Niles… You know how unfinished business leaves you with that itch? You just gotta scratch it. That’s about the way I felt after trying unsuccessfully to get into The Little Owl several times in a row. It was bugging me. How could this little speck of a restaurant be that good? »
Joules… The sidewalks were slushy on Fat Tuesday, as we walked to Commerce located on an almost hidden cul de sac near a tiny theatre on Commerce Street. On this chilly night the faintly hidden restaurant was exactly what I was in the mood for.... »
Joules… The entrance is more like a speakeasy than a brasserie. Outside, the door is guarded by a bouncer and inside the heavy velvet curtain blocks your first impression. Upon entering a chic model acts as hostess and already at 6:00 in the evening, the... »
Joules… Ippudo is a hip Japanese Ramen house in the same theatrical vein of a Bennihana steakhouse. A large bamboo tree sculpture jutting out from... »
Niles… There are works of art which present themselves immediately and brilliantly, and there are pieces that force you to engage them more closely before... »
Joules… Sitting at the cozy bar upstairs, waiting for Niles and a friend, I had prime viewing of the prep station that turned out mouthwatering... »
Joules… I’m sure we all have an opinion about New York’s speakeasy craze. What does it say about the times when all... »
Niles… As we ordered drinks across a full bar the bartender asked the time of our reservation. 8:00, we said, and without the slightest... »
Joules… Having eaten dinner down the road the night before at the Modern, I must admit that I wasn’t ravenous the next day at Jean-Georges,... »
Joules… Il Posto Accanto, located next to Il Baggato on the lower east side, is a comfy neighborhood wine bar with hearty trattoria cooking. I... »
Niles… At the Oyster Bar in Grand Central a few months ago a debate broke out over who has the best oysters in the city.... »
Joules… Before the pizzas came out we were warned that they’d look burnt. In fact my friend commented the pizza looked too burnt when it... »
Joules… On Sunday September 13, Niles and I headed to the South Street Seaport for the monthly Sunday event of the New Amsterdam Market. What... »
Joules… The first time you go to Blue Hill it’s like being Dorothy from the Wizard Of Oz. You follow the path to the restaurant,... »
Niles… I wondered, as we were ascending the dark and narrow staircase, whether this was a ‘club’ as in ‘dance’ or as in... »
Joules… I’ve never been to a pig roast-dinner before so I was eager to see how the kitchen at Hearth would present this feast to... »
Niles… I had high hopes for DBGB. The idea of Daniel Boulud opening a burger joint downtown was as tantalizing as a any great burger... »
Joules… Niles and I try to make it a habit to eat as many vegetables as our bodies will hold during the week so that... »
Joules… To be honest I had no expectations for Mesa Grill. Niles and I only went because a friend from out of town had her... »
A few weeks ago Joules picked up a copy of The Bread Baker’s Apprentice by Peter Reinhart. The book won a James... »
Joules… The Greek Salad at Kefi isn’t what you’d expect. Here it’s more like coleslaw. An overly dressed, soggy mix of shredded lettuce, fennel, roasted... »
Joules… Restaurants with Celebrity chefs behind them create expectations, and at Gordon Ramsay’s, expectations were higher than usual. Ramsay preaches simplicity and elemental flavors to... »
Niles… We stopped by Rye on a bit of a fluke, with no idea what we were getting into. Unfortunately for them it was... »
Joules… Last night Niles and I had the pleasure of eating at De Niro’s latest restaurant in the Greenwhich hotel. The place was packed. When... »
Joules… Niles and I woke up early Sunday to go to brunch. Waking up early for brunch on the weekend kind of defeats the point,... »
Niles… The Redhead is small, dimly lit, generally crowded, and a few blocks off the beaten path. The menu of comfort foods is small... »
Niles… The best burger I’ve ever had after standing on line for an hour. Take away the line and the anticipation it builds, and this... »
Niles… An early reservation had us entering the Standard Grill’s front room to a beautiful late-afternoon Fall sunlight. The whole room had a brightness... »
Niles… We ordered across the menu and, except for a little sogginess in one taco, everything was nearly perfect and delightful. As a wet sanwich... »
Niles… I’ve been there twice now and both experiences were different. On the first trip the burger was perfectly cooked and delicious. Not... »
Paris has it’s baguettes, San Francisco it’s sour dough, and New York has it’s bagels. And like bakers and bakeries in every city... »
Niles… Please Don’t Tell, in case no one told you, is one of the places for great cocktails. Go to Crif Dog on St. Marks Place... »
Joules… DuMont is a comfy little place in Williamsburg, decoratively kind of sparse inside, and the outdoor garden with its clean modern lines was definitely... »
Joules… When is food too overly complicated? When you leave feeling slightly confused, not necessarily satisfied, and a little bit foolish. This is how I... »
Joules… There’s a modern, but down home southern feel to Back Forty. Its cute, warm interior is filled with blonde woods and designer hanging lights.... »
