Funny boy Sudeikis pounds burgers at Bill’s.

Maybe folks are feeling some post–Golden Globes hangovers, perhaps some are afraid of this weekend’s impending snow storm (a whopping 3 to 6 inches is expected!), or maybe everyone just assumed they couldn’t top the coolness of last week’s Celebrity Settings — remember, Vince Young bought drinks for Drake — but regardless, not too many celebrities got caught dining in New York this past week. Then again, Jason Sudeikis did buy some burgers for his friends, Mitt Romney hosted a fund-raiser with some pretty gnarly guacamole, and Warren Buffett chilled with Jay-Z — so maybe this week wasn’t too bad. All this, and more celebrity sightings, straight ahead.

The 40/40 Club: Warren Buffett paid his dues to the Throne on Wednesday when he showed up, alongside two female companions, at Jay-Z’s reopening of his Flatiron sports club on Wednesday. Rumor has it the super-rich dude from the Midwest was even sporting a tie that was a gift from Hova himself. We guess Buffett’s got his swagga back. [Page Six/NYP]
Asellina: Paula Deen enjoyed braised lamb chop and tiramisu for dessert, and claimed it was the best she had ever tasted — perhaps because it might be the last dessert she has for a while. [Grub Street]
Bill’s Bar & Burger: Jason Sudeikis bro-ed out hard earlier this week, as he and four buddies chowed on burgers, fries, wings, and beers … and presumably passed out for like ten hours shortly afterwards. [People]
SamSara Café: Blue Bloods star Amy Carlson met friends for dinner earlier this week and did what we expect CBS actresses to do: smiled a whole bunch. [Downtown Express]
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers: Mitt Romney hosted a fund-raiser on Tuesday before heading to South Carolina, and at it, he served guacamole and chips. Weird, right? We always thought he seemed like a salsa guy, too. [Page Six/NYP]

Filed Under: celebrity settings, 40/40, asellina, bill’s bar & burger, samsara cafe

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Chelsea: Our tipster tells us that Grand Sichuan on Ninth Avenue, which had been shuttered by the Health Department, has reopened, with a “Grade Pending” sign in the window. [Grub Street]
Greenwich Village: 508 GastroBrewery has a new beer pairing menu. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, 39 dollars will get you three items from the menu and unlimited — yes, unlimited — house brews. [Grub Street]
Upper East Side: Chef Julian Medina is launching a brunch menu at Toloache 82 this Saturday that will be available 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday. [Grub Street]
Sichuan restaurant Land of Plenty recently opened its doors, as the establishment continues the trend of Sichuan restaurants flourishing in the neighborhood. [Fork in the Road/VV]

Upper West Side: Americans are stereotyped as fat, but where did that come from? Gastronomist Sarah Lohman presents “Adventures in the Global Kitchen: Tonics and Tinctures: Historic Remedies for Your Expanding Waistline” on January 24 at the American Museum of Natural History, a presentation that examines the strange diets in U.S. history. Tickets here. [Grub Street]
West Village: For you cheese fans out there, Murray’s Cheese just announced a pretty appealing giveaway: twelve months of artisan cheese and meats. Enter here, and if you win, your friends will love you. [Grub Street]
West Village: The Tea Set Bistro has teamed up with Dr. Drew Ramsey, creator of the Happiness Diet, and will offer a three-course menu with Champagne cocktails, seafood stew, wine, and tea on January 25 at 7 p.m. Best of all? It’s healthy and only costs $49. [Grub Street]

Filed Under: neighborhood watch,

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He’s doing well.

“Oddly enough, in the restaurant business we find ourselves far away from sitting down and eating the way we like people to experience our food. I’m taking a look at that without overreacting.” —Gramercy Tavern’s chef-partner Michael Anthony, 44, to Paper magazine on life after open-heart surgery. [Paper]

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Filed Under: quote of the day, gramercy tavern, michael anthony

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The reason I keep coming back is that I love my spicy Thai and they have an entire page devoted to fiery, authentic…

Bodhi Tree

58 3rd Ave, New York

(212) 677-5199

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She loves you, but hates you.

Grub Street thought chefs deplored this diet concept, especially those who are involved with things like pasta and pizza, but what do we know? Anyway, new mom Donatella Arpaia says she’s an Atkins fan, the “new” Atkins method of no-to-low-carb eating has helped her lose weight, and she’s totally here to collect money for them. [Market Watch]

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Filed Under: chefdorsements, atkins, donatella

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It’s chef Christophe.

Christophe Bellanca has replaced the enigmatic Xavier Boyer as the executive chef for L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in The Four Seasons Hotel in New York. Bellanca’s restaurant history includes Pic in Valence, France; L’Orangerie in Hollywood; executive chef at Le Cirque; and, most recently, Aureole. That’s some serious room service. [Diner's Journal/NYT]

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Filed Under: oui chef, chef shuffles, robuchon

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It’s 4 p.m., and that means it’s time to play Two for Eight. We just asked ten restaurants the best time they can squeeze a couple in for dinner; you need only make your chosen reservation. (As always, we make the calls but don’t guarantee the results.) Today: Seafood Experts.

Brushstroke (Menu)
212-791-3771
Two for eight? No
Best available: 9 p.m.

Esca (Menu)
212-564-7272
Two for eight? No
Best available: 8:15 p.m.

Estiatorio Milos (Menu)
212-245-7400
Two for eight? No
Best available: 8:45 p.m.

Fish Tag (Menu)
212-362-7470
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10 p.m.

Fishtail by David Burke (Menu)
212-754-1300
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10:45 p.m.

Le Bernardin (Menu)
212-554-1515
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10:45 p.m.

Marea (Menu)
212-582-5100
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10:30 p.m.

Millesime (Menu)
212-889-7100
Two for eight? Yes

Nobu (Menu)
212-219-0500
Two for eight? No
Best available: 9:30 p.m.

Oceana (Menu)
212-759-5941
Two for eight? Yes

Filed Under: two for eight,

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Masak’s roasted quail stuffed with rice, chestnut, lotus seed, salted duck yolk, and kale.

If you’re not in labor, consider digging into some traditional good-luck dishes for Chinese New Year, which begins Monday. According to the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is considered the most powerful sign, and these restaurants have created unique menus to incorporate traditional Chinese cuisine that represents the joy, prosperity, and fortune expected in this New Year. A few symbolic dishes include clams to represent wealth, noodles to signify longevity (the longer, the better), whole fish to indicate a wish for abundance, and lobster, for which the Chinese translation is “dragon shrimp.” And what’s a new year without fireworks? Many restaurants will be serving firework-inspired desserts to symbolize warding off evil spirits!

An Choi
Join An Choi on Monday, January 23, for a celebration of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, with a special $40 prix fixe menu featuring traditional Vietnamese dishes, such as Banh Tet — Sticky Rice Tamale stuffed with Pork Belly and Mung Bean; Vietnamese Charcuterie Plate — Homemade Gio Thu & Gio Bo (Headcheese & Beef Sausage) with Vietnamese Pickles; Thit Heo Quay & Thit Kho with Xoi Gac — Roast Suckling Pig Caramelized Pork Belly with Red Sticky Rice; Goi — Vietnamese Salad; Sup Mang Cua — Crab & White Asparagus Soup; and Che — Sweet Rice Soup with Silken Tofu & Ginger Syrup. No vegetarian options will be available.

Annisa
Celebrate the new year with a special lucky six-course tasting menu featuring Chinese-influenced delicacies like Maine Sweet Shrimp Sashimi with Sea Urchin Roe and Fat Choy, Seared Foie Gras with Soup Dumplings and Jicama, Steamed Whole Butterfish with Scallions, Ginger and Baby Green Vegetables, Wagyu with Kumquats and Chilis, and a Raspberry Firecracker Pavlova. This special will be available for a prix fixe of $105 in addition to Annisa’s regular menu items.

BuddakanFrom Sunday, January 22, through Thursday, January 26, Buddakan will honor the lunar new year with additional menu items such as Monk’s Vegetables “Fat Choy” with Chili-Ginger Sauce ($12); Mandarin Slow Steamed Halibut with Shaoxing Wine, Scallion, and Twice-Cooked Bean Thread ($26); 2 ½ Pound Wok Seared Lobster in a Tangerine-Anise Glaze, served with a Sesame Shark’s Fin Salad ($42); and a whole Pressed Suckling Pig Terrine with Sweet Rice Dumplings to be shared ($38). Finish up with the Firecracker Bombe — White Chocolate and Cherry Mousse, Dragon Pearl and Chocolate Sorbet ($12); the exploding noise of the firecracker is thought to scare away all evil spirits and misfortunes.

Café China
On Monday, January 23, join Café China for three traditional Chinese New Year specials. In addition to their regular menu of authentic Chinese cuisine, the restaurant will be serving a Lamb Hot Pot ($28), Steamed Pork in Lotus Leaf ($19), and Lightly Sautéed Chinese Broccoli ($14), as well as a special cocktail.

FOUR at Yotel
To celebrate the Chinese New Year, and to honor the Chinese culinary influences throughout the menu, FOUR is offering a special four-course sharing menu at $32.50 per person (also available à la carte). Each course symbolizes Chinese New Year traditions: Good Fortune Rice Dumplings with sweet miso and tamarind; Long Life Oriental Long Noodle with lemongrass broth, shrimp, Chinese long beans and hibiscus; Prosperity Whole Roasted Poussin water with chestnuts, cashew, snap peas, and carrot; and Wealth Lychee Panna Cotta with orange sabayon and orange fan. This dinner menu is available from January 23 through February 6. On Wednesday, January 25, from 10 p.m. until late, FOUR will host “Enter the Dragon at Yotel’s Kung Fu Palace” featuring Lady Gaga’s Tour D.J., Lady Starlight, D.J. Steve Lewis, dancers, contortionists, and more.

Joe’s Shanghai
On Monday, January 23, Joe’s will be honoring customary Chinese New Year specials with traditional sauces in symbolic color schemes. Expect a Lean Pork dish ($20.35), Good Luck Dried Oysters served with traditional roots ($26.95), a Fresh Mushroom Medley in a golden house sauce ($26.35), Fresh Lobster with Dried Egg Yolk ($32.95), and Fish Cake with a Tofu Skin Wrap ($25.35).

La Mar Cebicheria
Starting on Monday, January 23, La Mar Cebicheria will offer Chinese cuisine with Peruvian ingredients used in the Chifa style. In Chinese culture, the number eight is believed to be lucky, and executive chef Victoriano López has created eight bar bites in the Chifa style for $8 each. Cocktail director and resident pisco expert Saul Ranella is mixing a special pisco cocktail infused with Chinese spices for $8. The menu will be available in the downstairs bar area Monday through Friday, from 3 to 7 p.m. through February 3.

Macao Trading Co.
The restaurant will be preparing several Portuguese-influenced specials to commemorate the year of the dragon, including a Seafood Hot Pot ($24); Buddha’s Delightful Spring Rolls Buddha’s delight ($8), a traditional new year’s dish, wrapped in a spring roll; Golden Curried Clams, Crispy Noodles, and a Black Bean Lobster Sauce ($15); Whole Steamed Fish For Two—Steamed with Ginger and Scallions served with your choice of two sides (market price).

Masak
Beginning Tuesday, January 24, join Masak for an intimate dinner featuring a special menu by Chef Larry Reutens. Chef Reutens will use his own unique culinary experiences to offer a one-of-a-kind interpretation of traditional Chinese New Year cuisine, featuring Yue Sang Salad with arctic char, carrot, radishes, pomelo, peanuts, sesame seed, and a blood orange vinaigrette ($15); Bamboo Mushroom and Crab Soup ($12); and Roasted Quail stuffed with rice, chestnut, lotus seed and salted duck yolk, and kale ($22). Finish up with either Carrot Cake or Tang Yuen Dumplings (both $8). A preview of this menu will be available Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22.

Mehtaphor
Indulge in a six-course dinner of Chinese-inspired dishes on Monday, January 23, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. A prix fixe of $75 will include a Cucumber Ginger slaw, Sesame Scallion Shrimp, Crab Almond Roll with Chili Reduction, Garlic Tomato Pork Dumplings, Persimmon Green Chili Duck Mirin Bokcho, and topped off with a Chocolate Steamed Bun with Red Bean Ice Cream for dessert. Each dish will be complemented by an elegant wine.

TALDE
Monday, January 23, TALDE will be serving a whole lobster steamed in XO sauce and Chinese beer accompanied by fingerling potatoes, corn and scallions ($32) as their Year of the Dragon special. TALDE will don festive Chinese New Year decorations, and Chinese newspaper will serve as a tablecloth for guests who order the lobster. TALDE bartender and partner, John Bush, will create a special cocktail for the evening as well.

Ted and Amy Supper Club
Ted and Amy Supper Club will ring in the Chinese New Year this Sunday, January 21, at 8 p.m. with guest chef Diana Kuan of Appetite for China. At a prix fixe of $45, guests will enjoy Shrimp and Chive Dumplings with Ginger-Soy Dip, Mushroom and Watercress Noodle Soup, Red-Cooked Chicken with Chestnuts, Black Sesame Ice Cream with Almond Cookie Crumble, and Bulldog Gin Welcome cocktail.

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Filed Under: grub guide, chinese new year

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Taco heads have one more source for a fix with Dorado Tacos, a Boston-based shop specializing in “Baja California-style fish & shrimp tacos, and real quesadillas.” Scope the menu to see the rest of the lineup, including soup, salads, and Mexican beer. It’s not listed, but a call reveals Dorado’s also slinging breakfast tacos — those egg-filled hangover busters — on weekends. Dorado has twenty seats, and is open for lunch and dinner.

Dorado Tacos, 28 E. 12th St., nr. University Pl.; 212-627-0900

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Filed Under: openings, dorado tacos, greenwich village, mexican, tacos, what to eat

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Brilliant move for Bare Burger.

Just as barbecue is having its big, glazed moment in Park Slope, other restaurants are having extreme hits or misses. Bare Burger? Hit. Barrio? Debatable miss. The executive director of the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District says that a 31-block stretch of Fifth Avenue has around 150 bars and restaurants, with some rents as high as $60 a square foot. The question remains: Who should park themselves there or not? [WSJ, Related]

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Filed Under: unpredictability, bareburger, park slope

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There isn’t a soft spot in my heart for midtown, though. That doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes find myself stranded in…

Culture Espresso

72 West 38th St, New York

(212) 302-0200

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January 20, 2012 Although Da Andrea is new to the Greenwich Village area, the original trattoria opened in 2001 at…

Da Andrea

35 W 13th St, New York

(212) 367-1979

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