Barking Dog Luncheonette
1453 York Ave.
(77th/78th Streets)
New York, NY 10021
212-861-3600
{Google Map | flickr}
Every so often I find myself in a restaurant where I truly enjoyed the food, but felt that the staff was so inept and rude that it ruined my dining experience. Barking Dog Luncheonette in Yorkville was my latest experience in this series of occasional mishaps. Rather than a review, let’s give you an overview of the carnage. (more…)
Whole Foods Market
250 7th Ave.
New York, NY 10001
212-924-5969
{Google Map | flickr}
What’s not to love at this Chelsea based location of Whole Foods Market? I ran in there the other day hungry as could be and searching for a quick lunch. I had my choice of a salad bar, sushi bar, hot foods, bakery area and more. I chose the sushi bar and had my way with a few varieties of multi-grained rice sushi rolls: tuna and avocado, shrimp and cucumber and two pieces of inari (rice wrapped in fried tofu).
Whole Foods never lets you down and the great part about it is that you can go there every day of the week and never eat the same meal twice. I’ll always be returning to this location and the 6 others in the city for more lunch and dinner goodness.
Rub BBQ
208 W. 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
212-524-4300
{Google Map | flickr set}
RUB BBQ really stands for Righteous Urban BBQ and it certainly lives up to its name. With four smokers on site, each capable of smoking up to 600lbs. of meat, there’s rarely a day where it’s not all used up. What this means for you and me is some of the freshest and smokiest ‘Q around. (more…)
THE NOHO STAR
330 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012
212-925-0070
{google map | web | facebook}
Open for every meal of the day, THE NOHO STAR has been on my list for at least ten years of destinations where I have wanted to dine. I used to live about 10 blocks away but for some reason never made it in. I had the opportunity to dine there for a lunch meeting the other day and to be honest, I’m kind of annoyed that it took so long for me to sit down and have a meal. (more…)
City Crab
235 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
212-529-3800
{Google Map}
One little block on Park Avenue in the Union Square / Gramercy Park area is littered with restaurants and bars. Between 19th and 20th Streets there are Angelo & Maxies, City Crab, Sugar Cane, Sushi Samba and L’Express. With all of these restaurants available so close to one another, you can literally never have to leave this one-block radius. On a recent Monday night, we took our hungry selves and settled into City Crab. I had only been there once before, back in 1998 or so, and have been looking to get back there ever since. Upon entering the restaurant, the bar area is on the left while just beyond that are high tables so that you can eat in the bar area but still enjoy their full menu. There’s an upstairs and a downstairs dining room which both have great views thanks to the floor to ceiling windows looking onto Park Avenue. (more…)
October and November enjoy discounted Cotes du Rhone selections at participating Patina Restaurants.
Glasses from $6 and bottles from $24.
653 11th Avenue
(48th Street)
New York, NY 10036
212-757-0088
{Google Map | Web}
While the restaurants at ink48 aren’t open just yet, those who stay in the newly opened Kimpton Hotel will surely be able to partake in some room service during their stay. With two separate restaurants opening up on the ground level, this is destined to be a new dining destination in Midtown West. In addition to this great room service, occupants of the hotel will also be able to indulge in the nighlty weekday wine receptions from 5pm-7pm (a Kimpton standard).
Since we’ve discussed the bottom floor, let’s talk a bit about the rooftop lounge that will be in place. Overlooking the beautiful island of Manhattan and the Hudson River, you’ll be sipping on some of your favorite drinks, taking in the sights and enjoying your choice of breakfast, lunch or dinner.
We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the opening of these two fine dining establishments and will let you know as soon as they are accepting reservations.
Sarabeth’s
424 Fifth Avenue
(5th and 6th Floors)
New York, NY 10018
212-827-5068
{Google Map}
www.sarabeths.com
Sarabeth’s is expanding its local empire by partnering up with Lord & Taylor to open up cafes in eight of its stores. This location, being the first to open up (another on Long Island is now open as well) has two floors worth of eggs and omelettes, jams, sandwiches and salads. On the 5th floor is the restaurant, open from 11:30am – 4:30pm (menu here) and on the 6th floor is the cafe with hours from 10am-5:30pm (menu here). If you’ve ever been to a Sarabeth’s before, you’ll know that the lines can be oh-so-long, but oh-so-worth it.
Photo courtesy of Sarabeth’s Restaurant
Old Town Bar
45 E 18th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 529-6732
www.oldtownbar.com
I had the recent pleasure of meeting an old friend for a couple Bud Lights at the Old Town Bar on 18th Street and Broadway in Manhattan - just north of the Union Square restaurant scene, and down the block from the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site. I chose this bar to meet for it’s convenient location, it’s history of serving writers, artists, and other famous types, and also the fact that at 2:00 in the afternoon it’s quiet enough to hold down a conversation.
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