Food

Click on the images for more on Bar Pleiades, pizza at Numero 28, and dining at Juliet Supper Club. more ›

Get ready for Curly Fries and Onion Petals® and Roast Beef galore, Brooklyn—Arby's is nearly ready to open its doors. Lost City reports from the landmarked Gage & Tollner space at 374 Fulton Street, and says the franchise will open in a few weeks. "Construction was underway today, with lots of activity inside. I must say, the famous interior, gas lights and all, looked in fine shape." Nothing a giant, neon Arby's hat won't fix. more ›

The lovely-looking restaurant and bar The Breslin begins lunch service tomorrow, and co-owner Ken Friedman (The Spotted Pig) is planning on serving alcohol despite objections from the Masjid Ar-Rahman mosque across the street. Earlier this month the mosque’s leaders called a meeting with Friedman at The Ace Hotel, where The Breslin is located, and asked, "Can you move the bar?" Friedman's response makes us want to hurry over to The Breslin right now for a dram of Laphroaig to show our support (and drown out the voices): more ›

Arnold Diaz, who famously exposed the Drunken Negro Cookie baker in his engrossing Fox 5 SHAME segment, is back to send another victim into a shame spiral. This time it's the president of the United Homeless Organization, which sets up tables on seemingly every street corner soliciting donations for the homeless. If the operation had ever seemed a little shady to you, well, it probably is. Diaz digs up the questionable tax filing from the group's president, Steven Riley, and confronts him in Union Square about it. Things get shamelessly physical. more ›

For his third review as the chief dining critic for the New York Times, Sam Sifton strays far from the usual fine dining galaxy occupied by first-string critics, keeping his street cred with an enthusiastic review of Imperial Palace, in Flushing, Queens. Sifton insists, "The Palace is riding high, at the zenith of Cantonese cooking in New York City... it is possible to eat brilliantly there, in the manner of an improvised Cantonese banquet. It is not a formal restaurant nor in any way a perfect one; service can be slapdash, particularly if you speak no Chinese. But the cooking is extremely sophisticated." Sifton also blows the cover on Rocky Sullivan's Friday night lobster feast in Red Hook, catered by the Red Hook Lobster Pound, calling it "worth a detour." more ›

For too long bacon lovers have cursed both the darkness and their deceptive, maddeningly inedible, bacon-scented candles. Who hasn't raised a bacon-scented candle to their lips and tried to drink the savory-smelling wax, only to be badly burned by the meretricious aroma and nauseating flavor? more ›

Last week we got sent a press release about a KFC publicity stunt at the UN, and shrugged it off because we're not corporate tools who reblog each and every publicity stunt (unless it involves American Apparel). But what makes this one interesting is that the stunt has deeply embarrassed UN security, who allowed a guy dressed like Colonel Sanders into restricted areas of the UN without security clearance. The guy even got a photo op with current president of the United Nations General Assembly, Libya’s Dr. Ali A. Treki! more ›

Earlier this month, a study examining fast-food consumers in poor NYC neighborhoods found that the city's law requiring chain restaurants to post calorie info might not be making a difference in what people order. Looking at customers' receipts, researchers found that many had actually ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer had before the law went into effect. But a more comprehensive study of the law, released today, tells a different story. more ›

Yesterday suspiciously perky cooking celebrity Rachael Ray, Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn and other government officials held a press event at P.S. 89/I.S. 289 in Tribeca to preview a new menu that Ray created for NYC public schools. On Thursday, 600,000 students, from kindergartners to 12th graders, will have the option to sample the menu Ray developed: whole-wheat flatbread with roasted chicken, a ratatouille-style stew with beans, and corn salad on top. (Plus a side of broccoli.) But yesterday there was also a side of cockroach! more ›

These are tough times for the high-end dining industry, and the seafood restaurant Oceana could have made a cool $275 just for tossing a septuagenarian lobster into a pot of boiling water. Because lobsters' age can be determined by weight, the Oceana owners believe the 11 pound crustacean, nicknamed "Peter," is approximately 70 years old. This guy was old enough to bite a infantryman's foot at Omaha Beach; does that make him too old to eat? more ›

This weekend, the NY Times has a long confessional-style feature from a Park Slope Food Coop member who was suspended after she fell behind on her hours. Yes, Alana Joblin Ain wasn't able to keep up with the 2.75 hours required every four weeks to keep her as a Food Coop member in good standing, "Flushed, defeated and taken aback — I knew I owed the co-op some work, but I didn’t know I had been blacklisted — I slunk around the corner for a takeout burrito. But no amount of mushrooms and spinach could diminish my shame and guilt." more ›

Click on the images here for more details on The Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights, Bill's Burger in the Meatpacking District, Corsino in the West Village, and Giano in the East Village. more ›

Click on the images for details on Scarpetta's new five course tasting menu, The JakeWalk's new fall food and cocktail menu, and Dokebi's Korean tacos and weekend brunch. more ›

The author of the new book Save the Deli has declared that LA has better Jewish delis than NYC, but he only says such hurtful things because he wants to see New York do better. We haven't read David Sax's heretical book, but the LA Times did, and of course they're gloating over there, because Sax says, "The [delis] that are most inspiring, the ones that people cling to, the ones that people enshrine for years and years are the traditional Jewish delis. And Los Angeles just happens to have more of them than any city I've been to." How can that be?! more ›

In December, Governor Paterson floated the idea of an 18% tax non-diet soft drinks, as part of a plan to close the $3 billion budget gap and perhaps influence New Yorkers to choose healthier beverages. Then the beverage industry opened up a can of whoop-ass, and Paterson backed off, explaining that "often publicity is as important as legislation." Now, perhaps inspired by a 3 cent tax on soda being considered in Washington, Paterson has revived his own soda tax dreams. more ›

New York's Adam Platt files a twofer on twee West Village restaurant Joseph Leonard and Civetta, an Italian restaurant on Kenmare Street. Each gets a measly one star out of five; "Joseph Leonard’s very standard bistro menu isn’t inspired enough to add to this festive atmosphere, but neither is it so horrible that it detracts from the proceedings." At Civetta, "if you choose wisely, it’s possible to have a decent meal." Meanwhile, Jay Cheshes at Time Out finally gets around to reviewing Graydon Carter's Monkey Bar, giving it three out of five stars and noting that, "There are still some rich people in New York City, and they eat here." more ›

One of the season's more buzzed-about restaurant openings is The Breslin, which will soon be joining Stumptown in the trendy Ace Hotel in the Flatiron District. The hype in this case is not without reason, as the proprieters here are restaurateur Ken Friedman and chef April Bloomfield, of The Spotted Pig fame. more ›

Say goodbye to boring old one-trick pony pizza boxes, and hello to the Swiss Army knife of cardboard pizza receptacles! It was 20 years ago that William Walsh, 42, ripped off a piece of a pizza box to give to a college buddy to use a plate. Now, after two decades of tinkering, necessity (or laziness) has become the mother of invention: Walsh has created GreenBox, which he hopes will revolutionize how Americans consume pizza. more ›

Did you know that a 16 ounce cup of hot chocolate will cost you ten dollars at Yankee Stadium? It's news to Sports Illustrated's Peter King, who was shivering through a Yankees-Angels game the other night when a vendor passed by hawking the luxury chocolate-flavored water. He later crunched the numbers on the product, and guesstimates that the Yankees are making about $9.15 profit on each hot chocolate sold (23 cents for bulk chocolate power, 6.5 cents for a cup and lid, 5 cents for hot water, and maybe 50 cents for the vendor). more ›

With college loan debt, three months till graduation, and less than encouraging job prospects, NYU journalism school student Ryan McLendon decided to sign up for food stamps. According to CityRoom, McLendon waited more than seven hours over two days to see a food stamps counselor in Williamsburg, along with young families and other struggling New Yorkers. Since 2002 the number of NYC residents on food stamps has grown by more than 74%. In the end, when McLendon finally met with a food stamps counselor, the computers were down. more ›

Exuberant chef David Burke is no longer involved with Hawaiian Tropic Zone, and that's probably for the best, since he's had his hands full with plenty of other projects anyway. Last fall his sustainable seafood restaurant Fishtail opened on the Upper East Side to favorable reviews, and his restaurant at Bloomingdale's continues to give shoppers the sustenance they need to keep our economy afloat. Burke, who first made a splash at the River Café in Brooklyn in the '80s, has recently finished changing up his other serious venture in the neighborhood, which opened in 2003 as "davidburke & donatella." Restaurateur Donatella Arpaia is no longer involved (the partnership is said to have ended amicably) so it's now simply called David Burke Townhouse, and has reopened with a new menu after renovations. more ›

Click on the images above for the scoop on 'Wichcraft's dinner, Harbour's lunch and "Mai Tai Tuesdays," brunch at Charles, speed lunch at La Fonda del Sol, and "Moules Frites Monday" at Bar Blanc Bistro. more ›

Click on the images above for all the details on Hells Kitchen's new wine bar, Ardesia, and the crazy Carnival above Bowlmor. more ›

Hey, people who have complained that 12-ounce cans of Coke are too ungainly—today's your day! The soft drink bottler has announced it's bringing mini 7.5-ounce Coke cans to NYC and Washington DC this December. Coca-Cola's North America Sparkling Beverages President Hendrik Steckhan said, "The Coca-Cola mini can is a great option for smaller thirst occasions and for calorie-conscious consumer. Our new sleek mini can supports the idea of moderation and offers people yet another way to enjoy their favorite Coca-Cola beverage." more ›

The city's recurring "restaurant weeks" are all about getting your money's worth by visiting an establishment that would ordinarily be beyond your reach; there's no sense paying $25 for a prix-fixe at a place that ordinarily charges about that about much or less, which is why the Water's Edge is an ideal choice for Queens Restaurant Week. Situated literally on the edge of the East River in Long Island City, next to Deitch Studios, the three decade-old restaurant could easily be misidentified as a private catering hall—which it is. But it is also an Asian-inflected seafood restaurant with three star ambition, and it re-opened a few weeks ago after an extensive face-lift. more ›

Just a heads up that tomorrow the new Manhattan location of gelato and crepe chain Melt will be trying to set the world record for the most cups of gelato served in a single day. If you'd like to help the company achieve its goal, head over to Melt at 1053 2nd Avenue, between 55th and 56th Streets, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow. The lines for these kinds of giveaways can sometimes make one question whether its worth the time investment, but since Melt is going for the world record, maybe they'll be cranking out the gelato fast enough to keep things moving briskly? more ›

The 400 union employees at Tavern on the Green are facing the prospect of joblessness during the holiday season, because the restaurant's owners says they can't turn over the lease on January 1st without closing before December. So Tavern's operating company has asked for a temporary restraining order in US Bankruptcy Court that would permit them to delay the changeover for 90 days after January 1st, enabling the restaurant to operate during the lucrative month of December, and then conduct an onsite auction of their assets, which were valued by an appraiser at $8.171 million. But the new leaseholder isn't having it. more ›

This week the new chief dining critic at the NY Times, Sam Sifton, debuts with a rave for DBGB, Daniel Boulud's casual sausage/beer/etc. joint on the Bowery. The first review from the former NY Press reporter boasts references to The Ramones, Talking Heads, and a declaration that "[Boulud's] food game, as they say in rap precincts, is tight... one bite of the crispy lamb ribs that were served in the bar area when the place first opened — sweetly glazed, grassy meat, with a dab of creamy mint-flecked yogurt sauce — ended all snark: Boulud has opened a very good restaurant. The lamb was sublime, earthy and spicy and rich, evidence of superb technique, the sort of snack that separates his empire from others in the celebrity firmament." more ›

Despite a backlog of 3,000 liquor-license applications, the State Liquor Authority has taken the time to come down heavy on the fratastic sport of beer pong. In 2008, the World Beer Pong Tour had asked the SLA to clarify its stance on its events, and the response was typical for those bribe-taking apparatchiks at the Authority: Beer pong is forbidden because state law "prohibits the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in a manner which does not foster and promote temperance in the consumption." Dude, whoever wrote that sounds like uptight Frank the Tank before finally hitting the beer bong. more ›

More than 500 NYC eateries have bitten the dust this year (farewell, Chanterelle; bye-bye Cafe Des Artistes), but, at the NY Food and Wine Festival, experts insist the Le Bernardins of the city can compete during the recession—as long as they keep "stuffy" to a minimum. Now that one-upping each other's Bordeaux lists is so 2007, Travel & Lesiure food writer Anya von Bremzen called for an end to "table bureaucracy" while chef Andrew Carmellini predicted a "move to casual, comfort food without the trappings of a fancy restaurant." more ›

Since time immemorial, the only thing protecting the world's precious banana fruit from contamination has been the boring old peel. Well, Momma Nature, it's a new millennium, and it's time for a brand new bag! So 7-Eleven has come up with a new twist on an old classic: The company will now begin individually wrapping each banana sold in its stores in plastic. It's a start, but ultimately we'd like to see each banana also packaged in a bruise-resistant Styrofoam shell. more ›

Since 1993, the city's Health Department has been giving out fast food restaurant coupons to TB patients, as an incentive to get them to return to clinics for six-month treatment programs. It's a bit awkward, because this is the same Health Department that's launched an aggressive, multi-pronged public health campaign to educate consumers about junk food. Start the countdown for the first lawsuit from a TB patient who contracts diabetes! more ›

The largely successful campaign to slow the proliferation of bars in downtown Manhattan has spread to gentrifying Williamsburg. Last week a small but insistent group of Brooklyn residents gathered at a Community Board 1 meeting to fight enemy #1: the owner of Custom American Wine Bar, who is seeking liquor license approval to open his establishment at Driggs and Metropolitan. Some locals have actually argued that the presence of a wine bar will increase gang activity. Also, those obstreperous oenophiles will keep them up at night with their cacophonous quaffing. more ›

Saturday night's New York Wine and Food Festival dessert extravaganza, SWEET, wasn't a competition, but Anne Thorton's offering had people raving, and her table was cleaned out long before the night's end. So we're calling her the winner. Thorton's the pastry chef and event manager at Hotel Griffou, which has become both a trendy nightspot and critical punching bag (Pete Wells at the Times says, "I was treated worse each time I showed up.") We've never checked into Hotel Griffou, so we were pleasantly surprised to find Thorton's dessert—Salted Caramel Banana Pudding Pie—outshining chefs from such critical darlings as Locanda Verde and Per Se (not that their creations were anything to sneeze at, either.) more ›

Last night was the crowd pleasing, if awkwardly titled, "Blue Moon Burger Bash, presented by Allen Brothers, hosted by Rachael Ray." Held at the Tobacco Warehouse in Brooklyn, former Top Chef contest Spike Mendelsohn won the judge's prize of his burger with blue cheese, bacon, and horseradish mayonnaise, while the popular vote was won by Lure Fishbar's Josh Capon. But clearly the real winners were those who go to try offerings from Al Roker, Shake Shack and more. more ›

Most people dig good wine and food, so the New York Wine and Food Festival seems like a guaranteed winner, with myriad events over the weekend devoted to savoring both things to the max. But the word "festival" is a little more ambiguous, and depending on which event you attend, that last F in NYWFF can sometimes stand for "Fuuuuuckingcrowded!" Last night's kick-off at Chelsea Market was swarming with foodiots and not for the agoraphobic; at times it got so packed that the festive vibe almost turned surly—particularly when a certain someone elbowed that woman's wine glass. (Sorry!) more ›

It's been a while since we've had any quality rat rodeo video, so get some popcorn (or not) and enjoy this footage of big fat rats feasting in a Vinny Vincenz Pizza Truck parked in Chelsea. It's actually kind of cute how pumped these rats are about being alone in the truck, and, to be fair, it is pretty good pizza... which we will never eat again. more ›

The carbonated drought of Brooklyn is over as Ronny Beberman, one of the last seltzer deliveryman in the city, returned to his job today. A few weeks ago Mr. Beberman fell from his truck, which resulted in a few broken ribs, a gash in his head, and a traumatizing lack of seltzer for the borough. Last week he took to his truck again, in a full neck brace, riding shotgun while a temporary employee drove. “I’m getting congratulations all over" Mr. Beberman told the Times, "I don’t know if they’re happy that I’m back, or my seltzer.” more ›

Abe & Arthur's: This big, beautiful new restaurant exorcises the old Lotus space, with "contemporary American cuisine...that evokes the nostalgic feeling of 1930s and 1940s New York City dining." This means leather, low lighting, and a varnished zinc bar. So zinc was 1930s? The menu is contemporary American with seasonal leanings, masterminded by Franklin Becker (Brasserie, Trinity). Starters average around $15, with tuna tartare tacos looking particularly enticing. Fresh market seafood changes daily, but pan-roasted sea scallop & foie gras with chantrelles is seasonal mainstay. Steaks and chops range from $18-$72 with your choice of six sauces. 409 West 14th Street; 646-289-3930 more ›

Savvy subscribers to our indispensable free daily events newsletter, GothamList, have known about the Food Network New York Wine and Food Festival for quite some time now, and already secured tickets to sold-out events like the famous Burger Bash and the SWEET dessert extravaganza. But there are still tickets for sale for some of the celebrity chef cooking demos, wine tastings, and other consumption-related events during the festival, which kicks off tomorrow night and ends Sunday. Below, some of the highlights for which tickets are still on sale; be aware that though some of them are in the $100 range, proceeds benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength, which is dedicated to ending childhood hunger, and you don't want the little ones to go hungry, do you? more ›

Move over "Best Pizza" debate, there's something new we'll never all agree upon! Best Bagel. Serious Eats sent carb-lovers to the three most "bagel-happy boroughs" (allegedly Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens) to pick up some fresh samples and conduct a blind taste test. To keep things equal, they were all consumed plain and untoasted. Spoiler alert: Dunkin' Donuts didn't come in last. For shame, New York. For. Shame. more ›

Zagat released its 2010 NYC edition and, as expected, old favorites remained on top. The most popular restaurants are Gramercy Tavern (number 1), Union Square Cafe, Le Bernardin, Babbo and Daniel while top food can was deemed to be founded at Le Bernardin (number 1), Daniel, Jean Georges, Per Se, and L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon. Asiate had best decor and Per Se has best service. more ›

We recently interviewed chef Saul Bolton, whose eponymous restaurant in Boerum Hill just celebrated ten years in business. Today Pete Wells at the Times bestows two stars on the place, where the elegantly understated atmosphere provides a modest frame for Bolton's culinary ambition: "One of the first restaurants to bring a contemporary sensibility to Brooklyn when it appeared on Smith Street in 1999, it has neither faded, nor stood still, nor sought a personality transplant. Instead Saul Bolton, the chef and the owner with his wife, Lisa, has upgraded just about everything in their modest storefront. Saul is the same restaurant, but better." more ›

The Truck Farm got some stready press during the summer months, and the Bed-Stuy blog just spotted it, still spurting out produce even though the days are getting shorter, darker and colder. They report back: "Looks like they had a hearty crop of tomatoes and peppers, along with a couple of other veg I could not immediately identify. I was tempted to pick, but I didn’t!" If one did want to pick at it, however, the Truck Farm is also a CSA of sorts—for just 20 bucks you can get your own little piece of the patch in the Dodge Ram. There's a video intro to the project after the jump, and more info at Wicked Delicate, who created the movable farm. more ›

A new study by several professors at NYU and Yale has taken a close look at the purchasing habits of fast-food consumers in poor NYC neighborhoods with high rates of obesity. Researchers were curious to find out if the law requiring chain restaurants to prominently display their calorie information was influencing customers' choices, and what they found was probably not what the Health Department had hoped for when implementing the rules in 2008. more ›

Oh media, must you keep torturing us with photos of the famous bacon cheeseburger, provocatively ensconced between two Krispy Kreme donuts instead of a bun? Truly the apotheosis of American ingenuity, this delicacy has previously been savored by Google employees in the company's New York cafeteria, who lorded it over everyone with food porn photos back in 2007. It's generally believed that the invention first appeared on the world stage in 2005, at a suburban bar in Decatur, Georgia, where its creator dubbed it The Luther Burger after diabetic American R&B star Luther Vandross. Now it's back, and so close we can taste it—except, not literally! more ›

You knew that the heated competition between street food vendors is getting increasingly acrimonious, but did you know that it's tearing families apart? Over the weekend, a Midtown Lunch reader spotted this sign on 45th Street advertising newcomer Fahima Halal Food, which is declaring its food to be Halal-of-a-lot-better than nearby vendor Kwik Meal. more ›

Though more influential abroad, the Michelin restaurant guide is still kind of a big deal for NYC restaurateurs and chefs, who take great pride in receiving a star ranking from Michelin. (The guide only started reviewing NYC restaurants in 2005.) The new edition hits shelves tomorrow, and contains some noteworthy news for the fine dining world. With Michelin, receiving one star is a sign of achievement, not mediocrity, so Chef Michael White is surely tickled pink to see that his new seafood-centric restaurant Marea debut with a star, his Convivio also receives one star, while his Alto has been upgraded to two stars. more ›

Let there be cake! Actually, the Department of Education has the opposite sentiment, and is banishing the age old tradition of school bake sales to the history books. The new regulations will also trim the fat from vending machines, and aims to limit how much sugar and fat students digest during the school day. more ›

After earning the adoration of the hipster masses with his killer Neapolitan-style pizza, Belgian-born chef Mathieu Palombino has recently opened his second Motorino location across the river in Manhattan. The East Village spot (49 East 12th Street) is cozy compared to the spacious original, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in charm and legend: It's the former home of beloved Una Pizza Napoletana, and with the lease Palombino got his hands on the restaurant's prized Acunto wood-burning oven, handcrafted in Naples. more ›

Last night, Madonna made another visit to the Late Show With David Letterman. After making a grand entrance on the shoulders of Rangers players (who read the Top Ten list) and parrying questions about her marriage while cracking jokes about the Bush administration, she also deflected her relationship with A-Rod skillfully: The Material Girl pointed out that Letterman nearly got arrested for his last comments about A-Rod, referring to the comedian's remarks about Sarah Palin's daughter. And then Letterman took Madonna to have her allegedly first slice of NYC pizza. more ›

Luke's Lobster: The lobster roll has been enjoying a bit of a renaissance recently (and has possibly jumped the shark with its availability at Citi Field), but there's one lingering problem: they're usually way too expensive. Luke Holden and his father Jeff, both Maine natives, are trying to change this in the East Village. The Lobster Roll will be the biggest draw at the Holdens' new place, and at $14 it's pretty reasonable, especially with the near-complete lack of filler mayo and celery. Other seafood rolls are as cheap as $6, and dishes include fresh chowders, bisques, crab claws and lobster knuckles. No liquor license yet, but spring will bring some Maine-grown beers. 93 East 7th Street, (212) 387-8487 more ›

Recently the Scouting NY scout came across The White Mana Diner in Jersey City, which long ago was touted as the "Diner of Tomorrow!" at the 1939 World's Fair in Flushing, Queens. The Scout says "it was designed so that a waiter never had to walk more than 10 feet to get to the grille, cash register, or counter." The establishment sold 10 cent burgers and had curb service—and at the time, it also bragged about being the "Introduction to Fast Food," so we know who to blame now. more ›

Chanterelle, the 30-year-old restaurant in TriBeCa that changed the way NYC restaurants did business by making good food and service less stuffy, will close for good, the NY Times reports. The restaurant closed in July for extensive renovations and was due to reopen this month in advance of its November 14 anniversary; Owners David and Karen Waltuck explained their decision to the Times in a letter: "Through good and bad times it is a thrilling, passionate and rewarding journey. We are proud to be a part of this creative industry in this unparalled city of ours and look forward to what we will bring to you in the future..." more ›