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.
X

Le Rivage, Theatre Row, NYC + Hell’s Kitchen

Silly me. I've avoided dining on Theatre Row, remembering it as too touristy. I decided to book the longtime French bistro serving classic fare in an old-world, rustic setting, mentioning we were celebrating a birthday. Since reading both Danny Meyer's "Setting the Table" and Will Guidara's "Unreasonable Hospitality," focusing on hospitality, I've been noticing exceptional service even more. The hostess warmly greeted me as I entered the restaurant for lunch, inquiring whose birthday it was. I said, mine. A few minutes after being seated, my server came to the table, introduced himself, welcomed me by name and said, Happy Birthday! We were off to a great, hospitable start. When my guest [...]

By |2024-09-21T11:30:51-04:00September 16th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
Read More

Lightship Frying Pan, Hudson River Park, NYC

For decades, I’ve been taking out-of-towners and local New Yorkers to the historic Lightship Frying Pan, the floating eatery in the water west of 26th Street. The lightship moved from Pier 63 to Pier 66 and added the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Float Transfer Bridge to give access to it. The Lightship Frying Pan — and the John J. Harvey retired FDNY Fireboat that sits next to it — are on the National Register of Historic Places. Each summer, the service aboard changes. I loved the year they offered table service after ordering with a QR code on the table that ID’d where you sat. They returned to ordering at [...]

By |2024-09-21T15:24:16-04:00September 14th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

Cypress Grove Meyer Lemon & Honey Cheese

I've been a Cypress Grove fan since I first tasted their Humboldt Fog goat cheese in the 80s. I really like their newest flavor, the Meyer Lemon & Honey Cheese. The 3-ounce disk ($8) of goat cheese has a slightly sweetened Meyer lemon and delicate alfalfa honey flavor.  One ounce has 70 calories and 4.5 grams of fat, 3 of which is saturated. Like all cheese, it's best to remove it from the refrigerator at least one hour before serving for the best flavor. Cypress Grove suggests serving the goat cheese in a tart, crumbled on a salad or stuffed in Medjool dates with chopped pistachios. I also like it [...]

By |2024-08-19T17:07:15-04:00August 31st, 2024|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

The Cottage, Westport, CT

It's been almost a decade since a publicist had invited me to try Brian Lewis' innovative cuisine at The Cottage in Westport. I returned recently to share a meal with some Connecticut friends. It's a lovely small cottage, hence the name. Its ever-changing menu showcases seasonal fare — very Connecticut. The Chateau des Jacques Bourgogne, Chardonnay 2022 ($80), went well with our selections. For apps, we shared cottage-smoked meaty ribs ($25), the spicy squid with broccoli in a red chili vinaigrette ($21) and the beet and citrus-cured hamachi with pickled onions, cara cara orange and wasabi crema ($20). I couldn't miss the do-it-yourself Wagyu brisket bao buns I sampled on the [...]

By |2024-08-19T15:47:37-04:00August 25th, 2024|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

Dreamfarm Fluicer and Supoon

Every year, I attend a mini-housewares show in Manhattan to preview the latest products that will be shown at The International Housewares Association's (IHA) Home + Housewares Market at Chicago's McCormick Place in March. This time, two items from Dreamfarm stood out as products I wanted to share with you for your kitchen. The first is the Fluicer, available in three sizes for different fruits. I like the yellow, medium-sized one ($16.95) designed for lemons. It was featured in "The O List" and is a Reddot Award Winner for 2023. This juicer folds completely flat for space-saving storage and requires less force than traditional juicers to squeeze the fruit.   [...]

By |2024-08-19T17:21:11-04:00August 17th, 2024|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More
Copyright 2012 - 2021 BiteOfTheBest | All Rights Reserved
Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Go to Top