Rooftop

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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Daintree Rooftop Bar, Hotel Hendricks, NYC

A few of us Dames—members of Les Dames d'Escoffier from the New York chapter—met with a New Orleans Dame for a drink and nibbles atop Hotel Hendricks after the Cherry Bomb conference. Great views. I sipped and enjoyed their version of an old fashioned—Coffee and Wood ($18)—with Old Forester bourbon, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, Créme de Banana and cold brew. Others sipped the Aussie Spritz ($12) with house "Aperol" blend, strawberry and blood orange topped with prosecco, orange wine ($17), Chardonnay ($16) and Titos ($18). We then shared their yummy fries (10), oversized cheeseburger sliders ($18 for two), crudité with hummus ($14) and skewers. We skipped the kangaroo (Yes! Kangaroo) for the shrimp ones [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:02:13-04:00May 30th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|2 Comments
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Haven Rooftop, Midtown, NYC + Prayer for French Republic

Haven Rooftop, atop the Sanctuary Hotel, is in the heart of the theatre district, making it a good spot for pre-theatre brunch. We stopped in before heading west on 47th to see the final performance of Prayer for the French Republic. We started brunch with mimosas ($13) and a virgin bloody mary ($12). Yet instead of egg options, two of us chose their lobster roll served with fries ($30), another their perfectly sliced heavenly chicken in a beurre blanc sauce with mesclun salad and fries ($28). Food was good, as always. As the play began, we realized we had seen it before. My memory isn't that good, but my computer [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:02:25-04:00April 11th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop, Theatre|0 Comments
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Empire Rooftop, Lincoln Square, NYC + The Gardens of Anuncia

After seeing the closing performance of The Gardens of Anuncia at Lincoln Center Theatre, we headed across the street to the rooftop of the Empire Hotel that overlooks the Lincoln Center complex for a cocktail, something to eat and the stunning view. One friend sampled their tequila and grapefruit juice Paloma, another their XOXO Gossip Girl with vodka and peach puree made bubbly with prosecco, and I sipped their trendy Old Fashioned ($20 each) with smoke added tableside (each $20). With those libations, we tried their Koreatown (aka nicely spicy) very meaty chicken wings ($20), their crisp bistro fries ($14) and their grilled lollipop lamb chops ($39), cooked medium-rare as [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:02:40-04:00February 11th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop, Theatre|2 Comments
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Terrasse Des Espices, Marrakech, Morocco

We had the evening off after a visit to an organic farm outside Marrakech. We originally had a reservation at Dar Yacout — a famed location — but they canceled. Since they also canceled my friend when she recently visited Marrakesh, I booked Terrasse Des Espices, just in case. That evening, four of us headed to the restaurant with a guide to assist us through the Medina. Once there, we ascended to the rooftop bar and dining room, partially lit by the almost full moon. It was magical. With drinks, we nibbled the crusty bread and fresh marinated black and green olives. First, we shared their Mediterranean-style plancha-grilled seasonal vegetables [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:11:50-04:00November 21st, 2023|Bites from the Road, Rooftop, World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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La Sqala, Casablanca, Morocco

La Sqala is near the old Medina and around the corner from Rick's Cafe, the institution made famous by the movie Casablanca. We canceled our Rick's dinner reservation for this more authentic one offering Moroccan cuisine in an outdoor Andalusian garden with live local music. We hoped to stop by after dinner for a drink, as most Moroccan restaurants do not offer alcohol. We had new friends to dine with, whom we met at the pool atop the Mövenpick Hotel, a 5-star hotel in central Casablanca. The four of us shared everything. We started by grazing on two mezzes (90 dirhams or about $9 for each grouping) that came with [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:11:59-04:00November 1st, 2023|Bites from the Road, Rooftop, World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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Breakfast at RH Rooftop, Meatpacking District, NYC

As always, the food and setting at RH Rooftop are lovely. We arrived for breakfast as they opened and commenced the morning with mimosas ($16). Their RH Scramble offered creamy scrambled eggs with creme fraîche, an avocado half, and lots of toasted thick-cut sourdough bread and salted fresh butter ($22). The avocado toast came on charred sourdough bread ($20) with a soft-boiled egg ($3). I would have preferred a toasted bagel with the New York lox plate with cucumber, pickled onion and cream cheese instead of the sourdough bread. My dining partner, who was eating that dish, was happy with the sourdough bread ($28). We shared the thick-cut maple-glazed pork [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:02:54-04:00October 14th, 2023|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Dames at the Lookup Rooftop Bar at Kixby, Midtown, NYC

Our New York chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier hosted a midtown rooftop party for other organization members attending the Summer Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center at the Lookup Rooftop Bar. The Kixby hotel generously provided complimentary glasses of bubbles (Cava) to kick off the early evening meetup. Florida Dame Marie Charlotte Piro and her brother, Romain Piro, importers of Tuscan olive oil, treated us to nachos and dips served with seasonal vegetables, tortilla chips & grilled bread. They drizzled each platter with their eponymous rich oil. Those tasty nachos ($15) included spiced tortilla chips topped with chili con carne, green chili beer cheese, pickled onions, pico de gallo, [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:03:06-04:00July 30th, 2023|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|2 Comments
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Serafina In the Sky / Pod Hotel, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC + Wet Brain

I'm always looking for rooftop spaces for grabbing a bite before theatre. Serafina in the Sky/Pod Hotel is perfect before heading further west on 42nd Street to shows at Playwrights Horizon, Signature Theatre or Theatre Row. I sipped an Aperol Spritz ($15) while perusing the many Italian specialties on their menu. I had read that the owners — Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato — had been lost at sea when they promised to open a restaurant together if they survived. Today, Serafina has locations across three continents with dozens of restaurants in the U.S. I decided on their eggplant parmigiana — baked eggplant with fior di latte mozzarella, tomato sauce [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:12:11-04:00July 1st, 2023|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop, Theatre|0 Comments
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Haven Rooftop, Times Square, NYC + Shucked

I love when out-of-towners call spur of the moment to get together as their schedule permits. So when my west-coast friend asked to grab a quick bite before heading to theatre, I jumped at the chance as it had been years since we were together. The Haven Rooftop was close to both theatres and a fun casual place to get a bite. I'd only experienced and liked this restaurant's brunch. My dining partner was seeing Hadestown, and I was off to Shucked, the corny musical about a small-town woman searching for someone to figure out why all the county's corn was dying. I started with a good Maker's Mark old [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:03:20-04:00May 26th, 2023|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Birthday Celebration at Koloman in the Ace Hotel & Nubeluz, NoMad, NYC

Our celebration evening began with drinks at the hot, relatively new rooftop bar in the Ritz Hotel NoMad. Nubeluz is worth visiting, especially with out-of-town visitors. I ordered the Foggy Hill, a mezcal drink I recommend that someone at your table get because of the lemon-thyme aromatic cloud presentation. Others had traditional cocktails. The birthday girl requested caviar bumps (3 grams Kaviari Ossetra, $18 per pump), a trendy new app where you put a tiny mound of caviar on your hand and slurp! Yum. The four of us shared all the apps. Those included sliced, grilled Trumpet mushrooms over crushed potatoes with watercress with a side sauce Vierge ($32) of [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:12:22-04:00January 28th, 2023|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|2 Comments
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Nubeluz Rooftop Bar in The Ritz, NoMad, NYC

Nubeluz is from the Spanish words for cloud (nube) and light (luz). It's the name of the Ritz-Carlton NoMad's swanky rooftop bar with incredible city views and a unique take on cocktails from José Andrés, who also opened Zaytinya on the ground floor. The bar opened in July at the corner of Broadway and 28th street. Nubelez tries to keep it mysterious. The hostess, dressed in a gold lamè short cocktail dress, will have you wait after you've stopped at the stand to give your name -- even if you have a reservation and the rooftop is not fully committed. It's how they've been trained. Once the hostess decides to [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:03:34-04:00December 23rd, 2022|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Serra by Birreria on Eataly Rooftop, Flatiron, NYC

A trip to the original Eataly on 23rd Street with lunch on their scenic rooftop was the final stop before my Dame friends departed after our October international Les Dames d'Escoffier conference. Being our last meal together this time, we asked our waiter to serve our order in courses so we could linger. And we ordered their special "$39 Bottle" red, their Pietro Beconcini Antiche Vie Chianti, Tuscany. He first served us the Gnocchi al Pomodoro ($19) and the Insalata del Mercat ($16). The salad blended Lani's Farm lettuces and shaved  carrots and fennel in a red wine vinaigrette. We wished we had bread to sop up the tomato-basil sauce [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:03:49-04:00December 9th, 2022|City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Prosciutto & Delice Board at RH Rooftop, Meat Packing, NYC

To commence a celebration of a friend's birthday, we started at RH Rooftop with a bottle of rosè bubbly. Specifically, the Pierre Sparr Cremant d'Alsace ($64). This ripe and juicy sparkler worked well with our prosciutto and cheese platter with a warm baguette and chilled grapes ($45). Knowing we were starting a b-day celebration, the restaurant brought us a warm (making it irresistible) chocolate chip cookie bearing a lit candle. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon. If you've never been, I highly suggest a trip. RH Rooftop Meatpacking District 9 Ninth Avenue New York, NY 10014 rh.com

By |2024-07-21T11:04:02-04:00November 17th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Cocktails at The Royalton Rooftop, NoMad, NYC

Summer rooftop reservations are challenging as city dwellers all want a view and fresh air. I lucked out when looking for a place to meet a relative for a quick drink before he headed off to the theatre. I got a res at the chic Royalton rooftop, sitting inside (as it was cooler than expected). I did take a peek at their rooftop pool, something I learned non-hotel folks could pay $60 for 4 hours. I might have to try it! My relative ordered their sliders. Once I tasted a bite, I knew I had to write about them. They were that delicious. These three burgers came cooked to perfection, [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:04:18-04:00July 31st, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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First Gansevoort, then Buddakan, Meat Packing District, NYC

Those who know me know I'm a birthday glutton loving my own new year and celebrating with as many friends as possible. One of my gatherings last month (yes, it takes me a month to post something after I've tried it!) started at the Gansevoort Rooftop for yummy drinks and a great view. My friends initially arranged the dinner festivities on Grand Banks, the seasonal restaurant on the deck of a historic fishing boat, yet the day before the reservation, the restaurant canceled it for a private party! My fab friends scurried to re-group and find another place for our celebration. We ended up at Buddakan for a delicious and [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:12:44-04:00July 19th, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Rooftop Bar at Nearly Ninth, Midtown West, NYC

In a hunt for a rooftop bar with a happy hour, I tripped over the Nearly Ninth website, implying that they had one Not! The website listed a happy hour, which — after we arrived — we discovered was only for the lobby bar. We decided to stay put as we were already nestled comfortably in a private corner. I recommend their nicely balanced Elderflower Spritz ($17 instead of $10 in the lobby bar), replete with Grey Goose, St. Germain, prosecco and club soda. With that, we nibbled a small serving of blue corn tortilla chips and guacamole ($18) plus some fresh veggies that our attentive waitress Savannah managed to [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:04:32-04:00June 27th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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A return to RH Rooftop, Meatpacking District, NYC

A visit to RH Rooftop in the Meatpacking District is always a treat. The location is high above Ninth Avenue with a lush windowed dining area offering excellent attentive service and good food. I always recommend. We started with Mimosa's ($16) and their artisanal Prosciutto di Parma (some of the leanest I've ever had!) served on a large wooden platter with warmed crusty breadf rom Orwasher’s Bakery, chilled red grapes and a few chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano ($24). Although that could have been my meal, we had also ordered their warm lobster roll with drawn butter a soupçon of mayo and Old Bay seasoning ($24) and crispy French fries served [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:04:51-04:00June 19th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Brunch at Haven Rooftop, Midtown, NYC + The Music Man

Haven Rooftop, a lively eatery located on top of the Sanctuary Hotel in the heart of the theatre district, was the perfect spot for brunch before heading up Broadway a few blocks to see the not-to-be-missed The Music Man.  Always arriving early and my friends often a tad late, I had time to notice what other tables were enjoying and asked if they minded me photographing their food. Consistent with this place's warm friendly vibe, everyone was amenable. These included the brunch pizza ($19) topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, diced bacon then sunny-side-up eggs; the scrambled egg version of the huevos rancheros ($18) with crisp corn tortilla atop black beans [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:05:06-04:00March 24th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop, Theatre|0 Comments
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Pool Bar: The Rockaway Hotel, Rockaway, Queens

A trip to Rockaway Beach via the ferry had been on our radar all summer. We made a res at the Rooftop of the new Rockaway Hotel midafternoon, as we thought we'd have something to eat after a day at the beach. The weather didn't cooperate so we headed to lunch early, ending up at the Pool Bar, as the Rooftop doesn't open until 2. We all were in the mood for a lobster roll. That seafood mixed with mayo and lemon stuffed in a brioche roll hit the spot. New York City is really a small town. Seriously. We ran into my friend and cookbook author Rozanne Gold, who [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:12:55-04:00October 11th, 2021|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rambling, Rooftop|0 Comments
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