Of all the pleasant advantages of London over New York (which is not to say the reverse is never true), certainly among the best is that a sushi lover can actually head over to Nobu at the spur of the moment and, well, actually get a table. The City Present has loved the original London Nobu...
In the game of celebrichef Go Fish, London has traded one naked chef for one French chef with our friends across the pond. And from the looks of things, we’ve got the winner. Bar Boulud, the first London outpost from NYC phenom Daniel Boulud opens Thursday in Knightsbridge (although they’re taking reservations today). The...
In continuing our hunt for the City Present’s best burger we find ouselves in Dublin. The late-night organic burger joint called Jo’Burger has loud D.J.’s, graffiti murals and juicy grilled burgers that are pure beef bliss. The Dobson burger is a patty stacked with Maasdam cheese, arugula and a zingy relish, my favorite. Menus are made out...
“Spice Market” is inspired by the street food Jean-Georges Vongerichten enjoyed while traveling in Asia. Authentically uplifted version of flavorful street foods are service family-style…” Thus reads the Spice Market website. They don’t mention that the ENTIRE INTERIOR of the restaurant has also been lifted up from some other corner of Southeast Asia. If the...
Washington still has many holes in its dining options, heavy on the hotel lobby haute-cuisine, with too many expense-account steakhouses and forgettable ethnic eateries. Thankfully, in recent years the city has started to get some serious culinary start-ups, and the City Present’s favorite restaurant in the nation’s capital is the incredible, absolutely unique Birch...
Since opening in the center of Chelsea in January 2009, chef Jim Lahey’s solo venture, emphasizing bread-baking and pizza, has been popular for its open, friendly atmosphere, and celebrated for its uncomplicated but completely original Roman-style pizzas. While the squat brick towers of the Elliott-Chelsea Homes might not be the best location for a...
As the name suggests, Wurstküche is a purveyor of exotic sausages, which ranges from not only classically European servings such as Bratwurst and Italian sausage, a gourmet range including Kielbasa, Filipino pork, Chicken Apple & Spice, and an Exotic range of game including Alligator & Pork, Duck & Bacon and the mildly spicy Rattlesnake...
The City Present has been checking into The Berkeley Hotel for over a decade. Ideally located just of Knightsbridge, around the corner from the heart of one the city’s most upscale shopping districts, but also tucked within the pristine elegance of quiet north Belgravia, the Berkeley is discrete and understated, yet unmistakably opulent. As...
Gjelina, a 2-1/2 year old establishment on a neighborly block in Venice, presents a particular hipster high-water mark in Los Angeles at the moment: West Coast meets Williamsburg. Gjelina is part of a wave of gourmet establishments offering comfort cuisine with a vibe that is both upscale and casual. Style and pose aside, Gjelina's...
The City Present's top pick in the Chicago area is the excellent Hot Chocolate, located on North Damen Avenue, the main street of Chicago's hip Bucktown and Wicker Park neighborhoods. Damen features blocks of high-end boutiques, independent clothing and interior retailers, and is one of the most popular destinations outside of Chicago's lakeside downtown.
Proof on Main has been the belle of Louisville’s dining scene for years, and remains the city’s most happening dining room. Reflecting the cosmopolitan, artistic theme of the cutting-edge 21c Hotel, which catapulted Louisville to the top of nation’s design destinations when it opened in 2006, Proof’s bare brick walls sport a rotating selection...
The Lloyd Hotel marked a major shift in Amsterdam’s hospitality scene when it opened in 2005. The Lloyd is located outside the tourist-trod canal belt, in the city’s emerging Eastern Dockland’s section, an area which blossomed in the 1990s in an incredible transformation from an industrial shipping area into a major residential and arts...
The City Present enjoyed the Matchbox take on mini-burgers, well-executed as a trio of Angus patties and buttery brioche. This is just one of many menu options besides the pizza which Matchbox winningly produces, including enormous salads and several flavorful grilled seafood dishes-- the City Present has enjoyed both the sea scallops and...
After a £70 million makeover, it’s no wonder the David Collins-designed bar oozes class and elegance. Admire textured walls and other sleek features while you sip on cocktails and feel like you are in a James Bond movie. The Connaught Hotel – the grandest of London’s grande dames – has had a bit of makeover....
When visiting a foreign city, travelers hope that each night will be special, eating great food in a stylish setting that can only be had in that city. But that can take some effort and advanced planning, and often times energy levels in the evening can flag after a busy day rushing around a...
In an old brick warehouse in one of Montreal’s up and coming areas, the recently opened Le Hangar, the latest outpost of celebrity chef Louis-François Marcotte’s expanding empire has quietly taken Montreal’s already respectable restaurant scene to a new level. Montreal has been moving away from being a one-neighborhood city for many years, and...
The City Present has taken an active interest in the recent trend of high-end burger houses. City Present is loyal those both uptown and down (if not always ready to stand in such incredibly long lines). Generally, The City Present is a fan of other new spots that offer both gourmet cuisine in a...
While not necessarily evident from the name, this sleek West Side storefront features delicious and affordable Thai cuisine in a what is arguably Restaurant Row’s most unusual space: communal tables cozy up in softly-lit corners under crown moldings in the dining area, with a sizable bar near the entrance. A mirrored chandelier-in-glass-box centerpiece completes...
Located next door to the Metz & Co. department store, where Leidsestraat intersects with the Keizergracht, Walem offers outstanding dining for any time of day. Although convenient to the bustling shopping district and its tram line, this restaurant offers canal-side seating that is both spacious and quiet, offering a lively scene that draws a...
Chicago is known around the world for its pizza, but not everyone is a fan of doughy, deep-dish “Chicago-style.” The City Present prefers the more recent trend towards the flat-bread, thin-crust variety. While there are plenty of alternatives near the Loop, one of the best places for flaky, two-dimensional pies, fired in an open...
