Food Adventuring Around NYC
THE SPOT: Naya is one of those local chains that I have walked by millions of times. Since I no longer write for Midtown Lunch devoting every single day to finding an affordable mid-day meal, I never really paid much attention to this Lebanese fast casual joint, which has now expanded to nearby states and …
I remember when this corner was Matty & Weg’s. The storefronts in the neighborhood of Cobble Hill change as fast as any other neighborhood in NYC, but lately, it seems like it has been for the better. Despite heartbreaking closures (like the recently shuttered Esposito’s Pork Store), the residents manage to mostly keep out the …
That corner spot in front of a busy subway station is prime real estate for a quick and fast NYC joint. And Flé Flé Grill lucked out here when they opened in 2018. Set up like a Mediterranean Chipotle, this is quick and cheap and on the healthier side of fast food. I hear good …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn Heights was one time known as Little Syria for its large Arabic community. A few of the original businesses (like Sahadi’s and Damascus) remain but the community has mostly moved elsewhere. A …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2017… Before I discovered it at Middle Eastern restaurants, I had almost no use for cauliflower. But this cuisine is perfect for the often bland white florets. Au Za’atar knows exactly what to do with them by marinating and then frying them to a perfect crisp …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… I really only came out to Karam because I heard the falafel was pretty good. But I should have read the signs and immediately ordered their chicken schwarma sandwich because that’s the thing that makes this Bay Ridge joint a true destination. Succulent pieces …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York CityEast of Sixth Avenue, Bleecker Street is where restaurants go to die. With the abundance of college students and tourists coming through here, you’d think this stretch of Greenwich Village would be prime real estate to open …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. I was recently in the far south neighborhood of Bay Ridge. One of the things I love about this neighborhood is that its generally not a destination neighborhood. Most people in New York have heard of it, but unless you live there, odds are you …
I underestimated the modest little falafel. I was expecting some great things, sure, but I was also anticipating lots of dry and dense chickpea balls. Greasy, soggy, and mealy were words I used very rarely in my falafel reviews. Of course, I stuck with the most renowned and popular falafel spots in the city. I’m …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. SADLY, WAFA’S IS NOW CLOSED. When my mom called and I told her I had travelled to the middle of Queens for some falafel, the natural question was “Was it worth it?” And I can enthusiastically tell my mom it was indeed. I can’t imagine she’d …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. You can’t find a New Yorker alive today who remembers a time when this city didn’t have pizza, bagels, and hot dogs on every corner. But there are plenty of people who remember the days before falafel. Today, it’s a pretty ubiquitous and iconic New …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. SADLY, ALFANOOSE IS NOW CLOSED. Upon entering Alfanoose, I thought I’d get something you don’t usually get with falafel: table service. The large dining room is unusual for a falafel joint in NYC, tying into its old history of being traditionally a street food.