City Bites

The best City Bites from New York

McSorley’s Old Ale House, East Village + Switchback by Maryclare McCauley

There's some disagreement over the actual date that McSorley's Old Ale House in the East Village was founded, but all agree that it was the mid 1800s, and that it's the oldest still existing licensed pub in America. I was there for the first time in the '70s, when they served whole peanuts and told you to toss the shells onto the floor; today the peanuts are gone and the floor is covered in sawdust. I went recently both before and after attending The New York International Fringe Festival to see Maryclare McCauley's world premier of Switch Back, a solo performance based true story where Maryclare plays seven characters. A [...]

By |2017-11-24T07:55:55-05:00October 30th, 2014|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Becco, Theatre District (Kinky Boots), NYC, a Revisit

I recently headed to Becco for the drink that the adorable manager had promised me (well, that’s another story!) and enjoyed an unhurried nibble before my 7 pm curtain of the Kinky Boots a block away at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 45th. If you've missed it: Kinky Boots is a tale of Charlie Price, who inherits his family's failing shoe factory and opts to save it by producing stiletto-heeled, brightly colored, knee high boots for men who dress like women with toe-tapping music by Cindi Lauper. Nibbled on three types olives and crisp bread sticks dunked in their house made irresistible white bean dip served a monkey dish (that’s [...]

By |2017-09-04T18:36:12-04:00March 19th, 2014|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Bocca Di Bacco, NYC (Natasha, Pierre and the Comet of 1812)

Having decided at the last moment to go, we stood in line to get the $49 rush tickets for Natasha, Pierre and the Comet of 1812, the electro-pop opera based on a slice of War and Peace that takes place all around the tables at the supper-club Kazino (259 West 45th Street), so that — no matter where you sit — you at close to the actors and musicians. We decide to head to brunch first as we bought tickets to the 3 pm Sunday show and asked Adam, the ticket-seller for a suggestion. Bocca di Bacco on Ninth Avenue, between 44 and 45, was the place he goes for [...]

By |2017-09-07T15:21:29-04:00January 5th, 2014|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Theatre District, NYC (Romeo and Juliet)

I stopped in for dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., as their guest, on my way to seeing the amazingly talented Condola Rashad as Juliet in new production of "Romeo and Juliet" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The adorable Orlando Bloom — who's not hard on the eyes — is her Romeo in the doomed interracial pair of young lovers. As you might imagine, shrimp is the mainstay at Bubba's, with 19 different preparations. This is a tourist-oriented restaurant that originated in California features a down-home atmosphere reminiscent of “Forrest Gump,” the movie. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is the first and only theme restaurant chain based on a motion picture property. [...]

By |2017-09-07T13:58:45-04:00December 15th, 2013|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Orso, NYC (Betrayal)

Orso was the restaurant I had been thinking of when I accidentally booked Becco. It, too, is on theatre row, packed until curtain time but for a pre-theatre reservation you need to call 30 days in advance. Orso serves regional Italian cuisine in a cozy, trattoria setting and is owned by legendary restaurateur Joe Allen. I stopped in recently on my way to see the Broadway revival of Harold Pinter's "Betrayal," starring Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz. It wasn't the play that drew me to buy tickets, but the chance to see the current James Bond and his wife the Oscar-winning movie star in a Mike Nichols-directed play. I'd only [...]

By |2017-09-07T15:27:01-04:00December 1st, 2013|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Tao, (The Model Apartment) NYC

Tao — the Pan-Asian restaurant Midtown East — is around the corner from 59E59 Theaters making it a convenient place to dine before the curtain rises. We sipped on Domaine Serge Laloue, Loire, France 2011 Sancerre ($55) while selecting a few nibbles before heading to see the powerful 1995 OBIE Award winner, The Model Apartment, the dark comedy by New Haven's own Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies. We sampled the five ordinary pork pot stickers, glazed with a chili sesame sauce ($15). What was flavorful was the bowl of freshly stir-fried Asian pea shoots and Chinese broccoli rabe greens ($11). Also fine was the tasty shrimp tempura roll with curry sauce [...]

By |2017-09-04T19:00:02-04:00November 23rd, 2013|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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The Half King, NYC (Yankee Wives)

The Half King is a casual pub in Chelsea were I stopped by recently before heading to a humorous "Yankee Wives" production at the Hudson Guild Theatre on 26th. The crisp Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, Australia ($38) washed down the crunchy nuggets, zucchini fries ($7) with their spicy dip and a Mexican Half King Burger ordered with spicy HellFire Fries ($14). The latter came topped with pepperjack cheese, with sides of guacamole and pico de gallo. Outdoor dining, friendly staff and simple pub food. It's  an easy stop right off High Line —  the linear park built on a section of the former elevated New York Central Railroad —on 23. [...]

By |2017-09-07T15:30:10-04:00November 7th, 2013|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Lafayette, NYC + Miss No Where Diner

We headed to Andrew Carmelini's newest everyday French restaurant in NoHo after seeing Miss No Where Diner — an off-Broadway production that runs through Sunday, June 23 at the Robert Moss Theatre, as part of the Plant Connections Theatre Festivity. The 90-minute powerful play about faith by a trusting wife and deceit by the gambling husband, benefits NAMI - the National Alliance of Mental Illness. To start, we had the refreshing Maine crab tartine ($13) of moist crab with a lemon aioli scented with fresh sorrel, tarragon and parsley on crisp toasts. A glass of La Fôret des Dames Sancerre ‘Rèserve Vieilles Vignes’ 2011, Loire ($15) was the perfect math. We then [...]

By |2018-12-22T13:31:56-05:00June 17th, 2013|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Cornelia Street Cafe + Hit the Wall

The Cornelia Street Cafe in West Village is just around the corner from the Barrow Street Theatre, an off-Broadway theatre I've been frequenting. This time I had seen the powerful play Hit the Wall, about the gay turbulence in the late '60s. We started with a perfect sharing portion of Moroccan hummus made from chick peas, roasted red pepper, garlic and lemon —  served with toasted pita triangles, drizzled with a sweet pomegranate reduction and garnished with black olives ($11). Cooked as ordered were the juicy flatiron steak with pommes frites ($24) and the duck breast with whipped sweet potatoes topped with a rich goat cheese gratin($24). Slightly overcooked was [...]

By |2018-01-13T12:36:46-05:00April 8th, 2013|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Bourbon Street Bar & Grille, Theatre District, NYC ( Clive)

After the Superbowl, my mouth watered for a taste of the Big Easy. So we headed to Bourbon Street Bar & Grill a few blocks from the theatre after seeing Ethan Hawke in a modern-day production Clive, Bertolt Brecht's first full-length play "Baal," (written in 1918 when Brecht was a 20-year-old university student). The NoLA drinks exceeded our  expectations. The Vieux Carre (pronounced voh-care-eh) — a drink created in the 1930s at the Hotel Monteleone was named after the French Quarter ("old square") — was a smooth blend of Rye Whiskey, Cognac, Sweet Vermouth and Benedictine with a dash of bitters. The classic Sazerac ($10) — the  signature beverage at [...]

By |2017-09-07T15:36:30-04:00March 1st, 2013|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Valentine’s Day for Singles at Jones Wood Foundry

Jones Wood Foundry, the intimate British boite on the Upper East Side, will take a singular approach to Valentine’s Day by embracing the unattached, as well as devoted twosomes. JWF will offer a culinary refuge from canoodling lovebirds to singles at its popular 20-seat communal table overlooking its picturesque courtyard. The table will be a couples-free zone where singles can mingle while savoring dishes such as Open-faced Lobster & Oxtail Ravioli,  Mushroom Puree & Root Vegetables and Herb-crusted Rack of Lamb,  Bubble & Squeak, Green beans Natural Jus & Mint Pesto from the $45 three-course menu. It’s a menu designed to prompt conversation at the table with its plethora of [...]

By |2017-09-02T09:49:11-04:00February 8th, 2013|City Bites|0 Comments
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The Addams Family at the Shubert

The 2013/2014 National Tour of the new musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its New Haven premiere at the Shubert Theater, New Haven, February 1–3, 2013. The four performances — Friday 7:30pm, Saturday 2:00pm & 7:30pm and Sunday 2:00pm — are sponsored by Lexus of New Haven. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. Tickets are now available online at shubert.com, by phone at 800-228-6622 and at the Shubert Box Office (247 College Street, [...]

By |2017-09-04T18:51:52-04:00January 31st, 2013|Theatre, USA Travel|0 Comments
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FOODACTS: A New Play at The Lion Theatre

Jeux de Mots trans.WORDPLAY presents FOODACTS a new play at the Lion Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) conceived and directed by Barbara Bosch with only 16 performances, February 6-24, 2013. FOODACTS is a culinary stage adventure that explores our primal connections to food and its power to unite. Through an entertaining encounter with established novels, colorful poetry, historic essays, personal letters and other literary works by Langston Hughes, Proust, Homer, and Dickens, among others, FOODACTS serves up the joys of food and eating. It goes beyond the mere palate, revealing how human beings relate to and obsess over food from as far back as The Bible to today. Barbara Bosch [...]

By |2017-09-01T15:03:15-04:00January 27th, 2013|Other happenings, Theatre, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Pongsri Thai Restaurant (The Heiress)

After not being picked for the Book of Mormon lottery for the second time, my friend Tom and I decided to get a bite to eat to drown our sorrow.  We ended up at Pongsri Thai Restaurant, almost around the corner from the Eugene O'Neill Theater where we weren't seeing the show! Tom — who had been to Pongsri before — spearheaded the ordering. Our appetizer was #11 - Beef Laab ($10.95) seasoned ground beef mixed with ground toasted rice, lime juice and mint, served with fresh lettuce  to wrap and enjoy. Nice, we needed more lettuce for to wrap up the beef. Our entrees included #106—Jungle Curry with Pork [...]

By |2017-09-04T18:49:30-04:00December 14th, 2012|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Ta Cocina, New York (Cyrano de Bergerac)

This Hell's Kitchen eatery serves traditional, plentiful Mexican fare. Good for a quick bite before theatre, which is what I did on my way to seeing the amazing Douglas Hodge as Cyrano de Bergerac at the American Airlines Theatre. We shared one app and one entree, which was more than enough food for two. First, the Aperitivo mixto ($12) with a mini chimichanga, a quesadilla,  tamal,  guacamole,  sour cream, some jalapeno peppers and an assortment of sauces (mole, green, red sauces).  Note to self: no need for any more food if you order this again. But we also ordered Chipotle BBQ ribs ($16), with  slow-roasted baby back ribs slathered in [...]

By |2017-09-07T15:32:36-04:00December 5th, 2012|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Public Fare Opens The Public’s Delacorte Theater in Central Park

Public Fare at The Public’s Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home of Shakespeare in the Park, is now open At Public Fare you can have the Picnic Dog with Crushed Barbecue Potato Chips, Scallions and Tangy Housemade Sauce ($5.50); sandwiches such as the Smoked Turkey & Gouda on Ciabatta Bread with Baby Arugula and Pickled Onion-Jalapeno Mayonnaise ($9); housemade desserts and snacks ($3 - $4.75). Lighter options includes salads such as the Chickpea Salad with Feta, Cucumber, Kalamata Olives, Tomato and Oregano($4.75); and Mixed Baby Greens with Pickled Shallots, Fresh Herbs, Ricotta Salata and Lemon Vinaigrette ( $6.75). Public Fare also offers a beverage list that includes a perfect summertime [...]

By |2019-05-05T10:34:10-04:00June 26th, 2012|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Marseille, Hell’s Kitchen, New York City (Once)

Marseille, France's most Moroccan-influenced city, is a restaurant in Hell's Kitchen that I recommend. It's a place to have brunch, al fresco dining or a quick bite on way to theatre. This time, I stopped in on my way to see Once, the 11-time, Tony-nominated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film. I skipped the meze — a classic at this French-Moroccan restaurant — and opted for the lightly charred octopus tossed with shreds of tomato and  shaved fennel, topped with crispy shoestring potatoes, drizzled with paprika oil ($13.50); and a huge bowl of moules ($19.50) in a light white wine, garlic and tomato broth, served with a side [...]

By |2017-09-07T15:32:38-04:00June 7th, 2012|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Blue Fin, Times Square (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) , NYC

Blue Fin's location in the W Times Square is ideal for pre-theatre — or just people watching from its glass-enclosed street level bar right across from TKTS booth. We were on our way to see the fun "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" that has audiences dancing in their seats that was showing across the street at the Palace theatre. We happened there during winter restaurant week with a $35 dinner deal. Also at $35 were two selections of wine. We opted both deals: the Jean Aubron muscadet, from the Loire Valley, 2009 and an order of the price-fix menu. The waiter placed a bowl full of diced crisp veggies with [...]

By |2017-09-04T18:50:31-04:00February 11th, 2012|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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La Rivage + “Other Desert Cities”

I'm always trying restaurants around the theatre district when seeing something on Broadway, as people habitually ask where to dine before curtain time. Recently I ate at La Rivage on 46th Street, before heading to the Booth Theater (222 West 45th Street, 212.239.6200) to Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities. The cast of Stockard Channing, Stacy Keach, Rachel Griffiths, Judith Light and Thomas Sadoski work as an perfectly oiled ensemble in this not-to-be-missed riveting play. The vintage-1958 French restaurant La Rivage offers a prix-fix lunch. The $25 three-course menu, including coffee, is a bargain with decent food and attentive service. The food is nothing to rave about, but is just [...]

By |2017-09-04T18:49:53-04:00December 3rd, 2011|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Ember Room, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC (Rock of Ages)

Hell's Kitchen offers many reasonably priced restaurant to stop for a pretheatre bite, with the Ember Room one of them. We stopped there before seeing the thigh-slapping, toe-tapping Rock of Ages (nominated for five Tony awards)  playing at the Helen Hayes theatre. I recommend that highly! The Ember Room was still offering New York Restaurant week's 3-course, but their Pre Theatre Menu — also with three courses — caught our eye. Instead of the $35, it was only $22. (The food prices listed are the ala carte ones.) We opted to choose from that, which offered the same food in smaller portions. Great for the waistline. We sampled Thai Pastrami [...]

By |2017-09-07T14:49:01-04:00September 26th, 2011|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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