I just walked past TONY'S DI NAPOLI, my favorite Italian restaurant in NYC, and Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his son were dining at an outdoor table right on Second Avenue. If that's not a great endorsement, I don't know what is!

Why in the world is this a good endorsement? His abilities as mayor aside, I know nothing about his cuisine tastes. I've seen the mayor of my city at Popeye's Fried Chicken. Doesn't exactly make ME want to stop in!

And what city might that be? Maybe I don't want to know -- let my imagination run wild.

Mayors of New York City, like most New Yorkers, are known to be discriminating diners. Rudy can eat at any restaurant in NYC without a reservation; he chose TONY'S. That's a great endorsement.

(Atlantic Grill on Third Avenue is a favorite of Mayor Koch, by the way.)

I have to concur with Dan. This means absolutely nothing, but thanks for sharing Ted. (And I live in Manhattan)

I once saw Charo at Subway in Los Angeles!!

That William Shatner guy always eats at the pricey Essex House restaurant when in New York. Can't recall the exact name.

You mean William Shatner doesn't use Priceline for meals, too???

I saw Jackie Mason at a restaurant in MAnhattan- didn't rush in to eat there as well. (And many are probably asking "Who is Jackie Mason?"

Hmmm..if Giuliani eats a hot dog on the street, then I should follow? I don't get it. LOTS of foodies live in New York (Ted is right about that!) but this great "endorsement" is a stretch.

Ted -- Rudy's been a fan of Tony's for a long time. In fact, the very first time the papers published a picture of him "squiring" Judy Nathan around town -- they were leaving Tony's. If you haven't tried it, it's pretty good. It's also very family-friendly. It can just be a long wait to get in (although not nearly as long as Carmine's -- which we've given up on).

Dollar for Dollar, you can't beat Tony's DiNapoli. The sauce is tops and the portions are huge. Much better than Carmine's. Believe me, Rudy knows good Italian food, he grew up on it.

Trust me on this one.