Author: Ann J. Ray

Until he opened one, no one seemed more qualified to run a Lyonnais-style cork in New York than Daniel Boulud. And came Gratinand it became clear that he was the wrong person for the job at all. Le Gratin, just south of City Hall in the space once occupied by Keith McNally’s Augustine, bills itself […]

My brain wasn’t quite sure which meaning to interpret first. Stepping through the front doors of The Ivy Asia Mayfair, you truly get an explosion of sound, sight, smell, touch and, of course, taste, once you arrive at your table. Recently opened on North Audley Street, the Mayfair branch is the latest edition of The […]

The best hotel restaurants tell visitors something about their city: Manny’s is the ultimate in meat in the Midwest; the St. Paul Grill is old world elegance. And Wood + Paddle is aiming for a real taste of Minnesota on the ground floor of the Royal Sonesta (the former Radisson Blu). Take the simplicity of […]

There was a time in Glasgow city center when a small section of St Vincent Street and West Regent Street became known as the burger corner. Major brands such as Byron, the Handmade Burger Company, Burger Meats Bun, Bread Meats Bread and Gourmet Burger Kitchen have all opened within walking distance of each other. Clearly […]

Sohaila, 232 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6PJ. Small plates £4-£9, large plates £11-£15, desserts £7, wines from £32 We live in desperate times. According to the hospitality industry website, the Nusr-Et Steakhouse in Knightsbridge, famous for its super-pricey gold-wrapped steaks, has Coded, had to abandon the use of gold leaf. As with chickpeas and […]

I don’t know why, but when I think of sushi and Japanese food, I always feel like there’s this elegance. That finesse you don’t see in other cooking styles. Maybe it’s because I don’t make sushi or many Japanese dishes at home, so when I go out, spending more money than I should makes me […]

The sound of clapping gets better when it rains – no it’s not a Confucius quote or a physics problem or an art project, it’s a “natural” wine from a blend of black and white Grenache d’Ardèche sold by the Note Dublin wine bar. The world of wine is changing and we must change with […]

I’ve been wanting to visit Vietnamese street food in the bullring for a while, and the 4e In August, after watching the hockey game for the Commonwealth Games, my partner and I finally got to go. Vietnamese Street Kitchen is located just outside the bullring, just off St. Martin’s Square. This is a family run, […]

Arash Aminzadeh and Hassan Mohammadi with Persian flatbread called sangak at Ziba Cafe, Henderson. Photo/Michael Craig Ziba Cafe doesn’t serve many dishes, but each one is a sensory delight. The restaurant’s Iranian owners are committed to authentic Persian cuisine and helped Amanda Saxton find a meal that suited her needs. Choosing is hard at the […]

Aobaba Address: 46a Capel Street, Dublin 1 Telephone: n / A Kitchen: Vietnamese Cost: € Ordering fresh noodles from Aobaba, a Vietnamese restaurant on Capel Street in Dublin, turns out to be not only a good choice, but also the source of an interesting backstory. These are the only handmade Vietnamese-style noodles in Ireland and, […]

Pazzaluna’s time had come and gone. There is no doubt that one of the most popular stops for dinner and drinks before an event at the Xcel Energy Center was in need of a refresh. Momento is off to a good start as a substitute. A nice bar is in the center of the room, […]

Spouse Grub noticed a new restaurant in this mall near the intersection of Westland Drive and Ebenezer Drive. It’s called Point b, and the spouse and I left The Grub House (Point a) one night last week to check it out. Upon entering the place felt a little more upscale than I expected. We were […]

The number of times I remember leaving a bank with a smile on my face is rare. Whether it’s paying my credit card bill or standing in line for what seems like a lifetime to verify a transaction, it’s never a good time. But my recent visit to The Bank was a totally different experience […]

Gigi Gao’s favorite authentic Chinese, 23 Anchor Court, Victoria Quay, Maritime Quarter, Swansea SA1 3XA. Starters £4.98 to £8.98, larger mains £6.98 to £13.98, wines from £19.98 Gigi Gao is her own special creation, and what a fabulous creation she is. She serves us dressed in a long fitted dress with silver sequins and a […]

I remember when I moved to the suburb of Aberdeen, Bridge of Don, and people were talking about this bar called the Mains. It took me a while to realize they meant the Mains of Scotstown – and even longer to find the place! It’s tucked away in an area surrounded by various housing estates, […]

To hell with your eyes, man, I thought you said we could go back inside, that there would be no more food truck business. Yes, we enjoyed the food, but we’re tired of sitting outside wondering what the summer vibe is like today. Of course the Covid isn’t gone forever (well…em!) and we want to […]

Oone could be forgiven for thinking that a trip to Seasonality, a new restaurant in Maidenhead, would involve a smooth and lightning-fast journey along the brand new Elizabeth Line. After all, we saw Her Majesty in a tall hat, dutifully cutting a ribbon, announcing that Maidenhead and the likes of Twyford and Slough are now […]

Some things have changed in the Barossa. While international tourism is barely recovering after a two-year hiatus, the region now appears to be in recovery mode. This usually bustling wine and food destination is much quieter than it was before the pandemic, with many wineries and restaurants having to adjust their offerings or opening hours […]

Review: Kevin Dalgleish’s Amuse rides on foodie glory Calendar An icon of a desktop calendar. to cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across it. Caret A right-pointing solid arrow icon. E-mail An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of Facebook’s “f” mark. Google An icon of Google’s “G” mark. […]

“The food here is so good” The woman sitting next to us at Bread in Common summed up the dishes coming out of her open kitchen perfectly. In what simply reads on the menu – baby peppers, feta, oregano or scallop, XO sauce, spring onion – comes to the table with so many unexpected flavors. […]

Independent Journal of Sherry LaVars/Marin Skewers are one of the Persian specialties at Wrap N Kabob in downtown San Rafael. Independent Journal of Sherry LaVars/Marin Wrap N Kabob offers a simple menu with Persian influences and flavors you may never have tasted. Independent Journal of Sherry LaVars/Marin Dolmeh at Wrap N Kabob are braised rice […]

harbor house, The Grove, Bristol BS1 4RB. (0117 925 1212). Snacks and starters £4 to £9, mains £11 to £22, desserts £4 to £7.50, wines from £21 For years this was the restaurant in Bristol that I only ever passed on my way to another location. Instead, I always answered the seductive appeal of the […]

Hot summer days seem to be made for smoky, fire-cooked dishes and we just don’t have enough good barbecue restaurants in this country, especially the Brazilian ones. I visited a real “Churrasco” (BBQ) restaurant in Rio de Janeiro a few years ago and I still dream of the mounds of smoked and sweet meat that […]

There’s just something about pizza. Whether it’s the nearly universal ability to please a crowd, its clever portability, or that magical combination of toppings, cheese, and sauce, the bottom line is that a good pizza is a tough option to beat. for any night of the week. If you’ve been on US Highway 12 in […]

First of all, I will admit that the Glencoe Inn and Gathering was not high on my list when I visited Glencoe about a month ago. Not because I didn’t want to visit, but more because my friend Megan was incredibly eager to try another venue. So why did I end up at The Gathering? […]

(Clockwise, from top left) Le Statler specializes in French-American bistro mainstays, such as French Country Salad of Lyon,country pâté and steak frites. For a city founded by a French merchant, named after the French word for “detroit,” and dubbed the Paris of the Midwest, there aren’t many French restaurants in Detroit — or the area, […]

Comment this story Comment The journey from a sidewalk at Dupont Circle to an unforgettable night begins with a steep staircase, the walls of which are lined with Thai and Chinese newspapers and whose base finds a somewhat sinister costumed doll the size of a child. “Our host !” a greeter puts us at ease […]

OWhen reviewing restaurants, or when reviewing anything really, for a living, it seems obligatory to find a flaw in order to present a balanced view. This is not one of those criticisms. This is, in fact, a love letter to a restaurant that I think isn’t talked about enough: The stationyour friendly Italian neighborhood in […]

YOU’RE WELCOMEKitchen: MexicanCall: (09) 666 0645Address: 2/476 Mt Eden Road, Mt EdenReservations: AcceptedDrinks : Fully LicensedFrom the menu: Halloumi and mashed beans $14; chimichanga $16; tuna nachos $22; vegetarian quesadilla $20; pork rib taco $17; shrimp tacos $17 I admit it happens less often these days, but I really like it when restaurant staff don’t […]

Published: 08:59 July 19, 2022 If you like haute cuisine in a relaxed Cheshire style, La Popote in Marton is a must. La Popote is one of Cheshire’s must-visit restaurants. There – I do it from the start. Located in Marton, a microscopic village a short drive from Alderley Edge, Knutsford and Congleton, this is […]

The Taiwanese restaurant 886 doesn’t stay open particularly late by the standards of its neighborhood, the East Village. Even on weekends, it closes at midnight. Still, drenched in purple neon, with most of its seats on stackable plastic stools, it looks like a place you go to on the part of the evening where misjudgments […]

Il Borro, 15 Berkeley Street, London W1J 8DY. Starters £14-£35, pasta £17-£53, second £29-£75, desserts £11-£16, wines from £50 It was when they started pumping a sweet, melodious cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart into the dining room that I really started to lose the will to live. We had already been […]

Nestled on the curb in the dreamy, restaurant-lined blocks of West Soho, 12 Chairs Cafe offers gourmet Israeli cuisine in New York City. It started as a small cafe and became a neighborhood favorite drawing crowds of customers day after day. As you stroll among groups of laughing friends and families, you get the laid […]

I CAN sometimes succumb to far field syndrome and be guilty of forgetting what is right under my nose when prospecting for a skite on the Oul’ Sod, so deeply rooted is the notion that an ideal destination must first be “earned” with the penance of an arduous trek across the country. So we relish […]

Stracciatella and mushrooms from French tapas bar Karangahape Road Atelier. Photo/Dean Purcell Uneven table service didn’t stop critic Kim Knight from enjoying the theater of a French tapas bar where the cheese is a sculpture and the prawns are on fire. In their own words: “French Tapas, wines and cocktails. First impressions: We had a […]

The reality TV machine has produced some incredible talent over the years, and wherever they ranked in the competition or where they land in the food game, former contestants and winners usually have one thing in common. : they are all thirsty for the future. Hit. There are those who manage to land their own […]

Kobuta and Ookami | Seattle Times Critic’s Choice | japanese/katsu | $$-$$$ | Capitol Hill | 121 15th Ave E., Seattle; 206-708-7856; kobutaandookami.com | reservations for more than six only | no takeaway/no outdoor seating | sound level: moderate | access: no obstacles, only one gender-neutral toilet KOBUTA & OOKAMI on Capitol Hill is a […]

Breadcrumb Links Local Food Reviews Life Food Restaurateur Emad Yacoub is looking to fill what he sees as a void in Vancouver’s culinary scene with his latest restaurant: Riley’s Fish & Steak. The decor inside Riley’s Fish & Steak. Photo by Trevor Cook Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may […]

If you’ve eaten at Sofreh, the four-year-old Persian restaurant in a Brooklyn brownstone, chances are you’re familiar with its mast-o musir, a yogurt dip. The first things you see are shavings of dried musir, the wild Iranian shallot, prized for its courteous yet distinct garlicky smell. Below is a bed of yogurt enriched with musir. […]

Between visiting and writing this review, Manteca was voted 11th best restaurant in the UK at the National Restaurant Awards. This puts Manteca – and its Bib Gourmand – between L’Enclume in Cumbria and The Angel at Hetton in North Yorkshire, which can claim four Michelin stars (and one green star) between them. You could […]

Comment this story Comment Erwin Villarias’ great-grandfather was one of seven men who boarded a narrow wooden boat at Cagayancillo, a small island in the Sulu Sea, and set sail in search of . . . what exactly? The historical record is unclear. More arable land? Lush forests to provide the wood needed to build […]

Rasika Sittamparam walks through the Floral Court in Covent Garden to discover the scents and flavors of summer at organic Italian restaurant The Petersham It’s that time of year when restaurateurs talk about “seasonality” and display their best products. So a trip to The Petersham, which sources its supplies mainly from its organic farm in […]

August, 3 The Courtyard, St James Street, Taunton TA1 1JR (01823 324354). Starters £9-£14, mains £15-£32, desserts £6-£12, wines from £24 There are several things every town needs: a good bookstore run by people with serious reading habits; an independent mini-department store selling a seemingly random but vital collection of things for when you need […]

When our kids were growing up, we loved our RV vacations to parks across the country. Some are next to gorgeous beaches and many have entertainment to keep the kids entertained for hours. For a few years now we have been going with other families, the kids have grown up and some have gone off […]

When I heard about Hakkahan Chinese opening last summer, I wasn’t so excited, considering so many Chinese restaurants follow the same tried and true formula. But then I heard they were Sichuan focused, made their own dumplings, mentioned their sourcing, and everything on the menu was cooked from scratch – all really good stuff. Hakkahan […]

Comment this story Comment Unranked during the pandemic Very little surprises me more in restaurants. Chef slumps in the kitchen, loud enough for patrons to hear the throwing of pots and pans in the dining room? Was there. A cat-sized rat trying to avoid an arctic winter in the heat of a basement restaurant? I […]

“Well, that’s just brilliant,” muttered my husband under his breath as we drove down the A12, home after a night out. “What’s wrong?” I ribbed, guessing it was the fact that he could see traffic cones being lifted up and set into place on the ramp ahead (he hates diversions, doesn’t everyone?). “Every time we […]

Poise offers a memorable dining experience with exquisite European cuisine, sexy interiors and a rocking playlist It’s not always easy for a chef to start on their own, but Steve Lancaster does an outstanding job at his first restaurant, Poise, on Teck Lim Road. The 33-year-old chef-owner has worked in kitchens since he was a […]

Order the banh beo chen at the downtown Vietnamese restaurant social saigon and six will appear, arranged in a circle around a dish of seasoned fish sauce. It is as it should be. Like Mormon missionaries, banh beo chen never travel alone. Typically, each of these soft disks of steamed rice flour is the size […]

One of Mexico’s greatest cultural exports, aside from Frida Kahlo and el Dia de los Muertos, is undoubtedly the country’s food. But despite its diversity and complexity, many of us know the cuisine as tough tacos, flabby street burritos, tired Old El Paso kits, or even more down-at-heel: Tex-Mex. A chef flying the flag for […]

There is something that needs to be said when visiting the country’s most voted restaurant, La Colombe. The magical parting words “food is our theatre” really matched the experience. Located in Constantia, about a 20-25 minute drive from the center of Cape Town, La Colombe is nestled in the heart of Silvermist. La Colombe was […]

Note Dublin, 26 Fenian Street, Dublin D02 FX09. Snacks and small plates €4-13, large plates €17-32, desserts €7-9, wines from €30 One of the things I love about restaurants is the ability to choose things: not just where or when you’re going to visit, but what things you’re going to eat once you’re there. Early […]

While it’s no secret that Speyside is a whiskey lover’s paradise – and one of the most prolific places where the spirit is made – it’s also home to a number of excellent hotels and restaurants. One place that combines the two is The Station in Rothes, a small town close to the Glen Grant […]

Jhe Lalee is a bit of a confusing place. As in, after my visit in early spring, I spent several weeks confused as to how I feel about this. Nestled in the notoriously posh Belgravia district, the restaurant is owned by the Cadogan, a notoriously posh hotel that welcomes visitors with a tartan doorman and […]

“A very small man can cast a very large shadow” – GeorgeRR Martin. I’ve been thinking a lot about smallness lately, perhaps inspired bymy admiration for Mick Lynch, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. It sounds insulting, even though it’s not meant to be. I’m certainly not in a […]

Restaurant Review: The Iron Fork Kjun Eatery & Market – [225] By Benjamin Leger Photograph by Collin Richie July 1, 2022 About our Food Critic Benjamin Leger previously served as 225’s Editor-in-Chief and its Taste Section Editor from 2012-2021, editing, writing and directing the direction of its food coverage in print […]

Inside Candela, an Iberian-inspired restaurant on Karangahape Rd, Auckland. Photo / Babiche Martens Pintxos, pulpo and a cheesecake to (seriously) die for. Food critic Kim Knight relives the glorious days of a wine-soaked Spanish vacation – without leaving Auckland. In their own words: “Iberian-inspired cuisine with selected wines and cocktails.” First impressions: Pour me something […]

So I didn’t bet on three courses and a bottle of wine for around £60 when we headed to the upper deck of Grosvenor Casino in Blackpool following its recent investment. But I’m happy to say that in addition to giving the restaurant a much needed update, thought has also been given to the quality […]

Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal A juicy lamb burger is served on a toasted Kaiser bun with labneh, dill, cucumbers and pickled red onions. Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal The California version of Monk’s Kettle Scotch Eggs is delicious. Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating at Monk’s Kettle at Terra Linda. […]

Blue fringed lampshades, stenciled azure ink walls with blue donkeys, a handful of chairs around a deeply carved corner bar, a shot of Jell-O gliding towards you, pushed by a woman with mischievous twinkles in her eyes – wait, don’t you, you respectable, shoot Jell-O in a basement in St. Paul? This is the essence […]

Sargassum, Margate Harbor Arm, Stone Pier, Margate CT9 1AP (01843 229270). Small plates £7-£11, large plates £9-£19, desserts £6, wines from £25 It is the simplest of dishes: half a dozen fatty anchovies from Cantabria, the color of well-varnished teak, rest in a pool of dark green olive oil, sprinkled with sparkling droplets of what […]

The law of averages is a supposed mathematical principle stating that future events are likely to occur such that they balance out all past outcomes – the assumed average. Applied to eating out, that means if I had superb meals in a certain place, then one day there will be culinary mistakes galore – and […]

The first thing I noticed when we walked into Lupo’s was how glamorous it was – and that was before we even walked up the stairs to the restaurant space. I can’t remember exactly what music was playing on that staircase, but it was something that made me feel decidedly dodgy – like I was […]

Some people want to retire in the countryside, but I think Stoneybatter might be a better option for me. I would like a place with great bars, restaurants and food stores on my doorstep, as well as a decent bakery and licenses (ie: Drink Store and Lilith) – they are all there, and the city […]

Placeholder while loading article actions Before we get into the specifics of why you want to eat at J. Hollinger’s Waterman’s Chophouse, let me tell you where you should expect to sit in Silver Spring’s newcomer. I discovered the friendly seats on my last visit, when my party of four were shown to a comfortable […]

Since the first vines were planted, this special place has come a very long way and serves incredible food alongside its wines, as Nick Mosley discovered. I remember visiting Rathfinny for a site visit near Alfriston about a decade ago. The first plantations of vines had begun but it was difficult to imagine what the […]

Restaurant Review: Society Lunch Club Relishes DejaVu Sandwich Delights Calendar An icon of a desktop calendar. to cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across it. Caret A right-pointing solid arrow icon. E-mail An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of Facebook’s “f” mark. Google An icon of Google’s “G” […]

Finding a decent place to eat that will allow dogs isn’t always easy, so I always keep a mental note when I hear about dog-friendly establishments. My partner, Brian, and I had been on long walks with our two springer spaniels – one being a 12 week old puppy. We imagined a spontaneous pub lunch, […]

Named after Ukkonen, a Finnish mythology referring to the god of harvest, weather, sky and thunder, the concept was to bring people together to consume food and alcohol as a customary sacrifice. The curated menu includes Mediterranean tapas and sushi, along with an extensive wine list and mixology bar. READ ALSO: Ukkō – Jozi’s new […]

“The hydrangea hue, reflected in the rain puddles, just exists today,” reads the haiku on the cover of our omakase menu at the newly opened restaurant. Kiyose. Named after the term referring to the seasonal and intentional language used in traditional Japanese poetry, the refined restaurant kappo kaiseki occupies the space previously occupied by Yoshi […]

OBack at the start of this funny business called Covid, I planned my dream trip to Japan. Three weeks of ryokan-hopping, onsen-dipping and kaiseki-dining. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, and I’ve spent a lot of time since trying to emulate the experience from afar. So you can imagine my excitement at the opening of […]

The seafood shack, Skipness, by Tarbert, Argyll PA29 6XU. Rolls £3-£5, salads £5-£13.50, specialties £5-£13.50, desserts 75p-£2.25, wines from £15 The Kintyre Peninsula, which hangs off the western edge of Scotland, is not particularly to the north, but it is surprisingly remote. By car, you have to climb to descend and the trip ends looking […]

I would dine at Gucci Osteria Beverly Hills again, but there are some things I would do differently next time. I would come back, but only for lunch. Dan Koday While I, along with the guests in my party, enjoyed many dishes in the restaurant, I admit that not everything was perfect for me. While […]

It was my second lunch at Little’s, an experience that turned out to be less expensive than the first commercial outing with Graham Huband, the newspaper’s managing editor. Back then, in 2020, our task was to decide the winner of the Restaurant Menu of the Year award and it’s fair to say that there was […]

My former “career” as a chef in professional kitchens began at the age of 15, in a fast food restaurant in the city of Cork. I learned nothing about the food and its cooking as all the ingredients arrived frozen and the service was automated to a point 90° north of the fool. However, I […]

Tuna mornay dates back to the late 1800s, although many of us experienced it in some form or another in the late 1900s through grandparents or parents who each had their own family recipe. For me, those early morning memories still send shivers down my spine (lumpy mashed potatoes and house brand tuna flavor). And […]

On a hot summer day, two young women fresh out of the ocean strolled along the trail at Cottesloe with big smiles, a towel over one arm and a box of Single Fin under the other. Although it looks like the quintessential Aussie beer ad, that’s exactly what I saw while driving on Marine Terrace […]