Forget the new JJ Abrams film about a fictional monster attacking New York...the Mulberry Street monster is a real-life city menace: the rat! Many rats actually, like more rats than they have at Peter Luger and Da Silvano's...combined! The movie, which came out last year, is summarized as follows: "a deadly infection breaks out in Manhattan, causing humans to devolve into blood-thirsty rat creatures. Six recently evicted tenants must survive the night and protect their......

This week Inside Edition aired footage of rats in some of New York's more popular restaurants. The statement we received from the program states: "In middle to late August, Inside Edition’s 'Rat Patrol' took to the streets of Manhattan between 1am and 4am peering their cameras and flashlights into the windows of a wide variety of eateries from fast food places to fine dining establishments." In total they found 22 restaurants harboring the urban......

If you could dine with your favorite Italian chef in New York, who would it be? Maybe you'd have some truffled egg toast with Jason Denton of 'inoteca, dine al fresco with Silvano Marchetto of Da Silvano, or talk about NASCAR with Mario Batali of Otto over a bottle of prosecco. You may just get your chance. Bene, the Italian lifestyle magazine, is hosting New York Toasts Italy, a dining and shopping event celebrating......

Bruni one-stars Da Silvano, downgrading it from the two stars Ruth Reichl awarded the restaurant in 1998. He doesn’t quite understand its allure, though he sees occassional glimpses: “Perhaps more than any New York restaurant I know, Da Silvano illustrates... the mind-boggling inconsistency that can exist across the breadth of a menu and a series of visits.” Celebrities love the place, though, he tells us. He even called a few to ask why. Madonna didn't......

Broccoli rabe has been in fashion at high end eateries for quite a while now. Should you lower your gaze to see what’s on those beautiful people’s plates on the sidewalk at Da Silvano, you might find plates of overpriced broccoli rabe. Like risotto did during an earlier generation, broccoli rabe has risen from an obscure, regional dish to a popular staple at many Italian restaurants. It certainly is an acquired taste. Broccoli rabe......

The New York Times reports that the newest addition to the Rosa Mexicano empire is scheduled to open this Saturday. Fingers crossed -- it's always good to have another location for our passionfruit margarita and fresh guacamole fix. Also open: Cookshop, from the folks who brought you Five Points, (yes, we know about all the damn hype); 156 Tenth Avenue (20th Street), (212) 924-4440. Also "Loft, a lounge and restaurant mixing Asian and Mediterranean, 505......

For a moment, Gothamist thought we were just imagining that the dreary grey weather made it seem like a slow news day, but then the cover of the Post confirmed it: There main story is about how some random, sort of shriveled up princess made insulting remarks to black patrons of Da Silvano, and then the other story is about the American Idol finale tonight (on Fox, natch)! Gothamist doesn't quite understand what Princess Michael......

Gothamist was wondering if anyone was trapped on a subway during the scary subway explosion and stoppage on Sunday evening for many trains running through the West Village. And it turns out that two people blogged it. bloggy calls it an "unexcellent adventure" and wonders why the media isn't picking up on how it shows NYC is underprepared for an attack. James Wagner has some great photographs of waiting in the subway, climbing out onto......

Phew! Turns out that all of our worrying that Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and Mayor Bloomberg really hated each other was just that - worry. And by worry, we mean "passing interest." The Times looks at the Carter-Bloomberg relationship, which suffered a low with the Mayor's smoking ban. Carter, nic addict, struck back with a damning editor's letter in Vanity Fair earlier. Even though Carter smokes up in public to ruffle the Mayor's......

The Post takes a look at the smoking ban, now that's it's a little over a month old, and how it affects New Yorkers - the young, hip, smoking New Yorkers, in particular. They mention the new "allure of the city's new discreet but decidedly busy smoke-easies'" that recall "the now-romanticized days of Prohibition." Da Silvano's outdoor seating and Karma the hookah bar get nods, plus there's a picture of the new rooftop bar, A60,......