— While attending a performance of Hamilton over the weekend, Amy Schumer tipped the lobby bartenders $1,000 on a $77 bill. Her party placed a drinks order before the performance began. During intermission they got another round, and one of the members of Schumer's crew handed the receipt with the mega-tip to the bartender with the note: "Amy wants to make sure you get this." The bartender tells Gothamist: "We've served a lot of celebrities at Hamilton and we've received some nice tips but never before had I seen a tip that even came close to this one."
— Sweetgreen, the farm-to-table salad chain that's hell-bent on world domination, is planning a new location at 226 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. It's slated to open on April 24.
— A Jersey City man was arrested and charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon after he slashed a delivery worker from Famous Amadeus Pizza in Midtown over the weekend. The man with the knife collided with the pizza delivery worker and the two guys got into a violent fight that ended with the restaurant employee being taken to Bellevue Hospital. The delivery worker is currently in stable condition.
— Here is a photo of the restaurant auction at Risotteria on Bleecker Street over the weekend:
Photo by Nick Solares
The gluten-free restaurant closed for good earlier this month.
— Daniel Boulud is not planning to switch to a no-tipping model anytime soon. The chef/restaurateur tells the Daily News: "I don’t think I’m in a rush to do it. I’m conscious of the impact — not that we want the waiters to make less and the cooks to make more — it’s just the culture of tipping here has existed for so long." The chef also notes: "If tomorrow they say tip has to be included, hallelujah, we don’t have to force it, but we’ll wait for the law to tell us what to do. Right now it’s not proven that it’s the right thing."
— Meanwhile, Steve Cuozzo ponders the problems that restaurateurs might face under the no-tipping system: "Many large places in prime locations don’t just pay their landlords rent — they also pay an agreed-upon percentage of revenue above a certain point. Without tipping, each restaurant with such an arrangement will now owe its landlord more, because higher prices to compensate staff will naturally bring in lots more cash. That means owners who famously grumble over 'impossible' rents might strengthen their landlords’ hands even more."
— And speaking of Cuozzo, please set aside one minute of your day to watch the Post critic review Girl Scout cookies. He just loves 'em.
— Last week, Hillary and Bill Clinton had pizzas from Serafina White Plains delivered to the door of their private jet at the Westchester County Airport.
— Is the macaron doughnut destined to become New York's next big novelty dessert? Only time will tell. Francois Payard debuted these treats at his bakeries over the weekend. If they're popular enough, he'll keep making them.
— Plywood update: Work is now underway on the Greenpoint location of French bakery/cafe Maman, as detailed in the photo at the top of this post. The team is applying for a liquor license for the space at 80 Kent Street. This is the same building that also houses French newcomer Cassette.
— The owners of Beekman Bar and Books in Midtown East put a new sign up outside the tavern recently:
— East Sixth Street tapas restaurant Confessional has closed after less than two years in business. In a Facebook message to fans, the owners explain that they're planning a "fabulous new location," although no word yet on where that is.
— Out in the Rockaways, El Pasatiempo and Pebble's Pub have been dark for several weeks. Rockawayist notes that the phone lines at both restaurants are no longer in service.
— Popular Bushwick Latin restaurant La Isla Cuchifritos closed earlier this year for some renovations, but now it's back in action with new windows, signage, tiles, and light fixtures.
— The people behind the original locations of Eataly are opening a culinary theme park, of sorts, in Bologna, Italy called Eataly World. It will have 25 restaurants spread across 20 acres.
— A new app called Price Per Pint reveals the cheapest drinks in neighborhoods throughout every borough except Staten Island. It was created by a Baruch College economics student.
— And finally, here's a look at how the giant Druze pitas are made at Gazala's place in Hell's Kitchen:
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