This piece has everything - new stories, old stories, new restaurants, old restaurants, drinks, Mimi Sheraton mentions, New York City love and tripe. ❤️
Loved this Robert. Have been to NYC the past two summers for my first ever visits and pleased to have made it to a couple of the places on your list of regulars. Our JG Melon visit was one of my favourite nights out - our 14 and 17 year olds loved it maybe even more than we did. And as a “Lee” we had to make the trek to Staten Island for a late lunch at Lee’s Tavern.
Oh The Hat!! I think I only ate there once or twice but I definitely took advantage of their giant to-go margaritas (of course served in styrofoam). Which reminds me of another long-lost institution, Rosemarys in Greenpoint where Rosemary would dance polka with you and all the beers were foamy and served in styrofoam. What a great article, thank you for reviving my love for NYC.
Piccola Venezia! An Astoria classic — I’ll check out your write-up if it. The family that owned it had planned to rebuild the lot as a mixed-use building and re-open the restaurant, but you know how those deals often go. It’s currently a vacant lot and muddy mosquito breeding ground. Our last visit was one of the best meals of my life.
Tout Va Bien: my friend Alice tends bar at the new incarnation. The new owner’s former spots (Chez Olivia and Cote Soleil) are sorely missed in their own right…
And I’d forgotten about Fedora…last time I was there was for The 12 Bottle Bar book signing…
I remember that column and always loved reading it. You should continue it here. I especially liked it when you would start up conversations with people around you and get their stories about why they were regulars. AND I loved the title, which always gave me a smile and made me think of one of the opening lines of HAMLET
Ha. Never thought of it that way. It is close to the opening line ("Who's there?"). I kind of continued it in a way with the recent in-depth profile of Gargiulo's. (Gargiulo's was actually a subject of Who Goes There?) There are enough columns to compile into a book, if some publisher was interested.
Thanks, Francis! Hurry. Time has shown they won’t be there forever. If you ever come to town and want to go to one of these old places, just let me know and I will join you.
This piece has everything - new stories, old stories, new restaurants, old restaurants, drinks, Mimi Sheraton mentions, New York City love and tripe. ❤️
Gotta have tripe.
Loved this Robert. Have been to NYC the past two summers for my first ever visits and pleased to have made it to a couple of the places on your list of regulars. Our JG Melon visit was one of my favourite nights out - our 14 and 17 year olds loved it maybe even more than we did. And as a “Lee” we had to make the trek to Staten Island for a late lunch at Lee’s Tavern.
You cannot lose with either of those places. Melon: the burger and cottage fries. Lee's: the pizza.
Oh The Hat!! I think I only ate there once or twice but I definitely took advantage of their giant to-go margaritas (of course served in styrofoam). Which reminds me of another long-lost institution, Rosemarys in Greenpoint where Rosemary would dance polka with you and all the beers were foamy and served in styrofoam. What a great article, thank you for reviving my love for NYC.
Oh, Rosemary's! I remember it well, though I was never a regular. I should have profiled it in Who Goes There?
I used to enjoy reading it!
thanks!
Piccola Venezia! An Astoria classic — I’ll check out your write-up if it. The family that owned it had planned to rebuild the lot as a mixed-use building and re-open the restaurant, but you know how those deals often go. It’s currently a vacant lot and muddy mosquito breeding ground. Our last visit was one of the best meals of my life.
Tout Va Bien: my friend Alice tends bar at the new incarnation. The new owner’s former spots (Chez Olivia and Cote Soleil) are sorely missed in their own right…
And I’d forgotten about Fedora…last time I was there was for The 12 Bottle Bar book signing…
That would have been the new incarnation of Fedora. Nothing like the original.
Such a great piece - please bring this column back!!
Maybe I should!
I loved that series, did not know it was you. kudos.
Thanks!
I remember that column and always loved reading it. You should continue it here. I especially liked it when you would start up conversations with people around you and get their stories about why they were regulars. AND I loved the title, which always gave me a smile and made me think of one of the opening lines of HAMLET
Ha. Never thought of it that way. It is close to the opening line ("Who's there?"). I kind of continued it in a way with the recent in-depth profile of Gargiulo's. (Gargiulo's was actually a subject of Who Goes There?) There are enough columns to compile into a book, if some publisher was interested.
Invaluable if also poignant piece!
Poignant indeed. We enjoyed meals at a few of these places during your time in NYC way back when.
What a great story. Definitely some places I have to visit.
Thanks, Francis! Hurry. Time has shown they won’t be there forever. If you ever come to town and want to go to one of these old places, just let me know and I will join you.