Dining Out on Shine

Is it ever ok for a restaurant to drop the check before you're ready?

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Dear BA Foodist, Recently, I was eating out with three friends. We had finished our desserts and were chatting away when the manager told us it was time to leave. Apparently, there was a group waiting for our table. What gives? Can't I stay as long as I want? --Edmund Rutherford,…

The 10 Most Classic Restaurants in the Country

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Some restaurants never go out of style. They follow no trends. They're stubborn, charming, quirky—and we love them for that. Here are our favorite old-school spots that are every bit as good today as the day they opened . The…

Hey, Celebrity Chefs! Stay Out of the Kitchen

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Dear BA Foodist, I recently dined at a certain celebrity chef's restaurant in New York. When asked if the chef was in the kitchen that particular night, the waiter looked at me as if I were joking. "Nope, he rarely is these days,"he said. I don't care that much…

2009's Top Ten Best New Restaurants in America

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Today's most exciting restaurants have a lot in common. They represent the new standard: simple, satisfying local food—all served with zero pretense. They support local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and regional cuisine. For a taste of our ten favorite new restaurants, cook these…

How to Get the Dinner Reservations You Want

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Dear BA Foodist,

When a restaurant's reservationist says, "Sorry, we only have tables available at 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.," am I being told the truth? Or, as I suspect, are they playing hard to get?

--Reagan Sims, NEW YORK

Healthiest and unhealthiest options at a restaurant

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Weekends are, by far, my 'splurge' time. I really look forward to eating out at our favorite restaurants; enjoying time with friends and…