NYC Best Bites

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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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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Lunch Bargain at Fogo de Chao, Midtown, NYC + Rockefeller Center Tour

A midtown lunch for $20. Yes, I am talking about New York City! If you haven't yet tried Fogo de Chao's Market Table for lunch, I highly recommend. During the day, the continually re-filled market table costs a mere $20; at dinner, almost twice as much as they prefer, you indulge in the Churrascaria, as it's a Brazilian steakhouse offering a selection of roasted meats. A larger group of us headed there for lunch after a wonderfully informative tour of Rockefeller Center's sights and stories, learning about the rich history and architecture of the 12-acre campus. The photos of the market table say it all with their fresh and roasted [...]

By |2024-11-10T11:03:21-05:00December 10th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|1 Comment
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New Mikado, Chelsea, NYC

After taking my granddaughter to The Lion King, her first Broadway show, we headed downtown to New Mikado, a Japanese restaurant, as she had requested salmon sushi for dinner. We started with appetizers of tasty pork, shrimp and snow crab dumplings topped with caviar ($20 for four), which I'd recommend. We also got lucky with some items' pricing as it was still happy hour. Our edamame cost $1, the cucumber salad with sesame sauce only $3 and the white wine only $5.  Oddly, our edamame, although good, were unsalted and chilled. Also tasty and not at happy hour pricing is their West 14 ($12), a blend of milk tea and rice wine. [...]

By |2024-12-05T07:28:18-05:00December 4th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Colossal Sundae at Serendipity, Midtown, NYC

My 7-year-old granddaughter had just arrived in the city from Den Haag. Before flying across the pond, she had studied Serendipity's menu with her parents to decide which treat to indulge in. She chose the unicorn bliss sundae that contained rainbow-striped cake, confetti sprinkles, a sugar cone, ice cream, cherries, whipped cream and cream cheese icing. Since Serendipity has a minimum, we ordered food—not something I'd recommend. We ordered one footlong ($18.95) with French fries, another footlong topped with mac n' cheese ($25.95) and their unremarkable nachos with Tex Mex chili, queso, jalapeños and pico de gallo with added guac ($22.45). We didn't eat much, so most of the food [...]

By |2024-11-10T11:03:00-05:00December 2nd, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Cafe Luxembourg, Upper West Side, NYC

My Upper West Side friends always raved about Cafe Luxembourg, but I only recently got there. I should have gone when it was in its heyday. We sat outside on an unseasonably warm day and had difficulty getting our server's attention, who was more interested in flirting with one of the other waitstaff. When we finally did, we ordered cocktails to enjoy while we caught up, as my dining partner was in from Florida to meet her new grandchild.  I loved my Better than Bond, a stirred, not shaken, blend of Hendrick's gin, Tito's vodka and Lillet Blanc; my friend tried their Luxembourg Manhattan made with Bulleit bourbon, Antica Formula [...]

By |2024-11-30T11:36:58-05:00November 30th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Orso, Theatre District, NYC + The Counter

Orso on Theatre Row was one of my go-to's when I lived in Connecticut and came into the city to the theatre. The food was consistently good, and I often saw a celebrity at a table. We started with a white pizza topped with fennel sausage, romano and mozzarella cheese, sprinkled with rosemary ($24). It could have been our meal! I had their rigatoni with a bolognese meat sauce ($28) and my dining partner, the sauteed calf's liver with fried onions ($32). Sadly, nothing stays the same. The service was lackluster, but the food was fine. I loved that they still served on a beautifully painted Italian terra cotta dinnerware. [...]

By |2024-11-26T07:45:06-05:00November 26th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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**Happy Hour at LS Social NYC, Chelsea, NYC

LS Social is a fairly new neighborhood cozy and casual cocktail bar on 17th Street near Union Square. I chose it to meet a new friend for a drink because it was close to home, as I had an upcoming Zoom board meeting to attend. I was early, the first customer that day, so I began chatting with Ron, the owner, who opened this—his first restaurant about two years ago—and Michael, the bartender. I liked their flavorful white Negroni made with gin, Lillet blanc and vermouth blanc, as the New Amsterdam gin was not juniper-forward, giving a smooth taste to the cocktail.  My friend first sampled their Sturm Collio Pinot [...]

By |2024-11-29T09:36:41-05:00November 22nd, 2024|Happy Hours, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Dinner at Eleni’s, Gramercy, NYC

I had been to Eleni's, a Gramercy area Greek restaurant on Third Avenue, but only for lunch. We decided on it for dinner based on my recommendation. We were early for our res and walked into a half-full restaurant with many tables available. We requested one away from the large party. We were told no, and we asked for another one. The eponymous owner barked at us, saying no to each one we asked for and saying it was reserved. Someone should give Eleni a copy of "Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect" by Will Guidara. Perhaps she saved those tables for her regulars [...]

By |2024-11-17T06:01:27-05:00November 16th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Drift In, Hudson River Parkway + Elephant Migration, Meat Packing, NYC

The migration of 100 life-size elephant sculptures began in Newport, Rhode Island before the herd took up residence in the meat-packing district of New York City. They stayed there through late October, when they headed south to Miami, Florida, before heading to Browning, Montana, in May 2025. Like many others, we walked in amazement among the giant creatures we learned were for sale. You can purchase a limited-edition, life-size sculpture supporting the conservation work and bringing a message of coexistence into your world. These elephants aim to raise funds for non-profit conservation organizations and foster awareness about wildlife's challenges. According to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, "Each elephant sculpture is made [...]

By |2024-11-17T06:07:06-05:00November 14th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Pre-Theatre Menu at the Greek Kellari Taverna, Theatre District, NYC + Our Town

After reading Ann Patchet's Tom Lake for one of my book groups, where they put on a production of “Our Town,” by Thornton Wilder, we realized that show was coming to Broadway and vowed to go together. We did. I highly recommend the production with Jim Parsons playing the narrator. Before the show, we opted for the $65 three-course pre-fix dinner at Kellari Taverna. We all nibbled the olives, hummus and radishes. One started with the cauliflower soup, and the other three enjoyed their gently pan-fried tender calamari with onions, peppers, capers and fava bean spread. One chose the swordfish daily special, another the lavraki (also called branzino or Mediterranean [...]

By |2024-11-03T08:02:32-05:00November 8th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Happy Hour*** Springs Tavern and Grill, East Hampton, New York

On an overcast weekend in East Hampton late summer, we visited Springs Tavern and Grill for their delightful happy hour menu. On our first round of margaritas, three of us had the regular; one tried the frozen refreshing blood orange one, although the sweetness made it more like a dessert. With that, we shared their delectable steamed mussels ($14) with garlic, herb butter, white wine and a soupçon of cream, then topped with fries; plus the mouthwatering Mediterranean platter ($15) that included housemade hummus — a regular and herbaceous green version with basil, a little mint and garlic — plus marinated olives, pita points and grana padano. I loved that [...]

By |2024-11-17T06:35:46-05:00November 5th, 2024|Happy Hours, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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La Palapa, Gotham West, NYC + Intrepid Museum

Our ex.expat of New York group visited the Intrepid, an American military and maritime history museum at Pier 86 at 46th Street, along the Hudson River. Our tour guide brought the ship alive through personal stories about sailors and pilots who spent time on the Intrepid, protecting our country through the Vietnam war. Some of us squeezed into the Submarine USS Growler, and others sat in the Concorde, the British Airways commercial plane that flew from Europe to New York in about 3 1/2 hours. Afterward, we walked to Gotham West to grab some authentic Mexican food at La Palapa. Some had tacos, others enchiladas, guac and chips, salad and [...]

By |2024-11-03T08:02:19-05:00November 1st, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Italian Dinner at Novita, Flatiron, NYC

Thank you again, Jeffrey — the man I met on the train from Amagansett back to the city — for introducing me to Novita. He recommended this hidden gem seven years ago. This cozy Italian place on 22 Street, right off Park Avenue, consistently has good food and attentive service. We sipped the Nero d’Avola,” Saia” Feudo Maccari 2018 ($95) while nibbling bread sticks, while waiting for the crab cake with fresh mango salad in a citrus vinaigrette. We split that ourselves at the table ($22). We followed that with flavorful asparagus au gratin ($19) that they split and plated in the kitchen before finishing. COur last dish is their [...]

By |2024-09-24T07:48:46-04:00October 30th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Lusardi’s , Upper East Side, NYC

The evening started at my friend’s home with apps and icy vodka in chilled martini glasses. Then, off to Lusardi’s on Second Avenue, an Italian institution started by two brothers in the 1980s. Once seated at this white-tablecloth restaurant, the waiter brought us a basket of bread with a cruet of olive oil. We nibbled that while sipping the Sicilian Nero d'Avalo, Mortgante, 2021 ($65). We were seated outside, yet I slipped into the spacious restaurant to see it as I hadn’t previously been. My friend had raved about their veal, so I had to try her suggestion of their Vitelli martini. I loved the simplicity and flavor of the [...]

By |2024-11-03T19:00:58-05:00October 27th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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The Lambs Club + Roommate, Not

A leisurely lunch at the Lambs Club was our plan. Then, we'd walk around the corner to see Mia Farrow and Patty Lupone in Roommates at the Booth Theatre on 45th Street. We hadn't yet discovered that the show was canceled as Mia Farrow had COVID. The Lambs Club is America's first professional theatrical club, organized in 1874. At that time, no women were allowed. It moved, reorganized and re-opened after COVID in 2022. The walls are adorned with portraits of former club members. We chatted with the lovely manager about the club, the menu and the cuisine.  After that, he kindly sent us the sweet and savory summer green gazpacho gratis [...]

By |2024-11-03T19:12:06-05:00October 22nd, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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A Return to Hutong, Midtown, NYC

This time, I knew where to find the Hutang restaurant, whose address is on Lexington Avenue. Its entrance is in the alley off 58th Street, where Le Cirque had been, halfway between Lex and Third. Hutang, by the way, means alley. We were there for the prix fixe $30 lunch offering a selection of appetizers, entrees and side dishes. Some sipped a glass of their one rosé selection, crisp and dry Chateau De Rouet, Reserve Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Cotes de Provence, France, 2023 ($22). Some started with their hot and sour soup, others the king prawn salad. The soup was tasty—peppery and tangy—but I prefer my homemade better. I prepare it [...]

By |2024-10-22T07:40:55-04:00October 20th, 2024|General Food Info, NYC Restaurant Reviews|1 Comment
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A Sad Return to Electric Lemon + Circle Line Around Manhattan

After our end-of-summer Circle Line 2.5-hour cruise around Manhattan Island through Spuyten Duyvil Creek and down the Hudson back to the dock at Pier 83, I stopped at Electric Lemon with a friend for a light bite. If you have never done — or haven't taken the cruise in years — I highly recommend the trip on the boat around Manhattan. It's always informative with something new to learn about the city. As a regular reader, you'd know I've raved about Electric Lemon's deviled crab ($24). I've sent many people there just for that dish, as I loved their creamy ginger dressing and crunchy ginger crumb topping on the fresh [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:24:38-04:00October 18th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Mexican at Fonda, Chelsea, NYC

After reading about Fonda's happy hour in Chelsea, I asked a friend to meet me there to sample their fare. When we arrived at happy hour, we learned that the offers were only available at the bar. Sadly, their barstools have no backs, making it uncomfortable for my aching back to sit without support. I requested one of the many empty booths next to the bar, explaining my back issue and mentioning that we also planned to order off the menu. Management declined. I'm guessing they haven't had a chance to read Danny Meyer's "Setting the Table," which focuses on hospitality or Will Guidara's "Unreasonable Hospitality," both of which I recommend. My [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:22:28-04:00October 16th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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New Location of Mission Ceviche, Union Square, NYC + Once Upon a Mattress

I first sampled Peruvian food in Lima over 50 years ago when I went to meet my newborn nephew, who is now 51. I recently stopped into the newly opened, grand Mission Ceviche in Union Square for more Peruvian fare. It's a sister to the original one on the Upper East Side. This one is spacious, with Italian marble bars for its ceviche and sushi station, a mosaic octopus at the entrance and an unusual rope chandelier with lots of fresh plants hanging from it lights the expansive restaurant designed by New World Design Builders with Peruvian-inspired fabrics reminiscent of the sea and a commissioned wall covering made of thousands of fish-shaped scales. [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:07:25-04:00October 12th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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