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Being a true New Yorker, I am always happy when I stumble across new locales that turn out to be hidden gems among the sea of options here in the City.  Last night turned out to be one of those times when the stars aligned and a truly wonderful experience followed.  Now I normally relegate reviews to my Dining section, but wanted to draw some attention to this locale.

As many of you know, I have an affinity for all things classic New York.  So when I found myself at a late matinee on Sunday, I did a bit of quick research in order to find something new and different for cocktails and dinner afterwards with my other half.  I had heard that the New York Helmsley had recently been re-vamped and though why not give it a go.  You can say what you want about Leona Helmsley but there are few names that are truly synonymous with New York and impeccable service.  Ah, the days when the Palace was the crown in the Helmsley Hotels crown are now long gone but a recent renovation of the New York Helmsley has yielded quite the surprise.  A new and fresh Harry’s Bar and a newly re-named (and re-designed) Leona’s restaurant (formerly Mindy’s) make for a welcome addition to the Midtown East scene.

We arrived around 6 o’clock to indulge in a some liquid libations pre-dinner.  The color scheme, design, and overall layout of Harry’s are all perfect.  It was not crowded on this occasion but one could easily see how you could feel “alone” even if it was a full house.  We were a bit hidden from the view of the bar so it took a little time to catch the servers attention but as we were not in any rush really made no difference.  We felt welcomed and relaxed and the service did not disappoint.  Drinks were so very well-made and came with a side of water and bar nibbles.  It is important to note that service is included in your bill in both the bar (15%) and restaurant (19%).  I actually do not mind this as it is the same in many places around the world.  Some might argue that there is no incentive for staff to provide exceptional service but, in my experience, this is just not the case.  The only thing I would change at the Helmsley is adding an additional line to the receipt to tip above the standard included.  Sometimes people go above and beyond and it is nice to recognize their efforts accordingly.

After an hour of so of fabulous (and I do mean fabulous) cocktails we headed into the restaurant and we warmly greeted and shown to our table.  The first this we noticed is that we had the restaurant to ourselves – I mean completely to ourselves and would remain so for our entire meal.  Now, I might normally find this worrisome as an empty restaurant can mean several things but it was summer in the City and the restaurant is in fact open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Perhaps the new branding is also slow in getting out into the mainstream.

The layout of the restaurant is so thoughtfully planned that I can remember few that were so well laid out.  While not a huge room, the design affords a level of intimacy that, even if full, I could see still remaining.  The restaurant is actually quite beautiful with small touches like contrasting fabrics and backlit onyx (as was the bar top at Harry’s).  Fresh flowers and tea light candles make for a pleasant yet unpretentious welcome.  Our waiter and his team could not have been nicer or more knowledgeable in their recommendations.  Not to mention my food allergies were a non-issue after I explained them.  The bread presentation was soon made, I of course could not indulge, but my partner raved at how fresh and delicious his selection was.

Now I have to admit I was concerned at what might come out of the kitchen seeing as we were the only two in the dining room (though room service did appear to be coming from the kitchen as well).  Well, my concerns were soon tossed to the wind as our meal progressed.  For starters we both had the baby spinach salad with roasted red beets, shaved red onions, and goat cheese in a red wine vinaigrette.  I have to say that the salad was so perfectly dressed that it was a subtle undertone to the earthiness of the spinach and beets.  I mean to actually achieve this balance really shows that the kitchen knows that they are doing.  The saltiness of the goat cheese made for the perfect accompaniment adding another dimension to this simple yet carefully thought-out salad.

For my entrée I had the New York Strip steak but asked for it without any sauce and with haricots verts instead of asparagus and mashed potatoes.  My request was not a problem in the least and my steak was beautifully grilled to a perfect medium as requested – perfectly pink throughout and extremely tender.  My partner had the grilled rack of lamb with summer squash and griddled potatoes with a rosemary jus.  He raved about the dish and is a true lamb aficionado so not the easiest in the world to please.  Not only as the lamb cooked to perfection, there were four chops that comprised the rack which was a very generous portion.

Dessert, while good, was nothing exceptional but quite honestly we could have forgone dessert and just had coffee.  I had a simple chocolate ice cream that was nicely presented but seemed to have been pre-scooped in the freezer before service started.  My partner had the flourless chocolate cake, which we could not confirm whether it was gluten-free, and he said it tasted a bit old.  Again, I am thinking that it was a slow night and the desserts were pre-portioned and sitting for a while.

So all in all the experience was very good and the food well above average.  The service is really where this restaurant shines and the layout and design make for a truly transporting experience.  I will most definitely be back again and can only hope that word of Leona’s begins to spread because it would be shame to see it change into anything other than what it is.
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I thought what better way to celebrate one year of Gluten Free Mike than with a truly fabulous gluten-free giveaway.  You have all been following me for so long – reading about my gluten-free journey and favorite items.  So I thought what better way to get all Golden Girls for a moment and say Thank you for being a friend than a delicious giveaway with a cause behind it.  I have purchased a fantastic selection of some of my favorite gluten-free items out there.  Best of all, the products will be packaged in a FEED Projects FEED Haiti bag.  Each FEED Haiti bag helps provide relief to those who were affected by the horrific earthquake earlier this year.  You can know that the bag you carry has provided 50 meals for school children in Haiti.
 
Included in the fabulous bag are 18 unique gluten-free products that are among my most favorite.  As you know I love a fabulous cocktail so I am also throwing in a gorgeous vintage cocktail pitcher as well.  You have read about my gluten-free escapades and now is your chance to party like a Gluten Free Mike rock star.  There are no catches and all you have to do is enter to win.  It is my way of saying Thank You for making the first year of Gluten Free Mike so very special to me.

Here’s what one lucky reader will receive:
·         Snikiddy Baked Cheddar Cheese Fries
·         Snikiddy Mac n’ Cheese Puffs
·         Bakery on Main Nutty Cranberry Maple Granola
·         Schär Table Crackers
·         Schär Italian Breadsticks
·         Ener-G Sesame Pretzel Rings (x2)
·         Bhuja Cracker Mix
·        Mrs. May’s Naturals Cashew Crunch
·         Mrs. May’s Naturals Cran-Blueberry Crunch
·         Bionaturæ Organic Gluten Free Pasta
·         Edward & Sons Baked Brown Vegetable Rice Snaps
·         Glutino Sesame Breadsticks
·         Mary’s Gone Crackers Original Flavor
·         Kinnikinnick KinniToos Chocolate Sandwich Crème Cookies
·         Road’s End Organics Cheddar Style Organic Pasta Dinner
·         Glutino Lemon Wafer Cookies
·         Glutino Chocolate Covered Wafer Cookies
·         Glutino Strawberry Breakfast Bar

All of the above will be packaged in a FEED Haiti bag and accompanied with a vintage glass cocktail pitcher.  So what are you waiting for?  Enter Now.  Oh, and please pass this along to all your friends – gluten-free or not.
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The fine print: Contest open to legal residents in the United States and Canada.  You must be 18 years or older to enter.  One entry per person please.  Contest runs until Thursday, July 15, 2010 closing at 11:59 p.m. (PST).  One winner will be selected at random on Friday, July 16th.
 
 
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On my last visit to North Carolina a couple of weeks ago, I was finally able to get to the Harvey Mansion Inn and Restaurant for dinner one evening.  The mansion dates back to 1797 and you truly feel its historical past the moment you walk in the door.

The first thing you notice is the relaxed and welcoming ambiance.  While this is fine dining, it is in a relaxed, albeit beautiful setting.  There are multiple dining rooms spread out across the floors but this evening was slow one and with only one of the dining rooms being utilized.  There were only a few tables so it made for a very intimate experience.  We received a warm welcome from the hostess and our waiter could not have been nicer or more helpful.

My first question of course was whether my allergies would pose a problem.  The waiter advised me to order what I wanted and if there was a problem we would work around it.  The chef clearly understood my food allergies and of all things one of the salad dressings contained gluten.  I am always a fan of restaurants that actually cook from scratch rather than taking the easy way out.  The chef knew exactly what ingredients went into their dishes and could advise accordingly.  There were several specials that evening but the majority was local seafood which was not an option for me – though they sounded delicious.

For starters I had the Caprese salad of fresh mozzarella, basil and Roma tomatoes in a by extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.  The produce was so fresh it made for a most refreshing starter.  Other starters for the table included the Pan Roasted Scallops with roasted pears in a vanilla Riesling butter sauce that everyone raved about.  We then all had either house or Caesar salads which were well-prepared and quite good.

Given the fact that I cannot eat shellfish and subsequently any fish as a rule I opted to have the Bacon Wrapped Beef Medallions with red skinned mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans for my main course.  The restaurant offers great steaks but I had been eating steak so frequently on this trip, as I suppose one does, that the medallions appealed more to me.  What is also nice about the Harvey Mansion is that they offer an early bird menu from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. which offers w few different entrée options along with smaller portions of their regular entrées along with a salad.  We were their after 6 p.m. and actually had no intention of ordering from the Early Bird but two of us ended up selecting entrées from there – me, because I wanted something that was not on the regular menu and my father because he cannot eat large portions so it was a win-win for everyone.  My entrée was cooked exactly as I ordered it and was just the right amount of food – actually even this smaller portion was too much for me to finish.

Other entrées at the table included my other half’s Chicken Chesapeake which was topped with lump crab and herbs and accompanied by red skinned mashed potatoes, tomato tartar and topped with a Chardonnay cream sauce.  My mother had the Pomegranate Honey Glazed Duck Breast with roasted pears, butternut squash and sautéed spinach which she raved about being cooked to medium perfection.  My father opted for the Lamb Osso Bucco served with risotto and vegetable mirepoix.  Again, cooked to perfection and delicious.

The dessert menu, while small had something for everyone.  I had the old gluten-free standby (confirmed by the chef as some recipes vary) of Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée which was just perfect from a taste and texture standpoint.  This is a dessert than many places get wrong but not at the Harvey Mansion.  My mother had the Key lime “Martini” which was a Key lime custard served in a graham cracker rimmed martini glass and cookie straw.  Not only was this a nice presentation, it was not over the top and from a portion perspective was just the right end to a very filling meal.  My father had the individual New York Cheesecake with white chocolate and raspberry sauces while my other half had the Chocolate Stout Cake a flourless chocolate cake made with Guinness stout and served with white chocolate and raspberry sauces.  This would have been the perfect gluten-free option if there was no Guinness in the recipe.  All of the desserts were fresh and really very good.

If you find yourself in the New Bern area, I would definitely recommend stopping by the Harvey Mansion for dinner (it only serves dinner).  You can check out their Web site which gives a more detailed overview of their history along with all of their menus.
 
 
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While I enjoy popping down to the Eastern Carolina coast to visit my parents when they are there (though I MUCH prefer when they are in Las Vegas – much more me) there is a definite lack of dining choices for the food allergy sufferer.  Perhaps if I did not have a shellfish allergy it would be less of a challenge because there are seafood places up the yin-yang but those are off limits to me.  Prior to this trip I did a bit of digging and came across Osteria Cicchetti in the lovely city of Wilmington.  It is clearly part of a local restaurant group with five different restaurant types throughout Wilmington.  What drew me to them was their offering of gluten-free pasta options which had me instantly sold.

I made a last minute reservation from my iPhone using Open Table’s app while we were imbibing in a bar on the waterfront after a long day of antiquing.  The restaurant is approximately 15 minutes from the waterfront.  When we arrived we were warmly greeted and shown to our table.  The restaurant itself is more of a Hollywood interpretation of Italy but it was well decorated and comfortable nonetheless.  It was also very large with a separate bar area with seating along with two dining rooms – one of which faced the open concept kitchen.

Our server could not have been nicer.  Everything was paced perfectly and we never felt rushed.  Drink orders were taken followed by appetizers.  The menu is extensive and the antipasto options are really more tapas style where you can order a few selections and share them with the table.  So what did we eat?

Our Antipasti: Roasted Brussels sprouts with sweet peppers and balsamic vinegar; Prosciutto de Parma with a fig compote; Beet, walnut, and ricotta-salata salad; and my father had the calamari, scallop, and shrimp salad.  My other half has the fried artichoke appetizer which came in a lemon butter sauce.

Our Main courses: I of course had the gluten-free penne in their Carbonara sauce which was out of this world.  Actually gluten-free diners have a choice of five sauces (Aglio e Olio, Amatriciano, Arrabbiata, Carbonara, Pomodoro, and Puttanseca) to top their pasta with.  The sauce was rich and creamy and chock-full of wonderfully crisp pancetta.  A little grated parmesan on the top and I was in absolute gluten-free Nirvana.  The other entrées included: the veal saltimbocca; the papardalle Bolognese; and the veal Marsala.  Everyone at the table was more than pleased with their entrées.

For dessert I had the hazelnut gelato which was amazing and the rest of the table had cannoli, a truly decadent croissant bread pudding which my mother raved about, and Opera cake, which also received high marks.

Overall, the experience was fantastic with the one exception that the dining room we were sitting in clearly faced west and the setting sun was blinding diners facing the windows despite sheers attempting to diffuse the light.  While we were there multiple people complained (some were clearly regulars) and my mother had to don sunglasses towards the end of the meal.  It is a shame that this was the last thing we would remember about the evening.  Next time I dine there I will definitely ask for a different area of the dining room.

You can check out the entire menu on the restaurant's Web site.  If you are looking for other dining choices gluten-free, friendly, or otherwise head on over to my Dining Out section for more reviews or for featured locales simply click on some of the categories on the sidebar to your right.  Finally, if you are looking for the most faulous experiences in New York City try my QNYGF section.
 
 
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I am back in the City after a quick trip to North Carolina for the Memorial Day weekend.  I have to say that a bit of research prior to the trip yielded some wonderfully delicious gluten-free options that actually catered to Celiacs.  In an area that is cluttered with every conceivable chain food option (some of which do indeed have GF menus or processes) I was happy to find real restaurants that had either gluten-free options or were able to adapt and ensure that my food allergies would not be a problem.  Yes, I may have had to travel an hour in either direction, but it was well worth it to experience delicious dining options and not have any allergy issues.

In the coming days I will be bringing you some reviews from the trip that hopefully will be of use should you find yourself in the local area.  If nothing else it will just help to reinforce my mantra that you can be gluten-free anywhere you go.  Sure it might take a bit of additional work or you might not have as many options, but you can live a full (and fabulous) gluten-free life anywhere and anytime.
 
 
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With Memorial Day right around the corner, I thought what better way to welcome summer than with a FABULOUS gluten-free giveaway. 

Yes, this is just a tease but in the very near future (read after the holiday) I will be starting a contest to give away one very fabulous gluten-free gift basket (or other suitable vessel) chock full of some of my very favorite gluten-free goodies.  You have seen me write and rave about some very special items that I truly love so I figured why not share the love.  Oh, and for my Canadian friends, you are included in this one as I am happy to ship to my friends to the North.

So do stay tuned as I begin to construct the basket for little hints as to what might be inside.  Oh, and I never do anything on a small scale so be prepared for a truly delicious prize.  Get ready to party like a gluten-free rockstar.  Note: GFM is not responsible for any additional weight the winner may gain through consumption of these world-class treats.
 
 
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The past couple of weeks have been absolutely crazy between work and family obligations but I most certainly have not forgotten about my readers.  So, while I have a bit of a lull for the next few minutes, I thought I would finally update my blog.  I figured what better way to spotlight to great new restaurants in Upstate New York than with a new post.

As many of you follow me regularly know, I am married to a fantastic Bermudian and my in-laws come in a few times a year for visits.  We spend our time together mostly up in the Catskill mountains of New York State, which while beautiful, can also present a bit of a challenge for gluten-free dining options.  The Catskills are undergoing a bit of resurgence and in the past few years have become more like a relaxed Hamptons to the north.

On our last visit, the weekend before last, I did a bit of research and found two new (to me) restaurants that looked to be quite promising.  One was a dinner locale, The Red Onion and the other a breakfast option, Oriole 9.  Both are located in the artsy community of Woodstock and both were actually very pleasant surprises.

The Red Onion was a relaxed country Inn-like setting that had a bit of an edge to it.  While not a gluten-free restaurant they were actually very receptive to my food allergies and my experience was without incident.  Not to mention they mix a mean cocktail.  I had a wonderful roast beet salad with citrus vinaigrette, shaved fennel, ricotta salata, red onion, and mint.  It was simply delicious.  For my main course I decided upon the roast chicken with bacon, pearl onions, mushrooms, and roast potatoes.  Again, cooked to perfection – moist and tender.  For dessert I had quite possible the most decadent dark chocolate mousse that was made from scratch and one of the best I have ever tasted.  It was definitely among the top mousses that ever came across my palate.

The next morning we decided to give Oriole 9, a breakfast and lunch only locale a try.  Walking though the door was like walking into a relaxed European café.  It was decorated with local art and featured a variety of unique seating options from wonderfully comfortable banquettes to an elevated “stage” which is where we opted to dine.  The first thing you notice about this place is the coffee.  They have real European coffee that instantly transported me back to my favorite European café.  The menu was quite extensive and consisted of local offerings which was a nice touch and always good to see.  The menu on this Sunday morning was a mix of regular brunch items with specials also available – one of which was a gluten-free pasta option – nice.

I was really in a breakfast mood and when I saw they had homemade corned beef hash, I knew exactly what I would be having.  What then transpired was hash nirvana.  This was without question the best corned beef hash that I have ever indulged in.  It was fresh, lean corned beef that was mixed with just a small amount of potatoes and topped with cooked to order eggs.  I opted for over easy which made for a wonderfully decadent combination.  It is served in a bowl so you can mix until your heart is content.

I love it when I stumble across great new places and it just goes to show you that you can go gluten –free anywhere with just a bit of advanced research and planning.   If you find yourself in the Catskills, please give these two eclectic locales a try – you will not be disappointed.
 
 
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Perhaps it is all the trees in bloom or the warmer weather but I find spring to be highly inspirational.  In the coming months there are going to be quite a few fantastic and fabulous surprises here at Gluten Free Mike. 

There are tons of new locales on-deck for both my regular and QNYGF series as well as delicious gluten-free recipes and quite possibly the coolest giveaway I have ever had to-date – and trust me, you will not want to miss this one (not to mention it will be open to all my friends in CANADA who always seem to get left out). 

The spring and summer has GFM travelling as usual and I hope you will come along as I gluten-free globetrot bring you to some unexpected gluten-free places.  So please join me as I continue my journey to gluten-free fabulousness – I am so glad to have you along for the ride.
 
 
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What better way to kick of spring than with a fantastic giveaway from my friends at General Mills, Stop & Shop, and MyBlogSpark – thanks everyone.  In addition to the in-store promotion where you could win one of two fabulous eco-friendly 2010 hybrid cars, I have a $20 Stop & Shop card to give away to one of my lucky readers.  To win a chance at the $20 Stop & Shop gift card all you need to do is comment on this post and tell me what General Mills products you fancy from the list below – easy peasy.  Oh, and if you use re-useable bags at the grocery, why not share what motivates you to do so?

So how do you enter?  Entering could not be easier.  From April 16-29, buy 5 participating General Mills items with your Stop & Shop card, use a re-useable shopping bag and you’ll automatically be entered to win.  How easy is that?  Come on people, this one is a no brainer.  You get to help the environment, save money with your Stop & Shop card, and get entries to win a 2010 hybrid car.  I am a HUGE Stop & Shop fan and my local Super Stop & Shop has the most amazing gluten-free section a Celiac could hope for.  Oh, and just so you know, when you use re-usable bags at Stop & Shop you always get $.05 off for each bag – very nice indeed.  You can also enter without making a purchase by completing an official entry form at your local Stop & Shop store.

There are two different groups of participating General Mills items for each week of the promotion (see the embedded PDF below for the full list).   Yes, not everything on the list is gluten-free but I already spied quite a few fun options on there that we can indulge in. 

Now for the fine print:
No purchase is necessary.  You can also enter without making a purchase by completing an official entry form at your local Stop & Shop store.   There are two 2010 Hybrid cars up for grabs, and the more you buy the better your chances are to win! Limit one entry per visit. Open to residents of MA, RI, CT, NH, NJ, NY, MD, DE, VA or DC and individuals at least 18 years old. For details about the sweepstakes, see in-store for complete rules.
 
 
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Well, my friends I’ve been to Nice and the Isle of Greece while I…well, you know the rest.  Forgive my Charlene moment there.  Is it New York?  Los Angeles?  London?  Dubai?  Hong Kong?  Nope.  It’s actually…in Montreux, Switzerland – a small town roughly 2 hours outside of Geneva on the shores of Lac Léman.  That’s right, nestled in Fairmont’s Le Montreux Palace Hotel, well, actually you can only access by walking out of the hotel briefly along the Grand Rue to Harry’s New York Bar.  Sometimes you just find great things in the most unlikely of places.  I love a good burger and have certainly eaten my fair share while traveling the globe.  Yet, at the same time, it is not something I actively seek out while on the road.  So how did I stumble across this one?  Well, Harry’s has always been one of my all-time favorite bars.  It has a great atmosphere and the service is second to none.  Their bartenders mix a mean cocktail and the manager cannot do enough for his patrons.

When in Montreux, my other half and I make a point of hitting Harry’s at least once (sometimes more) an evening.  It is a great spot for a relaxed drink before heading out to dinner and even better to have a nice nightcap before retiring for the evening.  If you go outside of the Jazz Festival period it is never really crowded and even when it is it works.  Over the years we have some to know some of the regulars who frequent the place and the service staff has been pretty consistent over time.  So what does all this have to do with a burger?

One late evening after hitting the Casino I decided to have a quick drink to round off the evening.  Now, my frequent readers know I am a bit of a lush so no surprise there.  My other half and I popped into Harry’s and settled into one of their comfortable booths.  We ordered our drinks but I was feeling a bit peckish (again, no newsflash there) and decided to peruse the bar menu.  The menu is really very comprehensive and has everything from Rib Eye to Spaghetti to the famous burger.  I was craving a burger so when the manager came over to attend to us, I explained my allergies and if I could have the burger sans bun and fries (possible shellfish cross contamination).  Without skipping a beat the manager could not offer me enough options to pair with my burger.  I mean, I typically just get the patty with lettuce and tomato but he felt it his duty to make sure that I felt like I was not getting the full experience.  I don’t think there was anything he would not hair offered to pair with my burger.  I settled on a fresh salad of mesclun greens lightly tossed with the house vinaigrette. 

When the burger arrived, the presentation was impeccable.  A hearty patty grilled to perfection with every possible accoutrement one could hope for – condiments, pickles, sliced tomato, onion, well you get the idea.  I have always enjoyed topping my burgers with a ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard which I keep in separate areas of the plate, almost like a painter’s palate, and paint each bit with just the perfect amount of each.  OCD?  Perhaps, but it truly makes for the most perfect of bites.

The burger itself has a consistency unlike any other you will come across.  I tend to order all of my meat charred (though this is slowly changing) but not here – medium is the perfect temperature to enjoy these burgers.  Perhaps it’s the Swiss beef (I love that the Swiss put the country of origin for meat on every menu) or perhaps it is the atmosphere or maybe a combination of both that makes this the best burger.  When you cut into it you barely need any effort and the first bite is something you will not soon forget.  It is almost creamy in texture and seasoned to perfection.  It is more akin to eating a fine pate than a greasy burger.  I have no clue what they mix into the meat but whatever it is makes for absolute burger perfection.  The spices are subtle but so well balanced that one could easily eat the burger by itself and not even notice the lack of condiments.  To me it is true burger perfection as it can stand on it’s own without bread, without cheese, without any of the traditional accompaniments – how many burgers can really do that?

So, if you find yourself walking along the Grand-Rue of Montreux, do yourself a favor and pop-in for a cocktail and perhaps a nibble.  My partner and I have enjoyed many a meal at Harry’s (outside of the famed burger) because we went for a drink and ended up tucking-in for the evening because it is just that cozy.
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