NYC Best Bites

Mezze (Formerly Merchant River House), Hudson River Esplanade, NYC

One warm summer afternoon, we walked the Hudson River Park walkway down the Esplanade right below Brookfield Place to Mezze, formerly the Merchant River House, for outdoor dining. The staff sat us in the smaller outdoor space near the entrance. I suggest requesting the more spacious outdoor terrace through the restaurant to that porch, where the views are more spectacular not blocked by the entrance. Since it was restaurant week, one of us had the $60 3-course meal: grilled pita with baba ghanoush, lamb chops with mint relish and sauteéd kale, and lemon sorbet for dessert. The chops were minuscule but tasty; we left most of the kale as it [...]

By |2024-09-21T11:32:47-04:00September 12th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Authentic Moroccan at Tara’s Kitchen, Tribeca, NYC + Pilobolus

I had never heard of 1000-hole pancakes, nor had I had them in Morocco. My friend was invited to sample these spongy semolina pancakes, also called beghrir, at Tara Kitchen in Tribeca, owned by Aneese Waheed. The pancakes are cooked only on one side and not flipped. Thanks to yeast in the batter, tiny holes appear on the surface, giving the pancakes a delicate and lacy texture. The Tara Kitchen serves them with housemade honey butter and a berry compote. We liked the texture and flavor of this tasty item on their brunch menu. We also sampled her cocktails. I'd recommend the delicious and unusual rhubarb Cosmo ($22) with vodka, [...]

By |2024-09-21T11:22:38-04:00September 10th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Zou Zou’s, Manhattan West, NYC + The Fringe’s “Pretty Good, Not Bad” + Stereophonic

It is not normal for me to attend two shows in one day. That said, it was my friend's only day to reschedule seeing Stereophonic, the Tony-award-winning show at the Golden Theatre about the rollercoaster ride of recording an album. We loved the show, yet felt they could have trimmed the 3+ hour show a lot. After the show, I headed to Zou Zou's at Manhattan West — across from Moynihan Train Station — to meet some friends for dinner before attending the one-woman performance of Pretty Good, Not Bad at The Tank that evening. Thank goodness the second show, starring Ellen Toland and directed by Rachel McBath, was just about an [...]

By |2024-09-08T09:47:07-04:00September 8th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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GupShup, Flatiron-Gramercy, NYC + Vivian Maier at Fotografiska

The first major retrospective in the United States of nanny-photographer Vivian Maier’s extraordinary work is at Fotografiska New York, but it will only be open until September 29, 2024, when the museum closes. Word has it that they are looking for a larger space.This museum currently offers photographic exhibitions by leading photographers and emerging talents. Four of us went, adding a $5 glass of red or white wine to our admission to sip while perusing the photographs. Afterward, we walked downtown a few blocks to one of my fav Indian restaurants, GupShup. We started with their pricey cocktails ($19 - $22 each) and two fabulous, not-to-be-missed appetizers. The well-seasoned tandoori [...]

By |2024-08-24T14:08:30-04:00September 6th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Bayon, Midtown East, NYC + Panarama Room, Graduate Hotel, Roosevelt Island

We met at Bayon, one of my friends' favorite neighborhood restaurants. I was eager to sample the Cambodian fare. We ordered a bottle of Gruner Veltliner, 2022, Aichenberg, Austria ($36), which paired nicely with the food. For appetizers, we ate mango salad, Gnoam Svay, with julienne green mango strips, fresh avocado chunks, dried coconut and roasted peanuts ($18). Also good are the Summer Rolls, with two dipping sauces for the rice paper wraps, bulging with prawns and fresh greens ($15 for 4). We shared three entrees, one better than the next. The shrimp and avocado Khmer red curry made flavorful from coconut milk and fresh basil ($30), comes served with [...]

By |2024-08-24T14:03:38-04:00September 4th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings, Rooftop|0 Comments
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New Puttery Mini-Golf and Lounge, Meat Packing District, NYC

Puttery, a new mini-golf game on West 14th Street with two bars and light fare, opened earlier this year, offering bar fare and fun on multiple floors. The night we attended, the elevator wasn't working. We started in the third-floor bar/restaurant area with drinks and nibbles, sharing tacos, sliders, fries and shrimp. The chicken tacos ($19 for three) came with salsa macha; carne asada tacos ($20 for three) with salsa rojo; the filet mignon sliders ($23 for two) came topped with caramelized onions, gruyere cheese and truffle aioli, the fire shrimp ($22) are in a Cajun butter and, of course, fries. One golfer ordered their garden salad ($19) with beets, [...]

By |2024-08-24T14:03:47-04:00September 2nd, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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La Palapa + Holiday Lounge, East Village, NYC

We met at Holiday Lounge in the East Village for a drink before dinner next door at La Palapa. Almost 100 years old, this iconic watering hole has a mahogany horseshoe bar and a hand-painted harem scene mural from its Ali Baba days. We were guests of one friend who won the dinner at a raffle at Les Dames d'Escoffier New York's (LDNY) scholarship reception. LDNY is an unparalleled collective of forward-thinking and successful female leaders in all food, beverage and hospitality sectors. We support aspiring professional women in food and beverage and champion critical industry issues. Since 1977, LDNY has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to over [...]

By |2024-08-29T07:24:23-04:00August 29th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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2024 US Open Food Tasting Preview

You'll eat well this year with expansive dining options across the US Open Tennis Championships grounds at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. I know that, as I recently sampled this year's offerings from the many celebrity chef partners. Simon Kim’s COQODAQ debuts this year, serving his black golden nugget fried chicken with seasonal truffles. Some returning celebrity chefs with offerings include Alex Guarnaschelli, Kwame Onwuachi, Ed Brown, David Burke, Josh Capon, Pat LaFrieda, Masaharu Morimoto Pat LaFried, Kwame Onwuachi Tatiana) and more. So many choices, so little time, unless you spend your time at the open just eating!  We sampled lots of goodies, including David Burke's coconut shrimp with avocado [...]

By |2024-09-04T16:00:23-04:00August 27th, 2024|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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London Lennie’s, Rego Park, Queens, NYC

We drove to Woodhaven Boulevard in Rego Park, Queens, to dine at the seafood restaurant London Lennie's that's been owned and operated by the Barnes Family since 1959. The valet parked our car as we headed inside to our table. Our waitress, Mariann, listened intently as we each requested our drinks, apps and meals, indicating that one of us has a severe shrimp allergy. She never took a note, walked to the computer and entered our orders. Impressive. When Mariann returned with our beverages, she reiterated that the kitchen was aware of the shrimp allergy. We happily sipped our mojitos ($15) as we nibbled a slice of the warm small [...]

By |2024-08-19T14:49:01-04:00August 23rd, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Beth D’Addono

Beth D'Addono, a food and travel writer specializing in New Orleans (NoLA), and I met through Les Dames d'Escoffier (LDEI), a philanthropic organization of women leaders in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. She was the co-founder and, then, president of the New Orleans chapter when I was on our international board as her liaison. We became quick friends, cemented by my visits to her city. She's quite prolific about NoLA, having penned 100 Things to Do in New Orleans Before You Die and The Hunt Guide New Orleans. You can read her impactful work about The Big Easy through her regular contributions for Eater, Gambit, The Local Palate, Fodor's Guides, The Rough [...]

By |2024-08-22T07:09:14-04:00August 21st, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Waterside Dining Central Park Boathouse, Central Park, NYC

I have a soft spot for iconic New York City spots, especially those that pleasantly surprise visitors with their peaceful, charming ambiance. The recently reopened Central Park Boathouse, sitting by a tranquil lake with lovers in rowboats, is one. It's a serene oasis in the heart of the bustling city. As you sit at a white tablecloth-covered table, the peaceful ambiance of the Boathouse envelops you, making you forget the city's hustle and bustle. The Boathouse has been a backdrop in classics like “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sex and the City.”   I was fortunate to be invited to experience their offerings under the new management of Legends Hospitality, the group [...]

By |2024-08-26T14:31:50-04:00August 19th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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The Norm, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NYC + The Eyes of the Storm

I was a teenager when the Beatles arrived in NYC in 1963 for their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. That trip catapulted them into stardom. During that time period, Paul McCartney took photos with his Pentax camera looking out from within the Beatlemania frenzy. Hence, "The Eyes of the Storm." Those photographs and more memorabilia can be seen at the exhibit Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, but only until later this week, specifically, August 18. As we often do when visiting this museum's major exhibitions, we spent hours in the Eyes of the Storm. Remember the quintessential Dior costume exhibit? We opted to grab a bite [...]

By |2024-08-09T08:19:52-04:00August 15th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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MOMA’s Terrace, Midtown, NYC + Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunt

Our six-person team gathered in the MOMA lobby (Museum of Modern Art) for a scavenger hunt with Watson Adventures. We had 90 minutes to find answers to the 28 questions throughout the museum. We moved quickly with each team member helping find the answers. Once found, we typed our responses into the online form. We received 5 points for a correct answer and 3 points if we got it after getting a hint.  We got 28 right on the first try; the other two on our second try.  We won the competition, winning only 20% off our next hunt. Afterward, we headed up to the sixth-floor terrace for a drink [...]

By |2024-08-09T08:15:58-04:00August 13th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Torch and Crown, Union Square, NYC

After attending a packed press party with little to no food or libations at Travelers Poets and Friends, we left looking for something to eat and drink. It was a perfect summer night, so I looked for outdoor seating, ending up at the newly opened Torch and Crown at Union Square Pavilion. We skipped the locally brewed beers for their take on an elderflower spritz called MC Lyte Spritz ($18), made with vodka, St. Germain and City Winery's cava. I had to head inside the Pavillion and stand in line to get the drinks. My dining partner used her phone to order the two-patty Lou burger ($19) with cheddar cheese, [...]

By |2024-08-08T10:03:01-04:00August 11th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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44 and X, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC + Almost Sterophonic

On one of those perfect summer days with the sun shining and a little chill in the air, we decided to sit outside on 44 & X's patio before heading to theatre. We each had an app from their seasonally inspired menu in the theatre district on the corner of Forty-fourth Street and Tenth Avenue and shared an entree. I enjoyed the large crab-filled blue claw fritter with a tomato tarragon sauce ($25). My dining partner savored her hamachi sashimi with fresh blood oranges and sliced avocado in a blood orange syrup ($21). We then shared the orange-dusted Maine lobster in a salad with braised artichokes, wilted leeks, roasted sweet [...]

By |2024-08-11T08:25:09-04:00August 9th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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City Winery, Hudson River Park, NYC

On a gorgeous summer day, I met a friend to wander through the shops at Chelsea Market, then headed to City Winery for lunch. We sat inside by the windows at the waterside with a beautiful view of the Hudson and Little Island. We shared their tasty Greek Salad ($19) that included baby lettuce with small piles of Bulgarian feta, kalamata olives, shaved red onions, sliced heirloom cherry tomatoes, and stuffed grape leaves. We also shared their "fun-guy" flatbread ($23) — a yummy crust topped with fresh ricotta and pesto topped with foraged mushrooms while we sipped the Casa Blanca, Chile Sauvignon Blanc. ($14). I recommend a visit! City Winery Hudson [...]

By |2024-07-02T11:15:59-04:00August 7th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Laut, finally an “A”, Union Square, NYC + Sleeping Beauties at the Met

I had always enjoyed dining at Laut, a restaurant that blends Malaysian, Singaporean and Thai food, in my hood. When their letter grade from the Health Department that promotes and protects the city's health changed from A to B to C to worse,  I avoided it. When I noticed the restaurant again sporting an "A," I suggested to my friends that we head there after attending the Met opening of Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. That exhibit contained over 200  garments and accessories spanning four centuries, all visually connected through themes of nature. To start, we shared their refreshing papaya salad ($15) made of shredded papaya with chilies, string beans, fresh [...]

By |2024-08-05T09:07:24-04:00August 5th, 2024|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Secretive Celebrations Ends at Laser Wolf, Brooklyn, NYC

I was told to wear comfy shoes, dress casually and meet at the Astor Place subway at 2:15 for a surprise birthday celebration. After exiting the subway at City Hall, we met some other friends. We walked the Brooklyn Bridge, had a drink at Time Out, then headed to the dock at Dumbo and boarded a barge for The Masterwork Series of Barge Music: a quartet (3 violins and a cello) of classical music from Brahms and Beethoven. Fabulously unique. (If you go and get woozy on the water, be prepared with Dramamine, as you might need some. One violinist shared that he had taken some before playing!) From there, [...]

By |2024-08-11T08:17:38-04:00August 3rd, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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L’Artusi, West Village, NYC

It took a few moments to adjust to the busting noise level at L’Artusi in the West Village, having just eaten at Greywind where I didn't have to strain to hear my dining partner. We were looking for a crisp, cold white on this hot summer night. We ordered the Pallagrello Bianco "caiatì," Michele Alois 2022 ($64) on the reco of our server. After he poured it and had moved to another table, we flagged him down, as the wine was almost at room temperature. He returned with three fresh glasses and a new chilled bottle, popped the cork, poured the new wine, which immediately frosted our glasses and took [...]

By |2024-07-30T07:11:12-04:00August 1st, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Jane Bertch

Earlier this month, I reintroduced my Guest Foodie column and its interview that acquaints you with the thoughts, insights and achievements of people in or related to the food industry. Today's story is about Jane Bertch, my American-Parisian friend, the impressive Dame who started our Paris chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier. At that time, I was serving on the international board of the philanthropic group as a chapter board liaison to many chapters. We met in Paris. Jane started her career in finance, moving from the corporate world to the entrepreneurial one. In 2009, she founded La Cuisine Paris. Just this year, she authored a book about starting that school. Specifically, [...]

By |2024-08-02T09:44:10-04:00July 30th, 2024|Big Apple Life, Foodie Interviews, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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