Until 9 p.m. on Monday it was business as usual at Jean Georges, the four star restaurant on Central Park West. Sam Sifton reports that "diners were tucking into yellowfin tuna ribbons or gently smoked squab, talking cheerfully as staff members padded silently through the elegant, carpeted room... Then a cockroach appeared on the ironed white cloth of a table of five diners. A woman at the table screamed and the whole restaurant went quiet." The roach escaped, but the woman was plied with free champagne, and the table was given another course for free, plus complimentary dessert. And that's why we always carry a cockroach in a small vial when dining at New York's finest restaurants. more ›

Eater gets the best emails. This one comes from a group of women whose dinner at Blossom restaurant in Chelsea was ruined by a "huge, 2-inch long cockroach" which "emerged from behind the banquettes and slowly ascended the wall above us." By the time it reached the ceiling, a manager snootily told them, "This is obviously a problem for you. We can re-seat you at a table upstairs or you can leave." They chose the latter option, and on their way out the roach "fell right onto two unfortunate young ladies beside us. Shrieks and squeals followed us out the door." Whatsa matter, they don't appreciate an amuse-bouche? In their defense, the staff insisted it was just a waterbug, so that makes it all right, doesn't it? more ›

From a reader: "This past Friday when riding the subway (G train), the woman next to me jumped up and started screaming.Turned out it was a roach that was on her leg that caused her to do so. This morning on her way to work, my girlfriend was on a jam packed L train only to have everyone start screaming between 1st & 3rd avenues. A rat was on this train and caused quite a panic! Has anyone else been seen an influx in pests on trains as of late or is this just a strange coincidence that this is the first time I'm experiencing this? Thanks!" We've only seen rats on the tracks or in the platforms, and we'd like to keep it that way. Related: This Metropolitan Diary about a rat's unwelcome subway car appearance. more ›