Holland America launches new ship loaded with transatlantic history

Holland America launches new ship loaded with transatlantic history

The vibe has shifted and the glory days of cruising are once again docked in NYC. Holland America’s newest ship Rotterdam arrived in New York City on Oct. 26 on its maiden call, after a 12-day cruise, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the cruise line’s first transatlantic crossing. On board, it was easy to slip … Read more

This tiny Park Slope restaurant is the toughest reservation in NYC

This tiny Park Slope restaurant is the toughest reservation in NYC

At 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Carlos Sevilla and his date, Kriti Shrestha, finally secured a table for two at Masalawala & Sons. It was no easy feat. They’d been trying to snag one since September, when the Indian restaurant — with its Bengali dinner party atmosphere — first opened in a former Park Slope bakery and … Read more

Tread and get fed: Why walking is the most luxurious way to see Australia

Tread and get fed: Why walking is the most luxurious way to see Australia

“Luxury travel” often means getting there fast. It means putting your feet up. It means somebody else does the work. But, too often, that ultra-expensive cocoon is a bum deal. With travel, like most of life’s efforts, you get what you give. Whether it’s Paris or Timbuktu, the best way to get to know a … Read more

Art, nature and tropical sun: Try out these alternative winter holiday trips

Art, nature and tropical sun: Try out these alternative winter holiday trips

Burnt out on your go-to winter travel destinations? We bet you are. After all, it’s a new post-COVID world and that means that it’s time to shake things up. Whether it’s for holiday family fun, glitzy New Year’s Eve shenanigans, winter sun, fun on the slopes, an urban artsy scene, immersion in nature or hiking, … Read more

‘Friendsgiving’ diners tip Waffle House waitress $1,125

‘Friendsgiving’ diners tip Waffle House waitress ,125

A Waffle House worker in Alabama received an unforgettable tip after a group of friends banded together to spread some generous holiday cheer. Tanya Ragsdale of Cullman, a north central city in Alabama that’s roughly 50 miles north of Birmingham, shared a Facebook post revealing the “Friendsgiving” occasion that she and her friend group celebrated on … Read more

Tales from the table: A New York City Maitre D’ tells all

Tales from the table: A New York City Maitre D’ tells all

As the Maitre D’ at some of New York City’s trendiest restaurants, Michael Cecchi-Azzolina is the man to know if you want a table. Over his 35 years in the industry, he’s been the gatekeeper at River Cafe, Raoul’s, Minetta Tavern, and Le CouCou among others. Now, he’s finally telling all in his upcoming book “Your … Read more

I’m a restaurant worker and if you order gluten-free : ‘We assume you’re a b—h’

I’m a restaurant worker and if you order gluten-free : ‘We assume you’re a b—h’

A restaurant bartender is spilling the liquor on the “harsh truths” — and lies — of working in the restaurant business. “I don’t make the rules,” a TikToker going by the name Acire Ennoccaz captioned her now-viral video. In the clip, which has racked up 2 million views in three days, she dives right into claims … Read more

Why the 20 percent tip could be on the endangered list

Why the 20 percent tip could be on the endangered list

Inflation might be turning Americans into grinches this holiday season, new data suggests. In a survey of 1,000 consumers and 165 restaurant owners and operators across the U.S. this month, just 43% of consumers are now tipping their servers 20% or more, a significant decline from 56% of customers last year. That’s according to a … Read more

Restaurant owner slams ‘non-connoisseur’ over negative review

Restaurant owner slams ‘non-connoisseur’ over negative review

A UK restaurant owner turned up the heat on one TripAdvisor user after they left a below-average review for Waz’s Bistrot. According to the reviewer, who goes by the username BLONDIE4214, everything from the food right down to the restrooms left the reviewer unimpressed. “Visited here last night on the recommendation of a friend. To … Read more

Taco bout cheap: My table stayed for six hours and gave me a measly tip

Taco bout cheap: My table stayed for six hours and gave me a measly tip

A server is dishing it out after she says a table tipped her mere scraps. Waitress Kristina Withers aired out her frustrations over TikTok about a table that stayed for about six hours and only tipped her 10%. “Ya’ll, I just had a table sit in my section for six hours. They got there before … Read more

Cafe owner says ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ makeover lost her thousands

Cafe owner says ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ makeover lost her thousands

The owner of a Sydney, Australia cafe has revealed her struggles after appearing on Channel 7’s Kitchen Nightmares Australia, saying she has lost thousands of dollars in business after the program rebranded and renovated her cafe. Virginia Cheong, the owner of Cafe de Vie in Homebush, recently appeared on the Channel 7 program hoping to get … Read more

Gordon Ramsay charging $325 for Christmas dinner, with no drinks included

Gordon Ramsay charging 5 for Christmas dinner, with no drinks included

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is charging $325 per head for Christmas dinner at one of his restaurants and drinks aren’t included in the whopping price. Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay, based in London, released the menu sample and the eye-watering amount that comes with it. The six-course meal includes confit egg and lobster ravioli, followed by a choice … Read more

Flood, fires, pandemic: Brooklyn BBQ restaurant owners beat jinx

Flood, fires, pandemic: Brooklyn BBQ restaurant owners beat jinx

Talk about having the patience of Job. Many Big Apple eateries bravely survived the pandemic-era shutdowns and the challenges that followed. But for one local family of restaurateurs, the coronavirus was just one more cross to bear in a biblical-level string of bad luck. When Peter and Penny Glazier and their son Matthew welcomed diners … Read more

Thanksgiving inflation means eating out — not cooking a feast at home — is the smart money move

Thanksgiving inflation means eating out — not cooking a feast at home — is the smart money move

This Thanksgiving is shaping up to be a real turkey. With inflation and avian bird flu sending the cost of the traditional holiday feast sky high this year, it may be smarter to eat out, according to a report from Wells Fargo. The study, which compared Consumer Price Index data from November 2021 with November … Read more

NYC’s ‘most romantic’ restaurant accused of having segregated ‘Asian corner’

NYC’s ‘most romantic’ restaurant accused of having segregated ‘Asian corner’

One of New York City’s most romantic restaurants is under fire for allegedly discriminating against Asian diners.  A woman is calling out fine dining Greenwich Village landmark One if by Land, Two if by Sea on TikTok for its alleged discriminatory practices that include seating Asian diners on the second floor of its restaurant, separating … Read more

I was denied entry into a Paris restaurant because of my cleavage

I was denied entry into a Paris restaurant because of my cleavage

Table for two? TikToker Polska Babinks alleges she and a female friend were denied entry into a Paris restaurant because they were showing too much cleavage. In a clip uploaded earlier this week and already viewed more than 3.6 million times, Babinks and her friend walk into a restaurant — only to be stopped by … Read more

NJ man Eric Finkelstein breaks record for eating at most Michelin restaurants in a day

NJ man Eric Finkelstein breaks record for eating at most Michelin restaurants in a day

He’s got an appetite for glory.  A healthcare IT consultant and serial world-record chaser has likely secured the Guinness world record for chowing down at the most Michelin-starred restaurants in 24 hours.  “As soon as I saw this, I thought, ‘I have to do it,’” Eric Finkelstein, 34, said. “This one did call out to … Read more

Menu-flation at NYC restaurants has diners forking over $50 for a burger

Menu-flation at NYC restaurants has diners forking over  for a burger

Well, that’s rich. Humble comfort foods are now dangerously close to becoming unaffordable luxuries for many New Yorkers in the age of menu-flation. With rising food and labor costs, restaurant owners risk biting off more than they can chew, leaving customers to make up the difference. “You must ask yourself, ‘Sacrifice quality and keep price … Read more

Upscale San Francisco restaurant Dogue offers high-end cuisine just for dogs

Upscale San Francisco  restaurant Dogue offers high-end cuisine just for dogs

At this restaurant, the customers won’t be needing a doggie bag. A new eatery just for canines opened last month in San Francisco’s upscale Mission District, bringing Michelin-level dining to Fido and Fifi. At Dogue (rhymes with “vogue”), posh preparations of filet mignon with quail egg, venison, antelope, duck and fancy pastries are made for … Read more