Food Adventuring Around NYC
7.5 THE SPOT: As I descended the exclusive-feeling NYC location of Din Tai Fung, I felt like I was entering a typical Midtown steakhouse but rather than businessmen, young tourists fitted with iphones clung to the lobby seats waiting on a table. Din Tai Fung is not a local steakhouse, but a large chain of …
The Place: Interactive food is always the most fun. Starting with my pre-teen dates at The Melting Pot, I’ve always loved when you get to cook your own food, or pick out your food, or play with your food. Hot pot and Korean BBQ are in the regular rotation in our household. But the Manhattan …
The Place: I am not generally a fan or frequent visitor of Midtown steakhouses. I worked at one for many years and I think I’ve had my fill of artery-clogging overindulgence. Plus, most are very corporate, absurdly expensive, and more about the location than the food itself. I figured I’d make an exception with Cuerno …
The Place: In many ways, BKK Thai feels like a Midtown restaurant, but I found it to be a lot more ambitious than what this neighborhood implies. It’s sleek and narrow with a modern, funky vibe. It very much feels like the after-theater restaurants in and around Hell’s Kitchen. Some of these places have good …
I’m counting down the 10 best dishes I tasted in 2025… This was the year where I surrendered to the fact that I won’t experience every single viral dish in the city and, frankly, realized I don’t really want to. While a few of the hottest and most in-demand bites found their way on my …
Holidays in New York for many, mean waiting in line to eat at an overcrowded expensive food stand at one of the city’s chaotic markets. Whether it’s Bryant Park, Union Square, Herald Square, or Columbus Circle, you can still experience a Winter Market Nightmareland….
It’s that time of year where the weather starts getting a bit chilly and we all come under attack from pumpkins – with or without spice. From doughnuts to pancakes to cream cheese, pumpkins are lurking around every corner in New York City and it seems like there’s no escape….
THE SPOT: If you’ve ever taken a train or a bus in or out of New York, you’ve encountered Zaro’s Family Bakery. These take-out spots are an iconic local bakery that started in the Bronx in 1927 and are now mostly found at Grand Central, Penn Station, and Port Authority Bus Terminal. They were once …
THE PLACE: Not exactly a “speakeasy” but Chez Zou is certainly hidden from view in the somewhat undiscovered neighborhood (or rather, development plaza) of Manhattan West – inside and upstairs a trendy Mediterranean restaurant. It feels like an extension of Zou Zou’s with large couches and a bar that is nestled into the wall. It’s …
THE PLACE: Mostly hidden from street view, Blue Blossom is a sleek new fancy Chinese restaurant steps away from Bryant Park. This restaurant comes from the owners of Che Li and Szechuan Mountain House, two excellent refined Chinese spots in the East Village. This is their first venture into the heart of Midtown. A long …
Almost anyone who’s dipped their toes in the NYC food scene know about Los Tacos No. 1. The local chain is showing tourists (and locals) that Mexican food in New York is so much better than Pedro Pascal realizes. Hope he hears this joyful cheer for Los Tacos No. 1…
I’m counting down the 10 best dishes I tasted in 2024… As I put together my list of the ten best dishes I tried in NYC, I realized just why I love this city. I didn’t purposely curated this list to be diverse in terms of neighborhood, cuisine, or price point. It just ended up …
I’m counting down the 10 best dishes I tasted in 2024… As I put together my list of the ten best dishes I tried in NYC, I realized just why I love this city. I didn’t purposely curated this list to be diverse in terms of neighborhood, cuisine, or price point. It just ended up …
PICKLE CULTURE IS ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE COLUMBUS CIRCLE HOLIDAY MARKET THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2024. I didn’t realize pickles were such a holiday market thing, but we now have at least our second pickle stand at the local Holiday Markets around the city. Years ago, I discovered Pickle Me Pete in Bryant Park and upon …
Thanks to inflation and the crazy prices at high-end sushi restaurants, my omakase days are mostly behind me. Which is so sad because it is by far my favorite food experience. High quality sushi made by a master and with surprises just can’t be beat. But since most non-gimmicky omakase meals are hundreds of dollars …
A few months ago I got a quick slice from Vito’s Slices & Ices and was not overly impressed. It was fine, but nothing more than typical New York pizza. Great if you’re from elsewhere, but if you’re from here, you know there are better options. I didn’t get to try the other side of …
We have been very lucky to have spent some time in Greece and its surrounding islands. One place we have not visited in that part of the world is a country that many Americans don’t even realize is its own country. With lots of influence from both the Greeks and the Turks, Cyprus is very …
Perhaps Central Asian food is the next big thing? After Farida, Tengri Tagh is the second restaurant from this region in Manhattan that I’m showcasing this year. This food has been prevalent in parts of Queens and deep in southern Brooklyn, but the fact that you can now find it in both major business districts …
SADLY, ZILLIONS PIZZA IS NOW CLOSED. I almost skipped over Zillions Pizza. While the old movie marquee and neon sign is rather inviting, the neighborhood it’s located in is not. Sandwiched right between Cannabis stores and behind Port Authority, this is not the most appetizing of blocks. But I was trying to grab a quick …
I have been doing this food blog thing for a long time. I remember first visiting Roberta’s when it was still an under-the-radar pizza restaurant in an up-and-coming Brooklyn neighborhood. Now anybody who knows anything about the New York food world, knows about Roberta’s. In many ways, Roberta’s has peaked and cooled down when it …