In its first few months, Jones Wood Foundry (401 East 76th St.) has proven itself to be an exciting contribution to the recent Upper East Side culinary renaissance.  It calls itself a “Food Driven Pub” which I love considering how many new spots are loosely throwing around the hackneyed “Gastropub” description these days. After a recent visit in which [...]

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We’ve been hearing the buzz since early summer about Ciano, the new Italian restaurant brought to you by Chef Shea Gallante (formerly of Bouley and Cru) and restaurateur Stratis Morfogen of the Philipe Chow Group. And they’ve assembled a cast of heavy hitters in the NYC restaurant scene, including the former sommelier of Cru and the [...]

There’s a lot of buzz in the NYC food world of late…Eataly, FoodParc, Michael White’s Osteria Morini, and Del Posto’s surprising 4 stars are giving people a lot to talk about this month. But perhaps nothing is garnering more attention than Chef Jonathan Benno’s (formerly Per Se’s executive chef) latest venture, Lincoln. Only time will [...]

We’ve been hearing some rumblings about a new, cozy Thai-inspired tapas and wine bar in Murray Hill called Reserve (407 Third Ave b/t 28th and 29th).  It’s situated right next door to tri-level mega bar Tonic, which together makes them the bar version of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito from the movie Twins. With places like Marcony Ristorante, Vino 313, Cask Bar [...]

I went at noon today to check out the brand new Mexicue truck parked at 52nd St. and Park Ave. The line was already 25 deep before they could even lift the service door and put out the menu sign. Such has become the norm these days when word spreads around Midtown of a new food truck in the [...]

Word comes in this morning that Limelight Grill is set for a “soft” opening this weekend in the courtyard of the Limelight Marketplace. They’re likening Limelight Grill, which will be operated by Bruce Caulfield of Tracks Bar and Grill, to a Shake Shack-concept.  Which begs the question, who wouldn’t want to liken themself to Shake Shack? Limelight [...]

We’re finally getting a little bit of a break from the heat wave that has consumed much of our summer here in the city. What sucks most about the recent heat and humidity is that it renders outdoor patios and gardens useless.  Who wants to sit outside in stifling, soupy heat?  Which brings us to the 30-seat garden [...]

I had to a double and triple-take earlier as I was walking down E. 56th Street between 2nd and 3rd Aves. What stood before me about halfway down the block was a sign for a new restaurant called Lips.  No, it’s not a strip club. A closer look at the window reveals that Lips is the same as the [...]

Back in the Fall of 2009, two brothers, David and Peter, decided to open an affordable, casual Italian neigborhood restaurant on a stretch of West 3rd St. near Blue Note Jazz Club and Town Tavern.  Like many smaller, new restaurants these days, The Village Trattoria opened as BYO without a liquor license.  It also unfortunately opened with some growing pains.  Sensing [...]

My friend Martin and I just headed over to check out The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English that opened to the public today in the lower level of The Plaza Hotel (corner of 5th Ave. and 59th St.). The place has a terrific layout with 8 open-kitchen style stations surrounded by bar seats, which include The Grill, The Pizza [...]

Jill and I headed over to Zengo last night for “Friends and Family.” We were excited to try the new, soon-to-open Richard Sandoval restaurant (Maya, Pampano) housed in the massive space on the northwest corner of 40th St. and 3rd Ave. Todd English (Tuscan Steak) and Jeffrey Chodorow (Wild Salmon) haven’t been able to make [...]

My work friends and I used to grab lunch at a bi-level Italian place on E. 57th St b/t Park & Lexington called Cafe Fonduta.  They had quick take-out on the first floor and waiter service on the second floor with fast, decent Italian food at decent prices.  But they up and left all of [...]

Ok, I’ll admit it right off the bat — before October of last year, I had no idea what poutine was.  I was in Standings Bar in the East Village with Jill and our friend Martin drinking a few pints of Green Flash West Coast IPA and watching my beloved Michigan Wolverines get spanked yet [...]

Just got word this morning that a new outdoor lounge, Palace Gate, is set to open next week at The New York Palace Hotel. The outdoor lounge is set in the hotel’s courtyard. Palace Gate will be serving cocktails, wine and a full bar menu from the kitchen at Gilt. The bar menu will feature [...]