saloon 52

where to burger up (that's better?) when you can't get into j.g. melon's, 12 really sexy job listings—including calvin klein's junior art director—and lots of saloon in-house opps

Gin and Platonic, Jake Snowden

• ICYMI, we’re putting together a very up-to-date saloon database for our community. Details below on how it works, and the form here for inclusion.

• What if you were a content creator about your city for Condé Nast Traveler…

• Wythe New York is temporarily closing their 59 Orchard Street location for renovations. The last day to shop is March 2, with a tentative reopening planned for April.

• Loooove seeing Climax Books in Vogue Business.

• I am delivering the news that this $130 balm is worth $130. I believe in very few “skin-transforming” products but if you’re a rosacea-ish stress-pimpled drama queen this is for you.

• Arhaus laying down a deal with four gorgeous goblets for $80.

• Our anonymous food correspondent wrote us a guide on where to go when you tried to get into a restaurant you couldn’t get into:

Where To Go When They Won’t Seat You

Bong

This tiny Cambodian restaurant was my favorite restaurant to open in 2025, and if you somehow manage to sneak your way in, please get the pork chop. But if the answer is no (and it really might be) you’re going to walk around the corner to Briscola, a cutie Italian restaurant from the people who own LaRina where the tagliatelle al ragu comes with a sidecar of sauce. Impeccable touch.

J.G. Melon

J.G. Melon is a perfect restaurant to me, and if their burgers were actually seasoned or cooked to temperature, I think I’d like it less. I, of course, am not alone, which means that the entirety of the Upper East Side is always trying to eat there. I don’t know how none of them know about Donohue’s........it’s like J.G. but smaller, 100% less crowded, and mostly patronized by people over the age of 65. Heaven. Also the martinis come with a sidecar served in a pine glass on ice. Like are you kidding me. The tables are usually reserved, but the bar is the best seat in house anyway.

Lucali

If you actually stand in line at Lucali, I really hope you get in because you deserve it. But if you don’t, you’re in luck, because Carroll Gardens is quietly a fantastic food neighborhood. Obviously there’s Frankie’s (and F&F next door), but I also love Osteria Radisa. Especially alone, at the bar, with the agnolotti.

Torrisi

I finally visited Torrisi for the first time recently. I get it. The food is excellent, and also there is about an 80% you will see some sort of celebrity. (Mine was Timothy Oliphant.) Simply put, it’s a restaurant that fucks. But I’ve also been kind of loving Cafe Mulberry....French not Italian, but tiny and hidden feeling and quiet and sexy and on top of The Mulberry for a post-dinner drink.