Restaurant People
Infatuation
Infatuation
Restaurant People is a show for people who eat at restaurants sometimes. Infatuation restaurant critics Hannah Albertine and Bryan Kim chat through why every burger in America (and beyond) is smashed now, how small plates make us feel, and why on earth the host won’t seat you if your party isn’t complete. We’ll talk to chefs like they’re ordinary humans, air grievances, applaud our favorite meals, and let you in on our review and guide processes. Most importantly, we’ll give recommendations for how to make the most of dining in your city.
Nov 13
Our 2025 guides to The Best New Restaurants around the country are live and ready for you to disagree with. So we’re dedicating our final episode of the season to explaining the behind-the-scenes process, which takes Infatuation editors and writers 12 months and hundreds of restaurant visits. Bryan and Hannah hear from Philly Senior Staff Writer Candis McLean about choosing ratings, how she narrows down a shortlist of favorites, and the restaurant trends of the year. Check out the 2025 Best New Restaurants guide in your city: NYC https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/best-new-restaurants-new-york-2025 LA https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-new-restaurants-los-angeles-2025 Philly https://www.theinfatuation.com/philadelphia/guides/best-new-restaurants-philadelphia-2025 Atlanta https://www.theinfatuation.com/atlanta/guides/best-new-restaurants-atlanta-2025 Seattle https://www.theinfatuation.com/seattle/guides/best-new-restaurants-seattle-2025 San Francisco https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/best-new-restaurants-san-francisco-2025 Austin https://www.theinfatuation.com/austin/guides/best-new-restaurants-austin-2025 Chicago https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/guides/best-new-restaurants-chicago-2025 London https://www.theinfatuation.com/london/guides/best-new-restaurants-london-2025 Miami https://www.theinfatuation.com/miami/guides/best-new-restaurants-miami-2025
Nov 6
If you work in an office, the sustenance closest to your desk is probably a $15 bowl of wet greens and grains. You may even feel tenderly about your slop bowl. After all, it’s the only taste of the outside world between 9-5pm. In this episode of Restaurant People, Hannah and Bryan are joined by Infatuation Austin Senior Editor Matt Jacobs to discuss the grimmest meal of the day, going undercover in a corporate cafeteria, and why we can’t seem to shake that wet, wet lunchtime slop.
Oct 30
Log onto any Infatuation city’s homepage—be it Denver or Philly—and there’s a good chance we’ve just reviewed a new restaurant that brands itself as “Mexico City-inspired.” But beyond tuna tostadas dressed to kill and small-batch ceramics, what does that label really mean? In this episode of Restaurant People, Hannah and Bryan talk with chef, author, and Mexico City native Pati Jinich to find out. In this episode, you’ll get: [0:02:12] Notes on Mexico City as a tourist destination in 2019 vs. 2025 [0:06:17] A discussion of Mexico City’s impact on New York City dining [0:10:18] Hannah and Bryan’s observations on what Mexico City-inspired restaurants in America have in common [0:13:50] Chef, award-winning author, and host Pati Jinich defines the dining culture of Mexico City and the term “Mexico City-inspired restaurant” [0:20:55] Pati Jinich’s take on Mexican cuisine as a mother cuisine [0:24:21] A game of ”Is that Restaurant in Mexico City or America?”, based on Instagram posts alone (visit the Infatuation’s YouTube channel to see the game played in full with photos) [0:29:30] Pati Jinich’s thoughts on the recent influx of tourists in Mexico City [0:32:16] Bryan and Hannah’s reaction to the proliferation of Mexico City-inspired restaurants in America
Oct 23
It seems like bakeries, cafes, and sweet shops are opening at a faster pace than restaurants right now (with the long lines to match). In this episode of Restaurant People, Hannah and Bryan unpack the appeal of sweets, hear from Emmy-nominated comedian and actor Kate Berlant about her favorite desserts in LA, and discuss why pastry chefs are leaving traditional restaurant settings.
Oct 16
We all know the word and at least four people who fit the category, but what does being a foodie actually mean in 2025? And why is it a “banned word” in Infatuation’s style guide? In this episode of Restaurant People, Hannah and Bryan talk with Mike Chau a.k.a. FoodBabyNY and co-host of How Long Gone Jason Stewart about the sub-categories of obsessive diners, social media’s impact on restaurants, and whether or not foodies need a rebrand.
Oct 9
Can food be art? Of course it can. But when does innovation work, and when does it taste like an ego play? In this episode of Restaurant People, Infatuation Editor-In-Chief Arden Shore joins Hannah and Bryan to discuss the genre of restaurants serving dishes like “spaghetti squash, passionfruit” for $21. What makes “interesting food” interesting, and who is it for? This episode is for diners who demand more from their small plates, and don’t go to restaurants just to be full. This episode is for diners who demand more from their small plates, and don’t go to restaurants just to be full. We’re talking about quote-unquote “interesting food,” or the quirked-up combinations of ingredients and techniques that may never have been seen before. Can food be art? Of course it can. But when does self-consciously “interesting food” work and when do ego dishes fall flat?
Oct 2
What goes into great restaurant service? In this episode of Restaurant People, Bryan and Hannah are joined by former Hillstone server (and current sommelier and hospitality expert) Steven Bono to discuss the BTS of service, fine dining vs. neighborhood spots, and the one question you should never ask your server.
Sep 25
In this episode of Restaurant People, recorded live at EEEEEATSCON Chicago, Bryan and Hannah are joined by the Infatuation Chicago team to discuss what makes a restaurant “fun,” what fun even means, and the dive bar where you might just be able to find Michael Shannon.
