Exclusive | Hold the lettuce! How NYC eateries are keeping diners safe — as crappy cyclospora crisis rumbles on

Exclusive | Hold the lettuce! How NYC eateries are keeping diners safe — as crappy cyclospora crisis rumbles on

Like NYC restaurant owners don’t have enough s–t to deal with. There’s tariffs and supply chain issues, inflation and rising rents — now, these mostly-small business operators are left holding the proverbial bag of salad, as customer fears over the explosive diarrhea epidemic create a new, unwanted set of nasty headaches. Talk about a crappy situation. … Read more

Michelin-starred chef facing jail after allegedly serving nearly 50,000 ants to diners

Michelin-starred chef facing jail after allegedly serving nearly 50,000 ants to diners

The owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant in South Korea is facing up to a year in jail and a fine of roughly $13,510 after the eatery allegedly served ants atop its sorbets. The proprietor of the Seoul restaurant, not identified in court documents, acknowledged serving ants, which are not among the insect species approved for human consumption … Read more

Iconic Valley diner that opened in 1977 to permanently close: ‘Nothing good lasts anymore’

Iconic Valley diner that opened in 1977 to permanently close: ‘Nothing good lasts anymore’

A classic family-owned vintage diner in Van Nuys is shutting down after nearly 50 years of serving customers. Heart’s Coffee Shop, a community staple since 1977, has been the go-to spot for traditional American comfort food and a retro atmosphere in San Fernando Valley. Regulars saw the diner not just as a place to eat, … Read more

Moment mass brawl breaks out at In-N-Out burger in front of stunned diners

Moment mass brawl breaks out at In-N-Out burger in front of stunned diners

As if waiting for a Double-Double wasn’t stressful enough. An Arizona In-N-Outt Burger turned into an unexpected fight club after a physical altercation broke out inside the fast food location, with video capturing one man being knocked to the floor by a single punch as customers scrambled to get out of the way. The confrontation … Read more

Costco’s hotly anticipated new food court offering has arrived nationwide — including a fast-food dupe diners love

Costco’s hotly anticipated new food court offering has arrived nationwide — including a fast-food dupe diners love

Fried for all. Beloved big-box retailer Costco has expanded its food court offerings and is now delivering this hot, fried fan favorite to its food courts nationwide. Previously, Costco’s breaded chicken fingers were only available at select locations as the retailer tested the tenders. The coveted and divisive item is now available at Costco locations … Read more

Restaurant owners reveal the biggest mistake diners make before ordering

Restaurant owners reveal the biggest mistake diners make before ordering

Choosing an entrée isn’t always easy, especially at a restaurant with an extensive menu. Many diners find it helpful to ask their server, “What’s your favorite?”, or simply, “What should I order?” Restaurant professionals, however, say those questions may not always lead to the best recommendation. Instead, they recommend asking questions that help reveal what a restaurant … Read more

Exclusive | Inside the eight-seat diner that’s set Hamptons abuzz — where A-listers like Neil Patrick Harris wait in-line for hours 

Exclusive | Inside the eight-seat diner that’s set Hamptons abuzz — where A-listers like Neil Patrick Harris wait in-line for hours 

In the bougie Hamptons, where more cafes are serving $20 iced matchas and $32 over-the-top breakfast creations, these days it’s rare to find a humble abode serving classic diner grub. That’s part of the reason people are lining up outside Babe’s, a new eight-seat, no-reservation Sag Harbor diner that has become one of the East … Read more

Here’s why restaurant diners are ditching wine bottles for the table

Here’s why restaurant diners are ditching wine bottles for the table

People aren’t ordering a bottle of wine for the table the way they used to, according to a new report. But industry experts say restaurants are making up for the revenue shortfall in other ways. “We believe habits have shifted away from a group ordering a bottle of (typically red) wine to share with dinner in favor of … Read more

Exclusive | Diners can’t eat these 4 pancakes in 18 minutes as Long Island challenge goes viral

Exclusive | Diners can’t eat these 4 pancakes in 18 minutes as Long Island challenge goes viral

This breakfast will break you. Hundreds have tried, but fewer than 50 succeeded in scarfing down an epic stack of deep-dish pizza-sized pancakes at Nappi’s Nook in Nesconset as one of Long Island’s most popular – and deceptively difficult – eating challenges making rounds on social media.  “Everybody comes in, ‘oh that’s easy, I could … Read more

Restaurants ban diners’ phones during meals as no-scroll trend grows: put it away or else

Restaurants ban diners’ phones during meals as no-scroll trend grows: put it away or else

Diners at a growing number of restaurants and bars are being asked to stash away their phones — or even lock them up — as part of a push for more memorable nights out. The trend is gaining traction across the US, with more spots experimenting with restrictions, incentives or locked pouches, Fox News Digital recently reported. Charlotte … Read more

Exclusive | Table for none! How NYC diners are forced to battle bots, apps and influencer hype at the city’s hardest-to-book restaurants

Exclusive | Table for none! How NYC diners are forced to battle bots, apps and influencer hype at the city’s hardest-to-book restaurants

Securing a table at a top NYC restaurant has long required some planning and a great deal of patience. Lately, however, going out to dinner in the Big Apple has become a full-on competitive sport — call it the Hunger Games — complete with a list of unwritten rules and strategies for winning. Eager diners in the … Read more

Privileged diners fight to pay $1,500+ for a meal at LA’s most expensive restaurant — where snagging a table is like the ‘Hunger Games’

Privileged diners fight to pay ,500+ for a meal at LA’s most expensive restaurant — where snagging a table is like the ‘Hunger Games’

Getting a seat at LA’s most expensive restaurant isn’t just another dinner reservation. It’s a victory in the “Hunger Games” of fine dining. Exclusive Somni, a tiny West Hollywood boite with just 14 seats and one nightly seating, has catapulted into the stratosphere of global fine dining, securing a coveted three Michelin stars. That’s the … Read more

How Square and other payment apps push controversial tipping policy on diners

How Square and other payment apps push controversial tipping policy on diners

Here’s a tip for restaurant goers. As more restaurants adopt digital payment systems that automatically suggest a gratuity option, debate has heated up over whether those tips should be calculated pre- or post-tax. The topic of tipping and proper etiquette has long been a cultural debate, but the discussion drew recent attention after a Dave … Read more

Dave & Buster’s diners furious over ‘shady’ tipping tactic

Dave & Buster’s diners furious over ‘shady’ tipping tactic

Busted, Buster! Customers are accusing Dave & Buster’s of running a tipping “scam” by covertly inflating the 20% standard. A Reddit user shared that she went to the dinner-and-arcade emporium with their sister, boyfriend and nephew, and the sister was planning on paying the bill but didn’t have her physical card. Staff brought them the … Read more

Grits shock Maine diners as Southern chef spotlights regional breakfast divide

Grits shock Maine diners as Southern chef spotlights regional breakfast divide

In parts of the US, asking for grits with your eggs is expected. In others — it’s a nonstarter. A Southern staple, grits are rarely found on breakfast menus in much of the US, particularly in New England. Conversely, New England’s fare of baked beans, fish cakes and corned beef hash could be unappealing to most … Read more

Diner outraged after finding added charge for charity donation on bill: ‘When did this become a thing?’

Diner outraged after finding added charge for charity donation on bill: ‘When did this become a thing?’

A customer was left confused after spotting a $1 donation automatically added to their bill at popular Melbourne restaurant Chin Chin, without explicit consent. The frustrated diner vented on social media, sharing a photo of the receipt from the Southeast Asian restaurant’s CBD location, with the line ‘1 x $1 donation’ listed above the rest … Read more

Exclusive | How Ellen of Ellen’s Stardust Diner stays in shape and on stage at 84 (trips to Nordstrom help)

Exclusive | How Ellen of Ellen’s Stardust Diner stays in shape and on stage at 84 (trips to Nordstrom help)

She’s a local legend, and at 84, she’s only getting better. Ellen Hart, the larger-than-life owner of Broadway’s iconic Ellen’s Stardust Diner, has made maintaining her health and wellness a top priority in her golden years — though her motivations looked very different earlier on. “I was always interested in beauty and staying physically attractive, … Read more

Guy Fieri won’t eat these 6 foods — even the Mayor of Flavortown has his limits

Guy Fieri won’t eat these 6 foods — even the Mayor of Flavortown has his limits

Celebrity chef and Food Network star Guy Fieri has built a career on embracing bold flavors across America, from greasy-spoon classics to under-the-radar regional specialties on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” But even the self-proclaimed Mayor of Flavortown has his limits — and some of the dishes Fieri won’t touch are surprisingly common in everyday diets. … Read more

Exclusive | Waiting in line for meals is latest NYC trend — with eager diners starving for hours-long queues

Exclusive | Waiting in line for meals is latest NYC trend — with eager diners starving for hours-long queues

In a city that prides itself on moving fast, nothing’s slower — or suddenly trendier — than waiting in line. These days, it seems that New Yorkers will stand around and wait for just about anything — a bagel, a buzzy bowl of noodles, or the vague promise of “vibes.” From hours-long lines for dinner … Read more

Chili’s menu changes spark online outrage as diners ‘confused’ by decision

Chili’s menu changes spark online outrage as diners ‘confused’ by decision

Chili’s is axing some popular items from its kids and dessert menus while also rolling out a new offering aimed at keeping customers satisfied. In late September, customers in the Reddit community r/Chilis expressed concern after a user leaked a photo that appeared to reveal the casual dining chain’s new menu. Notable removals include the Kids Pepperoni … Read more