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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Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Chinatown, NYC: Stop on Doyer Street Crawl

I arrived early on Doyer Street to meet my friend for our Chinatown birthday crawl. I noticed no line at Nom Wah, Chinatown's first Dim Sum Parlor. Founded in 1920 as a bakery and tea parlor, Nom Wah has been the location of many movies and TV shows, including Reversal of Fortune, Premium Rush, All Good Things and Law and Order.  I planned to have cocktails first at the speakeasy Apotheke, but I changed the order of stops and stood first in line while awaiting my friend to begin our celebration. Once inside the tea parlor, I completed the paper menu, ordering a glass of white wine and two dim sum. I hoped [...]

By |2024-12-20T16:59:31-05:00January 21st, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Speakeasy Apotheke, Chinatown, NYC: Stop on Doyer Street Crawl

Having noticed that the other Apotheke locations take reservations, I had been emailing Emilio, General Manager, about a res when I mentioned I was coming in for a birthday drink with a friend. I asked whether they offered a sparkler in one of their unique cocktails, but he didn't respond. I wondered how he'd handle it, so I didn't email again! He didn't, but Abby, our lovely waitress at — according to Architectural Digest—one of the "Best Speakeasies in the US," did. Their 2020 book, "Apotheke: Modern Medicinal Cocktails" describes the establishment as "the original New York City cocktail apothecary that applies mixology to the world of plant science wellness." [...]

By |2024-12-28T10:49:08-05:00January 19th, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Speakeasys|0 Comments
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A New Chef at Le Rivage, Theatre District, NYC

Chef de Cuisine David Cámara, a veteran of Vin Sur Vingt, has recently taken over the kitchen of Le Rivage, and I was invited to sample his cuisine. We arrived one December night at a tastefully decorated dining room. From 4 pm to 7:30 pm, Le Rivage offers a three-course prix-fixe dinner ($70) To join in the festivities, we ordered some bubbly. When they served the Pommery POP Extra Dry champagne ($25) in individual splits, I asked for straws, recalling a press event where they had served it that way. Do try it, as the effervescence is more intense. While sipping the sparkling, we devoured the piquillo peppers ($18) stuffed [...]

By |2025-01-17T11:21:33-05:00January 17th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Baar Baar, Lower East Side, NYC + Wicked

My friend asked me to join her for comp cocktails and a meal at Baar Baar, an Indian gastro pub with a modern yet rustic approach to contemporary Indian cuisine. The restaurant is walking distance from where we saw Part I of  Wicked at the local AMC with their comfy reclining chairs! We began sampling their unusual cocktails, with my friend sampling their Anarkali made with gin, Aperol, housemade rose cordial and Prosecco and the Hera Pheri with clarified Mezcal, orange liqueur and spicy guava chutney. We nibbled the assorted papad and crisps, along with three homemade chutneys including mango and tomatillo chundo, chili and peanut and mint cilantro ($15). [...]

By |2024-12-15T14:51:25-05:00January 15th, 2025|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Holiday Luncheon at Central Park Boathouse, NYC

Our ex-expat planning team always gets together for a festive holiday luncheon to enjoy each other's company at one of New York's festively decorated restaurants. This year, we enjoyed the lake views from the glass-windowed room at the Central Park (formerly Loeb) Boathouse. We nibbled on the olives, cucumbers and hummus while we perused the wine list and menu. We each ordered a glass of wine to accompany our meal ($17 - $20); two of us selected the crab cake ($40) and another the branzino ($38). Fry-lovers, we added one serving we all shared ($12). I highly recommend visiting the Boathouse for a peaceful escape in the heart of New [...]

By |2024-12-15T14:06:31-05:00January 13th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Pete’s Tavern, Gramercy, NYC + Bryant Park Ice Skating

One chilly day this winter, we walked around the shops at Bryant Park before bravely donning ice skates for a few spins around the rink. We then walked downtown to the oldest continuously operating restaurant and bar in NYC. It opened in 1864. At that time, Pete's was a “grocery and grog store,” the first drinking establishment on the main floor of the Portman Hotel. Today, it's a popular tavern that goes overboard with festive holiday decorations. We thankfully were in the back room to enjoy our food while being able to hear each other. Instead of ordering a full meal, we picked some apps as they had nibbled at [...]

By |2024-12-15T14:50:47-05:00January 11th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rambling|0 Comments
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A Celebration at L’Escale, Greenwich, CT

We joined the ranks this time at L'Escale in Greenwich, Connecticut, where we ended our meal with a sparkler and song! This waterside restaurant is the place to celebrate, as singing servers bring handheld fireworks emitting sparks. We first helped the town's economy by shopping on Greenwich Avenue before heading down to dinner. We'll need to return in summertime to dine waterside. Our meal began with a pâte à choux amuse bouche while we perused the menu. We were sharing everything. Once we decided on the seared Hudson Valley foie gras ($35) with roasted quince, brioche toast, and quince-infused jus, I opted for a glass of Bordeaux, Château Greysac, Medoc, [...]

By |2024-12-15T14:51:43-05:00January 9th, 2025|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Mahjong at Siena Cafe, UES, NYC

I headed to Siena Cafe for the afternoon to play Mahjong. We had lunch, too. The new group I joined as part of NYC Women (a new iteration of the Manhattan Women's Club) met frequently at this Upper East Side location. It's a cute place with attentive service. I sampled their eggplant rollatini appetizer ($12), a portion large enough to be satiated and take half home. My friendly waiter gladly added additional sauce for my reheating. Others sampled their giant meatballs ($12), plentiful chicken panini ($12), layered salmon tartare ($15), flavorful truffle risotto ($14) and Siena Ceasar salad ($13) before starting our tile play. If you're in the neighborhood, I [...]

By |2024-12-15T14:50:33-05:00January 7th, 2025|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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**Happy Hour at Haven Rooftop, Theatre District, NYC + Left on Tenth

I had a crazy day, with a funeral uptown to picking up a friend after their medical procedure on First Avenue, so instead of heading downtown to my home, I stopped in Haven Rooftop for a glass of wine before meeting my friend at "Left on Tenth."  Julianna Margulies is on stage in Delia Ephron’s memoir about reconnection and love. I recommend. Lucky me, it was happy hour from 4 to 6 pm. I sipped a glass of their cabernet ($9) and enjoyed the slider ($6) and the cauliflower bites ($12) both of which   I would recommend. Skip the bready spring rolls ($12) Happy Hour details as of 11.26.2024 Hours:  [...]

By |2024-11-30T13:29:10-05:00January 5th, 2025|Big Apple Life, Happy Hours, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rambling|0 Comments
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Pera Mediterranean Brasserie, Midtown, NYC

I first ate at Pera with a Turkish friend fifteen years ago and have frequented it both up and downtown. I hadn't returned to the midtown one in ages. This time, I went with a friend after the fabulous multi-media event at the Morgan Library about the life of Bella Costa Greene. Safa, our server, offered us a sip of the medium-bodied Greek Assyrtiko Moschopolis ($58) before we ordered a bottle to accompany our trio of dips ($19). Pita chips accompany the hummus, smoked eggplant and spicy pepper muhammara. Pita bread costs extra. The skewered marinated chicken breast shashlik arrived overcooked yet flavorful ($26). The fries, though, were perfectly crisp [...]

By |2024-11-28T11:42:21-05:00January 3rd, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Essential by Christophe, Upper West Side, NYC

Standing on the subway platform after Kevin Draper's lecture "The Second Toughest Job in the World: A History of New York City Mayors, 1700-1950" at New York Historical (no longer Society!) to grab the B downtown, I met this adorable, perky woman. We started talking about restaurants and squeezed in lots before one of us got off the B train. She mentioned working at the Michelin-starred Essential by Christopher and said I had to try it. I convinced a friend to join me at the inviting bar to sample some Chef Christophe Bellanca's dishes. The restaurant started us with an amuse bouche that I thought needed a touch of color. That [...]

By |2024-11-29T09:31:20-05:00January 1st, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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An UWS find: Harvest American Bistro + New York Historical

If you haven't heard, the New York Historical Society has dropped "society" to become New York Historical. A change they think is more welcoming. Go figure! We bought tickets to their lecture, "American Chefs: From the White House to Julia Child, " but we didn't get the lecture. Instead, we had a delightful evening hearing Julia Child's "grand-nephew" (Not the heir kind of nephew — one who is the grandson of her husband Paul's grandfather's twin brother.) Paul Prud'homme regaled us with stories about the White House, Presidents and his great aunt's tales, all from his recent book, "Dinner with the President." Afterward, we walked down Columbus past the newly opened [...]

By |2024-12-30T03:08:03-05:00December 30th, 2024|Big Apple Life, Foodie Interviews, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Japanese Restaurant Momoya SoHo, Soho, NYC

The Japanese restaurant Momoya recently opened a sleek new incarnation in SoHo at 47 Prince Street, corner of Mulberry Street. This is the third, more upscale location of this Japanese restaurant. As their guests, we were celebrating a birthday and started with three of their apps, including lots of cooked items and sushi. We nibbled on their organic edamame with sea salt ($10), crispy chunks of karaage, and the Japanese fried chicken ($15) with a spicy sesame-mayo. I'd skip their delicious-sounding fried spring roll ($13) filled with lobster, fish cake, jalapeños and shiitakes as we found that the cheese in this didn't work. At least for us. We did enjoy [...]

By |2024-12-28T08:50:02-05:00December 28th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Osteria Nonnino, West Village, NYC

I always like trying new places, especially friend's favorites. When I asked, my floormate shared Osteria Nonnino, her favorite West Village restaurant. It's an inviting Italian place with large glass windows on the corner of Hudson and Horatio.  I decided to try it. I arrived early and witnessed a tableside preparation of tiramisu for my neighbors, who were so close it was as if we shared a table.  Yes, the tables are very close along the banquette. The server poured fresh espresso over housemade ladyfingers in a small au gratin dish, topped it with creamy mascarpone and sprinkled it with cocoa powder. I knew what we'd have for dessert! Once [...]

By |2024-11-17T07:45:08-05:00December 26th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Rosemary’s, West Village, NYC

Rosemary's on Greenwich Avenue in the West Village was convenient as it is halfway between us. We started with their Point Judith calamari fritti ($19), with garlic aioli lemon, requesting some Pomodoro sauce to dip. They heated some just for us, delivering it as we had almost finished the squid. With that, we enjoyed gratis focaccia ($9). Next, we each ordered one of their pasta, realizing after being served that we could have easily shared as the portions were large. This gave us each lunch for the following day to take home. I do recommend both their rigatoni all arrabbiata ($22) topped with burrata and Calabrian chilies and their linguine [...]

By |2024-12-24T08:16:31-05:00December 24th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Kawi Ni, Westport, CT

After enjoying cocktails and apps at The Welk, we walked up the street to Kawi Ni to continue our meal. Our servers were friendly and attentive. We started with drinks and our first wave of foods, which included the addictive cabbage ($11) flavored with sesame, wasabi and honda shi (Japanese dashi stock made of dry bonito), ume cucumber salad, pork ($16) and shrimp ($18) Szechuan dumplings. Next, chicken karaage ($14) and my favorite dish, the spicy lamb Dan Dan noodles ($22). Not only was everything we had delicious, but the service was amazing, which is why I recommend a visit to Kawi Ni. Kawi Ni Japanese 19A Bridge Square, Westport, CT 06880 [...]

By |2024-11-14T12:24:27-05:00December 22nd, 2024|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Rosa Mexicano, Lincoln Center, NYC + Robert Downey Jr. in McMeal

After seeing Robert Downey Jr. in McMeal at Lincoln Center Theatre, we crossed the street to grab a bite at Rosa Mexicano. The show is Ayad Akhtar’s new play, which closed in November, about a literary icon who gets assistance from AI. The subject matter reminded me of Glenn Close in The Wife. With five of us, we started with a double portion of their tableside guac ($32)— served with warm corn tortilla chips and roasted tomato salsa—and margies, with one ordering the frozen blood orange ($16). Being hungry, I overindulged in the guac and chips! Four of us then shared two orders of the roasted half chicken ($31) with sautéed [...]

By |2024-12-20T09:51:09-05:00December 20th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Matto Wine Bar, Shelton, CT

We took a break from packing my friend's home for her move to meet a mutual friend in Shelton for a meal. We were yakking so much that we almost missed that our water hadn't even taken our drink order. When he finally did, we quickly also gave our app order. Like many restaurants, the apps were much more interesting and flavorful than their entrees. We were happy with the old-fashioned iceberg wedge salad ($14.95) smothered with blue cheese dressing with crumbled gorgonzola and pancetta; sautéed calamari with white beans, arugula, cherry peppers and roasted tomatoes ($16.95); grilled octopus with shishito peppers, potatoes and a roasted red pepper aioli ($16.95); [...]

By |2024-12-25T08:18:11-05:00December 17th, 2024|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Raku It’s Japanese II + American Museum of Natural History

On my granddaughter's last full day, we started at the planetarium show inside the American Museum of Natural History, where we watched the awe-inspiring Worlds Beyond Earth, featuring scenes depicting the evolution of our solar system. The program told the story of the worlds that share our solar system and the unique conditions that make life on Earth possible. Afterward, we headed to the Davis Family Butterfly Vivariuam, which has 80 species of butterflies among lush vegetation in tropical temperatures. Both exhibits are time-ticketed. After leaving the museum, we walked down Columbus Avenue until we tripped over the Upper West Side Raku. It's Japanese II, as they all wanted ramen. We [...]

By |2024-11-10T11:03:29-05:00December 14th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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The Whelk, Westport, Connecticut

Our evening started with cocktails and apps at The Whelk that included friendly service and good food. Some favorites include the smoked trout dip with dill, topped with trout roe and sourdough crisps ($18), hamachi crudo topped with jalapenos ($20) and fabulously rich maitake mushrooms with nduja (spicy, spreadable pork sausage from the Calabria) in garlic butter with an egg yolk ($21). I'd recommend a visit to The Whelk. After apps, we walked up the street to Kawi Ni for dinner, a writeup forthcoming! The Whelk Westport 575 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT 06880 203) 557-0902 thewhelkwestport.com

By |2024-12-24T11:02:10-05:00December 12th, 2024|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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