It's time for the Lunar New Year, which starts February 7th and lasts for 14 days, and this year is the Year of the Rat, 4706. Sure, there are plenty of things to do to celebrate the holiday, but to us, it means one thing -- a new year banquet. We've found a few places that are offering banquets in honor of the Year of the Rat, including variations of traditional Chinese Lunar New Year......

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Alex Ureña’s Pamploma, gives the restaurant two stars. “Pamplona is Ureña [the chef’s former restaurant] with an attitude adjustment,” he says. “His best dishes are more than memorable enough to redeem Pamplona’s shortcomings.” In the Post, Cuozzo goes to BLT Market, where he finds “Tourondel’s first fully-composed dishes since Cello.” Says the restaurant revives the corner of Sixth Ave and Central Park South, and “What BLT Market......

Bro, the Lower East Side has finally arrived! Know how we know? There’s totally a bangin’ new rodeo themed bar/restaurant with a mechanical bull!!! We’re going to be getting so much sweet action once the hotties see us taming that bad boy. Plus there’s like 16 killer beers on tap, chicken fried stake and pork chops! So untuck that striped shirt and ramble on down here, cowbro! Oh, and since the place still hasn’t settled......

Since opening day, Joe Ng's dumplings have been proclaimed by critics to be the highlight of the Chinatown Brasserie menu. Since opening, the original Chef, Tyson Wong Ophaso, has left, elevating Joe's position in the kitchen. Thankfully, the quality of the dumplings has remained intact through the change. Although you can't expect Chinatown prices (each order of dim sum ranges from $6 to $15 at lunchtime, a buck or two more at dinner), the......

NY Mag's Best of New York is out. Want to know what's good in your hood? Here's a handy little chart that will direct you to just that. Here's a glance at some of the more fun categories: Best impromptu dance party: No Malice Palace, 197 East 3rd Street (take that cabaret laws!). Best zoo animal: Sasha the Siberian tiger, Bronx Zoo. Cheap men's haircut: Frank's Chop Shop, 19 Essex Street. (Wu-Tang Clan and actor......

Bruni one-stars Chinatown Brasserie; it's uneven, but he loves the dim sum. Especially the dumplings. "What's better than dumplings?" asks Frank. Gothamist has at times asked ourselves that same question. And Eater is back on the money this week, giving Chinatown Brasserie one-star odds at 3-1. Peter Meehan visits The Farm on Adderly in Brooklyn and likes what he sees (and tastes). "Simple dishes are the way to go," he says, and "for a place......

- Expect to see Chinatown Brasserie cozy up for its Frankie Close-up Wednesday. While we are not in practice setting the line on things like this, seems like a two star job. Just a question on which way it may lean. - One food blogger's answer to the tough question we have all hemmed and hawed about – “What’s your favorite restaurant in New York?” Can’t get behind La Esquina as a choice, but the......

- If Connie Chung was in on the joke with her singing last week, then she is the funniest woman ever - NYC school kids love to dance at school - check out this NY Times video of kids during Dance Festival, but be warned, you'll want to boogie along (Gothamist's coordination is akin to that of a kindergartener) - Gotham Gal finds Chinatown Brasserie good but not great - Hey, that school in......

- Have Metrocard, will eat: the Taste of the New York Subway guide is a directory of New York City restaurants within 200 meters of a subway station organized by stop. - Clinton Street Bakery is now serving some scrumptious-sounding milkshakes made with ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory: chocolate raspberry, fresh banana, peach melba, white grasshopper, or toffee coffee, all served with fresh whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. Drool. - eGullet founder......

- Have an idea about food products and an inclination to team up with the agrifood world? Well then, here is a contest just for you. - Some promising words about the new Chinatown Brasserie in the old Time Café space - here and here. - Amongst our plans lost in the rain this weekend was the Slow Food annual meeting and the What We Eat T Living event with Amanda Hesser and some television......