Retired Burger Hand Model
Honest reviews of the restaurants I visit in New York City and the world.
Il Monello: A New Martini Mistake on 49th Street Another day in paradise, and I needed to get what I like to call a martini pick-me-up. Since Tuscany closed, I’ve been quietly searching for a new spot to scratch that itch. Enter Il Monello, Tuscany’s sister restaurant, tucked away on 49th Street. It’s not exactly…
The Return Visit It was a rough Sunday. One of those days where you need a pick-me-up and a reason to be outside that isn’t “because the walls are closing in.” I also had errands to run in Downtown Brooklyn, so instead of spiraling, I did the responsible thing and went back to Gage &…
The Reality of All-Inclusive Food Let’s be real. You’re not flying to Cancun for Michelin stars. You’re here to eat, recover, eat again, and never ask “what’s for dinner” without having 10 answers. RIU Caribe understands this. Coral International Buffet Coral is the backbone. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tons of options, vegetarian-friendly, solid pizza, stromboli,…
Let’s Talk Parties RIU Caribe knows exactly what it is. This isn’t a resort where parties accidentally happen. They’re scheduled, planned, promoted, and executed like a military operation, but with tequila. Use the RIU app. Don’t ignore it. Missing a pool party here feels like forgetting your passport. The Big Ones During my stay, I…
At this point, Mexico isn’t a destination. It’s a lifestyle choice. When winter starts getting disrespectful, my brain immediately goes, “You know what solves this?” Warm water, unlimited tequila, and absolutely no responsibilities. That’s how I ended up back at RIU Caribe Cancun. I had been here two years ago for a 50th birthday, remembered…
Palladino’s Steak & Seafood has quietly taken a permanent spot in my rotation, not in the white-tablecloth, jacket-required sense, but in that beautiful, sweet spot of a reliable nightcap, a few solid bites, and an atmosphere that lets you unwind without committing to a full-blown evening. They close around 10 PM, which makes it perfect…
Not too long ago, I had the honor and the privilege of checking out Gallagher Terrace at Barclays Center for a Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat game. I’m not the biggest basketball fan, but when the boys call, and it’s a holiday season meetup, you show up. No questions asked. Let me be clear: this…
The Setup Being back in Fort Lauderdale usually means playing social Tetris. Everyone wants to hang, nobody wants to travel, and I’m not about to drag people across the county in flip-flops. I’m staying near the beach; my buddy needed something easy, healthy-ish, and sober-friendly. So I did what I always do when I want…
COQODAQ is one of those places I probably wouldn’t have gone to on my own. Not because I don’t like nuggets. I love nuggets. Nuggets are life. It’s more the whole reservation Olympics thing. You know me. I don’t hunt reservations. I outsource that activity like a true New Yorker. Thankfully, the ladies insisted, and…
One of my buddies hit me up with a comped meal at Le Rivage, and normally, I don’t do comp meals. I’m not traveling an hour and a half for a slice of pizza and a handshake. There are exception,s though. Steakhouses are one. And Le Rivage? That place has a soft spot in my…