In general, the Upper West Side is a strange place when it comes to food. It’s the home of the second location of many restaurants that become popular downtown first. It’s the home of interesting and tasty concepts like Joe’s that don’t stick around and are replaced by stalwarts like JG Melon. And it’s the home…

I just got back from a long trip to Israel. When you think of Israel, an Irish pub is probably the last thing that comes to your mind. But if you’ve heard of Mel McNally and his Irish Pub Company, you know that Irish pubs are everywhere. The one I went to in Israel was…

So, a chopped cheese sandwich isn’t really a burger, but for the purposes of this review I’m going to say that it is, and I’m going to lay out a few defenses as to why. For one thing, the ingredients/components in a chopped cheese sandwich are exactly the same as in a burger. The only…

After May 1st every year, when the sun is out and the temperature is over 65 degrees, and it’s not raining, Pier i Cafe is open. This outdoor eating space and grill on the Hudson River is a popular spot for west-siders and their guests. That means there are a lot of babies there at…

A handwritten sign in the window at Harriet’s Kitchen says that they have, “Maybe just maybe the best burger you will ever eat.” I’ve been burned by signs like these before. This particular sign is dubious for a lot of reasons. For one thing, Harriet’s has been open at least as long as I’ve been…