Known For

I am sure you have all been to a restaurant that is "known for" something.  The Spotted Pig is known for its burger.  Prune is known for its amazing brunch.  Artichoke Pizza is known to be worth the potential long wait for pizza.  

So, what happens when you go to a place known for something and do not get what they are known for?  Well, you might be taking a risk.  Or, maybe you are not taking a risk at all but the fact that the restaurant is known for something has forced you into ordering the thing they are known for.  How do you know? 

Example 1: The Spotted Pig is known for its amazing $17 burger.  When I went, I felt compelled to order the burger. Then, I heard the specials, which included this triple grilled cheese sandwich that sounded out of this world.  I kind of wanted that more than the burger.  But, due to the fact that I had heard the burger was so good, and I was not sure when I would make it back to The Spotted Pig, I got the burger.  The burger was awesome.  And I really enjoyed it.  But the fact that the burger was so hyped subconsciously forced me to order it.

Example 2: Ukranian food.  I went to a Ukranian restaurant this summer with Alex.  He wanted perogies at the Ukranian restaurant which made sense, since perogies are typical Ukranian food.  I did not want Ukranian food, so I very stupidly ordered a grilled cheese.  I kid you not - this restaurant took two slices of wonder bread, eight slices of kraft cheese, and maybe microwaved it for about 12 seconds.  It was terrible.  I should have stuck to Ukranian food.

Example 3: Went to Veselka for the first time a few weeks ago.  We split perogies (sensing a theme here....) which were awesome.  I got a breakfast sandwich, eggs and bacon on an english muffin, and it was very fine.  Just fine. But Alex's awesome meatball dish, which fits with the Ukranian theme, was much better.  And Veselka is also known for burgers.  So I departed from what it is known for both in regular dishes and its ethnic dishes.  I fail.

Lesson learned?  I am not so sure.  When it comes to a certain type of cuisine, perhaps we should stick to the culture.  When it comes to what the restaurant is known for though, do we order its star dish, or do we order what we want?  

Have a delicious day!

NYC Menu Girl