As far as publicity stunts go, this one isn't half bad. Midtown steakhouse Smith & Wollensky, which opened in 1977, is giving "Smith" the month off, and swapping out the name on the sign and awnings with random customers' handles for a day. The first to get his name up on the big board—and on the matchbooks, servers' jackets, and cocktail napkins—is one Andrew Fleiss, who works in finance, resides in the West Village, and says, "S&W is a culture, not just a dining establishment." Correction, sir: F&W. more ›

Just 708 meals away from their target, the 142-year-old Old Homestead steakhouse will likely see their 10 millionth customer tomorrow, and are planning to celebrate the "Mega-Mignon-Aire Day" with free steak. The lucky carnivore who walks in at just the right moment will receive free dinner and drinks for two, every week, for life (triple bypass coverage not included). Amazingly, reservations are still available for two all day long tomorrow. Owner Greg Sherry told the Post, "We have been waiting since 1868 for this." more ›

An actress claims a manager at Smith & Wollensky steakhouse attacked and berated her for refusing to sleep with a bartender—and police covered up the incident to "maintain goodwill" between the NYPD and the eatery. Jennifer Sachs, 38, says a patron and a drunken manager at the 49th Street restaurant called her a "f---ing Jew" when she refused the barkeep's proposition. When police arrived, she claims they arrested her on false charges of assault and disorderly conduct so they could keep getting cheap food and drinks. more ›

The chef at a Staten Island steakhouse known for being a police hangout has been arrested for selling cocaine to an undercover detective. Thomas "TJ" Gleason, 34, a chef at Ruddy & Dean—which is located just one block from the 120 Precinct and the state Supreme Court building—was hit with felony drug dealing charges after purportedly selling $100 of coke at the bar. more ›

The faint stink of desperation has come to Gov. Paterson's adamant denial of charges he was getting intimate with a young lovely—not his wife—over lunch. Hedged by his spouse, he again publicly refuted claims he cuddled a married mother at a New Jersey steakhouse. "The portrayal of that incident was such an outrageous lie," he stated during a Harlem news conference. "I'm really not going to give it any more oxygen than it has." A fellow diner, who claims she witnessed neck-kissing, nuzzling and cuddling sparked the rumor by summoning the NY Post to the scene. Meanwhile, Paterson's approval ratings are lower than a limbo pole at a flea circus. 60 percent of voters surveyed want a new governor, while just 31 percent think he is doing an excellent or good job as governor. more ›

Though Gov. Paterson has denied allegations he was kissing and cuddling a young woman at a New Jersey steakhouse on Saturday, his colleagues are outraged by the lunch date. The governor should be putting his energies towards the state of NY—now is not the time for nuzzling, they say from behind their cozy veil of anonymity. more ›

Gov. Paterson was seen nuzzling and kissing a young woman yesterday afternoon. The kicker? He and the woman, described as a “leggy Latina,” were seated at a New Jersey steakhouse frequently patronized by disgraced former-governor Eliot Spitzer. "He was laying up against her . . . they were up against each other in every intimate way,” said Sharon Farrell, a lawyer who spotted the pair at the River Palm Terrace in Edgewater. After the near-scandals of this past week, what could the married governor possibly have to say for himself? more ›

We've gleefully chronicled such gilded age menu items as the $25,000 dessert and the $81 hamburger, but former NY Mag dining critic Gael Greene is reporting what may be the most hubristic example of restaurant chicanery yet. She has it that Morton's The Steakhouse recently tried to charge financial columnist Dan Dorfman $2.50 extra for ordering a cocktail on the rocks. His beverage was served with five of the sublime little frozen delicacies, translating to 50 cents per ice cube. He objected after noticing the charge on his bill, and Greene writes, "If you know Dorfman you know his protest was not pretty." Morton's ultimately waived the fee, but Dorfman says, "I bet they get away with it more often than not since that's a place that attracts a fair-sized Wall Street crowd and I'm sure many of them say nothing." Though in this economy, one might anticipate plenty of Wall Street whining over this kind of over-charging. Then again, the beguiling frozen ambrosia that is the Morton's ice cube has never graced our vulgar, provincial lips, so maybe it's actually a bargain. more ›

OH: Don't expect the Times's Frank Bruni to review it—Portfolio theorizes he HATES going to Harlem—but for everyone else, this three story restaurant/bar seems worth a try. Well, maybe not everyone; the top floor is a member's only club where $500 gets you "top notch service" and discount food and drinks. ($1000 gets you "full VIP access" to the cigar terrace.) Greasy Guide has a full review and reports that the menu features mini catfish sliders, mini turkey burgers with bbq sauce, gourmet pizza, and champagne sauteed shrimp: "It was also a great place to network. I gave out all of my business cards that I brought with me and everyone was super nice and talkative. So thank God that Harlem has all of these new places…Harlem is the place to be in NYC right now." Sure, he said the N word, but he's got a point about Harlem. 458 West 145th Street more ›

Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston are putting it all on the line for Sunday's Super Bowl. After winning the awful bet from Green Bay, Bloomberg has a lot more riding on the line when the Giants face off against the Patriots this weekend. As is the custom when the playoffs roll around, the mayors of the teams participating decided on a friendly food wager. The stakes, or should we say steaks, are upped in this bet as the Vince Lombardy Trophy are on the line. more ›

When it comes to driving routes for a JFK airport pickup, George Costanza advocates taking the Grand Central to the Van Wyck, deriding Kramer’s L.I.E. route as a “suicide mission.” In the current New York Magazine cover story, “How to Escape Airport Hell”, the editors invited chauffeur Kevin Sullivan to weigh in. While he comes down squarely on Costanza’s side, he also shares some invaluable alternative routes to all three airports in the unlikely... more ›

It's the umpteenth story about an engagement gone sour and hardly the first one that has the would-be groom demanding the pricey engagement ring back. But it's the first that we can recall where the ex-fiancee is the granddaughter of a Gambino crime family head! more ›

The Grey Lady is paying a return visit to Peter Luger Steak House in tomorrow's dining section. This New York institution was last reviewed by Ruth Reichl, who awarded it a hefty three stars, proclaiming it "the best steak in New York City." Her description of the Luger experience is almost pornographic:

You know the steak is great before you even taste it. You know it from the fine, funky, mineral aroma that wafts across the table and announces that this is a piece of meat. When the waiter appears with the platter, he stands there spooning a mixture of butter and meat juices across the sizzling porterhouse in an exercise of pure theater. He is merely prolonging the moment, allowing the aroma to revive all your primal instincts as he stretches out the time until you can actually sink your teeth into the flesh. Finally he serves, slowly doling out slices of fillet and sirloin. As your mouth closes on the incredibly tender piece of beef, aroma and flavor come together, exploding on the palate.

Vynl, 507 Columbus AvenueOn three separate nights cameras caught the critters feasting "on scraps that were left on the dirty kitchen floor and climbing over crates of glassware" at Da Silvano's (pictured top left). The owner there said the problem was caused by nearby construction and recent renovations and claimed he will be throwing out everything edible in the restaurant and starting fresh. Ah, not even the celeb hot spots can escape the wrath of roaches and rodents. more ›

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Café Boulud, reaffirms its three-star status. Says that under Chef Bertrand Chemel (who replaced Andrew Carmellini after his departure in 2005), the restaurant “promises about as much pleasure in the present as it did in the past.” He likes the traditional section of the menu best, but also loves the pastas. Doesn’t love the desserts, excepting the soufflés. more ›

More reactions and details about the men who authorities say were planning a terrorist attack on Fort Dix in NJ are emerging. Jennifer Marino, the Brooklyn-born wife of suspect Dritan Duka, spoke to the Post and said, "He works as a roofer all day long. He comes home tired and then he takes the kids to the park. I don't know when he would have had time to plan this. I believe he was set up. Everything they are saying is not true." more ›

If there is one thing about which Jews and Muslims agree, it’s that pigs are filthy animals. Both religions dictate that their adherents shall not eat nothin’ that ain’t got sense enough to disregard its own feces. But, as Vincent Vega pointed out so succinctly, bacon tastes goooood. more ›

July 14: Bastille Day at Paris Commune more ›

oyster events later this week -- take your pick. more ›

Various restaurant workers may strike tomorrow as their union is in negotiations with 25 restaurants owners over wages and benefits. The restaurants include Lutece, Four Seasons, Elaine's and Cafe des Artistes. The Daily News reports, "Restaurant owners have called for health-insurance cutbacks and balked at the union's proposed $20-a-week raise for kitchen workers. The restaurants instead have offered a $7.50 weekly raise for cooks, and a $5 weekly boost for dishwashers." But since this would spell a shutdown, Gothamist suspects a compromise will be in the works. In the meantime, there are plans for the waiters, cooks, dishwashers and the busing staffs to march from the Four Season's to Gallagher's Steak House on 52nd Street tomorrow.
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Josh's Kobe Beef Burger Birthday Gothamist celebrated Josh's birthday at one of the city's temples of beef - The Old Homestead Steak House. more ›