HUNGRY GERALD

Yesteryear HG had four favorite restaurants—Gage & Tollner (Brooklyn); Veau d’Or (Midtown east side Manhattan);  Sammy’s Romanian (Lower East side); Lundy’s (Brooklyn).  All have been reopened after being closed for a number of years. Gage & Tollner has been spruced up.The prices are through the roof so HG won’t be eating there (If HG ever gets to New York). Veau d’Or has a prix fixe of $135 (Before tip and taxes). Too pricey for HG/BSK). HG recalls the gratis mussels in mustard sauce at Veau d’Or in the old days–a generous gesture. The brains in brown butter was modestly priced and an HG fave. Sammy’s was a vodka and schmaltz madhouse with Jews getting rid of inhibitions and paying homage to the very good garlic laden food of the old country. Sammy’s has reopened on Stanton Street on LES and the craziness continues. Lundy’s has reopened in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn. Prices are reasonable. Rhode Island fried calamari with hot peppers is on the menu as well as nicely priced oysters and warm, buttery biscuits. It will make HG recall meals there 75 years ago with HG’s Brooklyn-based girlfriend.