NYC Restaurant Reviews

Our New York City restaurant reviews

Obicà Mozzarella Bar Pizza e Cucina, Gramercy-Flatiron, NYC

One of my book groups replaced our book discussion gathering with a holiday luncheon, complete with an exchange of books. We were each asked to bring a wrapped book (new or used) that was a favorite for swapping. We met at Obicà Mozzarella Bar Pizza e Cucina in the Gramercy-Flatiron and enjoyed their prix-fixe luncheon menu ($15 - 26, depending on your selection, available from 12 to 2 pm). The food was fine, the camaraderie fabulous.  If you go, realize that the $15 express lunch, which includes a bowl of very thick (screaming for seasoning) butternut squash soup and a small salad, won't really fill you. Those small portions became [...]

By |2025-05-29T15:14:24-04:00February 3rd, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Cafe Sabarsky, Upper East Side, NYC

Silly us thought we'd get into the popular Hilma af Klint exhibit at the Guggenheim on a rainy day. The ticket holder line has an hour and a half wait. We left, heading a couple of blocks south to Café Sabarsky the Viennese eatery at the Neue Galerie to get caught up over a glass of wine and bowl of soup. One of my friends who had been recommended the goulash soup. I tried that; the others opted for the creamy chestnut soup topped with creme fraiche. Although the beef was a bit chewy and fatty, I liked the nicely balanced the flavor of the classic soup. With that, we [...]

By |2019-02-03T14:12:40-05:00January 30th, 2019|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Another Visit to Maialino, Gramercy, NYC

I've always enjoyed Maialino. I still dream of their eggs cacio peppe – soft scrambled eggs with pecorino cheese and lots of black pepper when I went for breakfast. Yes, that good. Lunch is also yummy. This visit was for a prix-fixe luncheon, served family-style, with the "Ex-expats of New York" group that I belong to. We dined there after the others helped our city's economy at the Union Square Holiday Market in December. We started with assorted salumi, olives and perfectly cooked marinated market veggies that included carrot, celery potatoes, sunchokes and diced winter squash. Our main course consisted of lemony spinach and ricotta ravioli in a light cream sauce, market [...]

By |2018-12-17T15:23:16-05:00January 28th, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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RH Rooftop Restaurant, Meatpacking District, NYC + Andy Warhol Exhibit at The Whitney

Chicago restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff (Au Cheval) opened this stylish restaurant in September on the rooftop of the Restoration Hardware in the Meatpacking District. RH sports crystal chandeliers, marble tabletops plus glass walls providing views of the surrounding skyline. Once the weather warms up, I'll go back for sure to dine or just have a glass of wine on the outdoor terrace that wraps around the restaurant. I had tried to get into RH once before but the wait was too long. Right now, they do not take reservations. This time we went on the early side of lunch — 11 am — before heading to The Whitney to see the [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:07:46-04:00January 26th, 2019|Big Apple Life, Other happenings, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Zavo Mediterranean Restaurant, Midtown, NYC

There was a little mix up with my comp press-tasting reservation. Seems the publicist forgot to make it but the staff at Zavo, the multi-level Mediterranean restaurant gladly recognized it. I started with the smoky "Blood & Smoke" cocktail made with mezcal, a chili pepper liqueur, Cointreau and blood orange puree ($16), my guest had their Bulleit bourbon "Bumblebee's Knees: with bergamot and Moscato liqueurs ($16).  We liked both of the seafood apps that we shared — the grilled jumbo prawn with marinated tomatoes ($12) and the four garlicky shrimp in parsley butter ($13). The roasted red and golden beets salad included orange supremes and an airy goat cheese mousse [...]

By |2018-12-31T09:28:13-05:00January 24th, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Returned to Lafayette, NoHo, NYC + Merchant House

A group of us ate at Lafayette, where I have enjoyed many good meals, as it was close to the Merchant's House where we were heading for a special production of "A Christmas Carol." If you're not familiar, the Merchant's House Museum is New York City's only family home preserved intact — both inside and out — from the 19th century. It's complete with the family's original furnishings and personal possessions, including clothing. During the holidays, they offer a one-act one-performer production of this Charles Dickens classic. Because I was with a large group, I didn't photograph as many dishes as usual. Sharing what I did take. The handmade Pain de [...]

By |2022-10-27T11:47:22-04:00January 22nd, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Brunch at Greenwich Steakhouse, West Village, NYC

One really rainy Sunday, my friend and I headed to Greenwich Steakhouse to sample their new midday brunch and lunch menus. We sat in the bar area of the sleekly designed, comfy three-story restaurant at the banquet in a corner. Ideal for easy conversation. Juan Carlos greeted us warmly. That quiet day, he was everything but the cook. He started by making me a bloody Mary to accompany my tastings. With that, we shared the flavorful crab cake (I prefer mine with slightly less breading) and a thick slice of whole wheat toast piled high with an avocado blend then topped with poached eggs ($12). My friend ordered the eggwhite omelet ($16), requesting [...]

By |2019-01-21T10:26:12-05:00January 18th, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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Missy Robbins New Misi, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC

Of course, I had to head to Williamsburg to sample Missy Robbins' newest pasta-focused restaurant. It's one of the hottest tickets in town. As you may know, Missy is the acclaimed chef behind Lilia, the Brooklyn restaurant; that's what she received this year's James Beard Best Chef: New York for... Misi's is near the Domino Sugar redevelopment on the East River. From it, you see the Williamsburg Bridge and the open kitchen. The restaurant offers only three things: veggie starters, pasta and gelato. Service is well-trained, as you'd expect considering Missy's restaurant lineage. We started with one plate piled high with marinated peppers, the other with whipped ricotta piped onto thick slices of charred [...]

By |2018-12-08T15:18:05-05:00January 16th, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Charlie Marshall’s Wine Bar: Dianne & Elisabeth, Theatre District, NYC + Pretty Woman

Just north on Tenth Avenue past Charlie Marshall's first restaurant, The Marshall is his newest Dianne and Elisabeth, named after Charlie's business partners' mother and his own mother. D&E opened in 2016. Like his eponymous restaurant, this is also farm-to-table small plates with main courses inspired by seasonal ingredients. I've been twice recently. The first time, a group of us stopped by after seeing the Broadway version of the iconic movie Pretty Woman, a show that we all thoroughly enjoyed. Most pundits did not, click here for a complete review. The second, we were Charlie's guests. Since I sampled so much, I'm sharing the dishes that I am suggesting you try.  I can never [...]

By |2018-12-17T15:21:51-05:00January 12th, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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For a Quick Bite at Massoni, NoMad, NYC

I had been to the Arlo NoMad Hotel for an event with Shackleton Whiskey where I met both the manager and the publicist of Massoni for Three Kings Restaurant Group, consisting of Chef Dale Talde, David Massoni and John Bush. In addition to some apps, the menu features pan-pizza, pasta and sandwiches. It's not a place to visit if on a high-protein regime, as most of the tasty morsels are carbohydrates. I started with the Vespa, a gin martini made with Fords gin, Lillet and fennel bitters ($14) plus lots of apps. As their guests, we sampled their super garlicky knots with meatballs (three of each $14), that I'd recommend. Their burrata [...]

By |2019-02-01T14:04:10-05:00January 10th, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Chinese Food in the Flatiron Area at Jue Lan Club, Gramercy-Flatiron, NYC

Silly me. I had walked past the Jue Lan Club on West 20th Street many times, thinking it was a private venue in The Limelight Church. It's not, instead it's a wonderful Chinese restaurant open to the public! I recently enjoyed their hospitality when invited in to sample their menu. We began with cocktails. The Madame Adventurist ($16) caught my eye and tickled my palate with its spiciness from the Szechuan chilies added to the tequila, the Ancho Reyes (a spicy liqueur from ancho and poblano chiles) and agave. Our first app was dumplings filled with pureed edamame, drizzled with truffle oil and sitting in miso broth ($18 for 6). [...]

By |2019-01-12T14:19:00-05:00January 8th, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Wagamama, East Village, NYC

Heading to Wagamama was a lucky accident. We had planned to eat in the East Village at a Chinese restaurant that specializes in crustaceans sold by the pound, that is until we arrived and noticed the "B" on the door. No way I was eating "fresh" seafood there. I searched for restaurants in the area that I hadn't yet been to and remembered that someone had mentioned that I should try Wagamama, a popular Asian casual food chain that's been in London since '92. I quickly made a reservation and headed over. We first asked if there might be a booth in a quiet area so we could talk as the [...]

By |2018-11-19T17:38:13-05:00January 4th, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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High in the Sky Manhatta, Financial District, NYC + Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof

What incredible views and spectacular service at Danny Meyer's (Union Square Hospitality Group) newest restaurant Manhatta in the Financial District. The hospitality begins as you check your coat on the ground floor before ascended to the 60th floor and continues throughout. Manhatta offers a 3-course prix fixe menu at $78 per person. Like Union Square Hospitality Group's other locations, this is a non-tipping restaurant, meaning gratuity is included. Dave, the friendly sommelier, came by and poured us each a glass of Pierre Gerbais champagne while we soaked in the amazing views even on a foggy night! Be careful not to fill up on their wonderful crusty bread with a chew interior [...]

By |2019-01-02T09:34:30-05:00January 2nd, 2019|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Birthday Brunch at East Pole Kitchen and Bar, Upper East Side, NYC

Sunday brunch on the UES is often a family affair with restaurants filled with noisy kids. I'm only mentioning this as a warning of the racket you will experience during brunch time as we did at East Pole Kitchen and Bar where we went to celebrate a friend's birthday. When I made my reservation, I requested a candle in a dessert and confirmed that with the hostess when I checked in. We were four, seated in a booth more intended for three. Unless we had wanted to wait, there wasn't a larger table for us. We squeezed in. Each of us ordered a different one of their interesting libations. I requested their "spicy" [...]

By |2018-12-30T14:09:49-05:00December 29th, 2018|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Greek Food Court at Fournos Theophilos, Theatre District, NYC

From the website, I knew Fournos Theophilos was a fast-casual place to get a quick Greek meal but both I and my friend misinterpreted the fact that there was table service upstairs — at least not during lunch. Sadly, I oh, so dislike food halls like this! To say Fournos was disorganized is being kind. We had opted for the hot lunch, so we had to stand in one line to first order our base (either orzo or lentils and rice, I chose the latter, fakorizo). We then moved to another line for the other selections. My first option was a choice of two of the four sides. I took their version [...]

By |2018-11-13T12:19:44-05:00December 27th, 2018|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Moroccan CousCous at Kish-Kash, West Village, NY + Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me

Fans of Einat Admony's Balaboosta (a Yiddish term that means the perfect housewife and mother) will enjoy a visit to her newest place Kish-Kash (named for the special sieve traditionally used to make the small semolina pasta). This North African casual dining couscous restaurant specializes in hand-rolled, hand-sieved Moroccan couscous and authentic North African Jewish cuisine. I was intrigued, having read about her opening earlier this summer as the first-ever couscous bar in New York City, featuring the couscous topped with braised meats and fish, plus salads, challah with hummus, pickled veggies and wines from North Africa and Isreal. The hummus that comes with challah ($9) was fine. I also liked the [...]

By |2018-12-23T09:36:09-05:00December 22nd, 2018|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Brunch at Burger & Lobster, Midtown, NYC + The Lifespan of a Fact

I had been to Burger & Lobster but not at the Midtown location nor for brunch. Having been invited to sample their fare, I headed there one Sunday morning before seeing The Lifespan of a Fact. An amazing cast of Cherry Jones, Daniel Radcliffe and Bobby Cannavale star in a new play where a fact checker (Radcliffe) is assigned by an editor (Jones) to fact check John D'Agata's essay (Cannavale). A true tale. For a full review, click here. The welcoming Times Square location restaurant has 300 lobster traps lining the entrance and all sorts of fish paraphernalia hanging from the rafters. We sat at a booth and ordered a build-your-own Bloody Mary to start the meal. [...]

By |2018-12-23T09:53:03-05:00December 19th, 2018|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Inside the Jane Hotel, Lunch at Old Rose, West Village, NYC

Some Connecticut friends came in for the Warhol exhibit at The Whitney. I walked over to meet them for lunch at the quaint and quiet Old Rose restaurant inside the Jane Hotel on Jane Street. One had their special Negroni made with gin, Campari, Carpano Antica and vermouth ($13), I had and liked their Carpathia made with bourbon and Dolin Blanc with lemon peel ($14) and our teetotaler had a couple glasses of ice tea ($4 each). We all shared — and were delighted with — the quinoa bowl ($15) with roasted eggplant, sun-dried bell peppers, broccoli rabe, romesco (pureed red peppers, garlic and nuts) with added chicken (+$5). Our [...]

By |2018-11-10T13:28:01-05:00December 17th, 2018|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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A New French Kitchen: Le Privé, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC

A new French kitchen, Le Privé, opened this summer in Hell's Kitchen. They had invited me to come in and sample their cooking, saying that they would create a special tasting menu for me and my guest and would be sure to add a candle to the dessert, as it was my friend's b-day. Perfect, I thought, as we didn't have to make any decisions and would get to sample many of their dishes. Silly me, it slipped my mind that one should never assume anything. What they meant was that they would select menu items that we'd be eating, not providing tastes of many things. We were both served their [...]

By |2018-11-08T11:51:10-05:00December 15th, 2018|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Lunch near the UN at La Pecora Bianca, Midtown, NYC

My friend had an appointment at the UN and asked me to find a place to meet for lunch in the area, which is how we ended up at La Pecora Bianca. It'a bright, inviting place to dine with an interesting affordable lunch menu. We each sipped from our glass of Gavi di Gavi, Giordano Lombardo 2016 Piemonte ($11) while waiting for the waiter to take our order. Sadly, service was way off and so was the food we ordered. The chicken (+$6) that topped my shaved Brussels sprouts salad with pickled raisins and sunflower seeds ($14) was dry and overcooked, my friend's salmon (+$7) topping his farro salad with [...]

By |2018-12-23T09:39:41-05:00December 13th, 2018|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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