Dining

Dining

"I have a rule: I never accept an invitation if I don't want to invite somebody back," Garten told Esquire. According to Garten, you should never invite anyone because you feel obliged, and she is right! Fewer things are more uncomfortable than extending an invitation to someone whose company you don't enjoy, and on the flip side, no one wants to go to a dinner party if the invitation wasn't genuine.

When you're out with clients or colleagues, the last thing you want is your food becoming the center of attention. Spicy dishes, though tempting, can be unpredictable. Even if you typically handle heat well, the interpretation of "medium hot," "hot," or "very hot" isn't universal across restaurants - and a spicy dish at a new spot could leave you struggling to recover.

The epic Peking duck has our critic planning a return visit - just make sure to pre-order The first time I ate at China Tang, soon after it opened earlier this year, I arrived late, and by the time I got settled, there were already a lot of opinions. Rather than assume my default bossy mode, instructing people what they should and should not order, I demurred and went along with their choices, which included rather too much fifth quarter for my liking.

The first thing you notice when you walk by Umi's sidewalk window are sushi chefs doing their thing in the kitchen-the view does a good job of drawing people inside this tiny Japanese place. On a nice night, sitting on the patio is the way to go, but the other 312 days a year, the small, dark dining room does the trick. We especially like the nigiri and sashimi, but if you're in the mood for rolls, you can't go wrong with the Golden Dragon roll with crab, avocado, salmon, and lemon.

A special occasion brunch at Angelica's feels like gathering at the second home of your eccentric, wealthy, art-collecting aunt who also happens to have an impressive green thumb. Think: 1930s charm with sparkling chandeliers, a grand piano, a white marble-topped bar, and a plant-filled outdoor patio. The Latin American restaurant nails perfectly-spiced huevos rancheros with mole on crispy tortillas, and luscious eggs benedict topped with tender poached crab.

You're sitting down to enjoy a meal with your friends or family at a restaurant, and all of a sudden, a raucous begins to brew. While you grab your purse or wallet and duck under the table for safety, the disturbance reaches a crescendo of hollering, singing, bizarre costumes, and, sometimes, a prop or two. When you realize what it is, your surprise turns to a hope that it's not your table that the commotion is focused on.

Dear McDonald's: What the heck happened? Millennials had to grow up and have all the joy sucked out of them, but you, too? By 2025, McDonald's restaurants had become fairly minimalist, with severe angles and a fairly brutal aesthetic: They're the kind of buildings that look like they'd be serving up Soylent Green instead of Happy Meals. The official line is that the redesign is to make things more welcoming, but those who remember the 1980s-era McDonald's can argue that the opposite is happening.

Your next Financial District lunch should be at Heartwood. The American spot has quick service, cushy banquettes, and plenty of space for sprawling out with coworkers you actually like. And, famously, free martinis. They're technically a penny, but it's still the cheapest cocktail in the city. The lunch-only deal is simple: order an entree, like a burger or poke grain bowl, and get your choice of martini like a classic gin or vodka, espresso, or one infused with jasmine tea.

We independently select these products-if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Even though it feels like summer just started, kids are already going back to school, which means fall isn't far off. While it's always sad to bid farewell to a season, there's joy in knowing that another fresh start lies ahead, specifically when it comes to decor.

Chopsticks date back millennia, with the earliest examples in China appearing as early as 1200 B.C. Originally used as cooking tools for stirring pots and retrieving food from hot oil, they gradually made their way to the dining table. By around 400 A.D., chopsticks were more common as eating utensils, and within another century, they had spread widely throughout East Asia, from Vietnam to Japan.

When planning a dinner party with friends, most people focus solely on preparing the food. Though the company you share is the most important aspect, for a truly special gathering, besides the food, you also must consider the ambiance of the dining room. Decor elements like rugs can be great to add character to your current dining space. But to choose the best rug size, it helps to consider a few key factors, including the size and shape of your space,

The menu balances homey staples such as japchae, chive pancakes, and spicy tofu stew with more luxurious options like uni rice - which I ordered on a visit this past week. A bowl of sizzling rice comes beautifully topped with uni, tobiko, kimchi, pickles, and veggies. Mix it all up for a comforting side dish that has layers of flavors.

Down a narrow flight of stairs off a nondescript stretch of East 50th Street, past a ceramics studio and behind a clothing boutique, is the 14-seat restaurant Hori. Technically, anyone is welcome inside the izakaya, divided into an eight-seat bar and a six-seat room, although reservations are required and even the most vigilant stalkers of the Resy page will find that there are not actually reservations available for the restaurant, ever.

Bong (a Khmer term of endearment and respect) is her first permanent restaurant. Open since June, Bong actually started announcing itself sometime in mid-July, and it remains open only Friday through Sunday. Its outdoor patio is a couple of lawn tables on the concrete, and it didn't receive a license to sell beer and wine until mid-August, after I'd visited. Reservations go quickly, and the place is too small to accept walk-ins. On top of it all, Un is nine months' pregnant.

You should feel proud of yourself for handling an awkward situation graciously.

Mitchell has embraced his new role at Saga while incorporating elements of his culinary past, such as a dish reflecting his childhood experiences growing up in Detroit.

The John G. Carlisle Cafe spans 4,900 square feet, with indoor and porch seating for 70 guests, primarily serving lunch with sandwiches, salads, and soups.

The Fuji Grill offers a diverse menu with options like the omakase, six-course tasting menu, and a tapas-style a la carte menu, showcasing Japanese cuisine.

OpenTable reports a steep rise in 6pm bookings, up 11% in London and 6% across the UK compared to last year, indicating a shift in dining habits.