast reminds me of the shrimp toast over at Sammy's. That shit was GOOD. Although I tried that hot soup and my head nearly exploded. No worries, though...I switched with Paulie and all was good. Anyhoo, Resto looks awesome. Sometimes, when you fly by the seat of your pants, you end up doing the best things. Heh heh...DOING.
@Biff: I've never had the shrimp toast at Sammy's, I'll have to try it! And yes, next trip we'll come here for sure!
Hi Everybody!
Thanks Marty for the link!!
I've never eaten pig's head in my life, and I even didn't know you can make a pig's head sandwich!!
French are rude in Paris, but not really in Toulouse :) But indeed, being in NY was difficult, I felt like I was transparent !! Robots everywhere! something funny is that the only few people who haven't be rude was blacks, but also maybe because they could hear my french accent and so they started to speak to me in French!
I will try to come more often to check this website ;)