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Aix
Denver, CO |
Los Danzantes
Oaxaca, Mexico |
Asia de Cuba
West Hollywood, CA |
The Sanctuary
New York, NY |
Ghenet
New York, NY |
Moustache
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Lemongrass Grill
New York, NY |
Steak Frites
New York, NY |
Caffe Taci
New York, NY |
Sammy’s Noodle Shop & Grill
New York, NY |
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| Sammy’s Noodle Shop & Grill |
453 6th Avenue
New York, NY
212.924.6688 |
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I recently had the pleasure of experiencing break-up dinner at Sammy’s Noodles, where the dumping’s as good as the dumplings. My guest for the evening was a guy I was on the verge of dumping after three weeks of unsuccessful dating, when I was assigned this review and chose to extend our dating experience another three weeks just to give Sammy’s a good run.
Everything at Sammy’s is perfectly paced for a first class rejection, brilliant timing served up steaming hot with a side of rice. I request a table for two, then turn to my guest to serve him an order of "listen I’ve been meaning to talk to you." My guest barely has time to utter a word before the hostess whisks us away to a table.
The brief walk to the table affords my guest little time to collect his thoughts. Within mere seconds a flurry of servers descend upon us bringing a hailstorm of place settings, menus, and tea. Alone for a moment, we have just enough time to exchange tired, banal pre-break-up chatter, "Are we… okay?" "Well actually…", before someone appears to take our order. We order: corn egg drop soup for me, Cantonese wonton for him, to be followed by vegetable lo mein and chicken with black bean sauce.
The wait for the soup is mercifully short. If we were anywhere else I could take up to fifteen painful minutes explaining why a extended relationship wouldn’t work, but the impeccable timing of Sammy’s servers means soup’s on within two minutes. He doesn’t stand a chance. He’s barely finished the soup and launched into his rebuttal when he’s interrupted by the arrival of our entrees. This signals the most difficult part of the break-up, he now has upwards of ten to fifteen minutes to try and talk himself into a position of upper hand. But all efforts are undercut by the constant comings and goings of the incessant parade of busboys clearing soup bowls, whisking away empty serving dishes, replenishing our water. When the last dishes are cleared he still wants to talk, but our server has already returned to ask if we need anything else, even as she unceremoniously tosses the check to the table. We’ve been in the restaurant for thirty-eight minutes and the break-up is complete with no room for discussion.
The staff of Sammy’s is comprised of true artistes, the restaurant a well-oiled machine sucking in patrons, processing their orders, and churning them out with incredible speed. I highly recommend this wonderful, speedy way station on the fast highway of broken hearts. |
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| chumwater |
| January 2, 2002 |
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