Babouche: New Resturant on 5th ave and Lincoln

yes, what ever that place was called

Slopehead wrote: Cool I was wondering what would happen there. That market sure didn't last too long - wonder what happened?

in brief, expensive and poorly merchandised
compare it to the 5th Ave Deli (or whatever *that's* called) one block south - that place is a master course in merchandising for a neighborhood . . .

Slopehead, why don't you register? You seem to like us . . .

oh yay! i just walked past it and it looks super cool yay!

GiGi wrote: What is the new place that took over half of the Chip Shop? This isn't Babouche, right? Sorry if this has been discussed elsewhere.

Nah - the other half of Chip Shop is just the other half of Chip Shop. They closed Curry Shop to concentrate of frying everything in the known universe.

The place being discussed is upscale Moroccan and is much further down the road...towards Flatbush...

Ok, so I ended up at this place on Saturday night with a couple of friends. This is on the short list of the worst restaurant experiences of my life. We were seated and given menus. The menu is a piece of laminated paper that was placed in a leather cover but not secured. The result is a very cheap looking menu and this fancy leather cover all flapping around, making it very cumbersome. Mine was handed to me upside down. The prices are a bit steep here. I would say the average meal cost around $20 a plate. That is fine with me, but the food should be worth the price. The waiter came and asked if we wanted some wine. I asked to see the wine list. He told me that they only had merlot. “Any beer?” “No, only merlot”. We each had a glass. We all ordered Tangines (at about $18 each) and sides of couscous at $5 each. The food arrived, and it was a very small portion. I would guess I had a 3oz portion of fish with 4 string beans, covered with a tomato base that suspiciously tasted like Prego tomato sauce. We finished the meal and sat with our empty plates and glasses in front of us for 15 minutes until I asked for the check. 10 minutes later I asked again. Finally we were able to pay and leave. My major problem with this place is that it wants to be able to charge fine dining prices, but doesn’t want to deliver the goods. The servers didn’t care how our meal was (which was very mediocre). They were too busy walking around saying little bits of pseudo French and talking to some girls at the bar. Every time the waiter did come to our table (a total of 3 times including seating us, taking our drink orders, and bringing our check), I felt as if I was being scammed. Like asking if we wanted couscous, but not mentioning it was $5 extra. This place operates like a tourist trap. Save your cash, go somewhere else. If they continue to run this place in this manner it will be out of the neighborhood by the summer.

Alaturka is its last name. Second Brit curry place to go down after Curry Source. Very bad form. Remember that, Australian restaurants. And the Canadian place that just opened up in MeaPa

blackoyster wrote: Will, I was talking about Babouche,

gak!
did they charge you for that Merlot?
:roll: :twisted:

(I ask because some places just pour something, before they get the liquor license.)
They got a good notice from someone on Chowhound, which is where I read about them being from a good restaurant elsewhere...
(le sigh)

[quote="pitu"]
Nah - the other half of Chip Shop is just the other half of Chip Shop. They closed Curry Shop to concentrate of frying everything in the known universe.

I will tell my chihuahua to hide.

This place is always crowded--what's the deal if the food is so bad?

i could be wrong, but i think when i walked by this place tonight it was closed up. just closed randomly or already gone out of business??

I went there 2 months ago for lunch and had a good meal with no complaints. They were playing some good acoustic chill out/deep house that reminded me of the upscale beach clubs/lounges in the Med.

Curiously, if this is not to your liking, what kind of music should a restaurant be playing?

Jamzer wrote: Seriously - If I see someone hurl outside a restaurant, I am not going to try their food, or listen to their music. Case closed!

that is so mean
she was going to hurl because she didn't like the music
and I don't think it was that place -- I walk by there all the time and have never heard the 90s leaking out