This East Village restaurant was, for a long time, the talk of the town. Located at the fancy Bowery Hotel, Gemma is actually a bit noisy, but has good reasonably priced food and an extensive typically Italian menu. In our last visit, the Fritto Misto appetizer was slightly oily but still very tasty, and the carciofi salad and tuna were delicious. In general the pasta… Read more »
Archives: Eat & Drink
This Spanish tapas bar and its brother restaurant next door have been a New York hit for a while now. Lines do not cease, so please do not go without making prior reservations. Start with drinks and delicious appetizers served to share at the tiny and dark Bar Jamon. We simply loved the cheese plates, the authentic “jamón ibérico” and the outstanding wine selection. Later… Read more »
A laid back, cool and hip Italian in Greenwich Village. Always busy, always crowded, takes no reservations, so be patient and you will be rewarded with savory Italian dishes. Try to get a table outside if the weather is nice, it is great for people watching. The menu is a little concise but well supplemented with a list of specials. The vitello tonnato is excellent,… Read more »
Inexpensive option for excellent Mediterranean food in a nice setting, super handy if you need to have a proper meal in between shopping or sightseeing. There are three different branches in town and we quite like the one very well located in Midtown. Most dishes are made with the highest quality olive oil, and the fixed price menus are worthwhile. Do not pass on the… Read more »
In Midtown and hidden backdoors in the middle of the Le Parker Meridien hotel, this tiny laid-back joint serves the best burger in town! Nobody really knew about it until some years ago, and although nowadays it has become quite popular, it is still excellent. Forget about any fancy gourmet bistro artisanal versions of burgers that has become the current vogue, here we are talking about the best… Read more »
With branches in many different cities of the world, and originally twinned to the famous Venetian hotel and restaurant, Cipriani in Soho is a “see and be seen” kind of place. The local Soho crowd, chic uptowners, midtown business people, Wall Street financiers, virtually everybody goes to Cipriani Soho at some point. On sunny days try to get a table outside under its recognizable bright… Read more »
When in London you cannot miss sampling some ales at a pub and The Churchill Arms is quite a good choice for that. Located in Kensington, The Churchill Arms is a historic old pub, frequented by Churchill’s grandparents, and named after the Prime Minister when World War II ended. It is quite picturesque, with a lovely façade covered in flowers, and was a trend-setter for… Read more »
Loved by locals, this is probably Britain`s oldest and most renowned food market. The market itself is composed of a main hall, restaurants and shops in the surrounding streets, and the Green Market. Some of our favorites are the delectable sandwiches at Brindisa, the gelatos at the Italian 3Bis gelateria (well worth the calories on hot sunny days), the strong smooth coffee at Monmouth and… Read more »
A see-and-be-seen kind of venue, this is an elegant and upscale restaurant in one of London’s most affluent neighborhoods – Mayfair. In some ways, the quintessential décor in itself, with black and white floors, green chairs and mirror walls, somewhat justifies the long lines for a table. The long lines are also found in other branches of Cecconi’s around the world (we loved the one… Read more »
A trendy and cool Victorian house set over three floors, which calls itself a triple dream where food, art and music meet. Sketch drew extensive media attention after its opening and it was all anyone talked about for a while. Today there is much less fuss, but it is still well worth the visit, especially if you a book a table at the Lecture Room,… Read more »
You are in London, so the polite thing to do is to go to a pub! The Cross Keys, located in the deliciously glamorous Chelsea neighborhood, is somewhat traditional and historical, but has been recently modernized with up to date amenities yet kept its old-style flair. The Cross Keys has developed quite a good menu of well-executed dishes served in its typical pub atmosphere. The… Read more »
Located in the City, near Spitalfields market, this proper French restaurant has been considered the best of its kind in town and has been awarded many accolades. We can attest to it being truly excellent. Housed in a parish hall, as the name suggest, as you step in you will likely be immediately struck by its unique ambiance. The food is indeed quite good and… Read more »
The restaurant is located in the heart of Mayfair, in the luxurious Govesnor Square, and run by celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay, which leaves little else to be said. As you arrive at the beautiful venue, you have an option of a formal dining experience to the left or a more casual stylish atmosphere to the right. The innovative European menu has amazing dishes. We opted… Read more »
The Boudin Blanc is an authentic brasserie in Mayfair, near Shepherd Market. It is small, laid back and the type of place people do not talk about much, yet it is beloved by locals and draws a faithful clientele. Large windows, a wooden motif, adorned walls, dim lighting and impeccable service will make your meal even more enjoyable. Try, as we did, the full flavored… Read more »
Conveniently located in one of Georgetown’s main streets, it is the type of place you go to experience the bustle of a meeting point for locals. The ambiance is unpretentious and the menu offers many options of American classics. We wanted a good old American cheeseburger and were fully satisfied! We did notice our neighboring tables were enjoying delicious looking Caesar salads, rib eye steaks… Read more »
The modest discrete exterior does not hint at this being one of the best Italian restaurants in town, frequented by celebrities and politicians. Just blocks away from the White House, the interior is elegant, in neutral colors, and the service is impeccable. The food is outstanding. We have been there many times and were never disappointed. More than once we had the delicious tuna carpaccio,… Read more »
Located in the Park Hyatt Hotel, right at the entrance of Georgetown, this contemporary restaurant is a deliciously comfortable choice. We have stayed at the Park Hyatt Hotel on a few occasions and dined at the Blue Duck Tavern quite often: never disappointing. The menu, built around a selection of seasonal and very fresh ingredients from regional farmers, changes regularly. All meals we tried, including Sunday… Read more »
When in Washington DC you get the feeling you need to pay homage to history somehow, and a delicious way to honor this is by going to a traditional restaurant. Enter the Old Ebbitt Grill. Steps from the White House, the oldest restaurant in town, established in the 1846, is quite popular with locals, politicians and expats. We enjoyed the bustling atmosphere and the old… Read more »
A petit venue in Georgetown that has already become an institution in the city, this French bistro has a rustic décor and cozy atmosphere with its low ceilings, wooden beams, stone walls and a welcoming fireplace. The tables are quite close to one another, and the restaurant is a hotspot for politicians, so we felt at some point that we may overhear discussions of congressional… Read more »
This very casual and informal tapas bar in downtown DC has become something of a hot spot. It is usually busy, drawing an eclectic crowd, from youngsters to families into its the modern, lively and colorful ambience. Jaleo serves delicious dishes, perfectly made to be shared. The typical Jamón Ibérico was thinly sliced to perfection, the Manchego cheese satisfied our craving and the sautéed artichokes… Read more »
