“It’s my friend’s birthday, and I’m picking the restaurant. Somewhere cool downtown and top rated. I’m thinking the West Village, SoHo, Nolita, maybe Tribeca.
Where do I even start? Do I check Resy or OpenTable to see what’s available? Do I read reviews on The Infatuation? And what about the places that are almost impossible to get into?
Last night I watched a food critic’s Instagram reel with her five favorite French bistros in the city. I stopped it five times to take screenshots and write the names down. Ugh. This happens to me all the time!
And my trip is coming up. Madrid, San Sebastián, then Barcelona. I want some truly amazing meals, but that means hours of research, guide after guide, city after city, and half the menus aren’t even in English. I could ask the hotel concierges, but can I trust their lists?”