Food Adventuring Around NYC
THE PLACE: Been a while since I took myself out to a fancy new hotspot. Markette, in one of the least attractive streets in Chelsea, fits the bill nicely. The vibe is like a fancy hotel lobby with a tranquil bar and dining room. Service is friendly and attentive and this would be a great …
Tacos are hot again. Like really hot. Santo Taco, which took over the iconic La Esquina take out window this past summer, has already expanded further uptown. And it’s not the only taqueria in the city garnering lots of attention. I’ve tried quite a few of the new ones (more reviews to come) and I …
It’s been a while since I wrote about a product made in New York but used for home cooking rather than created at a restaurant. I discovered one of these wonderful locally made food provisions at Stand Alone Cheese in Jackson Heights, which is a great local cheese shop in the midst of the most …
Say what you will about French pastry chef Dominique Ansel, the creator of the Cronut, but you can never call him boring. His latest bakery (Papa D’Amour) pays tribute to his relationship with his family (his wife is Taiwanese) and fully fuses the two cultures into one very original establishment. The menu features lots of …
The little hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese gem Mắm has expanded since I was here last. Their very cramped Chinatown dining space has been conjoined with an adjacent cramped dining space. The barebones, but bustling space felt as close to the meals I’ve had in Vietnam than anywhere else in the city so far. And the Oc Buoi …
Cocina Consuelo has gotten quite a bit of hype (including being corned as one of NYTimes’ 100 Best Restaurants in NYC) since it opened earlier this year, but it does not seem like it will ever be fully taken over by the young social media paparazzi since it is well off-the-beaten path in Hamilton Heights. …
In a neighborhood over-run with bacon egg and cheese sandwiches, it’s nice to have a unique, alternative breakfast option. The long-time favorite Taiwanese haunt Ho Foods (which has expanded since I first visited in 2018) serves a special breakfast menu on Thursday-Sunday. And it’s worth seeking out! A warming bowl of Savory Soy Milk with …
THE PLACE: Laliko sits on a corner storefront in the West Village that has seen lots of food concepts over the last few years. This stylish, modern Georgian restaurant has been here since last spring and I’m hoping it sticks around for at least a few more. They are one of a number of new …
THE PLACE: While in Barcelona this summer, I really wanted to take my family to an old-school churrería where we could get a breakfast of churros and chocolate. It seemed like all the places I had planned for near our hotel were closed for the week we were visiting. I started to panic, but somehow …
THE PLACE: San Sebastián, or Donostia as the locals call it, is a magical place. Not only is it a rich cultural city with incredible architecture, bustling city life, and a pristine beach, but it is arguably home to the most amazing food in the world. In addition to your choice of Michelin-starred restaurants, pintxo …
THE PLACE: Along the Nive River sits a very charming commercial street in Bayonne, France (not to be confused with Bayonne, New Jersey). This is a town in the Basque Country of France that feels as far away from Paris as you could possibly imagine. We had just two nights in this small but fascinating …
THE PLACE: We spent most of our time in Bordeaux in the historic Old Town or the trendy Chartrons District. It wasn’t until the last night that we wanted a low-key meal not far from our hotel and so we wandered over to the area surrounding the Basilica St. Michel. That’s where we discovered a …
THE PLACE: Paris is magical so it’s hard to not discover a gorgeous little bistro with all the atmosphere you’d hope for in an airy local spot in the City of Love. They’re on every corner. Yet La Marine, which was recommended to me by the one and only Peter Shelsky, was even more special …
THE PLACE: For those that have bemoaned the lack of good Vietnamese in New York, I have great news. Banh Anh Em opened earlier this year in that strange area between the East Village, Union Square, and Gramercy. The surrounding bars all have a fratty quality, but this little restaurant with a sizable counter hosts …
THE PLACE: ThisBowl is still as trendy as ever and recently expanded to a second location in Nomad. I predicted them to be the best Sweetgreen a few months back when I wrote about their fresh and flavorful salads, and still stand by that. Although there is something that feels a bit less corporate about …
THE PLACE: I was so excited to somehow score an 8pm reservation at Sunn’s, a cozy hotspot in the Lower East Side that has been tough to get a table. That’s why I was even more anxious than usual when we were running late. It all worked out, thankfully, and we snagged two seats at …
THE PLACE: Places like Ramro did not exist in Astoria when I lived and hung out in this neighborhood decades ago. This is an intimate high-brow restaurant bordering on fine dining with a focus on an under-represented cuisine outside of Queens (Filipino). The service here is top-notch and the few tables are close together, yet …
THE PLACE: Kolkata Chai Co. seems to want to take the spicy, sweet black tea to the heights of the ever popular green tea matcha. This little café opened a few years back in the East Village and has slowly since expanded with small tea shops in a handful of NYC neighborhoods, including the one …
THE PLACE: Dame has been top of my list since they first started previewing their now famous fish and chips during the peak of the pandemic. Since then, this cozy Greenwich Village haunt not only continues to be a hot table in the city but also has become a reliable old standby. THE MENU: British …
THE PLACE: The long lines at Danny & Coop’s in the East Village have not only been because of the general food hysteria in NYC over the latest fad. It also has to do with the fact that this cheesesteak business is celebrity backed. You might not recognize Danny (Danny DiGiampietro, the owner of Angelo’s …