So, Valentine's Day is nigh! Can't say you weren't warned though, what with the regular onslaught of promotions (White Castle!), deals (private couples pool time!) and curiosities (name a hissing cockroach!) offered in the name of commerce love. But just in case you haven't gotten around to figuring out plans, here's some pointers from your friendly Gothamist love gurus: more ›

Is your restaurant spying on you? The Post wants to know. The answer? Of course they are. Especially if you are going to high-end eateries and using online reservation systems like OpenTable. But a) this really shouldn't surprise you in the least and b) it isn't necessarily a bad thing. more ›

Get to a phone, frugal foodies – New York’s winter Restaurant Week goes down next month, but reservations are being accepted starting today. And since these places tend to fill up fast, now is not the time to let any fear of commitment hold you back. more ›

You're tired. You have a kitchen the size of a closet. You can't handle dealing with your guests' various and sundry dietary restrictions/food allergies/food quirks. Whatever the reason, you'd rather eat out on Thanksgiving this year. You've only got a few days left to lock down your reservation, but the options are plentiful. We present you a roundup of roundups, and our picks from the bountiful and tempting options. Restaurant Girl gives her top picks,... more ›

If you've never played petanque, head on down to Smith Street for North America's largest petanque tournament -- the two block stretch betweeen Bergen and Pacific will be shut down and covered with sand just for the occasion. While your'e watching the action, enjoy special cocktails from Ricard and other drink specials ($5-6), nibble on grilled merguez and chicken sandwiches ($5) and groove to Jazz band Blue Orchid will provide the entertainment throughout the day. 11:30am - 8pm, free admission, sponsored by Bar Tabac, Robin des Bois, Ricard and the South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation. 128 Smith Street at Dean Street, 718-923-0918. more ›

"Sweet Heart," composed of Necco Conversation Hearts by Nathan Sawaya. more ›

It may be cold outside, but it's perfect fondue weather. Riverdale Garden will be serving up classic cheese, hearty herb flavored oil with beef and chicken and, of course, bittersweet chocolate. Complete dinner is $29 including house wine and draft beer, or just drinks and music for $15. Dinner starting at 7PM, music at 8:30PM. Reservations are recommended and can be made on Open Table or by calling 718-884-5232. 4576 Manhattan College Parkway, Bronx. more ›

Okay, so you left it to the last minute once again. Never fear, there are still options for eating out on New Year's Eve. Time Out New York rounds up options for every budget, ranging from $20.07 snacks and apps at the Silverleaf Tavern (the bottomless glass of wine will cost you an additional $70, however), to a five course dinner at Cafe Gray including unlimited champagne and dancing for $550. Citysearch has a fairly long list, with most of the menus hovering around the $100 range, and Open Table lists restaurants serving their regular menus in addition to those with special New Year's Eve menus (we wouldn't mind spending our New Year's Eve at Blue Smoke, which is serving their regular menu that night -- any year is off to a great start with sidecars and ribs). more ›

Okay, so slaving in the kitchen for hours on end isn't for everyone. If you want to leave the entire Thanksgiving planning, shopping, prep, cooking, and cleanup to someone else, or if the thought of eating aunt Irma's dried out excuse for a bird throws you right over the edge, dining out might be for you. Grab the family and a few friends for good measure and instead of making a turkey or a pumpkin pie, make a reservation. more ›

We got smart this year and took our mom out for Mother's Day brunch at Cookshop two weeks ago. Not only did we beat the crowds and have no trouble getting a reservation, but we probably saved a buck or two since there was no special Mother's Day menu (but don't tell our Mom that). For those of you who are still figuring out where to take Mom on Sunday, here's a roundup of Mother's Day roundups. We've highlighted a spot in each, but for the full list, click on the link: more ›

Okay, Valentine's Day is Tuesday and you still haven't pulled anything together. What the hell have you been waiting for?! In addition to checking out Open Table you'd better hit up some of the options listed in the various V-Day roundups (visit each one for individual links): more ›

What says romance more than a tiny little hamburger? White Castle is offering special Valentine's Day reservations at their locations. The Daily News says there will be a hostess to greet diners, and that there are even "cloth-covered, candlelit table as romantic music is piped in." This is the first time the Valentine's Day special is being offered in NYC, so if you want to make February 14 really memorable and you weren't quick enough to call the fancy places on January 14 (when many restaurants were taking reservations), maybe this is something to think about. Call 718-899-8404, ext. 304, by February 10. While you may laugh, we remind you that former Senator and former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth celebrate their anniversaries at Wendy's. more ›

There's plenty going on to celebrate the Lunar New year, but of course we're focused on the food. Explore Chinatown's site has a list of restaurants offering special feasts for the occasion, including Gothamist favorite Fuleen Seafood, and explains the different foods that are traditionally eaten as part of the celebration. more ›

It's everywhere you look -- heart-shaped treats hovering near the cash register, red and pink window displays in stores, and the increasingly loud ticking of the clock reminding you that you haven't made reservations for Valentine's Day dinner. Never fear -- for those of you who have romantic obligations, a quick search on Open Table today still showed plenty of places with tables for two at 8pm on February 14th. Pick one that suits you and your sweetheart -- will it be the romantic cheese-filled evening at Artisanal, a spicy exotic Indian feast at Dawat, or the more animalistic rib-gnawing at Dinosaur BBQ? Only you can decide. more ›

We were scoping out the Open Table lunch reservations to take advantage of next week's Restaurant Week deals, and unsurprisingly, the usual suspects didn't have availability for 2 at 12PM: Think Cafe Boulud or the River Cafe or Union Square Cafe. Even though the lunch prices have risen 20%, from $20.12 last year to this year's $24.07 (NYC & Company explains this number will remind people that NYC is 24/7 - yo!), Gothamist thinks it's still a great deal to try out some fancier places - even though some of the offerings tend to be boring chicken and salmon entrees - because $3.95 is about the price of a speciality coffee drink at Starbucks or a celebrity tabloid magazine you don't want to admit you buy but you know you do. Where the restaurants hope you spend your money is the wine (or coffee), so if you're watching your wallet, beware of the upsell. However, one area we do recommend you splurge a little on - if you can - is the tipping; even an extra dollar is a nice gesture, especially if the service was great. more ›

January 12: Restaurants from the Inside Out more ›

* Strong Buzz more ›

Start making those reservations -- summer restaurant week is right around the corner. From June 20-24 and June 27 - July 1, over 100 of our city's restaurants are offering three-course lunches for $20.12 (yes, that's a nod to our olympic bid) and three-course dinners for $35.00, and some places keep the special going through Labor Day. But slots tend to go quickly -- some restaurants offer reservations online through Open Table, so take advantage of it. What better excuse for a 2 hour lunch? more ›

So, did you resolve to save money this year? To eat better? We sure did, and thankfully Restaurant Week 2005 is upon us to help us stick to our resolutions. Well, that's how we're choosing to interpret the situation, anyway. Work with us, people! Many of New York's restaurants will be serving three-course lunches for $20.12 and three-course dinners for $35.00 from January 24-28 and Jan 31 - Feb 4th, which gives us the opportunity to sample places that might ordinarily be beyond our budget. And what better than a midday three course lunch to boost morale at the office (although there might be some adverse impact on productivity during the post-lunch food coma period)? You can make reservations online through Open Table. more ›

Restaurant Week runs from June 21 to June 25 and June 28 to July 2. You can go to Open Table to make reservations, which go fast. Check out the participating restaurants at RestaurantWeek.com. more ›

Restaurant Week began in 1992, as a way to welcome delegates for the Democratic National Convention (back then, the three-course lunches were $19.92, which means with the 1 cent increase each year versus inflation, diners are getting a great deal). When Restaurant Week celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2002, RW cofounderTim Zagat said, "In 1992, public perception of New York City was that it was expensive and unfriendly. Restaurant Week was created as a way of showing off the best of New York, demonstrating that we welcome visitors with open arms and that it’s still possible to find great values here." Yes, New York is now (Restaurant Week aside) expensive and friendly. more ›