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City Bites | Bite of the Best

City Bites

The best City Bites from New York

Brunch at La Grande Boucherie NYC, Midtown, NYC + Every Brilliant Thing

Every Brilliant Thing, Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe's play about a person creating a list of everything wonderful in the world to help their mother cope with depression, is at the Hudson Theatre. It's a feel-good show that's not to be missed. Lucky for us, we saw it with Mariska Hargitay in her Broadway debut, as we all sat on stage as part of the audience. For those who aren't Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) fans, she's been the star of the show since it premiered in 1999, more than 27 years ago. That makes her character, Detective-turned-Captain Olivia Benson, the longest-running character in an American primetime live-action [...]

By |2026-06-07T10:52:18-04:00July 2nd, 2026|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Bargain Lunch at Pan Asian Amber Village, West Village, NY

I had no idea you could still get a $13 two-course lunch at a sit-down restaurant in the West Village. I discovered Amber, a pan-Asian place that a pickleball friend raved about. She and her hubby are regulars, so I had to check it out for myself. Amber Village on Sixth Avenue offers a 2-course $13 lunch that includes a starter of miso soup or salad, plus two small vegetarian egg rolls, then an entree. Four hungry adults dug into two of their $13 offerings, ordering the shrimp & veggie (eggplant, sweet potato, broccoli) tempura, and chicken coconut green curry. To that, we added their chicken lettuce wraps ($14) and [...]

By |2026-06-30T15:53:32-04:00June 30th, 2026|City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Birthday Celebration at the Authentic Lebanese Au Za’atar, UES, NYC

I was the first to arrive and spotted Nina, the hostess, setting the lone outdoor table. Naturally, I began yakking with her and requested that our group be seated there. She told me she was new to the business, and I complimented her on her welcoming warmth while sharing my favorite hospitality tome, Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, which champions giving guests more than they expect. As luck would have it, we did get that outdoor table for our 120-year birthday celebration — two Lebanese friends each turning 60. The celebrants took charge of the ordering, introducing the rest of us to some of their favorite dishes. Soon the table [...]

By |2026-06-21T08:13:31-04:00June 21st, 2026|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Glasshouse Tavern, Theatre District, NYC + Giant

"Giant," starring John Lithgow as antisemitic Roald Dahl at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway through June 28, 2026, is not to be missed. His powerful performance should receive a Tony nod, for sure. Dinner at the Glasshouse, about two blocks from the theatre, was not as good. The food is fine, nothing outstanding, but good. The service is another story, starting with the unwelcoming greeting you receive upon entering. We each arrived separately and received the same unwelcome. Food was fine, especially the salads filled with a variety of goodies. Our Organic Green Salad ($18) contained mesclun, slivered radish, half-rounds of cucumbers, heirloom cherry tomatoes, pomegranate seeds (arils) and [...]

By |2026-05-04T08:13:44-04:00May 27th, 2026|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Back for Brunch at Haven Rooftop in Sanctuary Hotel + Buena Vista Social Club

We celebrated with a birthday brunch at Haven Rooftop before heading to the Buena Vista Social Club musical — an electrifying show that blends Grammy-winning Afro-Cuban music with pure theatrical joy, leaving the entire Schoenfeld Theatre on their feet. Nearly a decade ago, I had the privilege of seeing the original in Cuba. We started with a round of cocktails and mocktails, ranging from $12 to $20. The menu offered classic brunch fare: bagel & lox ($22), omelets ($21–$23), home fries ($9), steak & eggs ($34), french fries ($15) and huevos rancheros ($19). We wrapped up with coffees — ranging from a cappuccino to a double espresso ($6–$11) — alongside [...]

By |2026-04-25T08:51:43-04:00May 13th, 2026|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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The Marshal, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC + Cold War Choir Practice

I’ve been attending shows at MCC theatre since they opened, and before when they were downtown on Christopher Street at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, and until Cold War Choice Practice, everything I had seen there was outstanding until now. I say skip it. From there, we started walking, looking for a place to get a bite. Ardesia, where we had planned to grab a drink, was hosting a bachelorette party. Closed to the public! We ended up at my friend Charlie Marshal's The Marshal on Tenth Avenue at 44th Street. It never disappoints, and this time was no different. It was midafternoon, so we just indulged (indulged is the correct [...]

By |2026-04-19T20:09:18-04:00April 19th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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La Masseria, Theatre District, NYC + Two Strangers Carry A Cake (Across New York)

During our sub-frigid winter, I chose restaurants within a 5-minute walk of our theatre. This time, the classic La Masseria is across 48th Street from where we saw the delightful two-character musical, Two Strangers Carry A Cake (Across New York)—one of those shows where you leave smiling. To start our meal—along with our bread service—we picked at their crispy, lightly fried zucchini strips, Chef Pino-style. I'd recommend it as a nice way to start our meal. Works nicely with a Montepulciano ($17). One friend enjoyed the whole branzino with roasted potatoes and diced veggies, caponata-style ($55), while another enjoyed calf's liver sautéed with onions & blueberry vinegar ($41.50). Both good. [...]

By |2026-02-21T09:44:38-05:00February 25th, 2026|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Lunch at Cognac, Upper East Side, NYC

One of the best parts of New York is that many people visit our spectacular city, allowing me to reconnect with friends.  Recently, a friend from Sarasota came to town, and we met for lunch at a cozy restaurant on the Upper East Side, near where I had my book group in the mid-afternoon. The restaurant Cognac is a brasserie serving classic French cuisine across its three locations, with attentive service. I ordered their tart with sliced roasted tomatoes and fresh goat cheese atop some warm puff pastry  ($21). However, I couldn’t help but daydream about the caramelized-onion tart at Ci Siamo. I paired my meal with a glass of [...]

By |2026-01-26T10:46:23-05:00January 14th, 2026|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Shuka Birthday Celebration + Art on Broadway + Billiards

We kicked off our celebration at the new production of ART, this time with Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris. I had seen the original version with Alan Alda, Victor Garber, and Alfred Molina in 1998. I haven't laughed so hard since I saw the original cast of Spamalot!  James Corden stopped the show.... more than once.  I highly recommend. We stopped at Amsterdam Billiards for some fierce ping pong competition before heading to dinner at Shuka on McDougal. Once settled in, we ordered lots of their shareable mezze, including squash hummus ($12), taramasalata ($14), tahini dip ($12), crisp cauliflower ($17), crudite ($11), falafel $14) and a fall [...]

By |2025-12-23T10:41:49-05:00January 5th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Vinateria, Harlem, NYC + It’s Only A Play

When my friend suggested going to see Terrance McNally's hilarious play, "It's Only A Play" at Morningside Theater in the Morningside Heights area of Manhattan, I suggested we first dine at my friend and fellow Dame, Yvette Leeper Bueno's Vinateria, with its Spanish- and Italian-influenced food. Yvette graciously donated the gift certificate to a Les Dames d'Escoffier raffle, which I won. She warmly welcomed us to her friendly establishment, introducing us to her special people. I started with an Old Fashioned made with Cooper's Daughter, a small-batch bourbon finished in black walnut syrup barrels. This distillery is woman-owned and family-operated, also producing its own cooperage and apples. My dining partner [...]

By |2025-12-23T10:41:09-05:00January 2nd, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Lunch at Marseille, Hell’s Kitchen + Little Bear Ridge Road

I jumped a subway from my pickleball game to try to get uptown quickly to meet friends for a quick lunch at Marseilles before theatre. Always a good choice. To make up for my lateness, I ordered a chicken salad from the menu so it would be ready when I arrived, so we'd get to the curtain on time. I walked in as our fab server, Carlos, placed my grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, celeriac remoulade and cherry tomatoes in a mustard vinaigrette ($24). It was just missing the menu-stated haricot vert. So tasty, though. I'd order it again. One dining partner savored their crab salad with asparagus, shaved [...]

By |2025-11-28T19:09:27-05:00December 3rd, 2025|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Salinas, Chelsea, NYC + Ethan Cohen’s Let’s Love!

It wasn't our first time at Salinas, so we knew to reserve a table in the well-lit garden room at the back. Unfortunately, a party was taking place there, so we were seated in a comfortable booth as close to it as possible, allowing the outdoor light to brighten our experience. Two of us started with their Sangria, a delightful blend of Spanish red wine, brandy, pomegranate, citrus fruit and red wine ice cubes to prevent dilution ($42 per half liter). We started our meal with a few shared appetizers, including the very tasty coliflor, featuring tender tricolor cauliflower served with a citrusy Greek yogurt sweetened with sweet paprika ($19). [...]

By |2025-11-01T09:57:58-04:00November 5th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Frena, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC + Caroline at MCC

Before heading to MCC, the far west theatre west of 10th Avenue, we stopped at Frena, where Taboon once was located on the corner of 52nd and Tenth Avenue, for a quick bite before our 6 pm (odd time, I know!) show, Caroline. The weather cooperated, and we were still able to sit outside and enjoy the last nice days of summer. The three-woman powerful show explores the challenging dynamics between three generations of women. This thought-provoking 90 minutes of theatre is not to be missed. As for Frena, we once again indulged in their mezze, featuring a trio of choices ($26) served with their addictive, freshly baked bread. We [...]

By |2025-10-02T09:21:30-04:00October 28th, 2025|City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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A Return to Mary Lane + Josh Sharp & Jean Smart

We stopped in for a mid-afternoon brunch at Mary Lane (part of Blackfoot Hospitality - Little Owl, The Clam and more) before heading to Greenwich House Theater to see Josh Sharp deliver his hysterical 80-minute 2000-slide one-man show. We had an attentive staff as we enjoyed an afternoon meal. We started with cocktails that included their first crush ($12) and a couple of Cappelletti spritz ($12) as we got caught up. Our server took our order, then asked if we might want anything else, as the kitchen was closing shortly. We knew that. Our show started at 5, so we leisurely sipped our drinks, awaiting our selections. One had their [...]

By |2025-10-05T08:43:25-04:00October 5th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Red Hook Lobster Pound, Red Hook, Brooklyn NYC

Sometimes, you find yourself at the right restaurant at the right time. After a morning at Ikea in Red Hook, Brooklyn, we ended up at Red Hook Lobster Pound. Our friendly server, David, mentioned that, in addition to it being Restaurant Week, it was also Lobster Wednesday, when their classic lobster dinner was just $25 instead of the usual $52. This incredible meal features a 1.5-pound, fresh Maine lobster—straight from the tank—served with boiled potatoes and deliciously sweet corn, which was even sweeter than what I've picked up at the Union Square Farmers Market. We learned that the lobsters arrive fresh from Maine twice a week. We donned our lobster [...]

By |2025-10-05T08:48:33-04:00September 27th, 2025|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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The Rotating View, Marriott Marquis, NYC

Knowing that The View, the revolving restaurant atop the Marriott Marquis on Broadway, is a venture of Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG), we knew the food and service would be good. We weren't disappointed. And knowing it was on the 48th floor and having visited the Marriott many times, I headed straight to the lobby's elevators, planning to punch in the 48th floor and board an elevator. Not. I learned after wandering around looking for someone to assist that I was supposed to go to the third floor, then follow the signs for The View, where a host should greet me and point me to the correct elevator. [...]

By |2026-07-12T11:33:52-04:00August 17th, 2025|City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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**Happy Hour at Mermaid Inn, Times Square, NYC + John Proctor, The Villain

We grabbed a bite during The Mermaid Inn's Times Square happy hour, as my theatre-going friends are oyster lovers. That and it was close to the theatre where we were heading to the Tony-winning play, John Proctor the Villain, which I would recommend.  During happy hour, the restaurant offers the chef's choice of oysters for $2 each, with a minimum of six.  In addition to the oysters, we tried the fried calamari ($11), which was almost entirely composed of fried coating. I'd skip the lobster roll ($26), as it the crustacean wasn't very fresh. What I'd recommend is the country-fried free-range chicken, served with jalapeño cheddar cornbread and braised collard greens, [...]

By |2025-06-28T10:39:29-04:00July 7th, 2025|Big Apple Life, Happy Hours, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Pig & Khao, Lower East Side, NYC

NOTE: After visiting, we saw this notice online: "Our last day of service will be June 22." Both the UWS and Chesea (Piggyback) locations are open.  Earlier this year, my daughter-in-law raved about a Southeast Asian restaurant on the Lower East Side where she met a colleague when in town. I couldn't resist trying it, so I made a reservation with some friends I had met on a recent trip to Ecuador. We squeezed into a cozy corner booth, and right away, the atmosphere was lively and casual, with loud 90s hip-hop music playing in the background. I love the family-style dining experience, as it encourages sharing. Once we sipped our [...]

By |2026-02-24T08:08:39-05:00June 18th, 2025|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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Brunch at Pascalou, Upper East Side, NYC + Conservatory Gardens

After meeting at the 86th Street subway entrance, we walked along Central Park to the 105th entrance to the Conservatory Gardens, passing from the formal French gardens to the more relaxed English gardens, both in full bloom. I highly recommend making this stroll. We headed downtown on Madison to find a place to grab a bite. Fortunately, we snagged a window seat (which had the best light for photos!) at the small split-level French bistro, Pascalou. We started with an Aperol Spritz and engaged in lots of conversation while sharing two delectable entrees. One, a bucheron goat cheese omelet, the other a ham and cheese quesadilla. Each came with two small [...]

By |2025-06-01T14:39:43-04:00June 3rd, 2025|City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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