If you walked by Bar Virage on Second Avenue and East Seventh Street the past two days, then you may have noticed the place is closed… just until Thursday as they prepare for the launch of their new menu. (Bar Virage describes their current menu as "French/Italian/Middle Eastern" influenced.)
They offered a sneak preview of one dish via Instagram…
Virage changed its name to Bar Virage in the spring of 2014 as part of a larger transformation, which included a remodeled dining room and new menu items.
About frickin time they changed the menu. The prices were out of whack for what they were serving. EV will again be synonymous with Foodie Heaven. Take that Bklyn!
ReplyDeleteSteak and mashed potatoes. Take THAT high concept.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a blood stroke under that meat. It's probably not, but it's a weird shot. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. Tiny portions of precious, awkward, overly complicated, and unsatisfying food at premium prices. Just what the neighborhood needs.
ReplyDeleteI liked Virage when it was a restaurant with a bar, before the bar took over the entire dining room. I guess they became a bar b/c the only way to make $$ in this nabe is to sell a lot of alcohol. It was also nicer when the owners were actually on premises; it changes the vibe when they're not around. I felt they'd kind of lost interest in the place.
ReplyDeleteBut if Virage is going to come back with precious small portions at high prices, good luck. That would be too bad, b/c they were formerly a reliably nice local restaurant where I always brought any out-of-town visitors, confident that everyone would find something they liked on the menu, and knowing that the food would be good and also affordable.
Why is it I find it a lot less interesting to go out in the evenings recently? Oh yes, the options are loud spring break open facade "theme" restaurants or high concept with matching high prices for a plate of food which comes with a 5 minute explanation or ingredients and cooking techniques. I would have never guessed that of all the arts, cooking which is not an art despite what chefs and restauranteurs will try to convince you, is not an art form.
ReplyDeleteif cooking isn't an art, why not just eat at McD every night? no reason to be picky then, right?
ReplyDelete@11:01 AM
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not there are options in the wide range between a foodie place and McDonalds. People are gullible and want to feel special so they will pay anything to go foodie and then get to talk about going to a particular place, maybe even show pictures of the dishes on their iPhones. Stop playing with your food and just eat it.
I think food can be an art form. Whether it should be is another question. Anything can be considered to be expression I guess. I like to consider food to be mostly about nourishment and enjoyment. I don't care about so and so expressing themselves through food. I would never, ever think to liken a chef to a rock star. That is just me though. Admittedly I am way out of step.
ReplyDelete12:40 PM
ReplyDeleteYou are not out of step at all, just haven't drunk the cool aid like some many have. Most people work and couples both work, and people with children work, what has changed in society is there is nobody home during the day buying groceries and cooking meals from wholesome ingredients. Shortcuts like eating out or take out is been the norm for a two generations in our society. What this also means is few people know how to cook beyond defrost and microwave. Big ego chefs are filling this gap with crazy expressions of their genius or so at least they want us to believe what they do is something close to magic. Hype the food, hype the chef and raise the prices. Get some bloggers on board and anyone with a smart phone is snapping away at octopus wrapped pork ribs. A middle aged friend of mine was coming home with a pineapple from shopping a 20 something neighbor ask her, "do you actually know how to cut a pineapple up?
"When did going out to dinner become a Broadway show?"
ReplyDeleteWhat movie is that line from?