NYC Best Bites

Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine Theatre District, NYC + Six

Jasmine's brings Caribbean flavor to Restaurant Row. We stopped in after seeing the spectacular, just over an hour musical Six, about the six wives of Henry VIII at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 47th. Our server greeted us with a big Caribbean-style smile as we entered Jasmine's, a part Jamaican restaurant around the corner from that theatre. Their attentively made drinks are good. There's an oversized salt-rimmed Margie ($17), a tall mojito ($16) swimming in fresh mint and a mule ($15) in a copper cup with a cinnamon stick.    The food is more uneven. Don't, though, miss their spicy and piquant jerk wings. The kitchen has a heavy hand with [...]

By |2022-12-05T08:52:21-05:00December 3rd, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Cull & Pistol Oyster Bar, Chelsea Market, NYC

A cull is a lobster that's lost one of its claws; a pistol is one that lost both claws, usually due to predators. The Cull & Pistol is a Michelin-recommended seafood restaurant located in the heart of Chelsea Market. My friend, who recently moved to the nearby Lantern, frequents them weekly for their dozen varieties of oysters on the half-shell offered half-price happy hour during happy hour from 4 to 6 pm Monday through Friday. That's why she skipped the oysters as we met for lunch, not happy hour, with Dames in from out of town for our Les Dames d'Escoffier conference. To start, we shared their frito misto with [...]

By |2022-12-05T08:49:56-05:00December 1st, 2022|City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Misirizzi, NoHO, NYC + Raisin in the Sun

Misirizzi on East 4th Street is a small Italian restaurant with friendly, knowledgeable service and good food. And it's around the corner from The Public, where we saw Raisin in the Sun. This powerful play, first introduced in 1959, is about a family's experiences with racism and housing discrimination as they try to improve their lives.  Since it was a warm fall evening, we ate outside and decided that when we returned, we'd sit inside by the fireplace. I recommend the julienned endive, crumbled gorgonzola, candied walnuts and sliced pear ($14) salad. Also tasty is the baked butternut squash, escarole and chickpeas with Ricotta Salata ($14).  Don't miss their homemade lasagna [...]

By |2022-10-30T20:33:41-04:00November 29th, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Cafe Fiorello, Lincoln Square, NYC + School of American Ballet

The School of American Ballet (SAB), the most renowned ballet school in the US. founded by George Balanchine in 1934, welcomed my Ex.expat group one morning recently. If you're unfamiliar, SAB has been the official training academy of the New York City Ballet for the past seven decades. Its purpose is "to provide dancers as well trained as any other technician, whether a surgeon, architect or musician." We attended an advanced practice session taught by the amazing Suki Schorer, a Balanchine Trust répétiteur who has turned out ballerinas for over 50 years. From 1959 until 1972, Suki danced with George Balanchine's New York City Ballet. To learn more about SAB, [...]

By |2022-12-04T17:05:59-05:00November 27th, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Brunch at Dame-Owned Vinateria, Harlem, NYC

Like many of the fun Les Dames d'Escoffier conference events, our New York Harlem fund-raiser was sold out. I decided to take a group who hadn't booked in time to Harlem for brunch at Dame Yvette Leeper Bueno's Vinateria, where I'd dined before. (A Dame is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier.) Brunch entrees include a mimosa, bloody Mary or complimentary coffee or tea. Our group tried their delicious carbonara ($21) with guanciale, egg and Grana Padano; the autumn salad ($15) with roasted squash, carrots, roasted red pepper, apples, candied walnuts, cranberries, feta and chicory; and the house-cured smoked salmon eggs benedict; and the Applewood smoked bacon cheeseburger with fries [...]

By |2022-12-04T17:02:52-05:00November 25th, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Mermaid Inn in the Red Cat Space, Chelsea, NYC

As we were seated at our table in the new Chelsea Mermaid Inn in the old Red Cat space on Tenth and 23, the waiter rushed over to share that happy hour would end in three minutes. That welcoming enabled us to save $6 on each of our well-made cocktails and to order the fried calamari ($11) only on the HH menu. Instead of Prosecco, they use blanc de blanc for the Aperol spritz bubbles; and olive juice and hot sauce for the "dirty" martini. I liked the peppadew garnish in the latter. Both those drinks and the squid were good. That Happy hour runs from 4:30 to 6:30 at [...]

By |2022-12-04T16:59:51-05:00November 23rd, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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STATE Grill and Bar, Midtown, NYC

I was invited to dine at State Grill and Bar, the upscale, ground-floor Empire State Building restaurant, for a tasting. What intrigued me was a fixed-price meal package deal available when you buy a ticket to the observatory on top of the Empire State Building. When you do, you will be prompted, depending on the time of your visit, to buy a two-course lunch ( $40) or a three-course dinner ($60).  Or you can purchase an add-on meal while visiting the 80 or 86th-floor at one of the kiosks. Tickets to the observatory start at $42 for seniors; $44 for adults; the rates are higher during sunset. We each began [...]

By |2022-11-20T14:21:19-05:00November 19th, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|1 Comment
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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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Lafayette, NoHo, NYC + Baldwin and Buckley

Pre-COVID, I have had some decent meals, including a fun birthday at Lafayette, Andrew Carmelini’s French restaurant in NoHo. We stopped in for brunch one rainy day before heading to The Public to see Baldwin and Buckley. For a review of that show, click here. We appreciated the good vibe as we lucked out being seated in a corner banquette away from the noise. Four of us started with purportedly spicy bloody Marys ($17). Other than the composed Niçoise Salad garnished with rare tuna, anchovies and an egg ($36), the rest of the food was plebeian at best.  The smoked salmon Benedict ($30) was okay. The shakshuka was overcooked, resulting in [...]

By |2022-11-20T17:35:34-05:00November 12th, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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The Always Wonderful Casa Mono, Gramercy-Flatiron, NYC

I needed Spanish food. Seriously, I was in withdrawal, having returned recently from San Sebastian. That's why I selected the Michelin 1-star Casa Mono to meet a friend for lunch. It never disappoints. Since I chose the place,  I let my dining partner, a wine professional, Wanda Man, founder of Wine With Wanda and East Coast Editor, The SOMM Journal, select our wine. After chatting with their Somm, she chose Sin Mas 20 ($59), a fun, funky red from Galicia. This light-bodied, low-alcohol wine "had a Kombucha quality that the Somm described. But the fruit was fresh and bright, with no oak. A very good match with our meal," said [...]

By |2022-11-20T14:21:27-05:00November 7th, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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The Stand Comedy Club, Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC

We'd always gone to The Stand for evening comedy shows. When I learned the restaurant was serving lunch, I convinced some friends to sample it with me. Even though we were the only ones in the restaurant, our food took a long time. When the food arrived, the double patty burgers ($18) were not hot and had no fries. While — oddly — the other sandwiches came with an abundance of hot crispy fries. The porchetta ($15) with broccoli rabe on focaccia was the tastiest. Do go to The Stand for the comedy and friendly staff!  No drink minimum at the shows, with tickets only ~ $10 - 20. The Stand [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:44:31-04:00November 2nd, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Lunch in the Tavern of Gramercy Tavern, Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC

Hadn't been to Danny Meyer's Flatiron District Gramercy Tavern since before the pandemic (I did stop by to support them by buying take-out.) I was eager to see how they fared. The Tavern, open since 1994, offers contemporary American cuisine and warm hospitality. Their accolades include three New York Times stars, one Michelin star, the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant and the Best Chef: NYC award for Michael Anthony. When you dine, you have two choices the fixed-price-only dining room or the bustling bar area. We chose the more casual Tavern with our informative server Derek offering suggestions -- many of which we followed. We started with three starters [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:57:30-04:00October 27th, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Giardino 54, Hells Kitchen, NYC + Los Otros, The Musical

We chose Giardino 54 for its proximity to A.R.T./New York Theatres, where we were seeing the musical Los Otros with music by Michael John LaChiusa, who we bumped into at the performance. Los Otros is a musical about love, risk and revelation told through two characters who explore significant moments in their lives. I recommend. I started lunch at Giardino 54 with a glass of their on-tap Vicentini Agostino Valpolicella, Vento 2019 ($10), reminiscent of Italian house wine. They also offer a white — Trebbiano, Poderi Dal Nespoli IGT, 2017 — on tap. Our friendly, attentive waiter served us an olive oil-balsamic mixture for dipping the bread. I tried their [...]

By |2022-10-20T08:55:21-04:00October 22nd, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Brunch at the French La Mercerie, Soho, NYC

It was French cuisine in Soho for brunch one Sunday recently. We had lots to catch up on, so we started with a bottle of Marsannay 'Le Centenaire' Domaine Bruno Clair 2019 rosé. We shared two entrees served separately, starting with one of their classic dishes. Crèpe complète ($28) with a buckwheat crêpe wrapped around Paris ham and comté, with a sunny-side-up egg, all drizzled crème fraîche. Delicately delicious. Next, we shared the Croque monsieur ($21 + $3) with the Paris ham and comté, turned madame with the addition of an egg, that our server forgot. He brought us the egg later. We did indulge in their profiteroles (5) au [...]

By |2022-10-18T08:29:30-04:00October 17th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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Tom Colicchio’s Italian Vallata, Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC

From Gramercy Tavern to Craft and Riverpark, I've been a fan of Tom Colicchio restaurants. Wanting to support his new Italian adventure, I met a friend for lunch. Vallata is right next to Craft on 19th Street. We were two of the six people in the empty characterless restaurant. I tried their pasta and wine special for $29 — a real bargain. The housemade lumache with Bolognese alone is $28. And with it, they offered a glass of Paolo e Noemia d'Amico Villa Tirrena from Umbria. The large shell-shaped pasta was nicely firm, yet the sauce was too salty and buttery. And I had to hunt for the meat. Had [...]

By |2022-10-18T08:32:17-04:00October 15th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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A return to Shukette, Chelsea, NYC + MJ The Musical

Our afternoon started on our feet, applauding the amazing performances in MJ the Musical  — telling the story of Michael Jackson — at the Neil Simon theatre. It won four Tony awards, including best actor in a musical (Myles Frost) and best choreography (Christopher Wheeldon). I highly recommend. From there, we headed downtown to 24th Street and Ninth Avenue for an early dinner at Shukette, serving the creative cooking of Brooklyn-born Chef Ayesha J. Nurdjaja. The name is from the Hebrew word for an open-air market, shuk. Again, we were seated inside, at the front of the restaurant, yet this time not surrounded by others. The noise was much easier [...]

By |2022-10-09T09:42:21-04:00October 7th, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Lunch at Veeray da Dhaba, Lower East Side, NYC

Finding a good restaurant open for lunch on a Monday in Manhattan is always a challenge. I start by looking at my "To try" list. I lucked out with Veeray da Dhaba, which is open on Mondays for lunch.  It's an Indian restaurant on the lower east side with food by a Michelin-star chef featuring Punjab roadside cuisine. Dhaba (da'ba) is a roadside stand offering wallet-friendly local cuisine in India. You don't go to Veeray da Dhaba for libations. They offer $35 bottles of wine to accompany the food; the latter is what you go for. We chose a bottle of their Fairvalley Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa, 2020. [...]

By |2022-10-09T09:56:49-04:00October 3rd, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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The Smith, Lincoln Plaza, Lincoln Center, NYC + Porky and Bess

I liked brunch at The Smith downtown, so I thought we'd be fine at the Lincoln Center one. We stopped in for dinner before seeing Porky & Bess across the street at the Met. I recommend their alcohol-forward, nicely blended Wild Horses ($16) cocktail made with mezcal, tequila reposado, amaro and various bitters. It was the best part of the meal. The brick-pressed chicken was fine, just not as moist as expected. Wished they'd offered a choice of dark meat. The chicken came atop baby spinach and smashed garlic potatoes. The server kindly replaced the smashed for fried! Both came drizzled with a lemony chicken au jus ($28). My other friend was [...]

By |2022-09-18T16:15:32-04:00September 23rd, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Swagat, Upper West Side, NYC + Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like it

Swagat is a small and cozy Indian restaurant on the Upper West Side, a good spot to dine before heading to the Delacorte to see "As You Like it," one of this year's two productions of Shakespeare in the Park as it's about a half-mile walk to the theatre.  Swagat, a Hindu word meaning "welcome," is a sister to Madam Ji, another Indian place I've enjoyed. Their aloo papri chat ($12) — a traditional Indian street snack — contained crunchy flour crispies with potatoes, chickpeas and flour straws with mint, tamarind and tamarind sauces. Their crispy cauliflower (lasuni gobi $10) comes tossed in a tangy garlic and tomato sauce. Don't [...]

By |2022-09-22T07:06:37-04:00September 19th, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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José Andrés’ Zaytinya Now in New York, NoMad, NYC

We dined at Zaytinya the week it opened in the Ritz Hotel in NoMad, being there for their first Friday night. The staff was attentive and still learning, something I'd expect during their first week. By the time you're reading this, I bet the team worked out the kinks we experienced.   Zaytinya is one of José Andrés' establishments, with his original one in DC and a short-lived one in Dallas. As you know, he's that culinary angel who does humanitarian outreach through World Central Kitchen. We started with cocktails. I tried their Ankara Rye Club, made from Old Forester rye whiskey and sweet vermouth seasoned with fresh thyme, cumin and [...]

By |2023-08-12T10:41:16-04:00September 11th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|3 Comments
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