243:, had each given the restaurant four stars. Wells identified issues with the quality of the food and the atmosphere, criticizing the menu as "random and purposeless," and noting that the servers could be "oddly unaccommodating." Following the review, Per Se's founder and owner
254:
Wells received a sixth James Beard award, the Craig
Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award, in 2020. The award cited his reviews of Peter Luger, as well as the restaurants Benno and Mercado Little Spain.
170:. The awarded works include a 2001 story about connoisseurs of single-malt Scotch whisky and a 2003 essay on a tour Wells took of Southern smokehouses with the founder of a "Bacon of the Month" club.
189:, about working in the kitchen with his young sons. He also frequently produced dispatches for the newspaper's "Diner's Journal" blog and occasionally wrote restaurant reviews and essays.
266:
in an unspecified role. His last published essay as a restaurant reviewer was on August 6, titled "I Reviewed
Restaurants for 12 Years. They've Changed, and Not for the Better."
628:
247:
published an open letter apologizing to patrons for the negative review. Wells also attracted considerable attention for his
October 29, 2019, zero-star review of
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218:'s American Kitchen and Bar, which consisted entirely of questions about the poor quality of the food and service, was described by Larry Olmsted of
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in
January 2012 While dining editor, Wells wrote an extensive memo about the position of the restaurant critic at the newspaper since
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as dining editor. While dining editor, Wells wrote a semi-regular column called "Cooking with Dexter" for
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Following the departure of Sam Sifton, Wells officially became the chief restaurant critic for
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140:, graduating in 1985 as a history major. After school, Wells freelanced as fact-checker for
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228:," and "likely the most widely read restaurant review ever." It was the fifth-most-emailed
8:
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776:"Iconic NYC Steakhouse Peter Luger Gets Zero Stars in Scathing New York Times Review"
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394:"Knives Out: Pete Wells, the Times' Restaurant Critic, wants to have fun -- or else"
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327:"I Reviewed Restaurants for 12 Years. They've Changed, and Not for the Better"
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In July 2024, Wells announced he would step down as restaurant critic for the
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454:"Finding Pete Wells: A Search for America's Most Dangerous Restaurant Critic"
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Wells was adopted as an infant by
Shirley and Raymond Wells and grew up in
689:"Tables Turned - Top Chefs Review Pete Wells And Other Restaurant Critics"
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102:(born 1963) is an American journalist who was the restaurant critic for
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64:
865:"Pete Wells Will No Longer Be the 'New York Times' Restaurant Critic"
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801:"Readers Respond to the Pete Wells Review of Peter Luger: 'Finally'"
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152:, before working for the former in a public relations capacity.
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220:
780:
629:"The Times Names a New Restaurant Critic and Dining Editor"
355:"Pete Wells, Restaurant Critic, Answers Readers' Questions"
133:
284:. They separated in 2016 but continue to share a house in
155:
From 1999 to 2001, Wells was a columnist and editor for
751:"Why That Per Se Review May Change Fine Dining Forever"
192:
224:as "the most scathing review in the history of the
173:Wells freelanced and served as articles editor for
858:
856:
836:"These Are the 2020 James Beard Awards Finalists"
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484:"Talk to the Newsroom: Dining Editor Pete Wells"
415:"WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Susan Choi, Peter Wells"
717:"At Thomas Keller's Per Se, Slips and Stumbles"
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262:the following month. Wells will remain at the
891:"Susan Choi on Her Mind-Bending #MeToo Novel"
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214:Wells's caustic November 14, 2012, review of
179:magazine from 2001 to 2006, when he joined
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749:Kissinger, Jessie (February 10, 2016).
627:Peters, Jeremy W. (November 15, 2011).
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788:from the original on October 30, 2019.
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132:grounds over a rule against same-sex
128:successfully sued the high school on
952:James Beard Foundation Award winners
799:Gardiner, Aidan (October 29, 2019).
687:Olmstead, Larry (December 5, 2012).
447:
445:
443:
409:
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278:in 2003; they met while working for
13:
452:Alexander, Kevin (April 8, 2016).
392:Parker, Ian (September 12, 2016).
14:
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972:University of Pennsylvania alumni
942:American male non-fiction writers
932:21st-century American journalists
927:20th-century American journalists
889:Kelly, Hillary (March 31, 2019).
653:Wells, Pete (November 13, 2012).
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124:during a period in which student
715:Wells, Pete (January 12, 2016).
561:"Cooking With Dexter: Free Bird"
353:Wells, Pete (December 3, 2012).
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136:dates. Wells later attended the
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288:and co-parent their two sons.
211:formalized the role in 1963.
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967:The New York Times journalists
593:Wells, Pete (August 4, 2009).
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325:Wells, Pete (August 6, 2024).
166:for food writing published in
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962:The New York Times columnists
863:Orlow, Emma (July 16, 2024).
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559:Wells, Pete (May 26, 2010).
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947:American restaurant critics
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274:Wells married the novelist
186:The New York Times Magazine
36:1963 (age 60–61)
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138:University of Pennsylvania
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53:University of Pennsylvania
982:Writers from Rhode Island
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23:
510:"Spirits: Single-Minded"
298:Cuisine of New York City
249:Peter Luger Steak House
122:Cumberland High School
977:Writers from Brooklyn
112:Early life and career
784:. October 29, 2019.
162:Wells received five
108:from 2011 to 2024.
92:For other uses, see
79: 2003;
655:"As Not Seen on TV"
235:His 2016 review of
806:The New York Times
721:The New York Times
659:The New York Times
633:Media Decoder Blog
599:The New York Times
565:The New York Times
488:The New York Times
419:The New York Times
360:The New York Times
332:The New York Times
194:The New York Times
181:The New York Times
164:James Beard awards
105:The New York Times
100:Peter Andrew Wells
34:Peter Andrew Wells
937:American adoptees
421:. June 15, 2003.
400:. No. 46–55.
303:Restaurant rating
232:article of 2012.
196:restaurant critic
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595:"Punch Line"
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922:1963 births
820:October 30,
241:Frank Bruni
149:Vanity Fair
94:Peter Wells
916:Categories
700:January 7,
366:January 7,
309:References
276:Susan Choi
65:Susan Choi
41:Occupation
25:Pete Wells
815:0362-4331
729:0362-4331
667:0362-4331
607:0362-4331
573:0362-4331
458:Thrillist
427:0362-4331
338:August 6,
216:Guy Fieri
874:July 16,
869:Eater NY
786:Archived
672:July 16,
292:See also
286:Brooklyn
895:Vulture
755:Esquire
176:Details
85:
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694:Forbes
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237:Per Se
221:Forbes
59:Spouse
264:Times
260:Times
75:(
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902:2024
876:2024
847:2024
822:2019
811:ISSN
781:WNBC
762:2024
736:2024
725:ISSN
702:2013
674:2024
663:ISSN
640:2024
614:2024
603:ISSN
580:2024
569:ISSN
546:2024
521:2024
496:2013
465:2024
434:2024
423:ISSN
368:2013
340:2024
146:and
134:prom
81:div.
31:Born
202:The
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77:m.
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