So I came to NYC for the first time this week, and as a “foodie” I obviously had a list of everything I wanted to try. (This list was in fact made with the help of you guys, reading through many posts here.)
Probably there were still some tourist traps, but also keep in mind this is my first time here so I had to make sure I at least knew what some things were about.
So this is what I ate in the first days of my trip, in no specific order
– Ess-a Bagel: good value for money and it feels walking into an old time classic
– Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company: I honestly thought the bagels were better, the space is more inviting with more tables to sit and less hassle, but more expensive
– The Halal Guys: since I’m not familiar with halal food carts, to me this was absolute win. Great seasoned food, rich and cozy, cheap and huge lol Might not be the best at its category, but anyway awesome compared to other foods
– Joe’s Pizza: my only slice so far, so I don’t have many references here, but also good and worth the money. A cheap “meal” that makes tourist feel local, and even if it’s no the best slice, it still definitively ain’t a bad pizza. Sauce is really good and the crust is honestly softer then I expected. Would even come back
– Gray’s Papaya: also feels local and historical even. Great frankfurters, loved the relish and the papaya drink. Thought it also might not be the best hot dog, I didn’t feel like I wasted my visit at all
– Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Particularly I’m not a fan of chunky ice cream, but I did enjoy this one. I thought it was balanced and not tooo chunky or too sweet even. Had the praline butter cream flavor and I recommend it
– Milk Bar: worth the hype, sorry. The cereal milk soft serve is truly great, buttery, salty, sweet and creamy. With the cereal topping for more texture it becomes even better. I think every tourist should try it before leaving the city
– Momofuku Noodle Bar: There are lots of good ramen spots in my hometown, so I wasn’t particularly impressed. But if this isn’t the case for you, you should definitely try it. It’s good, sure! Just… you know
– Employees Only: different then what I expected. Drinks not that great and too crowded, but good! And the music is cool too
– Le Bernardin: I wanted to try a 3 Michelin stars spot, but I have to say I left a little disappointed. The food is great, the service is very thoughtful but for that level and price I think the acoustics sucked, which kinda ruined the mood, and the food was not out of this world.
– Gramercy Tavern: Loved it!!! Only 1 star and probably as good or even better then Bernardin in my opinion. Easy to get a table, great service, but also relaxed. You can eat calmly, have a glass of wine and try great food – balanced, rich in flavor and warm
– Sarabeth’s: expensive and not good. Overdone scrambled eggs, boring toast, ok pancakes and coffee for too many dollars
To be updated!!
Places I must visit in the next days: Chelsea Market (especially Very Fresh Noodles), Rêzdora, Misi, Katz, Russ & Daughters
Let me know if you have any more suggestions 🙂
by ProgramNo2547
25 Comments
If you have a chance, spend some time in Jackson Heights in Queens! It’s the most diverse neighborhood in the city (potentially the world), and as a result has incredible food. Just note that you wouldn’t be eating in “fancy” places, but the food is awesome. I love Nepali Banchha Ghar, La Esquina del Camaron, and Taqueria Coatzingo to name a few.
Le Bernardin is at best a low 2 star masquerading as a 3 star. They’ve been coasting on the same dishes for *years*.
I’m amazed at how bad and how expensive Sarabeth’s is. When people from out of town come, they all want to go for some reason
Great diverse selection of places! Well done. The only place I would have steered you away from is Sarabeths. I’m surprised people still go there!
Where you from originally that has a lot of good ramen spots? Just curious. Guessing LA. Thanks for the reviews. Gonna check out Gramercy Tavern.
Great report!
Honestly agree with most of your takes – only things I’d note are:
-Milk Bar Cereal Milk ice cream is great but close to 100% of everything else they sell is overhyped and cloyingly sweet. Damn shame too – they used to be absolutely amazing, when they actually were a bakery selling still-warm cookies made on site instead of the prepackaged factory they’ve become.
-Inversely, Noodle Bar has some great dishes but their ramen has always been one of their weakest offerings. Not sure what the menu looks like today, but the buns and ginger scallion noodles used to be very good.
Gray’s Papaya Forever!
Go to Rubirosa and get the supreme pizza.
While at Chelsea market check out no1 taco
Grammercy Tavern is ole reliable
As a former NYer I’m impressed by the range here and interested in where you’re going next
Sarabeth’s is all hype and money
I love the plain slice at Champion Pizza on 5th Ave and 14th Street. It’s simple. The sauce is amazing and the crust has just the right amount of crunch. I just thought I was going to get another NYC slice, but I was actually blown away.
Coming to NYC and eating at Momofuku Noodle Bar is like going to Tokyo and eating at Ichiran lol
Or Ichiran in NYC as well
Tried some of these places recently and I can’t say I agree much, but I’m glad it’s been good for you! Hated milk bar, not a fan of Van Leeuwen, employees only is probably the best bar I’ve been to (service and drinks), quite enjoyed momofuku (went twice!), and thought joe’s pizza was pretty mediocre
Try the cheese Sicilian square slice at upside down pizza 8th Ave midtown. $5 bucks and it’s really good, make sure to get it really hot and crusty and it’s not crowded.
If you wanna explore out of Manhattan:
Astoria has amazing Greek and Egyptian food. Duzan (great sides) for Egyptian. Taverna Kyclades for local popular greek cuisine.
Greenpoint for Polish food (me likes Karczma) and cheap but amazing fresh pasta from forma pasta factory.
Flushing, Shanghai cuisine Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao for their soup dumplings, stir fried noodles, and I’m partial to their hong shao kao fu. In flushing there’s a lot of cozy malls that double as food stall market. You can try out a lot of different items inside.
Justine’s on Hudson is absolutely killing it. They’re new. Menu changes pretty much daily and the chef is really talented. Everything that comes out is really fantastic.
Some OG New York standards plus some great places:
– Raoul’s for the steak au poivre. It’s got some history to it too.
– Blue Ribbon Brasserie
– 4 Charles Prime Rib – don’t let the prime rib name fool you. This is the team that did Au Cheval in Chicago. Best burger I’ve ever had in my life, hands down. One of the best meals I’ve had in a while that actually lived up to the hype.
– Locanda Verde
– Katana Kitten… cocktails are better than at EO… vibes more low key too.
– L’Artusi – it’s a WV standard
– I Sodi – might have replaced L’Artusi as the WV Italian go to.
– Nat’s on Bank – love this place
For drinks try Dear Irving, Martiny’s, Raine’s Law Room all around union square. Or if you go to east village Death and Co or Amor y Amargo. Those places are reliably great. Double Chicken Please is a fun experience if you go early and get into the back room.
If you really wanna do a bagel tour I hear pop
Up bagel is good, personally I dig blackseed (Canadian bagels I know but still), and for a different take try Brooklyn Kolache.
Rather than typical high end dining, I would try something a bit more specific and creative as that is what I think NYC does well. Claro is great oaxacan food, and cafe Mars next to it is doing interesting things with Italian (don’t miss the jell-o olives), my friends love acquavit and aterra, for seafood my local favorite is kingfisher. Get some Thai food at fish cheeks, Indian at Semma, all the creative riffs on specific cuisines are unique to our culinary scene.
Foxface, foul witch, I sodi, claud, kebab aur sharab
Pretend to be in Paris [Ladurée](https://www.laduree.us/526078/laduree-new-york-soho.html)
Chinatown.
If you want good ramen, go to Ippudo.
I think 1 Michelin star restaurants are the sweet spot. I think it’s all about the food when you’re 1 star. Once you get above one star the food becomes too fancy and over engineered and the service/ambiance too stuffy, at least in my opinion. That said – Oxomoco, Claro and Frankie Sputino should be on your list for restaurants. Death & Co and Dante for cocktails.
Most David Chang restaurants are pretty overrated and Noodle Bar is no exception. The most egregious is Momofuku Ko, though.
Love Gramercy Tavern! They have always put a premium on service, and to me, it’s exactly the experience I want in a high-end restaurant; professional, attentive without being hovering, and warm and welcoming.
I recommend Katz’s deli — get the pastrami!