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.
The next participant called to the mic is L-E-A-N-A Rae Concepcion, who is currently reprising her role of Marcy Park in the revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at New World Stages, having previously portrayed the tenacious overachiever in the Kennedy Center production last Fall.
But where does Leana like to dine?
(647 9th Ave.)
While she jokes that her selection may seem “too basic” for some, Concepcion maintains that for those who love Thai food as much as she does (including one of our past participants), “OBAO has some of my favorite Thai in the city!”
“The ambiance is always wonderful….and the staff is always so amazing,” she gushes. “Every time I bring a guest, they always fall in love!”
It’s not hard to see why: Boasting “bold flavors [and] good vibes” in equal measure, “nobody is on the cusp of innovative culinary concepts like OBAO,” according to its chef, Michael Huynh, who’s been at the helm of the pan-Asian noodle nucleus since it opened its flagship in Midtown East in 2009. (With the success of that restaurant, they launched a second Hell’s Kitchen establishment in 2013).
And the food, to that end, speaks for itself. You can’t go wrong with the award-winning Pho Bo (thin-sliced beef brisket and rice noodles steeped in a 12-hour slow-cooked beef broth), and customers praise the “menu star players”: the Pad See Eew, with its ample amount of stir-fried noodles, beef, garlic, egg, and Chinese broccoli served over pickled long hots, or the Bo Luc Lac, another excellent beef dish, topped with grape tomatoes, crispy shallots, and tender caramelized onions.
But for her part, ever thoughtful in her preparation – well, what else would you expect from Marcy? – Concepcion advises following her instructions to achieve “the perfect meal.”
Start off with the Kimchi fries – topped with scallions, sesame seeds and spicy pickled napa cabbage, with a side of Sriracha mayonnaise – as an appetizer, then dig into the Vietnamese Pork Chops – here, grilled and served with a tangy nước châm dipping sauce, as well as pickled carrots and radish.
“And you can never go to a Thai restaurant without getting a Thai Iced Tea!” Concepcion suggests, with a wink, adding that OBAO’s offering – though made traditionally with sugar, condensed milk, and spices – is “not too sweet” and, therefore, “simply perfect.”
Whatever the dish – be it pad thai, pork buns, or anything in between – we know one thing’s for sure: As OBAO’s mission statement declares, whether you’re here for a sumptuous feast or just a quick bite, you’re in for something special.
Which is exactly why Concepcion finds it so A-P-P-E-A-L-I-N-G.
(127 W. 43rd Street)
Like another of our previous participants, Concepcion favors the Mermaid Oyster Bar, the Times Square offshoot of the flagship Mermaid Inn. Offering “casually sophisticated” seafood options to locals and out-of-towners alike, the establishment in the heart of Midtown in December 2022 – perfectly timed to Merrily We Roll Along’s initial Off-Broadway opening.
When the hit production announced a Broadway transfer – to a theater perfectly positioned in proximity to the fish-focused brasserie, no less – the restaurant instantly “became my go-to spot for meeting friends and family before or in between shows.”
Similar to OBAO, “this location is huge,” she says, with a smile. “You can always get seated, but again, it helps to make a reservation [as] this spot not only attracts the pre- and post-theatre crowd, but corporate folks as well.”
The menu is also equally enormous, though despite its variety, Concepcion proudly maintains she’s a creature of habit, and her order never wavers.
A self-proclaimed “clam chowder purist,” she can’t get enough of the rich and creamy comfort food, here loaded generously with bacon and fingerling potatoes. Further likening it to a warm hug, she asserts, “It’s some of the best clam chowder I’ve ever had!”
But that’s just the beginning. “There is nothing I love more in this world than a tart pasta,” Concepcion continues, “and their Linguine & Clams always hits the spot.” Blended with a mix of arugula, Meyer lemon and aleppo pepper, the dish is a hit with critics and customers alike.
Finally, evident from her previous selection, she reiterates how “I’m a huge Iced Tea person,” emphasizing her insistence that the beverage to be prepared as a sweet tea. Luckily, “Mermaid Inn always brews their Iced Tea perfectly… and the side of simple syrup always hits” and certainly doesn’t hurt with Concepcion’s combo of delicacies.
As previously mentioned, other established favorites included the Mermaid Fish Tacos, boasting beer-battered cod, with red cabbage, pico de gallo & pickled jalapeño, and the Lobster Knuckles “Escargot-Style,” the latter an original creation from Executive Chef Michael Cressotti,
Should it tempt you, the bar touts the “Best Oyster Happy Hour,” replete with specially-priced varieties of the mollusk, from both the East and West Coast, specifically chosen by the chef.
Ultimately, “my goal is to provide guests with the feeling of having the complete dining experience….slurping freshly shucked oysters (if they wish),” Cressotti explains, “and, if only for one minute, to have them close their eyes and imagine being in coastal New England [while] in the heart of New York City.”
Which is just enough to keep Concepcion merrily rolling along.
Mermaid Oyster Bar Times Square is open 7 days a week for lunch from 12pm-3:30pm and dinner from 4pm-9pm, with a daily happy hour from 4pm-5:30pm at the bar.
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!
