Today the Times’s Frank Bruni marvels at Manhattan’s new wave of high tone restaurant openings during a recession, and pins the trend not on entrepreneurial bravado but on the fact that it takes years to get a fancy eatery open, and most of these new places were envisioned in flusher economic times. It is true that in 2005, the top fifth of earners in Manhattan made 52 times what the lowest fifth make – $365,826......

Frank Bruni, the Times’s top restaurant critic, awards the new 2nd Avenue Deli one star today, which isn’t bad considering it is, despite all the history, still a deli. We popped in there for food and photos just before it reopened at its East 33rd Street location and found the sandwiches (pictured) as monumental as ever; a second visit turned up no sign of the free bowl of gribenes (chicken skin fried in chicken fat)......

This week in the Times, Bruni three-stars Le Cirque, bumping the restaurant's rating up from the two stars he awarded it in 2006. Executive chef Christophe Bellanca’s menu “nimbly straddles the line between predictable decadence… and creative flair,” he says. He also says that you’ll pay—a lot—for what you get, and that Le Cirque isn’t quite as reliable as other three star restaurants. In $25 and Under, ">Peter Meehan is at Soba Totto, where he......

This week in the Times, Bruni one-stars Lebanese Ilili, saying “Ilili is probably the atmospherically grandest excursion into Middle Eastern cooking that New York has ever seen.” While much of the menu is inconsistent, he loves the kebabs and kaftas. Says the service is “occasionally confused.” And get the essmalieh for dessert. In Dining Briefs, Peter Meehan goes to Abraço Espresso (pictured), says “it’s tiny, it brews excellent coffee, and the little food that it......

There are a number of restaurants opening in 2008 that we've been eagerly awaiting and we thought we'd highlight some that particularly piqued our interest and have us drooling in anticipation. John Dory -- this new meatpacking seafood spot comes from Spotted Pig owner Ken Friedman and Partner/Executive Chef April Bloomfield. Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich are also partners, not to mention neighbors. Sara Ochs will serve as the Chef de Cuisine. It is designed......

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Grayz, gives the restaurant one star. He says of the restaurant that refuses to call itself a restaurant (it’s a ‘cocktail lounge that serves small dishes’): “These dishes demand fuller attention than the setting allows, and the prices—$39 for the short ribs—only make total sense if eating is the point of a visit.” In Dining Briefs, Bruni goes to Belcourt, which he says is much better than......

This week in the Times, Bruni three stars Fiamma and rates it a top pick. Says that the restaurant is not, by any means, classically Italian, but “when a restaurant turns out this many dishes that make you stop mid-chew, nudge a companion and nod your head vigorously—because you’re excited; because you need to start working off the calories any way you can—it needn’t worry about fitting into a tidy box.” Also in the Times,......

This week in the Times, Bruni one-stars Sam Mason’s Tailor. Loves the design of the place, and—along with everyone else—the pork belly, the arctic char and the drinks. Overall? “[Mason’s] infatuation with his own imagination doesn’t leave room enough for a self-appraisal of the results… a duck-and-eel terrine in a chocolate consommé tastes like cat food splashed with Yoo-hoo.” Hee. In Dining Briefs, Bruni goes to Toloache. Calls the upscale Mexican restaurant a “welcome addition”......

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Harry Cipriani in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel, awards the restaurant no stars. Finds “service so confused and food so undistinguished it wouldn’t pass muster at half the cost.” Says prices at the restaurant ridiculous. The restaurant was last reviewed in 1991, when Bryan Miller gave it two stars. The one positive? “The people-watching is nonpareil." Peter Meehan visits Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, for tacos. Likes Epocas......

The New Oxford American Dictionary has selected "locavore" as its 2007 word of the year. According to the OUP blog, "The “locavore” movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, arguing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. Locavores also shun supermarket offerings as an environmentally friendly measure, since shipping food over long distances often requires more fuel for transportation." Locavore beat out......

Last night food blogger Andrea Strong played the role of her (really mean) self in the Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef. She was there as an "undercover blogger," an accurate title given by Padma - as Strong got less screen-time than random walk-ins. The competition split the contestants into two teams each with the task of creating a restaurant. Strong gave comments about the decor, service and meals that were read aloud during the......

Frank essentially calls Robert out on his Il Brigante review from a couple of weeks back. Looks like he is getting his pizza jones ramped up, expect a flurry of pizza output in the next few months. In a sad bit of news, Teresa's the the Polish stalwart on lower on First Avenue has ended its 22 year run in the East Village. They remain in business at a Brooklyn Heights location. In a sadder......

Looking for coastal dining? Try Staten Island. If that Mr. Softee jingle grates on your nerves, maybe you should try to write your own. Andrea Strong explores the world of Greek wines. Does Shrek the Third's huge movie opening mean that less kids will eat less fast food at McDonald's, since McD's has the green ogre telling kids to order milk - not soda - and apples - not apple pies? Or should McDonald's have......

You can almost smell the tequila and limes -- Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow. We've pulled together some of our favorite roundups for your fiesta-ing pleasure:New York Magazine hightlights Mexican restaurants with special menus and/or drink specials for the occasion, including Mercadito (their Margarita de Tres Citricos is pictured at right). Andrea Strong gives us a few more, including Crema, who'll be having a happy hour from 4-5:30 p.m. with 2-for-1 Margarita Imperials at the......

April 28: Food and Wine Pairings: Remarkable Greece Food guru David Rosengarten and guest chef Jim Botsacos of Molyvos, will pair Greek wines with Greek delicacies for a Greek-o-riffic afternoon. De Gustibus 8th Floor Cooking School at Macy's Herald Square, 151 West 34th Street, 1:00 - 4:00PM, $95. April 29: Dining for Darfur Join Andrea Strong in her second annual fundraiser to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur. Dine out at participating restaurants, which......

January 13: Seasonal Game Cooking Class Chef Franck Delatrain of Café Centro will be cooking up seasonal game in a two hour cooking class. The menu consists of: Chestnut and Celery Root Soup with Melted Leeks and Foie Gras; Sturgeon Saltimbocca with Sage, Smoked Duck and Beluga Lentils; Fresh Pappardelle Pasta with Wild Boar Civet, Apple Smoked Bacon and Black Trumpet Mushrooms; Grilled Quail with Golden Beets and Frisee Salad, Poached Quail Egg and Spiced......

- Looks like the upcoming Whole Foods is not gonna let their proposed wine store go down without a fight. Gothamist ran into some petition signature collectors on the street in the EV over the weekend. Their pitch was for support of an all organic wine store on the same site as the new pricey grocery depot – separate entrance of course. - Speaking of the EV, Jerry Kurowycky and his family’s eponymous butcher/provisions shop......

Bruni three-stars the recently renovated Picholine. Though he doesnt much like the physical changes-"still too quiet and sadistically bright"-the renovation "reinvigorated this restaurants soul," he says. In fact, he now likes it so much he celebrated his recent birthday there. And the Eater oddsmakers nail it again. Theyre also all over the reopening of Waverly Inn (Graydon Carter edition). Also in the Times, Peter Meehan visits Italian restaurant Lunetta on Smith Street in Brooklyn for......

Unless you've been under a rock (or perhaps out of the country for the last week or so), you've probably seen all the hooplah about this fall's upcoming culinary offerings. New York Mag was first on the scene with their fall preview issue, followed closely by the New York Times (offering "sooner" and "later" openings), and Andrea Strong. Here are some of the spots we're the most excited to try: - Gordon Ramsey comes to......

- Ed Levine not only gives us his top ten fancypants burgers, but also his choices for fried chicken. We're hoping he goes for salad next; our cholesterol is going through the roof. - It's that time of year again -- time for the Second Annual Vendy Awards! Go and nominate your favorite street food vendor; winners will be announced at a gala event on October 22nd where we'll once again be on the judging......

- Boy, do we love happy hour. And we particularly like happy hour at Lure Fishbar. Why? Not only does it mean cheap drinks ($3 Corona, Kirin Light, and Brooklyn Lager, $4 wines by the glass and $5 cocktails), but it means cheap snacks, and not just mixed nuts. Lure serves up $1 Blue Point Oysters and Littleneck Clams, and offers 50% off the bar snacks menu, which features some incredibly tasty treats. Mon-Fri,......

- On the way home from a dual trip to Schnack and Fernando’s in Red Hook, Peter Hoffman and his blue greenmarketcycle popped up on the corner of Houston and Lafayette as our ride dispatched us onto the corner. As per usual, he was effusive about his eats – specifically jazzed up about the big clam bake Savoy has nightly through the end of July. Here is some discussion from Mouthfuls. - When Gothamist does......

It might have been gloomy and drizzling outside, but inside of BLT Fish, at the first annual Crab Festival to benefit City Harvest, the mood was festive and the crabs were plentiful. Three floors of crab dishes as far as the eye could see -- crab legs from the BLT Fish raw bar, a Peekytoe Crab Salad from Bouley, a Crab Summer Roll with Chilled Crab Soup from Riingo, or Aunt Rae's Blue Crab......

Spring has definitely sprung. This weekend, we couldn't get enough of being outside -- we were yearning for a spot where we could have a few cocktails outdoors, high above the city. Ask and ye shall receive. Urban Daddy gives us a preview of 230 Fifth, billed as the city's largest rooftop bar. Sure, we're excited about the "14,000 square foot luxe terrace of palm trees, wooden benches, and, of course, 360-degree views (including......

April 27: Taste of the Lower East Side This fundraiser, their sixth annual, benefits the Grand Street Settlement's Youth Programs and features 35 of the neighborhood's favorites. $120 tickets are available at the door, 7-11 pm, Puck Building, 295 Lafayette. April 30: Dining for Darfur Join in Andrea Strong's dine out fundraiser this Sunday, when participating restaurants will donate 5% of their gross sales to the International Rescue Committee’s humanitarian relief efforts in Darfur and......

If you haven't eaten lunch yet, drop your fork and head over to Madison Square Park because Shake Shack has opened early! The official opening date is slated for tomorrow, but as noted on Chowhound, someone is already eating their first double shack burger of the year. Mmmmmm. Gothamist just drooled all over our keyboard. And hell, even if you ate already, nothing screams dessert like a double shack burger. That or a nice......

- The New York Daily News gives us something to chew on for V-day -- Hotties in the Kitchen. We call Dave Lieberman. - Andrea Strong checks out Tocqueville's new space. We saw it too (and would have shared the pictures if they hadn't come out horribly), but you can go see it yourself later this month. - Slashfood drools over 5 Ninth's Banh Mi, but at $12 we think it's a bit steep. -......

- An Eater reader spotted a sign on the window of the space that was briefly Yumcha from Marc Murphy, the chef and owner of Landmarc, announcing his intention to open a new oyster bar after minimal renovation. Andrea Strong now reports that it will be named Watermarc. - The New York Post shows us where to find some of the city's spiciest food and found the hottest heat on East Sixth Street -- try......

No, that's not what we mean -- get your minds out of the gutter. A dozen of New York's chefs are joining together for "Get in Bed," a benefit for Plan USA's tsunami relief efforts. On January 31, twelve chefs including Floyd Cardoz of Tabla, Food Network host and cookbook author Tyler Florence, and Zak Pelaccio of 5 Ninth, will each cook one dish, for a total of eight savory and four sweet dishes. The......

Today's Manhattan User's Guide lists their favorite food blogs, and Gothamist Food made the list! Hooray! They also give shout-outs to our own Vittles Vamp and Gothamist's source for all pizza-related info, Slice. Their list includes a wide variety of blogs and sites, including Chowhound (great for opinions and gossip), Andrea Strong (she always knows the inside scoop on who's cooking where), and A Full Belly (all the weekly NYC reviews collected in one convenient......