Though we understand their circumstances may have been a bit different, like Oliver and his clan of orphan boys, we’ve all fallen into a daze dreaming of “food, glorious food” at one point or another.
After all, it’s been said that food is the great equalizer, connecting us and bringing us together, either with family or friends, colleagues or companions, or any others from all walks of life, to dine often at a communal table or gathering space wherein we share stories and reveal the most authentic parts of ourselves.
In our continued effort, however, to find our way into others’ hearts (and stomachs!), sometimes it helps to venture beyond our tables and into the kitchens of others — especially in a city with such a diversified abundance of eateries as New York.
And of course, you can’t spell “theatre” without “eat.”
So, in our food-based series, we continue to poll some of the Great Bright Way’s best to “dish” (get it?) on where they love to eat, drink, and take in the vibes either pre- or post-show, while also answering why they love to sup there, sharing a favorite dish or two, and more.
Today, we turn to talented young troubadour Bryce Edwards, who takes Birdland by storm February 24th for the grand return of his Frivolity Hour, packed with lush serenades and decadent jazz novelties sure to perk up your ears.
A versatile jazz performer with one foot in the present and the other firmly and fastidiously in the past, Edwards takes his cues from the crooners of the late ‘20s and early ‘30s, bringing verve and vivacity to music made famous by Cliff Edwards, Ted Lewis, Jack Teagarden, Rudy Vallée, and Bing Crosby, while injecting his own interpretations via banjo, ukulele, tenor guitar, and mandolin. And, to evoke and celebrate the duos and partnerships of the era, his self-proclaimed “steady gal” ReiIly Wilmit, a celebrated jazz performer in her own right, may pop in for a tune or two.
A celebrated musician known for his multi-hyphenate instrumental approach, Edwards has made regular appearances with traditional jazz bands such as Buck and a Quarter, the Rivertown Vintage Jazz Band, and Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society, and in the original bluegrass improvisation group, The Wayfaring Strangers, which regularly plays at The PIT. He’s also performed at the annual Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center; alongside Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, and as a regular at Susie Mosher’s “The Lineup” — where he proudly proclaims it all began for him (the variety hour makes its own fanfared return to the cabaret scene April 1 at the Green Room 42).
In addition, Edwards writes and records original music and lyrics for the serialized radio dramas “The Town with No Name” and “The Forgotten.” He also provides and performs original songs for Ayun Halliday’s hit variety show, “Necromancers of the Public Domain.”
And to top it all off, he’s also a working freelance illustrator.
But where does Edwards like to eat?
(186 Mott St.)
Previously at the helm of Uncle Boons, the revered Nolita-based Thai restaurant that opened in 2013 and became a casualty of the pandemic, owners Ann Redding and Matt Danzer have now brought their “unabashedly playful” Asian flair to a new locale, infusing both their inventive and traditional Thai takes onto classic diner dishes.
Having opened in February 2020 – just before the virus shut everything down – Thai Diner first flourished under the post-COVID, QR code-utilizing outdoor dining model, before officially re-opening proper soon thereafter, where it’s been thriving ever since.
“I think the framework of a Greek-American diner is probably the inspiration a little bit as far as the thought process for the menu,” says Danzer. “You have some super-classic American dishes and then some kind of classic Thai street food.”
Redding, who grew up in Thailand and would enjoy her parents’ Americanized twists on Thai cooking when they immigrated to the US, emphasizes her upbringing influenced the style of the new establishment. “It’s the food I grew up with,” Redding reiterates. “Traditional Thai food from my mother, but also classic American fare from my dad’s side of the family. Thai Diner is our way of bringing it all together.”
And clearly, customers can’t get enough. Of the options on their terrifically teeming menu, Edwards enjoys the phat See Ew. Meaning “stir-fried soy sauce noodles” in Thai – “my girlfriend and I often refer to it as “noodle heaven,” he chuckles – the dish delivers as it promises, with wide rice noodles entangled in a mixture of Chinese broccoli and egg, served alongside vinegar chiles.
As a proud vegan, Edwards chooses vegan egg and tofu as a topper, but other appetizing options include grilled chicken, fried chicken, tender short rib, or prawns. (For an additional charge, you may also have your egg fried.)
If he’s feeling “more ‘dinery,’” – turning to the more American-influenced side of the menu – Edwards goes for George’s Egg Sandwich, a soft scrambled egg with American cheese, Thai basil, avocado and bok choy, wrapped in Roti, an Indian flatbread. (A non-vegan version featuring a curry-seasoned herbal sausage is also available). “And while we’re at it,” he exclaims, “check out the whole breakfast menu,” boasting, among others, a Thai-tea-flavored babka French toast, served with a condensed milk-infused butter; a crab omelette with Tom Yum sauce alongside jasmine rice; coconut pancakes with pandan & guava-almond custards, and a sumptuous Thai-style Congee porridge.
And, it should be noted, lest you be missing them, select items have found their way to Thai Diner from the original Uncle Boon’s menu; We wanted to still be able to give that to our guests,” says Redding. The transplants include the fan-favorite Phat Thai – minced peanuts, dried shrimp, raw onion, and ginger, doused in a toasted coconut tamarind sauce – and the ever-popular Khao soi, a chicken leg drenched in creamy coconut curry, topped with pickled mustard greens, fresh turmeric and egg noodles.
Guava crumb cake, a Banana Thai Rum Pudding, and a signature Pineapple Monster are among those that round off the dessert menu, offering a sweet and satisfying finish to your evening.
But it’s not just the food that entices its customers; the vibe is nothing to sneeze at, either.
“I love the incredibly thorough and well-thought-out ambiance,” Edwards says. Designed with help from Ann’s sister, May, and borrowing elements previously established at Uncle Boons, the ceiling is thoughtfully layered (upon layered) in bamboo, with teak and chrome encasing the tables, and a functioning full bar, outfitted in glass, at its center.
Paintings, photographs, and retro movie posters are plastered against the walls, while wooden elephants, Buddhist shrines, and other festive trinkets adorn the perimeter.
“It’s incredibly transportive,” Edwards remarks, noting he particularly likes visiting in the winter months, “because you truly forget what it’s like outside.”
Its one drawback? “There’s usually a wait and often a line,” Edwards cautions, adding that they don’t take reservations.
But, on the bright side, it solidifies what Edwards has thought from the jump – simply put, as if you couldn’t tell: “This place is very cool.”
Thai Diner is open for dine-in M-W from 8:30am-10:30pm, Thurs and Fri from 8:30am-11:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am-11:30pm; takeout is also offered daily and ends a half-hour before closing each night.
(315 W. 44th St.)
He is at Birdland after all.
Named for sax immortal Charlie “Bird” Parker, the famed jazz club has been playing host to legendary concerts and musicians – cementing itself as an essential part of the New York City music scene since 1949. First opened at Broadway and 52nd, with its namesake as the original headliner, the brand initially hosted memorable sets by all the jazz greats, including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk, with luminaries like Gary Cooper, Frank Sinatra, Sugar Ray Robinson and Marilyn Monroe among those in the crowd.
As Rock & Roll emerged, the club closed at that location in 1965, but re-emerged just a year later at 2745 Broadway, on the corner of 105th Street. While it was successful there, owner Gianni Valenti felt the Midtown spark was missing.
After a decade of achievements uptown, Valenti moved the club back to Midtown in 1975, where it’s been prospering ever since, thanks to lauded performances through the years by Pat Metheny, Diana Krall, Michel Legrand, Tito Puente, and John Pizzarelli. Of note to theatre fans, their celebrated Broadway at Birdland series has seen the likes of Christine Ebersole, Melissa Manchester, Betty Buckley, Liza Minnelli, and the late Chita Rivera take the stage in recent years.
And, of course, their signature Cast Party, helmed by impresario Jim Caruso every Monday since 2004, has helped to keep them on the map. Offering an open mic to established superstars and green(ish) up-and-comers alike, the evening allows patrons to revel in a unique cabaret experience of improv, variety, music, frivolity, and unbridled overall enthusiasm for the art form.
Finally, in 2018, the venue debuted the more intimate, cabaret-style Birdland Theater on its lower level (outfitted with a classic bar, natch), which has helped continue its mission of bringing the best of Broadway, cabaret, burlesque, comedy, jazz and more to its wide-ranging audiences.
Both the top and bottom floors offer equally diverse menus, complete with chef-curated wines, cocktails, classic beers, and can’t-miss decadent desserts. Off the main menu, Edwards recommends the Eggplant Parmesan, loaded with the titular vegetable and smoked vegan mozzarella, under a luscious homemade marinara, and garnished with basil. “As a vegan (and a nice Italian boy), I’m very partial to it,” he laughs.
If seafood is more your style, try the Fresh Grilled Salmon, served in a lemon butter caper sauce, alongside grilled asparagus and Cajun rice, or the hearty New Orleans-style gumbo, featuring a seafood medley simmered in a spicy stew with vegetables and the same Cajun rice.
Or, for small plates & starters, sample the Crispy Cajun Cauliflower, topped with a fiery chipotle aioli, or the Smoked Pork Belly, served with green apple, cabbage and a red pepper slaw, finished with a balsamic drizzle.
“On top of all that,” Edwards concludes, “the staff is lovely, the music is top-notch… really, what more could you want?!”
Birdland Jazz Club is open 7 days a week, generally from 4:30pm-11:30pm, though exact times vary depending on the day of the week. Check your event listing for exact times; the club reserves the right to release your tickets 15 minutes after the scheduled start time if you have not arrived.
ONE FINAL PICK: A jazzy dive bar in the heart of the East Village, Mona’s is the place to be for the best in cheap drinks and lively late-night music.
“Every Tuesday at 9pm,” Edwards details, “they host one of the best traditional jazz jams in the city… or anywhere else, for that matter.” The house band, featuring a rotating cast of New York’s finest pre-bop specialists, kicks it off with music that can run the gamut from old New Orleans jazz right on through to the swing era. “Then, at midnight,” Edwards explains, “the whole thing opens up as a jam, which goes on well into the wee hours, often until four in the morning.”
The same routine happens the night before, but with the twangy timbre of bluegrass.
“Though the music is really the main attraction, Mona’s on its own is a damn good bar. They don’t serve food, but unlike virtually any other bar in New York, you can order two drinks without taking out a mortgage, and they always have Pimm’s on hand, which is a rare delight.” And there’s also no cover charge.
A pool table, Skee Ball, and a jumpin’ jukebox round out the attractions on any given night.
And attract it does.
In addition to the array of jazz artists who jam weekly, Hadestown scribe Anais Mitchell and recent Grammy winner Sierra Ferrell are among those known to frequent the bar.
Finally, despite their dining limitations, typical bar snacks are available, and they allow patrons to order in. “Once, while I was on the bandstand,” Edwards says with a laugh, “my girlfriend had mozzarella sticks delivered, and she seemed very happy with that.” Smooth jazz and mozzarella? A win-win for all!
Mona’s, located at 224 Avenue B, is open 7 days a week from 3pm-4am.
We’ll continue to present a new performer with new restaurants and new menus, so keep checking back to see who we poll and what’s on their mind at mealtime! Until next time, as always, bon appétit!
