Siberia (second-class restaurant seating)
Siberia is known as a cold, inhospitable place in Russia; political prisoners were sent to work camps in Siberia and never heard from again. "Siberia," in slang, is any such similar…
Silent Dining
The restaurant Eat, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, began "silent dining" in September 2013. Patrons were required to eat in silence. The term "silent dining" had been cited earlier,…
Singles Bar
New York City can probably take credit for the first "singles bars." in the mid-late 1960s, Friday's and Maxwell's Plum opened on the Upper East Side and were termed…
Sistine Chapel of Comic Strip Art (Overlook bar)
Costello's bar opened in 1974 at 225 East 44th Street (near Third Avenue) in Manhattan. It had murals by
Smokeasy or Smoke-easy (smoke + speakeasy)
A "speakeasy" was a place where alcoholic drinks were illegally sold. The term "speakeasy" means that customers should inquire secretly about the illegal product;…
Soda Jerk (Soda Jerker)
A "soda jerk" (or "soda jerker") is a person employed behind a soda fountain, "jerking" the fountain spigot to make a soda or an ice cream soda or other such drinks.…
Soupervisor (soup + supervisor)
"Soupervisor" (soup + supervisor) is a portmanteau that has been used since at least the 1960s. The poem 'THE SOUPervisor" was printed in the Fort Lauderdale (FL) News on July…
Spaghetteria (restaurant serving spaghetti)
A "spaghetteria" is an eating establishment that serves spaghetti. The term might have started in New York City. The New York (NY) Evening Post stated in 1928: "The cafeteria started…
Speakeasy (Speak-easy)
The "speakeasy" (also written as "speak-easy" and "speak easy") began in 1889 in Pennsylvania and referred to an unlicensed saloon. The customers were told to…
Spice Mecca (Kalustyan’s nickname)
Kalustyan’s, located at 123 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, opened in 1944 and has specialized in Indian and Middle Eastern spices and foods. The store was called the "spice mecca in…
Starbuckese or Starbucksese (language of Starbucks)
"Starbuckese" (or the less-frequently used "Starbucksese") is the language used by the coffeehouse chain Starbucks. "Starbuck-ese" has been cited in print since at…
Starbugs (Starbucks nickname)
Starbucks Coffee Company is a coffeehouse chain that began in Seattle, Washington in 1971. There are many Starbucks outlets in New York City, especially in Manhattan. The Starbucks nickname of…
Starfucks (Starbucks nickname)
Starbucks Coffee Company is a coffeehouse chain that began in Seattle, Washington in 1971. There are many Starbucks outlets in New York City, especially in Manhattan. The Starbucks nickname of…
Steak Row (East 45th Street)
"Steak Row" used to be East 45th Street, from Lexington to First Avenue. The defunct Pen and Pencil Restaurant helped to give it that name. However, it is not correct to say that…
Steakery (steak + eatery)
A "steakery" is an "eatery" that serves "steak." The term "steakery" dates to at least 1932. The franchise Charley's Grilled Subs was originally called…
Steakhouse Index
A "steakhouse index" gauges the health of an economy by the health of its steakhouses. If an economy is doing well, businesses entertain clients at steakhouses; if an economy is doing…
Stinkberry (Pinkberry nickname)
Pinkberry frozen yogurt began in California in 2005, but quickly opened over a dozen shops in New York City. Fans of the frozen yogurt product claim that it's addictive and have called it…
Streatery (street + eatery)
A "streatery" or "streetery" (street + eatery) is a term similar to "parklet." A street parking space is taken over for dining, or the entire street could be closed to…
Streetery (street + eatery)
A "streatery" or "streetery" (street + eatery) is a term similar to "parklet." A street parking space is taken over for dining, or the entire street could be closed to…
Supper Club
The "supper club" started in London and became popular in the second half of the 19th century. A "supper club" is a "night club," with food, music and dancing. An 1898…