Insiders reveal which celebrities are a restaurant’s worst nightmare: ‘They think they own the world’
Waiting on Meghan Markle and her handler turned out to be a royal pain for Michael Cecchi-Azzolina, maitre d’ at NYC’s Michelin-starred restaurant Le Coucou in 2017. His head reservationist passed him a note about an “irate” woman who had dropped the “I’m bringing in royalty” card and demanded a private table, something the…
Burnt, or charred? Sparks fly in fiery NYC pizza crust debate
Ya burnt! An incendiary new post on Eater pleading with pizzaiolos to “stop burning” pricey pies has char-loving New York pizza geeks wondering what the website is smoking. “There’s a big difference between char and burnt,” said Jason Kaplan, CEO of New York-based hospitality consulting firm JK Consulting. “For pizza cooked in a live…
Piano bars are NYC’s hottest clubs: ‘Golden age of nightlife’
New York nightlife is hitting a high note. The piano bar is having a moment, with musicians tickling the keys to provide a seductive soundtrack for sipping classic cocktails and nibbling on caviar and potato chips. “The city is experiencing a golden age of nightlife and everything that’s old becomes…
Oatly’s IPO milks demand for dairy alternatives
Oatly is milking the crowded alternative dairy market. The stock, which priced at $17 per share, opened at $22.12 and soared in its debut 30%. Shares trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol OTLY. Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Credit Suisse led the offering. The Swedish company that uses oat milk instead…
Winter is coming — and restaurants are scrambling
For months, restrictions on indoor dining have forced restaurants across the country to rely on outdoor seating to survive. But as the weather gets colder, that lifeline is going away. And restaurant operators are scrambling to figure out what to do next. “Everybody is scared of the winter right now,” said Jason…
Rhode Island ‘wins’ DNC roll call with calamari shout-out
Calamari became the official appetizer of Rhode Island in 2014 A platter of battered and fried squid was dubbed the unofficial winner of the Democratic National Convention on social media Tuesday night after Rhode Island’s Democratic Party chairman delivered his vote alongside a chef holding up the seafood dish during the virtual roll…
Yelp asks diners to be more ’empathetic’ with restaurant reviews
Nearly 24,000 restaurants listed on Yelp closed down at some point during the coronavirus pandemic Restaurateurs say it’s impossible to live up to a five-star review during a global pandemic. Chefs and business owners are asking customers to cut them some slack when critiquing their dining experience during the coronavirus pandemic and refrain from…
As restaurants clash with popular delivery apps like Grubhub over fees, Google Maps is getting a new feature that makes it easier to order directly from local businesses
Google is launching a new feature that lets merchants specify their preferred ordering method when customers find a restaurant through Google Maps. The update comes as restaurants have struggled with processing fees from popular third-party delivery services like Grubhub as they rely heavily on takeout during the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants…
Coronavirus surcharges cause consumer push back
As much as 86 percent of consumers have taken their business elsewhere when faced with a surcharge Some customers struggling with their finances amid record unemployment rates and pay cuts aren’t happy about paying coronavirus surcharges. As businesses start to reopen in states nationwide, restaurants, hair salons and others are taking on…
How coronavirus made this steakhouse adapt
Peter Lugers shipping steak nationwide, delivering in New York City Peter Luger, the 133-year-old New York City institution known for being nearly impossible to get into, announced Monday it would allow people to order its cuts, like a $115 steak for two, to-go locally through delivery service Caviar. And its dry-aged…
