Wildwood Barbeque

Located at 225 Park Ave. South and 18th. Street in an area saturated with grand restaurant visions, Wildwood jumped into the burgeoning barbeque scene in what is fast becoming a mecca for great barbeque right here in the Big Apple. Wildwood is big and bold with beige and brown colors and cushiony booths and steele beams running across the ceiling's cavernous space. A snazzy bar area to the left of the dining space with lot's of libation choices that will surely draw a happening after work crowd. Now for the sit down and food. This is a BR Guest restuarant so service is first rate. I was seated at a spacious table for four before the lunch crowd surged. A waitress told me about the all natural beef used and sauces and condiments on the table. I ordered the "Three Little Pigs" plate with spare ribs, pulled pork and a jalepeno sausage with 2 sides for $21.50. The lemonade was not housemade so I stuck with water. When the cue came with the sides I was excited not only by the sheer size of the plate, but by the glistening shine on the large meaty ribs. Those ribs were tdf(to die for), made to order by Big Lou in the kitchen, large meaty, smoky and tender. The pulled pork also shined with the signature house sauce, the other sauce which was raspberry flavored tasted totally artifical to my palate so I avoided it. The sausage was also tasty. Now for the sides- creamed spinach tasted like fresh spinach with a lighter than usual cream sauce and was tasty. The mac and cheese was a total wash that was made with small cheesy shells with a slightly toasty bread crumb like crust- that was b&b(bland and boring). Overall, the space and meat rocks! The bathroom offers a large rustic sink, red tile and western style wood doors, spiffarama!

Indochine

Walking into Indochine you know you hit a scene still around since the '80's. After waiting for a few minutes for the model hostess to greet and seat us, we soaked in the palm tree laden scene. Finally, seating us in a nice though tight corner spot our model waitress appeared. Offering us the signature lychee martini which was good though not overly thick and as flavorful as it could be. Next, we ordered some appetizers which included the steamed Vietnemese Ravioli with chicken, shrimp, bean sprouts and mint wrapped in rice paper with housemade peanut sauce. Also ordered were whole baby prawns with heads on and accompanying plum sauce. The appetizers were all first-rate period. Next up were the main courses. Mine was called Vietnamese Boullabaisse which included sea scallops, prawns, baby squid, prawn, shrimp, squid, mussells and cabbage in a lime leaf and galagal sauce for $22 bucks. Delish, fresh and flavorful. All of the seafood eaten here was clearly from the ocean and of very high quality. Other model/waitresses came over to check on our food enjoyment. Located across the street from the Public Theatre and the other modelizer spot Butter on Lafayette Street, the food does rate and the eye candy rocks too if you don't mind a little 'tude along the way. The bathrooms here are something out of colonial Vietnam with whitewashed wood doors and ceiling fans cooling us off after a steamy, sexy meal.