It will really fill you up. The tiny hamburger joint Smacking Burger has opened inside of a working gas station — which happens to be the last one in Manhattan below 14th Street. On a recent Saturday, the owners said they served some 800 customers. Elizabeth Torres and Tommy Hondros are the burger-lovers behind Smacking … Read more
It’s a soar point. Fast food lovers have been watching helplessly as the price of a burger and fries climbs ever higher — combo quaffers in NYC are now paying as much as $13.89 plus tax for a Big Mac pack, not to mention a whopping $13.99 for a Whopper meal at some local Burger … Read more
If you have an extra 200-square-feet of empty, windowless space laying around, Richie Romero might want to turn it into a sushi bar. The 48-year-old restaurateur and nightlife impresario, and his partners, Mike Sinensky and Erika London, have turned tiny utility spaces into a growing empire of buzzy, bento-box-sized sushi bars Customers love the offbeat … Read more
Two in three Americans (67%) feel guilty when dining out, according to a new poll. A recent survey of 2,000 American adults revealed that tighter budgets have made eating out less enjoyable than before, with almost a quarter (23%) reporting the simple act of spending money on a meal out is stressful and 44% saying … Read more
If cocktails weren’t already expensive enough, an expert asserts that people should always tip for their alcoholic beverages at the bar. Kat Kinsman, an executive features editor at Food and Wine, practices tipping two bucks per drink when she goes out, encouraging others to tip their bartenders, who curate a drink that sets the tone … Read more
He’s turning the tables. For three decades, Mike Puma worked on Wall Street. In 2013, he formed the Gotham Burger Social Club, an exclusive society for finance guys devoted to trying and rating the city’s best burgers. The group applied the same analytical skills they used to rate stocks as buy or sell to studying … Read more
The city’s most thrilling new restaurant is a narrow, 28-seat spot on Avenue A where kangaroo’s the name of the game. Foxface Natural opened last spring, and its wild-and-woolly menu has been polarizing. Most critics and diners have loved it, but some have been quite negative, likening dishes to “elaborate jokes.” In addition to kangaroo … Read more
There must be some mi-steak. A steakhouse customer has claimed that he was promised “unlimited” sides with his meal — only to discover the restaurant’s promotion was not as it seemed. The man, Mikey, who goes by @notmikeyd on TikTok, posted a video dishing about the experience that has over 670,000 views since being posted … Read more
It’s dorm-room delicious. At a buzzy new Long Island City restaurant, there are 115 types of instant soup on the menu — including cups of ramen — just like you might make at home. In fact, you’ll have to add boiling water and cook the noodles yourself. Instant Noodle Factory (24-11 41st Ave., Queens) has … Read more
This hirsute scammer failed to finesse her mane course con. Restaurant owner Tom Croft caught a sleazy customer putting hair in their food in an attempt to score a free meal on security cameras. “There are people out there that are willing to put a business’ reputation and staff’s jobs at risk for a $15.88 … Read more
What’s easier than trying to book online discount coach seats for a family of eight to Las Vegas the day before Thanksgiving? Getting a reservation for two at a New York City steakhouse for lunch on a Thursday afternoon in early November. Truly. Scoring restaurant tables in the Big Apple was never as much of a … Read more
Beware of the “dinner swindlers.” One self-appointed “credit card friend” — the person who foots the bill in advance with the expectation that participants will pay them back — was recently faced with her biggest fear: a dine-and-dashing friend. Bria Jones, a TikTok influencer and recovering “credit card friend,” is no longer putting her card … Read more
Customers are increasingly fee-d up, and it’s just getting worse. You better check your restaurant bill more closely — otherwise, you might be unknowingly paying for a “wellness fee” or “kitchen appreciation fee” along with a tip. Restaurants across the U.S. are implementing bizarre add-ons, which can shockingly tack an extra 20% onto a check. … Read more
A “Burger World” restaurant waitress in North Bay, Ontario, admitted she charged one customer a $50 booth rental fee for sitting at the establishment for several hours. Tiffany Elsie, who goes by @tiffanyelsie.e1 on TikTok, posted the 19-second clip on July 8, which accumulated more than 442,100 views. “POV: You’re a waitress and someone has been sitting … Read more
Fido can now officially join your outdoor dining reservation. The Food and Drug Administration recently updated their 2022 list of food regulations to allow “pet dogs” — not just service animals — “in outdoor dining areas, where approved.” Pet dogs are still not allowed indoors or wherever food is prepared, not even to walk through … Read more