The multi-hyphenate, who soars in her self-penned To Free a Mockingbird, now playing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival through August 24th, shares her fave food spot in the Theatre District before or after a show.
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 actor/comedian/playwright and all-around multi-hyphenate Grace Aki, who’s currently taking the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by storm through August 24th with her dynamic and daring solo piece, To Free a Mockingbird, following a one-night-only benefit performance at the SoHo Playhouse earlier this month.
Through a unique blend of storytelling and stand-up, Aki tells the story – her story – of a family’s journey from Japan through the American South. Exploring secrets, lessons and the winding ways of “how our stories get told,” Aki arrives at a humorous and honest conclusion that might have its audience looking at their stories differently, too… because, after all, as she deduces, “generational trauma is… funny.”
For her work, Aki received a Best Actor win at SheNYC – a women-led organization fighting for gender equality in the arts – and the piece as a whole won the Audience Choice award at ATL Fringe, where it was also voted as one of the “Theater Best Bets” by Arts ATL. With this Edinburgh run, Aki makes her international acting and playwriting debut.
In addition to her stage work, Aki hosts the Sweet Meat Comedy Show at Joe’s Pub and the podcast Tell Me on a Sunday on the Broadway Podcast Network, and sells custom watercolor and ink prints on her Etsy shop and in retail establishments across the country.
But, back in New York, where does Aki like to eat?
(59th W. 44th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues)
Now the oldest operating hotel in New York City, the Algonquin, colloquially known as “The Gonk,” opened officially on November 22, 1902, following 15 months of arduous construction.
Of course, for ten years, from June 1919 to June 1929, a group of artists, writers, poets, and the like – including actress Dorothy Parker, humorist Robert Benchley, columnist Franklin P. Adams, and critic Alexander Woollcott, to name a few among the literary luminaries – gathered six days a week for lunch at the hotel, discussing daily goings-on, roasting each other, and producing material for the papers they wrote for, founding the famed Round Table for which the Algonquin restaurant is named.
The distinguished eatery still stands today – recently reopened in March 2024 following “refinement and refurbishment” – and for Aki, it’s one of New York’s most enticing attractions.
“You can’t go wrong!” Aki gushes, regarding the menu (while also making mention of the ornate rugs and oak-paneled walls), citing “the best avocado toast popovers,” with pickled tomato and jalapeño relish on house-made gluten-free Brazilian cheese bread, as a highlight.
She also recommends the Oysters Rockefeller topped with spinach and parmesan, and the Classic Caesar salad, peppered with garlic croutons and a generous portion of Parmigiano Reggiano.
“And the most perfect Steakhouse Burger,” she concludes, prepared with onion confit, Gruyère and creamed spinach, smothered in a secret sauce and served with a side of fries. The rest are a roll call of American classics, with shrimp cocktail, grilled chicken, pan-seared salmon and the like.
What’s more? This approach – fusing the frivolity of the era with a sense of sophistication derived from working in such a storied establishment – extends to the hotel at large. “At the Algonquin, we’ve built a hotel, maintained a hotel, and, over the years, even renovated a hotel, that is full of nooks and crannies and small areas [where you can] lose yourself and find inspiration,” muses General Manager Willis Loughhead, who took the reins – and “the chains off the doors” – of the establishment when it reopened following the lockdown in 2021.
“Whether it’s discussing a piece of art, or planning a manuscript, discussing a theatre production, it’s a comfortable place for quiet debauchery,” he laughs. “Whether you’re here to hide away or have a party of any size, we welcome guests to unwind, relax and be free in our historic hotel in the heart of the city.”
Simply put, from evening cocktails to morning coffee, the Algonquin has it all – one of the many reasons why it’s one of Aki’s favorite places to be.
“The Algonquin Hotel is, without a doubt, my second home,” she says, with a megawatt smile. “The staff, the vibes, the food, the drinks… it’s all outstanding! Every time I bring a theatre person, Broadway celebrity or visitor of any kind, they’re sure to make it their home, too. If you haven’t yet been, LET’S GO!”
And the food at the restaurant is far from all Aki recommends. “Their Blue Bar is equally exquisite and a great way to relax after a show,” she continues (named as such because frequent guest, actor John Barrymore, requested blue gels over the lights). Slip in and sip on a signature cocktail, be it Vicious Wit, with Grey Goose, St. Germain, Prosecco, lime and mint; Writer’s Block, with Partida Tequila, Aloe Liqueur, and a cucumber slice; the namesake Algonquin, with rye whiskey, dry vermouth and fresh pineapple juice; or the famous Dorothy Parker cocktail, made with apricots, orange bitters and the actress’ namesake gin.
“Broadway performers stop by [the bar] occasionally,” Loughhead adds, noting that given an actor’s involved performance schedule, Mondays are especially good nights to spot them.
Regardless, entertainment is aplenty at the venue; Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm see noted cabaret icon KT Sullivan perform in the lounge, while up-and-coming musician Rocco of the Snow takes over the piano bar every Thursday from 5-8pm (no cover for either – a rule instituted post-pandemic). Magicians, mind-readers and more, depending on the time of year, round out the schedule for the rest of the week.
“And you have to visit Hamlet the Cat!” Aki exclaims.
Prodded by Barrymore to provide a more dignified moniker given the prestige of the hotel he was living in, Case subsequently dubbed the initial cat Hamlet, after the Shakespearean character Barrymore portrayed in 1922. To this day, all male cats have taken this name, while all female cats are christened Matilda (the reason for this is not currently known). The current cat, to which Aki refers, is the eighth Hamlet in the hotel’s history, and the first in over 40 years, following a string of Matildas.
Up until the pandemic, the hotel held a birthday party for its resident cat every year, as well as an Annual Cat Fashion Show, wherein 8-10 felines are decked out in specialty outfits and accessories, in order to raise money for various cat charities, including the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals; a mobile adoption unit was also stationed outside the hotel during the event. Talk about being the cat’s meow!
This past February, the Hotel was inducted into the Historic Hotels of America, and this coming November, it will celebrate 122 years. Loughhead, for one, couldn’t be happier to be part of – and continue – that hallowed history.
“When the hotel welcomed its first guests, a room with a bath cost $2 per night, if you can believe it,” he shares, rattling off a list of fun facts about the venue. “We were also the first hotel to welcome solo, unaccompanied women.” Of interest to Broadway fans, “Lerner and Loewe wrote My Fair Lady here,” in Suite 910 that now bears their names and is available to guests. “Filmmaker William Friedkin celebrated the wrap of The French Connection film over cocktails in our lounge... Elvis Costello would stop in to perform – unannounced – on occasion…. playwright James Ijames celebrated his 2023 Tony nomination for Fat Ham upstairs... [and novelist] Colson Whitehead read a passage from his latest work.”
“The point being… you never really know who you’re going to see when you’re here,” Willis remarks. “I think that’s tremendously exciting, inspiring… almost conducive to a spark. Of course, if you feel that energy [as well] and you’re receptive to that energy, this is the place for you.”
The Round Table Restaurant is open 7 days a week, from 7am-10:30pm M-Th & Sun, and from 7am-11:30pm on Friday and Saturday. The Blue Bar is also open 7 days a week, from 3pm-11pm M-Th & Sun, and from 3pm-12am on Friday and Saturday. In regards to the hotel, check-in time is 4pm; check-out time is 12pm.
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!
