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Bonnie Tandy Leblang | Bite of the Best

Bonnie from BiteoftheBest.com

About Bonnie Tandy Leblang

Blogger Bonnie Tandy Leblang has been covering food since before it was hip to do so! She’s penned magazine, newspaper and syndicated food columns in addition to cookbooks. Follow her on twitter @BonnieBOTB and on Instagram@BiteoftheBest and at @BonnieBOTB "I eat for a living!” is her mantra, sharing what she’s sampled so you’ll know where (or where not) to go, plus what food products and gadgets to try. For her full bio go to the about us page.
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City Vineyard, Tribeca, NYC + Titanique

With an old friend coming to town, I checked my discount theater memberships to see what was playing. We landed on Titanique, winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. The show hilariously reimagines Jack and Rose's love story through the French-Canadian eyes of Céline Dion. I had no idea what I was in for. The show is completely campy, over the top and laugh-out-loud funny. After the show, we took the No. 1 train downtown and walked over to City Vineyard, chosen for its outdoor space overlooking the Hudson. We planned to sit outside, but the smoke from the Canadian wildfires was irritating my throat, so we opted [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:07:25-04:00August 19th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Del Frisco’s Grille, + Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Scholarship Reception

Our philanthropic organization of women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality, Les Dames d'Escoffier New York (LDNY), awards scholarships every year to help empower women pursuing careers in the culinary, hospitality and beverage industries. The last time we added everything up—quite a few years ago—we had awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to over 1,000 recipients since 1977. This year we presented $86,000 of scholarships to 23 students through nine partner programs, including a brand-new entrepreneurial scholarship in my name. I was thrilled to meet my first recipient, Kayla Fulmore. If you'd like to help us continue supporting these talented women, please consider donating to the Les Dames d'Escoffier [...]

By |2026-08-17T11:37:17-04:00August 16th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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La Boite en Bois, Lincoln Center Area, NYC + Whoopi Monologues

We grabbed a bite at La Boîte en Bois because of its proximity to Lincoln Center, where we were seeing *The Whoopi Monologues*, a production that expands Whoopi Goldberg's one-woman show into five distinct life stories performed by Kerry Washington, Kara Young and Dominique Fishback, among others. A basket of good, crusty bread arrived almost immediately. We did have to flag someone down for olive oil, but it was brought over graciously as soon as we asked. After settling on a salad, pasta, entrée and dessert to share, the kitchen thoughtfully split both the salad and pasta in the kitchen before serving them. Our salad ($21.50) couldn't have been fresher. [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:07:09-04:00August 13th, 2026|Big Apple Greeter, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Newest Brasserie Cognac Américain, Bryant Park, NYC

Brasserie Cognac Américain has settled into a gorgeous new corner location at 40th Street and Fifth Avenue, directly across from the New York Public Library.  This newly opened French bistro from Serafina Restaurant Group features Chef Michael Lomonaco—acclaimed American chef, restaurateur and television personality—leading the kitchen. I was invited as their guest to sample the fare, starting with cocktails. My dining companion enjoyed a classic Hendrick's gin martini, while I sipped the smoky, spicy and fizzy Napoleon's Dynamite ($19), a blend of mezcal, jalapeño tequila and ginger beer. We opted for the special French Restaurant Week menu ($60), a prix fixe that includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert. (Regular menu [...]

By |2026-07-15T12:22:24-04:00August 11th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Pete’s Tavern, Gramercy, NYC

I got in a burger mood and called a friend from my greater hood whom I hadn't seen in ages to see whether she'd like to meet for one, and where. We settled on Pete's Tavern, conveniently forgetting how noisy it could be. It was. We landed in one of the back rooms, packed and buzzing, and could barely hear each other. Conversation took some effort, but the Tavern burgers made up for it. Topped with Cheddar, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions and Pete's signature house-made O. Henry Sauce, and served with fries ($25), they were juicy, satisfying and exactly what I'd been craving. A bottle of their Malbec ($60) washed [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:06:26-04:00August 9th, 2026|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Newish Clara, New York Historical, UWS, NYC

Last time I dined at Clara, the restaurant was in the New York Historical Society. Today, the museum dropped "Society" from its name, and the restaurant is now under the direction of Alex Guarnaschelli. I recently met friends there for lunch. I was in the mood for a burger and fries, so I ordered the cheddar-topped one with a side of fries. I couldn't finish the perfectly cooked burger, but easily polished off the small serving of fries.    Others enjoyed chicken paillard over grilled onions and mustard greens ($28),  quiche Lorraine ($21) and an over-dressed salad of fresh peaches with lots of arugula, some mint and very few sugar [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:05:55-04:00August 8th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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A Return to Amalfi Serra by Birreria

We stopped in for Happy Hour and stayed for dinner, deciding to stay on to share the Amalfi Experience again. At lunch it's $26, while dinner is $49—and both are more food than either of us could finish. Since it was Wednesday, bottles of wine were half price, so we ordered the Greco di Tufo DOC "Novaserra" by Mastroberardino from Campania. At $42 instead of $84, it was an easy choice and paired beautifully with our meal. Before our entrée arrived, we were served Carpaccio di Barbabietole—paper-thin yellow beets with whipped ricotta, salsa verde, taggiasca crumble and a white balsamic dressing—along with rustic thick-sliced bread; a housemade potato croquette topped [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:05:44-04:00August 6th, 2026|Big Apple Life, Happy Hours, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Indochine, East Village, NYC

When my friends suggested Indochine, I reluctantly said yes. The service was horrid on my last visit during restaurant week. I reminded myself that on the previous visit, they went above and beyond, sending someone to CVS to buy mosquito repellent for me! I knew service standards were back as the host looked at me, smiled, then asked the person on the telephone to hold a moment and handled my reservation. When my friends suggested Indochine, I reluctantly said yes. My last visit, during Restaurant Week, was marred by disappointing service. Then I remembered an earlier visit when they had gone above and beyond, actually sending someone to CVS to [...]

By |2026-08-04T07:58:03-04:00August 3rd, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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250 Viewing Party @ ofCorsica! Pier 57, NYC

While leading a "greet" for Big Apple Greeters, I stopped into ofCorsica! to show off the location at the end of Pier 57 to my visitors. If you're not familiar with Big Apple Greeters, we take visitors around New York City as if they were longtime friends, sharing stories, local tips and the true joys of living here. One of my guests was using a wheelchair, and since there are a few steps at the restaurant entrance, Katrina, the manager, noticed us and showed us to the small lift. I had met her on a previous greet, so we started chatting. That's when she told me about their upcoming Viewing [...]

By |2026-07-13T15:45:06-04:00August 1st, 2026|Big Apple Greeter, Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Les Dames d’Escoffier After (Fancy Food Show) Gathering, Highball Bar & Lounge at Tempo by Hilton Times Square

Each year after the Summer Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center, another Dame and I host a happy hour for visiting members of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, our global organization supporting women in food, wine and hospitality. This year’s gathering, hosted by Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY), took place at Tempo by Hilton in Times Square. The hotel provided complimentary platters of charcuterie, cheeses, meats and nuts along with hummus and fresh vegetables, alongside a cash bar. When Dames convene, conversation is lively and wide-ranging—equal parts reunion, networking and spirited exchange on the food world. It was, as always, a wonderful gathering. We’ve already started talking about next [...]

By |2026-07-06T21:44:31-04:00July 30th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Borgo, Intersection of NoMad, Flatiron and Gramercy, NYC

Each June, the three of us pick a new restaurant to celebrate two of our birthdays. Over the years, we've been lucky—we've yet to dine anywhere where we didn't enjoy both the food and the service. This year, our destination was Borgo, a Mediterranean trattoria tucked where NoMad, Flatiron and Gramercy meet. My visit started with a misstep. I opened the wrong door and found myself standing in the service kitchen. A handsome chef smiled, gently explained that I was in the kitchen, and graciously escorted me through the proper entrance to meet my friends in one of the restaurant's two dining rooms. That warm welcome made me smile. Unfortunately, [...]

By |2026-07-06T10:52:26-04:00July 28th, 2026|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Shaver Hall Opens in former Lord & Taylor, Midtown, NYC

Reluctantly, I accompanied my friend to the soft opening of Shaver Hall, a new food hall in the former Lord & Taylor flagship building on Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th Streets. Named for Dorothy Shaver, the trailblazing president who helped transform Lord & Taylor into a cultural force, Shaver Hall marks the latest chapter in the adaptive reuse of the landmark 1914 building. The 35,000-square-foot, street-level food hall has seating for 1,400 and is home to a diverse collection of food vendors. From what I sampled during the event, here are the places I'd recommend trying. At the center of Shaver Hall is Layaway, an inviting bar serving refreshing [...]

By |2026-07-06T12:00:19-04:00July 26th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Cacio e Pepe at Novita, Flatiron, NYC

My friend returned from Paris with a craving for Cacio e Pepe ($27). Since Novita has long been one of our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurants—for its warm hospitality as much as its consistently good food—it seemed like the perfect place to meet. We settled into a table on the patio, sipping refreshing Aperol Spritzes and nibbling on warm bread while catching up. It was the perfect way to ease into the evening. She couldn't have been happier. Novita's take on the classic Roman dish is deceptively simple: Pecorino Romano, freshly cracked black pepper, and starchy pasta water come together to create a rich, silky sauce that clings beautifully to every [...]

By |2026-07-06T10:50:07-04:00July 25th, 2026|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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French Birthday Celebration at Eulalie, Tribeca, NYC

Eulalie flies under the radar. Pronounced "Oo-la-lee," the restaurant has no social media presence and isn't on any reservation sites. It's all word of mouth. To book a table, you simply call. Tina Vaughn answers the phone herself and takes your reservation. That personal touch comes as no surprise. Vaughn received the prestigious 2024 Michelin Service Award in New York. I'd dined in this West Broadway space before when it was home to Drew Nieporent's Bâtard and, before that, Montrachet. Today, Vaughn and chef Chip Smith run the intimate, fewer-than-40-seat restaurant, where guests are encouraged to linger for as long as they'd like. We were celebrating a birthday and enjoyed [...]

By |2026-07-06T11:25:24-04:00July 24th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Afternoon Tea at Warren Street Bar & Restaurant, Tribeca, NYC

"'Afternoon tea' for your birthday?" one friend suggested. My last afternoon tea had been at The Veranda, at the Goring, in London during London's Les Dames d'Escoffier event, Edible London, last May. I hadn't had afternoon tea since then, and the memory alone was enough to make me smile. Warren Street Bar & Restaurant's execution, however, did not. Almost immediately, something about Warren Street Bar & Restaurant felt familiar. I looked around at the colors, fabrics and playful patterns. It reminded me of what Kit Kemp created at The Whitby Hotel. Then I spotted the striped No. 2 pencils sitting out for guests to take. Of course, we grabbed a [...]

By |2026-07-22T08:57:30-04:00July 22nd, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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A Return for a Birthday Celebration at Ci Siamo, Manhattan West, NY

My youngest was in town for my birthday, so we celebrated with dinner at Ci Siamo, Danny Meyer's restaurant at Manhattan West. We settled onto the second-floor terrace, sipped cocktails, and caught up on life. He chose an Old Forester Sour ($19); I went with the Calabrita ($19), their Italian take on a spicy Margarita. Next came my go-to: the decadent caramelized cipollini onion tart with its flaky crust, drizzled with balsamic and topped with gooey goat cheese fondue and Pecorino ($22). For our pasta course, we shared the delicate Stracci ($29), tossed with tender rabbit and finished with Parmigiano Reggiano. The sauce was so good that the hostess graciously [...]

By |2026-06-21T11:04:07-04:00July 20th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Nick & Toni’s, East Hampton, NYC

After the hostess seated us in one of the restaurant's inviting indoor dining rooms, she returned with a sprinkle of sparkling confetti and a cheerful "Happy Birthday." It was a thoughtful touch that quietly alerted everyone who served us—from the person refilling our water glasses to the busboys—that we were celebrating a special occasion. As we settled in, we nibbled on crisply fried, paper-thin zucchini chips ($23) while sipping a delicious rosé from the restaurant's spotlight wine list. We chose the Domaine de la Bastide Bandol 2023, a grenache-cinsault blend featured under "Age Worthy Rosé" ($100). Next, we shared a delightful house-made campanelle with duck ragù and fava beans, finished [...]

By |2026-07-18T08:59:11-04:00July 18th, 2026|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Bostwick’s Chowder House, East Hampton, NYC

When I'm in the Hamptons, we often stop at Bostwick's Chowder House on Route 27, Montauk Highway. It's a laid-back seafood spot with a casual outdoor patio, where meals arrive in plastic baskets lined with red-and-white checked paper, complete with disposable cups and utensils—a big part of its casual charm. I've always gotten their lobster rolls. In fact, when I wrote about it back in 2013, it was just $17.50; today it's closer to $40. Fortunately, I've already enjoyed a few excellent lobster rolls this summer, including some at Yacht Club and Rowayton Seafood. This visit, I tried the beer-battered fresh cod ($22.95). It was outstanding. The cod was fresh, [...]

By |2026-06-15T10:27:29-04:00July 16th, 2026|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Altro Paradiso After “Move the Passion,” SoHo, NYC

The media invitation to Move the Passion sounded intriguing. The invitation promised a unique, immersive and progressive EU-funded wine-tasting experience with art and entertainment, featuring wines from 25 Italian wineries at three different locations. Not exactly. The event was open to the public and drew 5,400 attendees, but there wasn't nearly enough food, wine or seating. We left the third venue—crowds at a standstill, no food and no libations remaining—after overheating in the basement of the second venue, which also had no food. We would have stopped after the second venue, but we figured we might as well stay long enough to enter the drawing for a trip to Italy. [...]

By |2026-06-09T18:04:39-04:00July 14th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Home Kitchen, UES, NYC + 250 Anniversary Tour of the Met

We selected Home Kitchen for our group to grab a bite after we toured the Met with historian Kevin Draper, as the options in the area are slim. What a find! Michael, the owner, set up a table for about 20 of us, where we enjoyed lunch together following our final event before our summer hiatus. The food is good, plentiful, and served with a smile. Many of the group tried the special soft-shell crab over mashed potatoes with fresh spinach ($39). Others had sandwiches, including the grilled chicken ($16) and BLT with slab bacon and avocado ($18), while some enjoyed the chili ($21) or one of the salads ($18–$26). [...]

By |2026-06-09T15:56:42-04:00July 12th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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