Latest news with #dining
Times
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Yes, it's ‘just' me — please don't sit me in Siberia
T here must be an art to eating out when there is 'just one' of you but, if so, I haven't mastered it. 'Yes, it's just me,' I say to the man at the entrance who is looking over my shoulder, trying to spot my phantom friend. 'No,' I add, brightly, 'just me!' I've tried to stop myself saying 'just'. It just doesn't work. It sounds like an apology and, on some level, it must be. As Three Dog Night (remember them?) once sang, though admittedly not about dining: 'One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do.' Even the online booking system seems aghast. I have to keep changing the number of diners from the de facto '2' to '1'. If I look away for an instant, it flips back to '2'.
Forbes
21 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Lucky's Steakhouse Replaces Beloved East Hampton Restaurant
A steak dinner at Lucky's Steakhouse in East Hampton A 25-year-old California institution is expanding to the East End. Lucky's Steakhouse will open its fourth location at the end of June, expanding its presence beyond Montecito, Malibu, and Soho to yet another ritzy locale: East Hampton. The California-based restaurant is replacing the recently shuttered Cove Hollow Tavern at 85 Montauk Highway. Following the Ina Garten-lauded restaurant's final service on May 31, 2025, Lucky's retained the staff of the former institution, honoring local ties and ensuring familiar faces at the front of house (hiring peak season in the Hamptons is also a notable challenge). Fans of Cove Hollow Tavern can find some of the restaurant's beloved dishes at their sister restaurant, Vine Street Cafe, on Shelter Island. Lucky's Steakhouse was founded by Gene Montesano of Lucky Brand Jeans, along with his friends Herb Simon and Jimmy Argyropoulos, Herb's daughter Sarah Meyer Simon is leading the brand's East Coast expansion. A seafood tower at Lucky's Steakhouse in East Hampton 'We opened Lucky's in Montecito in 2000, creating a place where friends could enjoy a great meal in a comfortable atmosphere and be treated like family," shared Herb Simon. "Two decades later, we brought that same spirit to Malibu. In July 2024, SoHo followed—a small neighborhood restaurant with great food and atmosphere. Next up is East Hampton, where I have a home and spend my summers, and needless to say I'm excited to bring the Lucky's experience to the Hamptons.' Dining at Lucky's Steakhouse East Hampton East Hampton has no shortage of great spots for steak (East Hampton Grill, The Palm) and Lucky's will join the steakhouse selection with dry-aged USDA Prime steaks and more menu items familiar to their guests in California and SoHo. Highlights include Gene's Filet (filet mignon, fresh horseradish, red-wine sauce), the Lucky's Salad (romaine, shrimp, bacon, avocado & Roquefort), and Skinny Onion Rings (thin frizzled onions). Hamptons-exclusive plats du jour, inspired by the local fare, plus a raw bar, will also be served. A white tablecloth dinner service at Lucky's Steakhouse To drink, tableside martini service, an extensive wine list, and full bar, of course. The East Hampton Lucky's is very much inspired by the original Montecito location. Longtime artistic collaborator Peter Horjus painted Jazz Age-inspired murals of East End scenes to adorn the space along with new furnishings crafted by French atelier Maison Gatti. Lucky's East Hampton will be open on weekdays from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. and 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. on weekends. Reservations available via OpenTable, and walk-ins are welcome.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Washington Post
7 of the best restaurants around Tysons
Tysons is so much more than its perpetually transitioning shopping malls. The Northern Virginia enclave, which we've combined with neighboring McLean in this case, has long fostered destination dining spots (Colvin Run Tavern, Maestro) as well as beloved neighborhood haunts (McLean Family Restaurant). Bop around the Silver Line hot spot with these dining tips from Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, Post food writer Tim Carman and your intrepid local dining reporter.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Red Lobster's Seafood Boils And Why We Love A Comeback
With Crabfest back on the menu, Red Lobster isn't just serving seafood—it's offering a soft relaunch ... More of trust. And we're showing up for it. After bankruptcy headlines and shuttered locations, Red Lobster is back with boil bags, biscuits, and something people still crave: a reason to celebrate. The Return of Seafood Boils as Comfort Theater Red Lobster has always carried more meaning than its menu lets on. For a lot of us, it was the place you went for a birthday dinner, a celebration, or just a break from cooking when you needed something to feel like a treat. That kind of emotional association doesn't disappear, even when the brand itself falters. After a very public Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing this spring and successfully emerging from it last year, Red Lobster is trying to reintroduce itself—not with a new logo or splashy rebrand, but by bringing back Crabfest. This time, they've added customizable seafood boil bags and bright, summer-ready cocktails that feel both of the moment and unmistakably theirs. At first glance, it reads like business as usual. But beneath the surface, this is a deliberate shift. Crabfest does more than a seasonal promotion—it's a public reminder of the brand's staying power and an attempt to tie its future to what people already remember fondly. It's a key part of their comeback story. A Familiar Format, Reframed for 2025 The seafood boil bag is built for the current moment. It's visual, it's interactive, and it puts the diner in control—pick your proteins, choose your seasoning, decide how bold you want to go. That kind of format lends itself well to social media (hello, TikTok bait), but it also taps into something simpler: the pleasure of cooking it yourself. Whether it's the Mariner's Boil (crab legs, lobster tail, shrimp) or the simpler Sailor's Boil (shrimp, sausage, corn), the idea is the same: hands-on, no-fuss indulgence. You can finish it with garlic butter, Cajun seasoning, or the new OLD BAY® and Parmesan combo. It's not trying to be fine dining—it's trying to feel like an event. And that's part of the strategy. Right now, restaurants are competing on food and on experience. A seafood boil bag that arrives steaming to your table feels like a moment. It gives people a reason to go out, even if they're watching their budgets. More Than Just a Meal: The Real Red Lobster Seafood Boil Review The comments on Red Lobster's social posts say more than the press release ever could. You see it clearly when people are tagging friends, talking about birthdays, and making dinner plans. Take this one: After an eight-month recovery from surgery, one person shared on Instagram that Crabfest was going to be their first big outing. Or another, who immediately imagined dipping the restaurant's cheddar bay biscuits into the buttery bottom of the boil bag – "I'm imagining dipping one of them biscuits in the butter at the bottom of the bag omg." You also see the simple excitement, "Making my reservations 😍" or the truth, 'Looks good! Love a good seafood boil. Will have to check it out.' But the conversations aren't just one-sided. Over on platforms like Reddit, where diners tend to be a bit more candid, you find common questions and observations. Many immediately zeroed in on the seasoning, with one person noting the frequent first take they saw was, "Did they season this?" or a concern that the 'garlic they use is apparently very conservative.' While some felt the seafood boil price was "a fine price point for what you are getting," others expressed hesitation, waiting for a "nationwide PSA... on how to properly season a Seafood Boil." This blend of excitement and critical feedback shows the new boils are definitely getting people talking. These are the kinds of details that don't show up in earnings reports. They're the ones that tell you whether a brand still matters, and for many, Red Lobster still very much does. Crabfest has always been one of Red Lobster's most recognizable campaigns, but this year, it's carrying a different weight. It's a reminder that the brand is still here, still worth visiting, and still good at what it's always done: delivering a meal that feels like a little celebration. Why This Works—for Them and for Us With Crabfest back on the menu, Red Lobster isn't just serving seafood—it's offering a soft relaunch ... More of trust, and we're showing up for it. There's a reason this version of Crabfest feels like it landed at the right time. It's not just a savvy move by the brand—it's something people were ready to say yes to. Right now, dining out carries more emotional weight than it used to. For a lot of folks, it's no longer just about convenience—it's about choosing joy, about marking something. The seafood boil bags, the biscuits, the familiar flavors—these aren't just menu items. For some memories and emotional comfort may be that's been harder to come by in recent years. People are tired, grocery prices are still high, and there's uncertainty everywhere, from the economy to the headlines. So when a brand like Red Lobster says, Come in, sit down, let's bring back something that used to feel good, that offer lands differently. It's not flashy, but it's sturdy. And sometimes, that's exactly what we're looking for. Crabfest works now because it remembers what people liked about Red Lobster in the first place—and it doesn't try to overcomplicate that. It invites you to pick your boil, order your cocktail, and dip your biscuit in something buttery. It's the kind of experience that doesn't ask for much but gives back just enough to feel like a win. That's not marketing fluff. That's what we crave when everything else feels up in the air: a little taste of normal. A reminder that celebration doesn't have to be perfect, expensive, or rare. It just has to show up when you need it. What Crabfest Says About What We Crave Crabfest works because it's rooted in something people already have emotional memory around. You don't need to convince someone what a crab boil is or why cheddar bay biscuits matter—they already know. What Red Lobster is doing here is connecting that memory to a moment of transformation. It's saying: we went through something, and now we're ready to bring you back in. Not every brand gets a second chance. Red Lobster seems to understand that what people want right now isn't just novelty—it's familiarity done well. Something that feels good, even if just for an hour or two. And that's what this version of Crabfest is offering: not just a plate of food, but a reason to feel like things are okay again—or at least okay enough to order the boil and let yourself enjoy it. Why We Love a Comeback There's something deeply satisfying about seeing our favorite brand come back from the edge of collapse, especially one that's been part of our lives for decades. Coming back from the brink like Red Lobster did isn't just about recovery; it's about recognition. That feeling of being counted in again and getting another shot at joy, comfort, or normalcy. We root for comebacks because they reflect something true about how we move through the world—how we mess up, regroup, and try again. Crabfest might be a promotion on paper, but to the people planning birthday dinners or post-surgery celebrations around it, it's also a signal: you can come back from hard things. You can make something feel like a celebration again, even if everything isn't perfect. That's what Red Lobster is really selling right now. Not just crab or value, but the feeling that it's okay to want something nice. That you've earned a biscuit in butter. That you—and maybe they—are still standing.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sit-Down Dining Stocks Q1 Highlights: First Watch (NASDAQ:FWRG)
Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company's progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at First Watch (NASDAQ:FWRG) and the best and worst performers in the sit-down dining industry. Sit-down restaurants offer a complete dining experience with table service. These establishments span various cuisines and are renowned for their warm hospitality and welcoming ambiance, making them perfect for family gatherings, special occasions, or simply unwinding. Their extensive menus range from appetizers to indulgent desserts and wines and cocktails. This space is extremely fragmented and competition includes everything from publicly-traded companies owning multiple chains to single-location mom-and-pop restaurants. The 13 sit-down dining stocks we track reported a mixed Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts' consensus estimates by 0.8% while next quarter's revenue guidance was 2.3% below. Luckily, sit-down dining stocks have performed well with share prices up 24.1% on average since the latest earnings results. Based on a nautical reference to the first work shift aboard a ship, First Watch (NASDAQ:FWRG) is a chain of breakfast and brunch restaurants whose menu is heavily-focused on eggs and griddle items such as pancakes. First Watch reported revenues of $282.2 million, up 16.4% year on year. This print was in line with analysts' expectations, but overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts' expectations. "First quarter same restaurant traffic results are encouraging and continued the trends we experienced exiting 2024, demonstrating both the strength and the resilience of the First Watch brand,' said Chris Tomasso, CEO and President of First Watch. First Watch delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 18.8% since reporting and currently trades at $15.10. Read our full report on First Watch here, it's free. Founded by Norman Brinker in Dallas, Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) is a casual restaurant chain that operates the Chili's, Maggiano's Little Italy, and It's Just Wings banners. Brinker International reported revenues of $1.43 billion, up 27.2% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 2.6%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts' same-store sales estimates. Brinker International delivered the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 9.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $176. Is now the time to buy Brinker International? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. Known for its conveyor belt that transports dishes to diners, Kura Sushi (NASDAQ:KRUS) is a chain of sushi restaurants serving traditional Japanese fare with a touch of modernity and technology. Kura Sushi reported revenues of $64.89 million, up 13.3% year on year, in line with analysts' expectations. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts' EBITDA estimates and a miss of analysts' same-store sales estimates. Kura Sushi delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 97.7% since the results and currently trades at $81.75. Read our full analysis of Kura Sushi's results here. Known for its bottomless steak fries, Red Robin (NASDAQ:RRGB) is a chain of casual restaurants specializing in burgers and general American fare. Red Robin reported revenues of $392.4 million, flat year on year. This result beat analysts' expectations by 1.3%. It was a very strong quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates. The stock is up 74.6% since reporting and currently trades at $5.50. Read our full, actionable report on Red Robin here, it's free. Celebrated for its delicious (and free) brown bread, gigantic portions, and delectable desserts, Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) is an iconic American restaurant chain that also owns and operates a portfolio of separate restaurant brands. The Cheesecake Factory reported revenues of $927.2 million, up 4% year on year. This print met analysts' expectations. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates and a decent beat of analysts' EPS estimates. The stock is up 18.9% since reporting and currently trades at $60. Read our full, actionable report on The Cheesecake Factory here, it's free. As a result of the Fed's rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has come down from frothy levels post-pandemic. The general rise in the price of goods and services is trending towards the Fed's 2% goal as of late, which is good news. The higher rates that fought inflation also didn't slow economic activity enough to catalyze a recession. So far, soft landing. This, combined with recent rate cuts (half a percent in September 2024 and a quarter percent in November 2024) have led to strong stock market performance in 2024. The icing on the cake for 2024 returns was Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. Presidential Election in early November, sending major indices to all-time highs in the week following the election. Still, debates around the health of the economy and the impact of potential tariffs and corporate tax cuts remain, leaving much uncertainty around 2025. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Strong Momentum Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
