Closings

Two restaurants were eliminated from the restaurant guide today because they closed. Goodbye to Mainland and La Maganette.

Mainland [1081 Third Ave. (bet. 63rd and 64th Sts.) 212-888-6333]
The setting is splendid. The food is high quality. The prices are insane. A nice choice for a special occasion (like Father's Day for example), as the overall quality of the restaurant was excellent. Perhaps the prices are so high because the rent is so high. Multiple restaurants have failed in the same location, but I hope that Mainland can succeed. To start, I would recommend the "Shao Leung" dumplings (essentially Shanghai soup dumplings) or the Steamed Vegetable Dumplings. For my main course, I went with half a Peking Duck and it was delicious. If the whole table wants some duck, go for the full. The Pan Roast Sea Scallops, while they tasted good, are not a good value at $25 a plate. I would say that the White Miso Glazed Escolar is a much better seafood option. On the whole, be prepared to spend a lot, but your taste buds will be well-rewarded.

La Maganette [825 Third Ave. (at 50th St.) 212-759-5677]
Solid but unspectacular standard Italian fare. I had the Rigatoni alla Vodka and it was certainly tasty, but they weren't exactly reinventing the wheel here. Prices are affordable though (at least for lunch), so it is a decent option if you are in midtown.