About Gael Greene










           Photo: Steven Richter

In her role as restaurant critic of New York Magazine (1968 to January 2002) Detroit-born Gael Greene helped change the way New Yorkers (and many Americans) think about food.

"Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Ice Cream But Were Too Fat To Ask," "The Mafia Guide to Dining Out."   and " Nobody Knows the Truffles I've Seen" were early pieces.   In more recent years her annual roundup of   New York City's dining favorites, Ask Gael, was a gourmand's collectible for many years and she continues to write a weekly Ask Gael column for NYM. Earlier she worked at the New York Post.

As co-founder with James Beard and a continuing force behind Citymeals-on-Wheels as board chair, Ms. Greene has made a significant impact on the city of New York. Citymeals, the largest public/private partnership in the country, has raised $200 million in its twenty-six-year history to help feed the city's frail elderly shut-ins.

Ms. Greene's memoir, "Insatiable, Tales from a Life of Delicious Excess" was published April, 2006. Earlier non-fiction books include "Delicious Sex, A Gourmet Guide for Women and the Men Who Want to Love Them Better" and "BITE: A New York Restaurant Strategy." Her two novels Blue skies, No Candy" and "Doctor Love" were NY Times best sellers.


Gael Greene
Articles used with permission of Gael Greene, Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved. Steven Richter's photographs may not be used without permission.


Do you have a pet peeve about a restaurant?
Email Gael.

Restaurant questions?
Ask Gael.


Gael Greene's New York City Restaurant Reviews and more....
The NYC Insiders Guide
for women who aren't kids
Gael Greene
Gael Greene's New York City Restaurant Reviews and more....
The NYC Insiders Guide
for women who aren't kids
Sign up for our insider newsletter
Email:  
Gael's Favorite NYC French Restaurants
Dear Gael,

I'm meeting a friend from out-of-town for dinner. He is asking about good French restaurants in the city. Thought I should ask the expert...

Dear Reader,

The best French restaurant is Le Bernardin – mostly seafood, very expensive. Jean-Georges is more fusion than French but excellent – very expensive at dinner, they offer a two-course $28 lunch in the formal back room with each additional dish at $12. It’s my lunchtime favorite. Also wonderful and expensive and very French: Daniel on East 65th. Daniel’s DB Moderne is less expensive and fun in the theater district. Daniel's wine bar Bar Boulud specializes in French charcuterie across from Lincoln Center. You need to go after eight when everyone clears out for concerts, opera, etc. Balthazar on Spring Street in Soho is fabulous-looking, more French than most brasseries in France – consistently good French food with some NY dishes too. Moderate prices.

Break an egg,
Gael