Beer, wine and even cider bars abound in NYC, but Air’s Champagne Parlor is one of the few area drinkeries solely devoted to bubbly. Former beverage director at the similarly-themed Riddling Widow, Ariel Arce first nursed her passion at Birds & Bubbles and Chicago’s Pops for Champagne (not to mention Grant Achatz’s exclusive, original The Office) before that.  Meaning her reputation as queen of Cuvèe absolutely proceeds her. Situated in Ravi DeRossi’s longheld Greenwich Village space (which formerly housed Ladybird, along with Riddling Widow in the basement), Arce has r ..read more

If you’re already mourning the loss of summer, Oktoberfest is a reliable way to get you over the hump. Essentially spanning the duration of fall (kicking off on September 16th this year & extending all the way to October 31st, allowing revelers to seamlessly transition to Halloween), the festival is a giddy saturnalia of German culture.  Which, when you boil it down, basically translates to a dedicated observance of meat products (smoked wursts, breaded schnitzel, braised sauerbraten) and starches (hubcap-sized pretzels, dumpling-esque späetzle, fried potato pancakes), as well as ..read more

While it used to be that street vendors earned significantly less respect for restaurant chefs, that’s hardly the case nowadays.  Considering the prohibitive cost of real estate, entrepreneurs with talent to burn have turned to trucks, carts and food markets, serving truly innovative food with international flair.  And as a fun challenge to the James Beard Awards, the Vendy ceremony — now in its 13th year — is dedicated to honoring the very best in the field.  So here’s who’s in the running during the September 16th event at Governors Island!  From an artisanal tw ..read more

UrbanSpace’s pre-eminent outdoor food market has returned for its September run in the Flatiron District.  And as always, it’s managed to gather a number of exciting new culinary concepts on board, not to mention a few intriguing collaborations.  So here’s what to eat on your feet if you’re in the Madison Square Park area this fall, from stuffed Roman sandwiches to fried chicken-filled waffle cones! Trapizzino: The Roman street sandwich specialist makes its market debut this fall, with handmade, stone-milled, naturally fermented pizza pockets filled with everything from butternut squ ..read more

New York’s Indian food scene has been on a definite upswing, and a quintet of newcomers cut an even bigger swath of spice through the city this summer. 2016 was especially kind to the long-overlooked cuisine, which was traditionally represented by indifferent places offering uninterpreted versions of saag paneer, chicken tikka malasa, and lamb vindaloo (essentially the fried rice, lo mein and beef with broccoli at kindred, cut-and-paste Chinese eateries).  In the span of only a few months, fine dining destinations like Indian Accent and Tapestry triumphantly took Manhattan, to say nothing ..read more

No matter how many food halls proliferate in earnest throughout the city, Smorgasburg will remain largely credited with being amongst the very first — to gather disparate, edible vendors all in one place, and offer a leg up to upstart culinary businesses.  So while brick-and-mortar markets and al fresco fairs abound nowadays, the O.G gourmet hub continues to expand its footprint.  And its latest iteration is SoHo’s own Smorg Square, which boasts a bigger presence (being open on Friday, as well as the weekend), expanded hours (running until 10pm) and a year-round residency, weathering ..read more

Acclaimed chefs have traditionally trafficked in dinner-only restaurants, but that’s certainly not the case nowadays.  In order to appeal to a larger swath of eaters, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Enrique Olvera and Gabe Stulman have all embraced the all-day cafe; offering affordable, accessible fare from morning till night.  So here’s where to bring your lap top and settle in for the afternoon at spots, like Claus Meyer’s Norman in Greenpoint, and Eli Kulp’s High Street on Hudson. abcV 38 E 19th St Flatiron District,New York 10003 (212) 475-5829 We may have had to wait a few years fo ..read more

There are all manner of fun, food events taking place in New York on a daily basis — from lavish, charity-driven galas to crowded, walk-around tastings and an endless array of pop-ups.  But unless you have the time and money to party seven days a week, you’ll have to be somewhat discerning about what goes onto your calendar.  So here are just a few worthy food celebrations we recommend getting tickets (or making reservations) for now. Taste Talks Brooklyn (9/8-10): Northside Media (behind the music and film-centric Northside Festival) turns its focus to food with this national series ..read more

The U.S. Open is back in town, and the stars aren’t just on the court.  Taking a page from resuscitated stadium fare throughout the city, Flushing’s Billie Jean King Tennis Center is flush with myriad restaurant concepts and notable vendors.  So here’s where to eat between sets — from sit-down eateries courtesy of Masaharu Morimoto and Marcus Samuelsson, to an entire “Food Village” featuring David Chang, David Burke and more. Full Service Restaurants Mojito Restaurant and Bar: Believe it or not, Swedish-Ethiopian-Southern Soul Food guru Marcus Samuelsson is behind the Havana-themed s ..read more

In this great dining city of ours, barely a day passes without news of an exciting restaurant opening, a devastating closing, a shocking chef shuffle, or a groundbreaking, must-try dish.  That’s why we’re keeping you apprised of the industry’s most noteworthy bits and bites, from the unexpected return of a duo of esteemed eateries to a gluten-free pasta project from the original “Top Chef.” Hello JoJo and Coco Pazzo: Fall is generally prime time for brand new restaurant debuts, but this season, we’re awaiting the return of two verifiable NYC vets.  After a decade, the old school Ital ..read more