Restaurants

How about a cup o' joe? Three of the Bay Area's most recognized coffee roasters are joining the Commonwealth Club in the City to discuss the ABCs (acidity, brewing, and current crops) of the co...

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Brooklyn: New Franny's Going Strong [Photographs: Niki Achitoff-Gray] Franny's 348 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238 (Map); (718) 230-0221; FrannysBrooklyn.com Pizza type: New York-Neapolitan Oven type: Wood-fired The Skinny: It turns out that surprisingly little has changed at Franny's new location—if you're hungry, the wait is still uncomfortably long; it's also still entirely worth it. Price:$9 - $18 for generous personal pies. As a Brooklynite myself, I'll admit to a tinge of favoritism when I declare that there's no better borough for pizza. Or, to be a little more diplomatic, let's say that it's home to the city's greatest concentration of top notch pies. We've got the classics, like Totonno's, Grimaldi's, and Di Fara, along with a slew of (relative) newcomers—Roberta's, Paulie Gee's, and Best Pizza, to name just a few. And, of course, there's Franny's. Not only has the pizzeria been canonized by most major news outlets, but you know this place is special because even the freakiest of pizza freaks love it—it has the Adam Kuban seal of approval, it's a pit stop on contributor Scott Wiener's famed pizza tours, and it graces more than one of our 'Best Of' lists here at Slice. But this is all old news; let's talk new Franny's. We told you back in March that owners Francine Stephens and Andrew Feinberg were changing things up, moving Franny's a few doors down, with a plan to renovate and re-open the original storefront as a new (pizza-free) Italian restaurant, to be called Marco's. The operative term here is MORE. More space, more seats, more menu items—even more ovens. With a new private event room downstairs, seating for 100 (to the original space's 32), and two enormous wood-burning ovens, it's an impressive upgrade for the eight-year-old pizzeria. And theoretically, all that 'more' means a whole lot less of that notoriously long wait. Last week, I finally made it over to the new spot. And it turns out that surprisingly little has changed—if you're hungry, the wait is still uncomfortably long; it's also still entirely worth it. A $3 slice of bread, misleadingly dubbed "Bruschetta." At least, it's worth it for the pizza. Our three appetizers were stunningly over-priced and remarkably disappointing. A $3 Bruschetta was in fact a lone slice of garlicky, olive oil-soaked bread, and I've definitely been served our diminutive $6 plate of Marinated Olives entirely gratis at similar restaurants. The Pork Cheek and Beef Tongue Terrine was the best of the bunch, but that's still not saying much. For $12, I expect more than two slices of bread and a thin sheet of fatty, unseasoned meat purée. Luckily, our pies more than made up for the disappointing first course. We lucked out and snagged a Ramp Pizza ($18). That said, the menu description—fava leaves, ramps, calabrian chilies, and pecorino sardo—wasn't entirely accurate. I'm not sure whether the pizza gods were smiling upon us or somebody made a beautiful, beautiful mistake, but when the pie emerged topped with a glistening soft-cooked egg, I shot straight up to cloud nine, where I remained happily perched for the rest of our meal. As anticipated, the crust was pretty stellar. Great char, just enough salt, and a seriously beautiful hole structure to the crumb. It's definitely Neapolitan in style, but not quite as soupy at the center. As with any number of newer Brooklyn locales, it seems more accurate to dub Franny's style of pies New Yorkapolitan, Neo-politan, or Neapolitan-American. Having never ordered Franny's Sausage Pizza ($17) before, I was in for another surprise with pie number two. Sweet, tart tomatoes, generous dollops of milky buffalo mozzarella, and...pepperoni? Nope, that's sausage you see. And I'm a tough customer when it comes to the stuff. I expect juicy, tender, flavorful meat scattered across my pie. Not this thin-sliced

Stuck in Newark Airport and in need of a place to eat? Check out this recently updated guide, which maps out all the choices from quick sandwiches and burgers to lengthy booze-fueled meals that will make the layover just fly by. We start with Eater's top overall picks for Newark and continue to map out each and every dining possibility. h3 { font-size:18px !important; padding-bottom:2px } h4 { font-size:15px !important; padding-top:2px } [Click on the map to see where the recommended restaurants are located.] Newark's Five Standouts Vino Volo: This is about as upmarket as you're going to get at Newark (EWR). A nice chain of airport wine bars with well selected lists and compatible snacks. [Terminal C, Post-security, Concourse 1 near Gate 74] Earl of Sandwich: It's still an airport sandwich but it's the best airport sandwich around. Also on offer: salads, nachos, potato skins, artichoke dip, and desserts plus beer, wine, and cocktails. [Terminal A, Post-security, Gates A20 - 28] Le Grand Comptoir: Like Vino Volo, Le Grand Comptoir is a mini chain of airport wine bars serving a great list of vino along with snacks (baked camembert, beef carpaccio), salads, sandwiches, and heartier mains. [Terminal C, Post-security, Concourse 3 near Gate C124] Grand Central Oyster Bar: Sure you're missing the ambiance that is 85% of what makes the original Grand Central Oyster bar so great, but hey, this is a great place for some crab cakes or fried calamari and a glass of wine pre or post flight. [Terminal C, Post-security, Concourse 1 near gate 70] Smashburger: Growing burger chain Smashburger serves up a very decent fast food patty. When there's no Shake Shack or Five Guys around, this is the chain to hit. And the special New Jersey burger features Applewood smoked bacon, blue cheese crumbles, grilled onions, haystack onions, lettuce, tomato and mayo on an onion bun. [Terminal C, post-security, Concourse 3 near Gate 124] Bolding and * denotes Eater's seal of approval Terminal A Quick Meal · Abica Coffee: airport coffee (post-security, Gates A20-28). · Abica Coffee/Boar's Head: airport coffee and sandwiches (post-security, Gates A10-18). · Auntie Anne's (post-security, Rotunda to Gates A20-28) · Cheeburger Cheeburger: you may get a normal burger or one that fills you with rancor and regret at this national chain. (pre-security, Food Court). · Dunkin' Donuts: coffee, breakfast sandwiches (pre-security, near Gates A30-39 and near entrance to Gates A10 - 18). · Golden Krust: Jamaican jerk chicken, buns, sandwiches, pastries (pre-security, between Gates A20 - 28 and A30 - 39). · Jamba Juice: recommended for smoothie and fresh juice lovers (pre-security, Food Court). · Jamba Juice Express: pre-made smoothies to-go (post-security, Gates A20-28). · Java Moon Caf&eacute: airport coffee (pre-security, Gates A30-39). · Jersey Mike's: location of the New Jersey sub and sandwich chain (pre-security, Food Court, with Manchu Wok). · Manchu Wok: location of the Asian fast food chain (pre-security, Food Court, with Jersey Mike's). · Market Fresh: salads, sandwiches, coffee, and snacks. (post-security, Gates A10 - 18 and A20 - 28). · Qdoba: Want an almost Chipotle-like quality burrito? Make sure to stop at Qdoba. (pre-security, Food Court).* · Villa Pizza: pizza (pre-security, Food Court). Fast Casual/Bars · Ruby Tuesday: generic fast casual fare of sandwiches, salads, burgers, and overpriced drinks (post-security, Gate 39). · Earl of Sandwich: It's still an airport sandwich but it's the best airport sandwich around. Also on offer: salads, nachos, potato skins, artichoke dip, and desserts plus beer, wine, and cocktails (post-security, Gates A20 - 28).* · Currito Cantina: burritos, guacamole, tacos, and other airport Mexican cantina fare. Currito has its fair share of loyalists (post-security, Concourse for Gates A10-18). Leisurely Meal · Tony Roma's: The

Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City For the first few years I lived in New York, I mostly hung out in the Theater District. I’d have auditions in the morning, see a show at night, and usually eat at restaurants nearby in Hell’s Kitchen. At that time, I would have said the best restaurants in the city were in this area. Now that I spend most of my free time exploring all the food the city has to offer, I rarely find myself in this tourist-laden neighborhood. I’d tell people visiting New York to hop a subway downtown to explore the best food options the city has to offer. But there are certainly some gems worth trying before heading to see a Broadway show. Chez Napoléon is one of those worthy options. It’s a restaurant that truly transports you to another time and place. It’s been on this corner since 1960 and the Bruno family, who run the restaurant, enliven it with some old school French charm. While the second and third generation tend to the front of the house, the octogenarian chef prepares all the usual French classics – not the ones you find at Americanized brasseries. Here you could sample veal kidney or calf’s brain with lots of butter, capers, and garlic. We opted for chilled leeks with a tangy vinaigrette, some buttery escargots and a homey cassoulet with lamb, duck confit, and garlic sausage. But the pièce de résistance was the grande finale. We put the order in for the chocolate soufflé when we placed our savory order. The menu warned that it could take up to an hour to get this delicate French specialty just right. And it was just right. It was perfect. After a decadent chocolate sauce is poured inside the soufflé tableside, we began to devour it. Forget modern molecular gastronomy, this was just like chocolate air. The lightness of the soft, puffy textures and the rich chocolatey goodness made it impossible to put the spoon down. Even after the bulk of the dessert had disappeared, I still managed to scrape up some bits and pieces. I’m afraid I put the dishwasher out of work for the night. As much as I enjoy the trendy and innovative food options downtown, it’s classic places like Chez Napoléon with their simple and well-executed French dishes that make me yearn for Paris in the 1960′s. Or at least Hell’s Kitchen in the early 2000′s. CHEZ NAPOLÉON 365 West 50th Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenue), (212) 265-6980 Hell’s Kitchen cheznapoleon.com Tweet This Post

Signature wedding cocktails are so last year. Now that craft beer is becoming more and more ubiquitous -- and beer lovers are meeting and marrying over pints -- it's about time a wedding packag...

[Photo via NYDN] It can be hard to find something good to eat at the airport, especially if you don't have a lot of time to search around. But, there are a few gems out there if you know where to go. Just in time for the big holiday travel weekend, here's a re-run of Eater's handy guide to eating and drinking at LaGuardia with up-to-date info about all of the restaurants in each terminal, and recommendations for where to go if you have some time to kill, or if you just need a quick bite on the way to the gate. h3 { font-size:18px !important; padding-bottom:2px } h4 { font-size:15px !important; padding-top:2px } LaGuardia's Five Standouts 1) Victory Grill: This new addition to Terminal C was developed by star chef Andrew Carmellini. The menu includes salads, a burger, steaks, roasted chicken, fish entrees, and raw bar offerings. The space includes a bar, so this is a great choice if you want to knock back a drink (or three) before stepping on the plane. See the menu here. [Terminal C, post-security in the Food Court] 2) Custom Burgers by Pat La Frieda: Famed meat purveyor Pat LaFrieda helped develop the meat blend for the burgers here, which are made to order, and served "with all the fixings." And there are also milkshakes, made in-house. [Terminal C, post-security in the Food Court, and Terminal D, post-security] 3) Vuelo Taqueria: A brand new casual Mexican concept from chef Aarón Sánchez, of Fonda and Centrico. The menu includes tacos, tortas, burritos, and breakfast items all made with quality meat and vegetables. This is the new LaGuardia restaurant that travelers seem to love the most. [Terminal C, post-security in the Food Court] 4) Bisoux: Delta brought in a star-studded lineup of New York City chefs to develop its culinary redesign of Terminal D, including Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson (Balthazar, Minetta Tavern, Pastis, and more), who designed a Provencal-inspired bistro. Croque monsieurs and duck confit are among the items on the menu, and everything can be ordered to-go. [Terminal D, post-security] 5) Taste of Taglaire: Dom DeMarco and Co. (from the legendary DiFara) take on the airport pizzeria at Tagliare, bringing original recipes into the terminal. Given the setting, they seem to have done pretty well for themselves. [Terminal D, post-security] Bolding and * denotes Eater's seal of approval Terminal A/Marine Air Terminal/Delta Shuttle A Quick Meal · Revive Bar: Beer, wine, and cocktails (post-security, Departures). Terminal B/Central Terminal Building A Quick Meal · Angelina's Metro Market: artisan breads, imported cheeses, made-to-order salads, fresh pasta entrees, a panini bar, and more (pre-security, Arrivals Level Food Court and post-security, by Gate B2). · Asian Chao: pretty typical food court Chinese (pre-security, Arrivals Level Food Court). · Au Bon Pain: coffee, croissants, sandwiches (pre-security, Food Court by Concourse D and post-security, Concourses A, B, and C). · Auntie Annie's: those famous pretzels you know so well (pre-security, Arrivals Level Food Court and post-security in every concourse). · Baskin Robbins: ice cream (pre-security in Food Court by Concourse D) · Cibo Express Gourmet Market: snacks, salads, sandwiches to go (post-security, Gates B8 and C6). · Cosi Pronto: sandwiches and salads (post-security, Concourse D). · Dunkin' Donuts: coffee, donuts, breakfast sandwiches (pre-security, Food Court by Concourse D and post-security, Gate B6). · Famous Famiglia: pizza (pre-security, Arrivals Level Food Court and Food Court by Concourse D). · Five Guys: very decent for an airport burger* (pre-security, Food Court by Concourse D). · FIX Coffee and Bakery: espresso drinks, sandwiches, and pastries. (Pre-security, Food Court by Concourse D) · Healthy Gourmet: "organically-themed" salads, sandwiches, and snacks. (post-security, near Gate D3) · Metro Burger: burgers made with Pat LaFrieda be

Need a good place to eat at JFK Airport? Look no further. Just in time for the big holiday travel weekend, here's a re-run of Eater's guide to JFK. It maps out every food option throughout the numerous terminals, from quick snacks to leisurely meals, celeb chef cameos, and more. It's all you need whether you're rushing for a flight or hoping to kill a long layover. A big update to this map: Starting tomorrow, JFK will have a real, bona fide Shake Shack in Terminal 4. Travel will never be the same again. h3 { font-size:18px !important; padding-bottom:2px } h4 { font-size:15px !important; padding-top:2px } JFK's Five Standouts 1) Shake Shack: A location of Danny Meyer's wildly popular burger chain is slated to open tomorrow (May 24) in Delta's revamped Terminal 4. Expect those monster Shackburgers, crispy fries, creamy concretes, and, in a first for the chain, breakfast items. [Terminal 4, Post-Security, Gate B34] 2) Croque Madame: This is famed New York chef Andrew Carmellini's submission to the JFK dining scene. It's a sandwich shop serving open faced sandwiches, crepes, and made to order salads. [Terminal 2, post-security, Gates 21/22] 3) Bar Brace: 'inoteca's Jason Denton offers this panini shop offering sandwiches, bruschetta, and salads made from classic Italian ingredients. [Terminal 3, post security, Gate 15] 4) Deep Blue Sushi: Probably the best sushi you will ever eat in an airport. Deep Blue's fans are known to arrive extra early at the airport or stay late after a flight just to have a taste. Deep Blue on the Fly, next door, offers grab and go options. [Terminal 5, post-security, Marketplace] 5) La Vie: Former Minetta Tavern chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson created a mini Parisian Bistro serving French country classics. Great for a drink, a coffee, or a full-fledged meal. [Terminal 5, post-security, Marketplace] Bolding and * denotes Eater's seal of approval Terminal 1 A Quick Meal · Eat & Go Istanbul (post-Security, between Gates 5 - 7). · Euro Café (pre-security, Arrivals Level). · Greenwich Village Bistro (pre-security, Food Court). · Sbarro (pre-security, Food Court). · JikJi Café (pre-security, Food Court). · McDonald's (pre-security, Food Court). · New York Hotdog & Coffee: If you need a quick, unhealthy meal, go for a bulgogi topped dog (pre-security, Food Court).* · Panini Express (pre-security, Arrivals Level East and post-security S Concourse Gate 8 and W Concourse between Gates 1 - 3). · Starbucks (pre-security, Food Court). · Sbarro (pre-security, in the Food Court) · Tuscany Café (pre-security, behind Check-in Counters E/F and post-security, S Concourse Gate 5). · Wok & Roll (pre-security, Food Court). Fast Casual/Bars · Idlewild Wine Bar: serving wines from America's top producing regions, with an emphasis on Hudson Valley varietals. (post-security, between Gates 1 - 3). · Martini Bar: cocktails and take away food from Balducci's (post-security, S Concourse Gate 9). · Medalist Bar: Medalist screens international sporting events including soccer, alpine skiing and Formula One racing. They serve grilled sandwiches, pizzas, salads and wraps (post-security, between Gates 4 - 6). Terminal 2 A Quick Meal · Balducci's: Great for high-quality and high priced grab and go snacks, sandwiches, salads, etc. (post-security, Gate 23). · French Meadow Caf&eacute: A good alternative to the typical airport junk, the bakery serves organic and healthy baked goods (post-security, Gate 28). · Fresh Attractions (post-security, Food Court). · The Grove/Red Mango: If you need a coffee and/or fro yo fix, this is your place (post-security, Gate 27). · Starbucks Coffee (pre-security at the Arrivals Level and post-security at Gate 24/25). · Wendy's (post-security, Food Court). Fast Casual/Bars · Croque Madame: This is famed New York chef Andrew Carmellini's submission to the air

The Los Angeles Times has released Jonathan Gold's 101 Best Restaurants today (subscription required). It's the first time the Times critic (and former LA Weekly critic) has put out a dining gu...

It's that time of year when airports are the busiest, which could mean your pre-flight meal is all the more important in starting off the dreaded trip to see family on the right foot. So you don't waste time or coin, here's an updated guide to navigate the dining at Miami International Airport. Although Anthony Bourdain said MIA doesn't suck as badly as some other airports, the food options there aren't exactly gourmet. That being said, there are a few gems out there if you happen to be passing through Terminal D. All of the decent eats are located past security, which could be the only good thing about that super saver airfare that has you connecting through Miami and seven other cities before you reach your destination. Alas, a light at the end of the terminal. Terminal D's Six Standouts 1) Beaudevin: This 42-seat wine and cheese bar based on the one in the Brussels airport is a swell place to swill while waiting for your most likely delayed flight. [Terminal D, Gate D24 North Terminal, post security] 2) Cafe Versailles: There's nothing like a shot or ten of Cuban coffee at Versailles after a long haul or, if you're one of those who likes to yap to strangers next to you the whole way there, before a long haul. Cuban sandwiches and lots of clamor en Español reminds you that you're not in Kansas anymore, if but for a few hours. And, if the line's too long at this one [After checkpoint, Terminal D, Gate D21 North Terminal], there are two others [Gates D5 and D44]. 3) Lorena Garcia Cocina:Her investment in America's Next Great Restaurant may not have been the wisest, but Lorena Garcia's investment in MIA (or vice versa, rather) has proven to be a pretty worthy one, serving 'sensible, Caribbean' cuisine to the mass transit masses. [After checkpoint, Terminal D, Gate D53 North Terminal] 4) Icebox Cafe: South Beach brunch and bakery staple set up shop at MIA to satisfy the sweet tooth of bitter air travelers. [After checkpoint, Terminal D, Gate D8 North Terminal] 5) Sushi Maki:The express version of the Coral Gables, South Miami, Kendall and Brickell mini-chain gives you a delightfully raw deal en route to or from your destination. Cooked faves include Kobe sliders and sushi tacos. [After checkpoint, Terminal D, Gate D29 North Terminal] 6) Ku-Va: The family-owned restaurant is a modern Cuban spot that claims to have some of the best ropa vieja with speedy service. A meal here isn't complete without a mojito. It's so Miami you barely need to leave the airport. [After checkpoint, Terminal D, Gate D19, North Terminal] The Rest of MIA's Standouts · Casa Bacardi: Claiming the title of the "original rum bar and grill", Casa Bacardi offers travelers both signature Cuban and American eats, along with an array of tropical drinks to begin your tropical vacation. [Before Checkpoint, Terminal E, Second Level, Central Terminal] · Top of the Port: If you're stuck in the airport overnight, the Miami Airport's Top of the Port, located in the airport hotel, offers up a commercial taste of Miami with fresh seafood and continental dishes. All this with a panoramic view of the runways so at least you can see what it feels like to make a flight. [Before Checkpoint, Terminal E, Hotel, Seventh Floor] · Bongos: Like the restaurant's originator, Gloria Estefan, Bongos is Cuban and overpriced. That said, Bongos might still be a worthy stop if you're in the mood for a taste of croquetas, palomilla, lechon asado, or maybe even a double Mojito before you depart. [After Checkpoint, H-J Connector South Terminal] · Corona Bar and Grill: Every airport needs a plethora of commercial brewhouses and Miami keeps it beachy with Corona Bar and Grill. Typical poolside fare, like Palomilla steak and burgers, pairs well with the standard cold Corona and lime. [After Checkpoint, Gate J11, South Terminal] · La Pausa: The motto at La Pausa is "the best way to eat like you're at home, while you're traveling" through American clas

We may be looking at trace amounts of Buffalo Trace. The Kentucky distillery that produces everything from Eagle Rare to Pappy Van Winkle doesn't want anyone to get worried, but it may not have enough bourbon to get you through the summer. Or the weekend. It's all kinda up in the air right now. "Buffalo Trace estimates the bourbon shortage could start at any time and may last a few years, based on current sales trends," marketing director Kris Comstock wrote in a press release sent out yesterday. "We won’t take drastic measures to mitigate the shortages," Comstock wrote. Those measures would include raising prices or watering spirits down to a slightly lower proof, a strategy that was pursued briefly by Beam earlier this year after the company realized its Maker's Mark inventory was completely dwarfed by demand. Maker's Mark eventually reversed its decision, but not before legions of drinkers and would-be profiteers went out and bought every last bottle of Maker's Mark in North America in a collective liquor-store frenzy that boosted sales by 44 percent. Really, there's no need for alarm — more bourbon is bottled every day. "This announcement is not meant as some sort of scare tactic to get people hoarding bourbon," Buffalo Trace assures the drinking public. "We always want to be upfront with our fans." That's a tasteful message, one you'll likely be discussing later on today when you're out there frantically hoarding every last bottle of Buffalo Trace you can find, and you meet some of those fans, who may or may not be ogling the same bourbon as you. (And just in case that's not your plan, don't forget you always have other options.) Anyhow, good luck out there! News [Buffalo Trace] Earlier: Scandal Causes Spike in Maker’s Mark Sales Related: Nine Amazing American Whiskeys That Aren’t Pappy Van Winkle Read more posts by Hugh MerwinFiled Under: bourbonpocalypse, bourbon, buffalo trace, sazerac, whiskey