bb's Kitchen is a most pleasant 2nd story treat in a sea of dreck. They have a great setting; wonderful staff; and innovative stuff - like Colette's green grape "gaspacho" with fennel thickened with almonds and her shrimp ceviche with "many, many chopped veggies" and multi-colored tortilla chips and my Crab blt (sauteed soft-shelled crab, bacon [pancetta], lettuce & tomato) as well as aioli on too crumbly focaccia with coleslaw - which would hae worked better deconstructed - but all quite good.
With a liter of white sangria with lots of fruit, no desserts and Illy coffees, our bill was $87.20 before tip.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Syzygy is another place we've grown to love, although not in the main salle but the bar and not with the former chef, but a new one named Keith Theodore, ex of the St Regis. Colette had a scallops and succotash with mashed potatoes that she glowed over and I was most happy with my slice of sauteed Hudson River (perhaps D'Artagnan?) foie gras with a strawberry compote, bacon bits and a coffee demi-glaze (that I asked for the coffee to be removed which did not detract one bit).
With a bottle of Carmel Road Pinot Noir, no desserts or coffee, our bill before tip was $80.75.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asie is yet another old favoite and they have an amazingly changed menu year by year. Colette had a terrific crisp cucumber salad and great tasting chicken satay and I had one of the nice portions of crispy skinned and spicy sauced duck with green vegetables of my career.
With 2 glasses of a Pinot, one iced tea an no desserts or coffee, our bill before tip was $76.30.
