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Air’s Champagne Parlor is All About the Bubbly
Beer, wine and even cider bars abound in NYC, but Air’s Champagne Parlor is one of the few area drinkeries devoted to bubbly. To be fair, the Riddling Widow briefly preceded it, but owner Ariel Arce was actually beverage director during its tenure, as well as Birds & Bubbles before that, and Chicago’s Pops for Champagne (not to mention Grant Achatz’s exclusive, original The Office) before that. Meaning her reputation as queen of Cuvèe absolutely proceeds her.
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Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest 2017
If you’re already mourning the loss of summer, Oktoberfest is a reliable way to get you over the hump. Essentially spanning the duration of fall (kicking off on September 16th this year & extending all the way to October 31st, allowing revelers to seamlessly transition to Halloween), the 16 to 18-day festival is a giddy saturnalia of German culture…
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Spotlight on the Finalists for the 2017 Vendy Awards
As a fun challenge to the James Beard Awards, the Vendy ceremony — now in its 13th year — is dedicated to honoring the very best in street food. So here’s who’s in the running during the September 16th event at Governors Island; from an artisanal twinkie baker to an upstart french toast sandwich maker, to a Chinese meat skewer purveyor, whose been tapped for the Vendy Cup…
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Gordon Ramsay Throws a Tantrum: Oscar-worthy Performance
It’s not everyday you witness a chef making a scene in front of a packed dining room. But that was NYC pre-Gordon Ramsay’s invasion. On my way home from Time Out’s Eat Out Awards last night, I literally caught Ramsay throwing a fit through the window of Nirvana Restaurant at Dillon’s on West 54th Street. I assumed he was just testy after losing to Stephen Starr (Buddakan & Morimoto) for “Best new restaurateur from out of town” at the...
Read MoreSpring Restaurant Preview
FR.OG (of French Origin) There’s life at Philip Kirsh & chef Didier Virot’s French-bent downtown venture. Fashionablly located across from Balthazar, this two-level space will play host to 120 guests. By way of an open kitchen, you can even watch the handsome Virot create French, Lebanese and Moroccan delicacies: sardine tart, canelloni of lamb, roasted lobster with almonds and honey, and duck leg in pastilla. Having just secured their liquor license, FR.OG has reported that they’re merely waiting on...
Read More2007’S Peep-Off X and much more…
Living in NYC, we think we’ve seen & done it all before. Apparently not. Only in Sacramento California can you participate in 2007’s Peep Off X, the tenth annual peep eating contest set to take place on April 14th. The master of ceremonies himself, Dennis Gross continues to hold onto his 1991 record of 81 peeps. Even more astounding, Dennis managed to keep all 81 down. While he didn’t break Dennis’ 1999 record, Doug O’ the Ozark crushed last...
Read MoreOne if By Land, Two if By Sea Turns 35!
It ain’t easy to stay afloat in the restaurant business, especially in these NYC parts. But this carriage house romancer has managed to survive on “seal the deal” dinners alone. Personally I prefer to receive presents on my birthday, but this Greenwich Village New American has decided to give away $35 gift cards in celebration of its 35th (just email them at info@oneifbyland.com)! Perhaps not so coincidentally, One if By Land has also just announced the addition of Sunday...
Read MoreQ & A With Joe Bastianich
Joe Bastianich’s partnership with Mario Batali continues to prove a magical combination, resulting in a wildly successful restaurant empire, including Lupa, Babbo, Otto & Del Posto to name just a few. The son of Lidia Bastianich (owner of three-star restaurant Felidia) and reared in the restaurant world, it streams through Joe’s blood. In addition to being a triumphant restaurateur, he not only owns NYC wine shop, Italian Wine Merchants, but also boasts two vineyards in Italy and co-authored the...
Read MoreVarietal – Bruni Aftershocks
A week later and Varietal is still feeling the aftershocks of Frank Bruni’s rather salty review. Even before that, Adam Platt had knocked Chelsea’s wine-centric restaurant for being overly fussy and self-conscious. But it seems Bruni’s New York Times piece was the last straw: pastry chef Jordan Kahn (French Laundry & Alinea), known for his whimsical and often bizarre creations, has decided to depart to pursue other offers. Most recently, chef Ed Witt (Il Buco) broke by way of Eater...
Read MoreNatsumi
Address: 226 W. 50th St., btwn. Broadway & 8th Aves. Phone: 212.258.2988 Cuisine: Japanese-Italian fusion Vibe: Typical modern Asian Scene: Times Square escapees Hours: Sun – Mon, 11:30am – 11pm, Tue – Fri, 11:30am-11:30pm. Sat, 12pm-12am. Scoop: Separate bar & lounge with sushi-slanted lounge menu. Price: Appetizers, $2.50-$15. Entrees, $16-38. Reservations: Reservations accepted. www.natsuminyc.com Times Square’s a tricky stretch to open an ambitious restaurant. The late 7Square, a modern chophouse with Lespinasse-trained chef Shane McBride, quickly comes to mind. ...
Read MoreLe Cirque's Lunch Box
It seems New Yorkers no longer have to take out a second mortgage to dine at Sirio Maccioni’s Le Cirque. That is, for lunch anyway. This week Le Cirque’s launching their cafe "Lunch Box", a three-course meal for $25. To hell with that $8 sandwich from Mangia, which apparently arrives with a complementary grasshopper (see Eater for complete details). If only mom had packed my Charlie’s Angels lunch box with red snapper and creme brulee. Of course it doesn’t...
Read MoreQ & A With Wayne Nish
Par for the course for veterans on the restaurant battlefield these days, Wayne Nish has reshaped his menu to appeal to a hipper palate and clientele. What was March (New American) has morphed into modern fusion at the now casual Nish, still located in the same serene Sutton Place townhouse. Deemed one of the “founding fathers” of fusion, Wayne Nish plays with global flavors with a strong inclination toward all things Asian. With a menu that requires a glossary,...
Read MoreWorld Water Day
3.22.07 Celebrate World Water Day on Thursday at one of 290 participating restaurants by paying just $1 for a glass of tap water (refills included). All proceeds go to Unicef’s Tap Project, which provides safe water supplies to over 90 countries worldwide. Besides, NYC’s tap water tastes far better than designer water...
Read MoreThe Inn LW12
Address: 7 Ninth Ave., at Little W. 12th St. Phone: 212.206.0300 Cuisine: Canadian-British gastropub Vibe: Ski lodge meets hunting inn Scene: Buzzing. Hours: Seven days a week, Dinner, 5:30 pm-12 am; Lunch, 11:30 am – 3 pm; Late night, 12 am – 3 am. Price: Appetizers, $9-$15. Entrees, $18-$36. Reservations: Same day reservations. Highly Recommend: Poutine (cheese fries with gravy) Official Website The Inn LW12th (short for Little West 12th) is technically trendy. First, it’s in the Meatpacking...
Read MoreQ & A With Chris Santos
It’s not easy to stay fashionable in such a fussy city, but The Stanton Social opened with a bang and has been going strong ever since. Chef Chris Santos has succeeded in luring the young & hungry to the Lower East Side for a multi-cultural menu of shared plates for almost two years. (That’s like ten in restaurant years.) Chris has even managed to make french onion soup a social experience with an inspired dumpling version. And let’s not...
Read MoreCraftsteak Exclusive
85 Tenth Ave., at 15th St. (212)400-6699 In an interesting turn of events, it seems that Shane McBride has curiously emerged from the kitchen at Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Chef de cuisine Chris Albrecht has left the building (a month ago). After opening the original Vegas Crafsteak, Chris Albrecht brought the king-size steakhouse concept to New York City’s Meatpacking District. Even with the recent onslaught of couture cuts available to mostly expense account clientele, few...
Read MoreAmalia
204 West 55th St., btwn. 7th & Broadway Aves. 212-245-1234 TYPE: Mediterranean-American VIBE: Whimsical opulence OCCASION: Chichi date or group gathering DON’T MISS DISH: Roasted sea bass with rock shrimp DON’T BOTHER DISH: Stuffed ribeye steak DRINK SPECIALTY: Aperitifs & global wine list PRICE: $55 & up HOURS: Dinner, Sun – Mon, 5 PM-10 PM; Tue – Thu, 5PM-11PM, Fri & Sat, 5 PM – 12 AM. Lunch daily, 11 AM – 3 PM (Start date TBD). INSIDE SCOOP:...
Read MoreMercat
45 Bond St., btwn. Lafayette & Broadway 212-529-8600 DELAYED OPENING (Opens March 21st) Who better to open a Spanish tapas joint than a native Barcelonian? Owner Jaime Reixach has set out to do just that in a sleek Noho space on Bond Street, serving spanish small plates with a Catalan-bent (pasta, cod & fish stew). With the not so shabby resumes of chefs David Seigal (Bouley) & Ryan Lowder (Jean Georges), Mercat has the potential to make waves in...
Read MoreQ & A With Bill Telepan
Before opening his eponymous seasonal American restaurant on NYC’s Upper West Side, chef-owner Bill Telepan put his time in at kitchens like Gotham Bar & Grill, Le Bernardin and Judson Grill. At Telepan, he brings elegance to coddled eggs, dishing them out at dinner atop scrapple. Bill was a Greenmarketeer before it was even cool. He’s somehow managed to lure downtowners north of 42nd Street and simultaneously please the impossibly fickle Upper West Sider. What did you want to...
Read MoreAnthos
52nd Street, btwn. 5th & 6th Aves.212-582-6900 TYPE: New GreekVIBE: Sleek midtownerOCCASION: A serious date, business lunch or family gatheringDON’T MISS DISH: Trio of tuna, scallop & yellowtail crudoDRINK SPECIALTY: Eclectic wine listPRICE: $65 & upHOURS: Dinner, Mon – Thu, 5-10:30 pm, Friday & Saturday, 5-11 pm; Lunch, Mon – Fri, 12 – 2:45 pm. RESERVATIONS: Reservations recommended, especially on weekends.RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: N/A for preview It had all the makings of a Greek tragedy: A gifted young chef,...
Read MoreCandela, Candela – The Restaurant formerly Known as Poetessa
92 Second Ave., btwn. 5th & 6th Sts. No phone number listed yet OPEN FOR BUSINESS Poetessa – back from the dead? Well, not exactly but this East Village Italian has been reconceived as a Cuban/Italian fusion joint. While the signage reads “Cucina & Mojito Bar”, the technical name given to this new spot is Candela, Candela (named after a song in Buena Vista Social Club). A strange brew, but owner Laura Germak assures us it’s an organic fit. Croquetas...
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