North Square — Restaurant in New York

I was invited by Executive Chef Yoel Cruz to his restaurant and I was floored at what he and his staff had put out, especially after touring the small kitchen.

First off the front of the house was nice. It was a rainy Wednesday night and we were seated at 5:30 - guests were trickling in and the restaurant was full by the time we left. Anyhow here's the complete run down: Lobster & Crab Cakes - They were small, and understandably so as you wouldn't want to overcook lobster. Good, but worth skipping as you couldn't taste much lobster and I'd just opt for a shrimp cake all together. Duck Confit Roll - This was what I was helping Chef Cruz with at the Food and Wine Festival (total winner). Thought unfortunately the white beans were a touch undercooked. Tuna Tartar (Chef's suggestion) - Amazeballs. Wild Mushroom Ravioli (Chef's suggestion) - Double amazeballs. I've never tasted such strong mushroom flavor in my life. Seared Cod - So delicious. Fish cooked perfectly, always a fan of crispy skin. And I could just eat a tub of that Potato Brandade. Atlantic Char - Also cooked so perfectly. The basil risotto was also nice and light unlike most risottos which is typically drenched in butter. Pistachio Ice Cream over Chocolate brownie? - This was a special and it was simply lovely. Chef hired a pastry consultant for this one and this was definitely worth the salt. Love the Pistachios all over the dessert. Key Lime Pie (Chef's suggestion) - Ironically, this was heavier than the Chocolate Brownie. Nice key lime flavor and perfect graham crust.

If you never tried what "seasonal" food is, this is absolutely a place worth checking out. This is where an older crowd goes so their palates are probably more refined than yours while knowing that what they're eating is good for them and gentle on their stomach.

The prices are fair and though the two of us ate so much food, when I got home there wasn't a heavy feeling as a lot of the food is vegetable focused. The menu is ever changing and if there's ever a special, I'd recommend trying it. ...

Simply my favorite go-to place in Manhattan for a swell brunch, lunch or dinner with good friends. The food is outstanding, the drinks super, the service equally wonderful. You're never rushed and no one pulls the plate out from under you so they can seat the next party. It's a quiet, elegant and comfortable restaurant where people can actually have conversations with others at their table, instead struggling to be heard over the shrieking of the other patrons and what passes for music nowadays.

Someone once described North Square as a dining place for adults, and that's exactly what it is. Whatever chicky-baby decided to be so droll as to state that the "decor is a bit dated - as are some of the patrons, it seems," must be one of the youngsters who's had the misfortune to be born in the last 25 years or so. They don't know what they missed...one of which was restaurants like North Square, which is a cherished remnant of a much more...

"So you know how to take the reservation. You just don't know how to hold the reservation" - Jerry Seinfeld

My wife and I were set to go in for my birthday brunch with my in-laws. We had booked through Open Table and specifically mentioned that we were in for the Jazz brunch, per instructions on the website. When we arrived, we were disappointed to find that they had not reserved us for the jazz room, and we had a table in the main room, which is akin to a stuffy, out of date diner. (It should be noted that there were other people who had the exact same problem as us when they arrived).

The hostess, who identified herself as the manager, acted like she couldn't care less that she screwed up. Her "So what?" attitude was enough for us to leave immediately. We ended up finding a cozy place nearby and had a wonderful meal.

There are dozens of brunch spots in this area, and with excellent customer service a must in NYC,...