As I've posted before, I've been on the hunt for the very best writing about NYC restaurants. Here are my current favorites!
1. Helen Rosner @ The New Yorker
Pretty obvious to pick a James Beard Award winner, but it's 100% earned. No one does better profiles of places with clear, evocative writing about the food and the vibe. I don't love when critics go too deep on history, as I don't always feel like that matters to the experience there, but she sprinkles in just enough to give you context for the meal. Also, shoutout to the New Yorker photographers who elevate every one of her pieces.
2. Robert Sietsema @ Robert Sietsema's New York (Substack)
Okay, it's not really great WRITING per se, but the content is super helpful. He's such a New York culinary world staple and knows the city inside and out. It all leans more toward cheap eats than Michelin stars, which is great because I feel like everyone else handles the fancy stuff just fine. If Rosner is creating a curated list, Sietsema is casting a wide net.
3. Tammie Teclemariam @ Grubstreet (New York Magazine)
Her pieces cut straight to the core of what's going on at a restaurant. Less about the legend of a place and more about what it feels like right now, in the kitchen and at the table. It's not as polished as Rosner, but a lot more than Sietsema.
And an honorable mention to Ruth Reichl's Substack, La Briffe, which would easily be in the top three if it were focused on NYC restaurants!
Let me know other ones you love and I'll update this if the top three changes!
by DorianHistorian
Dining and Cooking