R.U.B., Matsugen & Megu
R.U.B. (or Righteous Urban Barbecue) is located in Chelsea and was named one of the best BBQ spots in NY by Time Out. Well let me just tell you Time Out lied. R.U.B. is a no frills BBQ located not too far from the far superior Hill Country. There really isn't a theme in R.U.B. as the decor doesn't say "western" or "BBQ" or anything like that. It actually looks like a normal restaurant where you'd go to get a burger. I wasn't impressed upon arrival, but I decided still to give it a try since Time Out gave it such a great review. The menu is a bit different from its competitors Hill Country and Wildwood BBQ, as they feature items like duck and go a bit further by offering different ends of pork ribs (such as the long end or short end) rather than the "you get what you get" policy. One thing that was a big turn off is that R.U.B. doesn't provide you with...well...rub at the table to put on your ribs (ironic right), only BBQ sauce. The ribs weren't anything spectacular and the BBQ sauce was quite thick compared to its competitors. The food was mediocre at best and as much as I hate to say this, Blue Smoke was better. Don't bother visiting R.U.B., please go to Hill Country instead!
Jean George Vongeritchen's only Japanese/Soba restaurant lies in Tribeca, NY. Originally I was planning to go to Nobu for lunch as they have the Tribeca Film Festival lunch special (a 3 course lunch special for $25), but of course Nobu isn't open for lunch on the weekends! Matsugen wasn't too far off so I went there. Matsugen also has a $24 bento box special consisting of 5 menu items, as does all of Jean-George's restaurants. The 5 items are a salad with carrot dressing (typical Japanese salad), which was fine 3 pieces of sushi (tuna, yellowtail and salmon), which were fresh and tasted surprisingly good for a restaurant that specialized in Soba instead of Sushi. Tempura shrimp and vegetables which were good (once again nothing to rave about). The hot mushroom soba which was difficult to eat, but tasted very good. I went mainly for the soba, so if Matsugen messed that up we'd have a big issue. Finally we have the vanilla pudding which was possibly one of the worst deserts I've ever eaten. The restaurant itself is dead at lunch time, but is never the less gorgeous. Its of Modern-Japanese decor with a communal table, full sushi bar but no lounge surprisingly (or I didn't see it at least). The manager doesn't speak too much English and didn't know how to check me in using the computer, so I had to check myself in using their computer. Self check-in at a 3 star restaurant, great! All and all Matsugen's bento box really made it worth the visit. Though the dessert was lethal, the soba was phenomenal, the sushi was fresh and the overall decor made Matusgen a restaurant I'd return to!
Megu, located in Tribeca is a Japanese restaurant whom rivals Nobu and Matsugen. Upon arrival you are greeted by 2 receptionists in short cocktail dresses, as is expected in all trendy restaurants at dinner time. There is a structure of the Japanese flag in the front of the "lobby", if you could call it that, which adds a nice touch to the restaurant. When walking in the the main dinning room you are greeted by the entire wait staff in Japanese. The best thing about Megu is the decor. There is a giant bell above a 5 foot Buddha ice sculpture in the center of the dinning room. More private seating is located behind the Buddha and off to the sides. There is a bar upstairs as well as a private dinning area which is quieter than the main dinning area. The bar features glass cases full of Japanese wrapping paper and modern art hung around the bar. By the bathrooms there is a light fixture surrounded by mirrors which give the effect of seeing 1000s of these fixtures. It almost gives Buddha Bar (or 25 Little West 12th st) a run for its money. But, once you get past the decor, the food is sub-par. We ordered the Omakase as well as a 9 piece sushi platter and Foie Gras skewer. The Omakase featured 7 courses, none of which were something innovative or anything to rave about. The sushi (even the toro) was fresh, but not up to standards with other sushi places such as Sushi Seki. The Kobe beef was prepared the same style as the restaurant Japonais' Kobe Beef, on a rock and a cognac is poured on it to produce flames. The Kobe Beef wasn't anything special and I don't understand where this whole trend of Kobe beef came from as Fillet Mignon is just as good and cheaper. And really, if Megu can't produce good sushi or specialty dishes such as Kobe Beef, then why visit it. For $160 a person you may as well go to Daniel, Bouley, Nobu 57, Jean-George, Le Cirque or any other top restaurant in Manhattan as the food will be 50 times better and at least you could say you ate at Le Cirque instead of Megu. If you want a Japanese restaurant with a crowd and have to pay the same price you would at Nobu visit Tao, Buddha Bar or Ono. If you want good sushi at not a ridiculous price visit Sushi Seki or Matsugen. If you want an outstanding decor with overpriced mediocre Japanese food, Megu is the top choice!
