The Other Critics

Marea Gains Accolades; Monkey Bar Improves Under Forgione

Marea is a bit silly,” confesses Ryan Sutton, but nonetheless gives it four stars and deems it “an outstanding restaurant.” [Bloomberg] Related: What to Eat at Marea

“The question is not whether Marea is a very good restaurant. It’s at least that,” says Alan Richman, who calls it “the best restaurant from Cannon-White.” [Forked/GQ]

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Monkey Bar is a “clubhouse,” not a restaurant, though Frank Bruni thinks the food has improved under Larry Forgione: “You can eat well if you order carefully.” [NYT]
Related: Graydon Carter’s Seating Chart

DBGB Kitchen & Bar “looks like a gourmet mess hall,” writes Danyelle Freeman, who suggests skipping the burgers and the pâté in favor of head cheese and sausage. [NYDN]
Related: Daniel Boulud Shows Off DBGB Menu

Gael Greene “didn’t expect to be as quickly seduced” by Aureole, and suggests diners take advantage of the 15 percent preview discount until September 15. [Insatiable Critic]
Related: First Look: Inside Aureole

Sorella is “uncommonly lovely,” enthuses Lila Byock. The food is just as good: “[Emma] Hearst employs bacon liberally, as though it were merely a seasoning.” [NYer]
Related: A First Look at Sorella

Iraqi restaurant La Kabbr is “the sort of popular cosmopolitan hang always getting bombed outside the Green Zone,” but the Hell’s Kitchen location offers a range of Middle Eastern food and plenty of wine to go with it. [VV]

Marea Gains Accolades; Monkey Bar Improves Under Forgione