Doughnut “carnival” for two at Abe & Arthur's. Photograph: Michael Alexander

Jay Cheshes gives two out of five stars to Abe & Arthur’s, where “the party came first and the food was an afterthought.” [TONY]

“Atmosphere and an attentive staff can augment an imperfect dinner” at three-star Robataya NY. [TONY]

Avoid the cocktails, but don’t avoid the “humble pubbiness and artisanal touches” of Astoria’s Sweet Afton, which earned three stars. [TONY]

Sam Sifton says “Ms. Robbins is an excellent chef,” but “A Voce Columbus is a corporate enterprise,” and awards it two stars. [NYT]

Adam Platt is thankful Odette Fada is still in the kitchen at SD26, but the restaurant “has a problem with consistency”; Abe & Arthur’s is “another overlarge, overstyled establishment with a highly qualified chef in the kitchen.” Both receive one star. [NYMag]

Alan Richman—in a video spoof titled Avec Alan—introduces Le Bernardin co-owner and chef Eric Ripert to the wonders of suburban America by taking him shopping at Costco. [GQ]

Robert Sietsema heads to modern Greek spot Ovelia Psistaria after a blog commenter claimed they had the best fries in town. Sietsema concludes: “He may be right.” [VV]

Ryan Sutton gives three stars to “the downtown deal of the decade,” Bouley’s “five-course-plus, $48 lunch.” [Bloomberg]

“Tables for Two” backhandedly compliments Aureole for being “all very corporate, in the best sense,” but the “food has a sugared, edgeless aspect.” [New Yorker]

Gael Greene concludes that British import Le Caprice “may live up to its genes.” It’s “more about scene—and being seen—than food.” [Insatiable Critic]