Posts Tagged ‘New York Post’

Score a Great Table During the World Series

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Score a Great Table During the World Series1 Score a Great Table During the World SeriesEven if you’re not a fan of baseball, you may still want to pay attention to what’s happening in New York and Philadelphia in the coming days. According to the New York Post, it’s easier to find open tables at some of the city’s hottest restaurants on game nights. Restaurants and bars with television sets aren’t seeing a slide in business, but at high-end restaurants that aren’t showing the game, such as David Burke Townhouse, prime-time tables that would typically be filled are yours for the taking. A similar phenomenon is probably taking place in Philadelphia.

If you’ve got a bigger appetite for world-class cuisine than the World Series (or you don’t mind setting your DVR), search for open tables at New York’s and Philadelphia’s finest restaurants. Remaining game dates are October 29, October 31, November 1, November 2, November 4, and November 5, and unlike the Yanks and the Phillies, you probably won’t strike out.

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When Restaurants Take a Vacation

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

gone fishing When Restaurants Take a VacationEverybody deserves a break once in a while — even restaurants (and all the hard-working folks who toil there!). I was poking around on OpenTable, pondering reservation choices for dinners over the next few weeks, and La Grenouille, a New York dining institution, didn’t show up for any of dates. I panicked for a few moments (Could they be — GASP! — closing?) until clicking over to their profile page and seeing a note, indicating they’re taking a brief break during the last days of high summer. A piece in the New York Post a few days later touched on this very topic, revealing that several of Manhattan’s most famous establishments go on hiatus for a few weeks around this time of year, including Cafe des Artistes, Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis, Le Cirque, Cafe Boulud, and Chanterelle (the last two are also undergoing renovations).

If you don’t see availability for a particular restaurant, check the restaurant’s profile page for a note about a vacation or renovations before assuming the worst. And, try to find some new faves while your current ones are taking time away or, lucky them, all booked up!

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The Upside to Dining out in a Down Economy

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

fork knife menu1 The Upside to Dining out in a Down EconomyIs the recession keeping you out of restaurants?  The New York Post details 10 ways a weakened economy is actually a boon to hungry diners, highlighting deals at Fishtail by David Burke, David Burke Townhouse, Chanterelle, Per Se, and more. Other trends include bar areas that are — wait for it! — for drinking rather than dining and burgers showing up on some very upscale menus (Sorry, no Per Se sliders!). Similarly, restaurants in your neighborhood that may have been out of your reach may be well within it. So, stop denying yourself and start dining out!

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Is Bread Worth Your Hard-Earned Dough?

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

bread.jpgNew York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni took to the Diner’s Journal to defend restaurants that charge for bread. Earlier, the New York Post had taken issue with the practice, but Mr. Bruni sees nothing wrong with it, pointing out that even free bread really isn’t free as well as the fact that the restaurant in question lists bread and butter (and its pricing) on their menus.

I usually eschew bread when dining out, so I probably wouldn’t order it if I had to pay for it (unless I’d heard it was spectacular!) and I’m not sure I’d be disappointed if it weren’t provided. But, I’m just one diner. I asked some of our Facebook friends to weigh in on the topic, and almost everyone appreciated bread and butter (or the equivalent of it, depending on the cuisine).

What do you think about bread? Is it a must-have? Would you pay a bit extra for an outstanding baguette and butter? Chime in here or join the conversation on our Facebook page.

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