Steve Cuozzo pans Salt Bae’s New York steakhouse

Post critic Steve Cuozzo writes that likes and theatrics can’t save Salt Bae’s mediocre steaks served at the recently opened New York location of Nusr-Et. According to Cuozzo, the $130 bone-in ribeye was “shoe-leather-tough” and “loaded with gruesome globs of fat.” Even the better dishes, like the saslik steak — a boneless, spice- and milk-marinated tenderloin — were overpriced according to the critic. Eater critic Robert Sietsema visited on opening weekend and similarly left hungry.

A look at Prospect Heights’ queer restaurant MeMe’s Diner

In November, Bill Clark and Libby Willis opened MeMe’s Diner, a 31-seat restaurant in Prospect Heights serving comfort food like meatloaf, mac and cheese, biscuits, and a patty melt. As Clark and Willis explain in an interview with Jarry Mag, MeMe’s has become a queer space in the neighborhood, with queer owners and a largely queer staff. “We really hope to make everyone feel comfortable,” Clark says. MeMe’s Diner also has a cocktail program, has started serving weekend brunch, and has a queer industry night series launching February 12. “We don’t have bigger dreams than just becoming a reliable place for you to be,” Willis says.

Popular LA Middle Eastern all-day restaurant to pop-up in NYC

Chefs Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson are bringing Kismet, their popular all-day restaurant in Los Angeles, to New York for a two-day pop-up event. On Sunday, January 28, the pop-up service starts at 9 p.m. at Cervo’s in LES and on Monday at 6 p.m. at Hart’s in Bed-Stuy. Kismet serves Middle Eastern food and is located on the edge of Los Feliz in Los Angeles.

Brooklyn Cider House in Brooklyn rolls out brunch

Starting on Saturday, Brooklyn Cider House will start serving brunch with a menu that includes the “hangover helper,” grilled Spanish chorizo with caramelized onions, Italian green peppers, two sunny-side up eggs served on a toasted baguette with home fries; “hide & leek,” braised leeks and country grits beneath two over-easy eggs; and chicken and waffles, three pieces of fried chicken wings over a powdered buttermilk Belgian waffle. Brooklyn Cider House’s four house ciders — Raw, Bone Dry, Kinda Dry, and Half Sour — will be offered along with Ciderosa, the Bone Dry cider topped with french orange juice. Brunch will be served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the bar room of the space.

Speciality market-restaurant hybrid closes on the Upper West Side after six years — and other closures

Gastronomie 491, an upscale grocery market that also had a restaurant serving breakfast, salads, paninis, burgers, and small plates, has closed after six years on Columbus Avenue and 84th St. A note was posted on the door saying that the restaurant is looking into the possibility of reopening. The Upper West Side location of Maoz Falafel & Grill will also close at the end of the month due to a lease ending after 10 years.

Grammys-themed treats hit the Pennsy Food Hall

Vendors at the 8,000-square-foot food hall above Penn Station will be serving Grammys-inspired food and drink items through Sunday, including two Grammys-themed specialty cocktails at The Pennsy Bar, a P!nk sushi roll at Sabi Sushi, a Snoop Dogg hot dog at Pat La Frieda, and hand-painted vegan cookies featuring the faces of nominees like Cardi B and The Weeknd at Cinnamon Snail. The Grammys will take place nearby at Madison Square Garden, returning to NYC for the first time in 15 years.

An in-depth look at the speciality cocktail scene in NYC