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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Happy Hour* Mediterranean ZIZI, Chelsea, NYC

One temperate night, I met a neighbor at ZIZI (formerly Zizi Limona), a modern Mediterranean restaurant on Eighth Avenue. Emmit, our server, mentioned that it was still happy hour and explained the offerings that included a martini selection from their few varieties and $6 off the small z's "3Z's" appetizer selection. I chose an espresso martini that included Spring 44 vodka, Luxardo espresso liqueur and espresso. We then selected their roasted head of cauliflower, the four falafel balls and the crazy baba (a blend of charred eggplant, feta and basil) with four large, warm pita ($23). We did order an entree but had no room for it, as we were [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:16:35-04:00October 8th, 2024|Big Apple Life, Happy Hours, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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The Italian Malaparte, West Village, NYC

Lifetime Fitness recently opened on 23rd Street, allowing access to those whose insurance offers Renew Active. I put my name on the waiting list in April and recently got in. I discussed books with the others in the women's steam room and then moved on to dining. One new friend mentioned that one of her favorites is the Italian Malparte, a place I had neither heard of nor been to. We decided to go together. We met at this intimate neighborhood eatery on Washington Street and started with a bottle of their Nero D'Avola ($50) while nibbling on fresh focaccia and sliced dense bread. I had to try their gorgonzola [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:18:48-04:00October 6th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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Carlotto, Flatiron-Gramercy, NYC

My friend raved about the restaurant week menu at Carlotto, a fairly new restaurant in our hood that neither of us had tried. We went on that recommendation. Our appetizer of their slow-roasted lamb rib "presse" was worth the trip with its tender braised meat with a seared finish to crips the edges with the unusual accompaniments of pickled chanterelles and salsa verde. I'd go back just for this dish. With it, we sipped the Rafael Tamassi Valpolicella Classico ($54). We ordered one $60 Restaurant Week menu, selecting the tender short rib with some potatoes and one asparagus. We then added an entree of slow-cooked wild boar ragú pappardelle. The [...]

By |2024-10-06T08:33:31-04:00October 4th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Seafood at Oceana, Midtown West, NYC

On a rainy day recently, I met my financial advisor for lunch at Oceana, a restaurant he frequents because of its proximity. Expecting nothing other than money talk over seafood, I was pleasantly pleased by the attentive service of good food. I sipped a glass of their Sancerre with their lump crab cake in a mustard celery root remoulade puddle topped with frisée. I'd go back for that. And for their parfait ($15), reminiscent of the Good Humor truck's orange sherbet creamsicle filled with vanilla ice cream. Theirs tops olive oil cake with orange sorbet, orange cream and oatmeal crumble. A delightful place to get lunch pre-theatre. Oceana Midtown West 120 W. 49th [...]

By |2024-10-06T08:47:58-04:00October 2nd, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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City Vineyard, Hudson River Park, NYC

Each summer on the island of Manhattan, I try to visit each of my favorite Hudson River waterside haunts at least once. Some include The Frying Pan, Grand Banks, Drift In, Mezze (formerly the Merchant House) and City Vineyard, located at Pier 26. We chose the air-conditioning inside, as it was one of our hot and humid days. No one sat outside. I sipped an Aperol Spritz ($19), my dining partner, their Provencal rosè selection ($15). We were so busy solving the world's problems that I neglected to ask for our salad lightly dressed. The watermelon, arugula and feta salad ($22) came drenched in a balsamic glaze. We added (+$10) grilled [...]

By |2024-10-06T08:53:50-04:00September 30th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Restaurant Week at Perry Street, West Village, NYC

When Restaurant Week first started, it was just that, one week. By the time you heard the buzz, it was often too late. No more. We now have four weeks, giving us ample time to make a res or two once we know it's happening. When I learned that Perry Street offered a special 3-course, $60 menu, I had to make a res. Jean-Georges Vongerichten's intimate waterfront restaurant in the Richard Meier Towers, and his son Cedric runs the kitchen. We each had the 3-course menu ($60) and wine pairings ($48). I chose the fresh sweet pea soup with crunch from an occasional crouton and topped with tendrils and flower petals. [...]

By |2024-10-06T08:59:36-04:00September 28th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Sempre Oggi, Upper West Side, NYC

Sempre Oggi is a new Italian restaurant on the Upper West Side with a well-trained service staff. We met for a leisurely dinner at this restaurant, whose name loosely translated means "Always Today." They interpret that as embracing the very best of right now. This staff warmly welcomed me as I arrived at the hostess stand. That cordiality continued as I walked through the dining room and was seated at my table, with the service staff making eye contact and greeting me as I passed. I recommend their spin on an Aperol spritz that they did by adding select aperitivi ($15). The martini ($22) was also good. Sempre Oggi lists [...]

By |2024-10-06T09:03:57-04:00September 26th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Grand Banks, Hudson River Parkway, Tribeca, NYC

When the weather is good, I try to frequent all my fav outdoor-by-the-water restaurants in Manhattan, from the Frying Pan to the North River Lobster Boat, with Grand Banks in between. These establishments are open only when the weather is good, and each offers awe-inspiring views. Grand Banks is in the water at the southwest edge of Hudson River Park's Pier 25 in Tribeca. These on-the-water locations are all special for different reasons. Grand Banks is the celebrated oyster bar aboard the historic wooden schooner Sherman Zwicker, whose chef is Kerry Hefferman. We went to celebrate my friend's big birthday. The crew raised the bar on birthdays, with each and every person [...]

By |2024-10-06T10:01:35-04:00September 24th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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Salinas, Chelsea, NYC + Pilobolus @ The Joyce Theater

What a find! We were off to see the second Pilobulus re:CREATION dynamic dance performances at The Joyce, looking for a new place to grab a bite. We ended up in the glass-roofed garden room at Salinas on Ninth, serving authentic Spanish cuisine from Chef Luis Bollo, a native of San Sebastian, in the heart of Basque Country. We shared everything, starting with their bravas con huevas marinas ($21), crispy potatoes topped with lumpfish caviar and shaved bottarga in a tasty brava sauce; their Canary Island octopus ($31) with black beans and Meyer lemon; and two pieces of the classic grilled tomato bread ($14), our only disappointment. For the entrees, we [...]

By |2024-08-18T07:57:48-04:00September 22nd, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Staycation at the Dream Downtown, Chelsea, NYC

Upon realizing that I could buy a resort pass to the Dream Downtown hotel in Chelsea only a few blocks away, I decided to take a staycation there and enjoy catching up on my book group reading by their pool. To get there from the lobby, one ascends the stairs to the 4-foot-deep pool, which—of course—has drink and food service chairside. Fresh ice water is continually refreshed. Many others had the same idea, as there wasn't an unoccupied lounge poolside. I photographed my neighbors' food and my freshly made guacamole with chips served with chili-dipped triangles of jicama ($19). My neighbor enjoyed the "chopped" salad ($18) with avocado, queso fresco, [...]

By |2024-09-21T11:24:54-04:00September 20th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews, USA Travel|1 Comment
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Pinto Garden, West Village, NYC + & Sons Steakeasy’s Father’s Study Speakeasy

After perusing the neighborhood options for restaurant week, we chose Pinto Garden, a Thai restaurant from Chef Teerawong "Yo" Nanthavatsiri that opened in 2016 on 10th Street. We chose the $45 restaurant week dinner menu, being happily flabbergasted that it included a cocktail. I tried their Smoke Gets in Your Eyes smoky old-fashioned, my dining partner their I Like Me Better with gin, Melon Calpico, lime juice and italacus liqueur. Both tasty. We shared the fresh rolls of rice paper wrapped with vegetables and spicy peanut dressing and the papaya salad of green papaya, tomatoes, snake beans, peanuts and garlic in a palm sugar vinaigrette. I loved the flavor of [...]

By |2024-09-21T11:28:54-04:00September 18th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Speakeasys|0 Comments
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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
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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
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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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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
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