Denée Benton knows her way around a dinner table—both on screen and off.
The Tony-nominated actress, fresh off her third season playing Peggy Scott in HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” recently opened up about her New York City dining habits in a revealing interview.
From her quirky nickname among friends to her evolving relationship with solo dining, Benton’s food philosophy is as captivating as her on-screen performances.
And yes, it all started at an Olive Garden in Times Square.
From Orlando to Times Square: A Love Letter to Chain Restaurants
Benton’s first New York dining experience wasn’t at some exclusive Manhattan hotspot. It was decidedly more… accessible.
At just 12 years old, visiting from Orlando to catch Broadway shows like “Wicked” and “Mamma Mia,” she had two specific requests: ride in a yellow cab and eat at the Times Square Olive Garden.
I got the shrimp scampi. I got to see “Wicked” and “Mamma Mia,” and I got the bug.
She remembers returning to school with stories that now make her laugh.
You guys, I went to this designer store that we do not have here. It’s called Forever 21. You can’t get any of this.
Her self-aware humor about growing up in what she calls “the peak of culture” reveals someone comfortable with her journey from Orlando theme park territory to starring alongside Emmy and Tony winners.
Brooklyn Dining: Then and Now
Now calling Brooklyn home—both in her role as Peggy Scott navigating 19th-century New York society and in real life—Benton has developed a more sophisticated palate.
But sophistication doesn’t mean pretension. The actress has earned herself a memorable nickname among her dining companions: “A Bite for a Bite” Benton.
This moniker hints at someone who takes food sharing seriously—perhaps the kind of friend who’ll trade tastes of entrees but keeps meticulous mental accounting of who owes whom another forkful.
The Solo Dining Expert
Somewhere between that first Olive Garden experience and her Critics Choice nomination, Benton became what she calls a solo dining expert.
For many, eating alone at restaurants triggers social anxiety. Not for Benton, who has apparently mastered the art of the table for one.
This skill likely serves her well in a demanding acting career that keeps her bouncing between rehearsals, filming schedules, and press obligations. Sometimes the best dinner companion is yourself, a good menu, and freedom from small talk.
Restaurant Etiquette: The Guillotine Standard
When asked about restaurant behavior that particularly irks her, Benton didn’t hold back. She identified at least one dining faux pas she believes deserves dramatic punishment.
Guillotine-worthy offense? That’s setting the bar pretty high for restaurant misconduct.
While the specific transgression wasn’t detailed in available excerpts, her strong stance suggests someone who respects dining spaces and expects others to do the same. Whether it’s phone behavior, treatment of servers, or food crimes against humanity remains deliciously mysterious.
From Stage to Screen to Table
Benton’s journey mirrors that of her character Peggy Scott—both women navigating elite spaces while maintaining their authentic selves.
On “The Gilded Age,” she shares scenes with television royalty. In real life, she’s transitioned from theme park tourism to becoming part of New York’s cultural fabric.
Her first Critics Choice nomination marks another milestone in a career that’s already included a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut in “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.”
Yet she hasn’t lost touch with that 12-year-old who thought Forever 21 was haute couture and Olive Garden represented the pinnacle of New York dining.
The Evolution of Taste
There’s something genuinely refreshing about a rising star who doesn’t pretend she emerged fully formed with impeccable taste.
Benton’s willingness to laugh at her younger self while clearly having developed more refined dining habits speaks to authentic growth rather than manufactured sophistication.
Her food journey—from chain restaurant enthusiasm to solo dining mastery to strict restaurant etiquette standards—parallels her professional evolution.
Both required learning the landscape, developing confidence, and establishing personal standards worth defending (even if that defense involves joking references to 18th-century execution methods).
As season three of “The Gilded Age” wraps and awards season continues, Benton continues making her mark both on screen and around New York’s dining scene—one carefully negotiated bite-for-bite exchange at a time.