New York City Food Guide

Asian

• Tao (downtown/uptown): lychee martini, glazed salmon, banana bread pudding

Bagels

• Best Bagel and Coffee (midtown west): favorite. garlic bagel with chive cream cheese + tomatoes & jalapenos

Brunch

• Clinton Street Baking Company (lower east side): blueberry pancakes with warm maple butter
• The Cookshop (chelsea): huevos rancheros

Chai

• The Chai Spot (lower east side): favorite. traditional cardamom chai, coconut rose chai

Cheesecake

• Eileen’s Special Cheesecake (nolita): favorite. strawberry cheesecake, blueberry cheesecake
• Magnolia Bakery (multiple locations): pecan caramel cheesecake

Chinese

• Joe’s Shanghai (chinatown): pork soup dumplings

Coffeeshop

• Librae Bakery (east village): pistachio rose croissant

Cuban/Latin

• Victor’s Cafe (midtown west): red sangria, ensalada de aguacate y berro, cilantro cuban tamale, tres leches

French

• Le Bernardin – 3 Michelin Star (midtown): favorite & outstanding experience, pricey. black truffle tagliatelle, salmon tartare, hazelnut praline

Greek

• The Greek (tribeca): bifteki – beef patties, feta cheesecake
• Estiatorio Milos (midtown west): milos special fried eggplant zucchini tower, Greek salad, grilled vegetables

Healthy Fast Food

Locations all over NYC

• Dig Inn favorite. wild salmon, sweet potatoes
• Sweetgreen

Holiday Markets

Located at Bryant Park & Union Square

• No Chewing Allowed favorite. dark hot chocolate

Hot Chocolate

• No Chewing Allowed (holiday market only between Thanksgiving and New Year, WTC Oculus): favorite. dark hot chocolate

Indian

• Bungalow (east village): favorite & exceptional. yogurt kebabs, five cheese kulcha, anarkali chicken, chicken amrit, daal bungalow, chicken biryani, rose kulfi, mango three ways
• Indian Accent (midtown west): favorite & exceptional. potato sphere chaat, bengal rice khichdi, baked sea bass, makhan malai, doda burfi
• Junoon (flatiron): eggplant chaat, piri piri shrimp, murgh lababdar, daal makhni, junoon spice naan with gruyere
• Baar Baar (east village): dahi puri, potato tikki, paneer pinwheels
• Jazba (east village): pipli cocktail, paneer teh pe teh, green chili chicken, ros omelet prawn, romali roti, chur chur.

Italian

• Carbone (greenwich village): favorite & exceptional. spicy rigatoni vodka, zucchini flowers, Italian rainbow cookie cake, carrot cake
• Torrisi – 1 Michelin Star (nolita): favorite. tortellini pomodoro, cucumbers New Yorkese
• L’Artusi (west village): favorite. olive oil cake, spaghetti
• Babbo (greenwich village): pappardelle bolognese, mascarpone cheesecake, (I wasn’t impressed by the vegetarian items)
• Rubirosa (nolita): fresca, vodka, tie-dye, tuscan kale campanelle pasta

Japanese

• Nobu 57 (midtown west): favorite. miso black cod, Peruvian chicken skewers

Korean

• Hangawi (midtown east): favorite. lychee mojito, stuffed shitake mushrooms, bean curd with kimchi, combination pancakes, tofu chocolate pudding

Mexican

• La Esquina (lower east side): grilled corn, grilled fish tacos 

Michelin Star Restaurants

• Le Bernardin – 3 Michelin Star (french/midtown): favorite & outstanding experience, pricey. black truffle tagliatelle, salmon tartare, hazelnut praline
• Torrisi – 1 Michelin Star (nolita): favorite. tortellini pomodoro, cucumbers New Yorkese

Middle-Eastern/Moroccan

• Mamoun’s Falafel (west village): falafel
• Casa La Femme (west village): branzino, french fries, babaghanoush, hummus, crabmeat kofta 

Pizza

• L’Industrie Pizzeria (west village): favorite & outstanding. burrata pizza, tartufo pizza
• Roberta’s (midtown east, brooklyn): favorite. Margherita
• Rubirosa (nolita): favorite. fresca, vodka, tuscan kale campanelle pasta
• Joe’s Pizza (west village): fresh mozzarella, plain cheese
• Razza Pizza (jersey city): margherita

Romantic Restaurants

• Salinas (chelsea): red sangria, croquetas del dia, seco paella
• La Lanterna di Vittorio (greenwich village): pesto lasagna, pomodoro e basilico, tiramisu, warm pecan pie
• Casa La Femme (west village): branzino, french fries, babaghanoush, hummus, crabmeat kofta 
• The River Cafe (dumbo): chocolate Brooklyn Bridge cake

Spanish

• Salinas (chelsea): red sangria, croquetas del dia, seco paella

Street Food

• The Halal Guys (midtown west): chicken & rice

Thai

• Thai Villa (flatiron): favorite & exceptional. royal pad thai, hok talay, coconut sticky rice, Thai iced tea
• Mitr Thai (midtown west): chicken kea mao, shrimp green curry, mango avocado salad

Trendy

• Catch (meatpacking district): cod lettuce wraps, mushroom spaghetti

Vegan

• Chloe (west village – previously named By Chloe): guac burger, sweet potato fries, chipotle aioli sauce, beet ketchup
• Planta (nomad): rainbow roll, avocado lime tartare

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OVERRATED NYC RESTAURANTS

• Bar Pitti: rude service, obnoxious staff. food is average except for the famous pappardelle alla fiesolana.
• Afternoon Tea at The Palm Court – The Plaza Hotel: it’s an experience at a landmark hotel, but the food is overrated.
• Ilili: it’s not the same anymore, their food has been off the last two times I visited.
• Prince Street Pizza: wasn’t impressed, nothing special about the sauce.
• Red Bamboo: unimpressed.
• Chez Josephine: poor service, average food.. don’t believe the hype.
• Veniero’s: most definitely not the best cheesecake in NYC, so disappointed with the classic Italian desserts.

This post was first published on June 19, 2018, and has been modified and updated since.