Food for Thought: November 2015

So a few months ago... in May this year to be exact, Adam and I had our first ever taste of America! I had surprised Adam with a trip to New York for his 30th birthday in March, which left plenty of time for researching where to eat in one of the foodie capitals of the world. We were also lucky enough to have a few friends visiting around the same time which made the trip even more memorable.

Instead of writing a whole schpeal about all the amazing things I ate and where I ate them I thought I would enlighten you with my Love Bites New York Hit List: A collection of foodie haunts across the Big Apple. I can't take all the credit for the list as I picked quite a few brains from some NYC connoisseurs but the collaboration of these amazing places I hope will entice and excite you as much as it did me. Please share the list with your friends and let me know what other additions you have.

Just to note - the ones in bold were my ultimate pics - most of which I did get to visit but a few I have kept there for next time!

EAST VILLAGE AND LOWER EAST SIDE

Momofuku Ssam Bar, lunch brunch or dinner pan Asian – supposed to be best ramen in town (no res or can book for 3-8 people special menu) 207 second avenue at 13th street new york, ny 10003
Momofuku http://momofuku.com Now this is David Chans restaurants group. Again cool, are legendary. Go at night when they play really loud rock music, great vibe.
Booker and Dax – Momofuku bar same address as above – must go to. Pork buns are amazing great cocktails
Motorino Pizza – delish – open later 349 EAST 12TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10003
Alder http://aldernyc.com/ TASTING MENU This is Willy Dufresne newish restaurant 157 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Katz Deli http://katzsdelicatessen.com Iconic in NYC and make sure you get the ruben. WARNING they are massive. Sam and I shared one. 205 East Houston Street (corner of Ludlow St) New York City, 10002
Public – Aussie / Kiwi inspired (Michelin starred) cool trendy vibe – went for brunch but would recommend – amazing quinoa hash browns! (just up from The Butchers Daughter and The Egg Shop)
Tinys giant bagels and sandwiches 129 Rivington St, New York City, NY 10002
Freemans Alley - Cool Americana colonial Garrison type place – comfort food, easygoing – cool customers, up an alley – no bookings except over 6.
Motor City – Ludlow St, late night dive bar for rock n rollers. Great.
Vanessas – Dumplings, take away. 1$ for 4 pork & chive dumplings - Lower East Side
Pulinos – McNally on Houston, shi-shi pizza.
Ten Bells – 247 Broome nr Orchard. Small, cool, oysters.
Bacaro – 136 Division St. Awesome cellar restaurant (closed Mondays).
White Slab – cnr Allen & Delancey. Trashy cool corner bar/food.
Beauty and Essex – LES speakeasy. Front is a pawnbroker’s shop. Walk through door into big two floor, resto and bar. http://www.beautyandessex.com/
Clinton St Bakery – 4 Clinton St nr Houston. Breakfast for fatties
Stanton Social – 99 Stanton St, nr Ludlow. Good for breakfast/brunch/lunch
Gemma in the Bowery Hotel on LES - hipster place, trendy – very cool vibe – went for drinks but recommend brunch or dinner too
Narcissa (Michelin starred Italian) 25 Cooper Square (corner of 5th St and Bowery), NY 10003
Root and Bone 200 East 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009 apparently the best fried chicken

NB – so many speakeasies in Lower East Side!

CHELSEA/ MEATPACKING / WEST VILLAGE

Spotted pig http://thespottedpig.com Go for lunch as its not to crowded. The food is awesome and make sure you get the banoffee pie its out of this world. (Michelin star –no res) 314 West 11^th Street, Greenwich Street,New York NY 10014
Murrays Bagels 500 Avenue of the Americas, 10011 MUST GO TO!!!
Boom Boom Rm – Now called The Top of the Standard. Wicked view of New York- full of idiots but worth a look. Go before 9pm when the normal people are allowed in.
Standard Grill – in the Standard Hotel. Wicked, great food. Roof bar. Unparalleled views of the city. http://thestandardgrill.com/
Shillers – Cocktails, beers and chilled grub. 131 Rivington St
Pastis – good for brunch/lunch. 9 Ninth Ave
Balthazar – steaks and seafood. 80 Spring St
Cookshop – great Meatpacking all rounder http://cookshopny.com/
Buddakan – Great Asian fusion food – trendy, must book
Bagatelle – French Restaurant – lunch or dinner One Little West 12th Street
New York, NY 10014
The Brass Monkey Bar – 55 Little West 12^th Street NYC – good for a drink if the Standard Rooftop is manic or to stop in after shopping and catch a little sun
Gansevoort Hotel Group – Plunge Bar and Lounge . (18 9th Avenue at 13th Street http://www.gansevoorthotelgroup.com/hotels/gansevoort-meatpacking-nyc/nightlife/plunge-bar-lounge bar / cocktails
The Standard Hotel Rooftop 848 Washington St (at W 13th St) New York, NY 10014
Boom Boom Bar – top of the Standard – need to get in for early drinks as they kick everyone out at 11 best view of NYC and toilets supposed to be amazing!
Chelsea Markets – Lobster rolls – can’t remember the name of it but massive seafood / oyster bar but best lobster rolls!
Betel – 51 Grove St, by Bleecker. Asian contemporary mid range. Good
Joseph Leonard – 170 Waverley Pl. Sweetest neighbourhood restaurant ever. Hard to book. (they had a fire - could be closed still)
Hotel Griffou – 21 West 9th, btw 5th & 6th. Quirky basement of a townhouse - cool/very sceney - cocktails & celebs
Westville – 210 W 10th St, btw Bleecker & W4th. V tiny place, delivery/eat in. Comfort food.
The Breslin – The Ace hotel, 16 W 29th at Broadway. Scottish colonial hunting lodge pub?! V Nice for brunch nr Madison sq.
Shake Shack – Madison Sq Park. Take away café – custard shakes!
Little Owl. 90 Bedford St Brunch (not Monday) and cute dinner. Bedford and Bleeker. Good burger.
Fatty Crab – 643 Hudson, nr Gansevoort – great for breakfast/brunch/lunch
August – 359 Bleecker – super for breakfast/lunch/dinner
The Waverley Inn – 16 Bank St. - super for breakfast/lunch/dinner
St Ambroes in West Village. Italian food, small place but super-chic fashion crowd

NOLITA

The Butchers Daughter http://thebutchersdaughter.com Wicked cafe. The kale salad is a must!!! 19 Kenmare Street, New York, NY (healthy funky brunch lunch place 10-4pm also does bar snacks at dinner) All vegetarian – best juices!
Jack's Wife Freda 224 Lafayette St New York, NY 10012 – really good Mediterranean inspired – recommended BRUNCH OR LUNCH BEST – walkins only
Black seed bagels 170 Elizabeth st Bagels look YUM
Egg shop – favourite place – tiny restaurant and no reservations - hash browns are delish! 151 Elizabeth street. Ideal for Brunch but Dinner open from 8am
Tartinery - nolita next to soho open sandwiches restaurant 209 MULBERRY STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10012 LUNCH OPTION
Taco Box http://www.bbarandgrill.com/tacobox.php 40 East Street at Bowery NY 10003 We stumbled upon this amazing place and the tacos are out of this world. A good place to refuel during the day in between shopping.
La Esquina mexican FF soho. http://www.esquinanyc.com/menus.php 114 Kenmare, New York, NY 10012 b/n Lafayette and Centre Brasserie and taco stop – food looks insane!!
Tacombi tacos fried fish 267 Elizabeth st – street food style in warehouse like setting – food truck - worth the wait for a table! Great sangria
The Musket Room next to Tacombi (above) food looks fantastic – think is Kiwi owned?
Lovely Day Nice little café/brunch spot on Elizabeth – next to Public btw Prince & Spring.
Peasant - 194 Elizabeth, nr Public. Cool Italian, rustic, simple food.
Cafe Habana Prince and Elizabeth
Cafe Gitane on Mott – North African food in cool, little artsy café.
Double Crown –v cool eatery and bar. Great brunch, dinner –
Ago – new Bobby de Niro Italian in Tribeca. If you go there, go to Smith & Mills, a cool, tiny bar opposite.
Frankie’s pizza - 19, 1^st Ave btw 1^st & 2^nd St. Naples, brick oven - cosy.

CHINATOWN

Prosperity dumpling cheap eat!! 46 Eldridge street Chinatown

FLAT IRON

Eataly -200 5th Avenue New York, NY 10010 Market open daily 10-11pm
ABC Kitchen brunch lunch near flat iron building 35 east 18th street new york, ny 10003 – best pasta I had in NYC – really fresh interesting food
Claudette 24 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10011 French bistro expendy

MIDTOWN

The Burger Joint Le Parker meridian hotel midtown west – simple American burgers but mighty good (in the reception – you will see a line for queing as its tiny!) best burgers and fun play on take away food.
DB bistro moderne (Daniel boloud) truffle foie gras burger 55 west 44th st midtown west
Looks delicious perhaps lunch?
The Gramercy Hotel – 2 Lexington Avenue 10010, apparently famous ppl drink here
The Hudson Terrace, garden bar rooftop (need to put name on the guest list – contact in email) 621 West 46^th Street NYC 10036
Pod 39 Hotel Rooftop http://www.thepodhotel.com/pod-hotel-entertainment Such a great place for a drink The Pod Hotel 39
230 Fifth – Rooftop bar / nightclub (we went for brunch – all you can eat) great if the sun is shining – great view of the Empire State!

WILLIAMSBURG/BROOKLYN

The Wythe Hotel – Rooftop bar – great for a late afternoon drink after exploring – amazing view– opens at 4pm
Emilys Pizza http://pizzalovesemily.com/food/ 919 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Motorino Pizza, 139 BROADWAY, BROOKLYN, NY 11211
Peter Luger – 178 Broadway at Driggs. Bright old fashioned, great steak.
Diner – 85 broadway. V cool, artsy, rustic hangover fodder.
Marlow & Sons (& Daughters). Attached to Diner, deli café, butcher, shop
Moto – 394 Broadway btw Keap & Hooper. Super nice cosy rough restaurant w music.
Roebling Tea Room – 143 Roebling St. Weekend hangout, food and beer – great.
El Almacaen – 557 Driggs Ave. Argentinean
5 leaves left – Bedford Ave 18 Lorimar.
Fatty Cue – 91 South 6th st Brooklyn.
Vinegar Hill Hse 72 Hudson Ave.
Biscuits & Gravy – btw Bedford & Berry
Fette Sau – best BBQ in NY (Brooklyn) http://www.fettesaubbq.com/