44 & X / High Bar

44 & X

So.....Shilpa was in town to see Rafta Rafta, (which we tried to get into, but tickets were sold out), and we met her along with Monica and her husband, Subash, for a pre-theater dinner at 44 & X. We arrived first. The challenge, it seemed, was to make you forget that you were eating across the street from a gas station that measured an entire block.....so we definitely did not want to eat outside, even though it was a nice evening. The entire place was white.....walls, chairs.....everything....very white. I wondered. At least, we knew it must be clean. We sat down and were greeted by a very pleasant waiter. I felt safe. We ordered wine, appetizers and entrees. I tasted the lobster tacos....so so, the salmon tartare....yum,......the blue claw crab fritter, which was good, but more like a pancake entree; and then for the main event, the crispy tilapia with creamy polenta and wilted spinach in a lobster reduction. I have to say, out of everything, I was most drawn to the polenta. It was divine. I could have eaten a whole bowl of that!

High Bar

After we left them at the play, we decided to check out the bar Monica had recommended to us, so we set about to find it. Eventually, we deducted that it must be the non descript entrance with the roped off line, which a few people were currently standing in, even at the early hour of eight o'clock. I was not about to wait in line, but curiosity got the best of us, and we had to know if this, in fact, was the place. We went up and asked, and were swiftly escorted in. What a wonder we emerged on! A rooftop bar.....beds and sofas, and other cushy seating, (important to a girl who hates discomfort)....we were outside, but had the best of inside amenities.....and a view. Spectacular! Although....it did come with the stiff price of $16 a drink....in a plastic glass....but the vibe was all party and we had fun anyways.