Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Gabrielle Hamilton won the Best Chef in NYC award from the James Beard Foundation in 2011. The food is excellent and it has a strong community connection despite bringing a lot of non-locals in.
99 abantu bendawo batusa
Prune
54 E 1st StGabrielle Hamilton won the Best Chef in NYC award from the James Beard Foundation in 2011. The food is excellent and it has a strong community connection despite bringing a lot of non-locals in.
Very good classic French bistro food. A little pricey but it's fixture of the neighborhood and always brings in a great crowd. Sitting at the bar is a great option for couples and brunch is also fun and much more relaxed (try to sit at the window table).
101 abantu bendawo batusa
Lucien
14 1st Ave.Very good classic French bistro food. A little pricey but it's fixture of the neighborhood and always brings in a great crowd. Sitting at the bar is a great option for couples and brunch is also fun and much more relaxed (try to sit at the window table).
Superb traditional American food. Famous for its brunch (get there early, the wait can get very long) and especially the pancakes, all the food is delicious and dinner can be just as much of a treat.
365 abantu bendawo batusa
Clinton St. Baking Company
4 Clinton StSuperb traditional American food. Famous for its brunch (get there early, the wait can get very long) and especially the pancakes, all the food is delicious and dinner can be just as much of a treat.
Iconic Jewish establishment. Best lox and cured fish in the city since 1914. Grab a prepared bagel there or pick up some fixings to have back at the apartment. When the weather is good you can eat outside in any of the surrounding parks. If not you can take it over to the upstairs public seating area inside Whole Foods Market.
251 abantu bendawo batusa
Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston StIconic Jewish establishment. Best lox and cured fish in the city since 1914. Grab a prepared bagel there or pick up some fixings to have back at the apartment. When the weather is good you can eat outside in any of the surrounding parks. If not you can take it over to the upstairs public seating area inside Whole Foods Market.
Iconic Jewish establishment. Famous knishes since 1910. Worth a quick stop for the experience.
24 abantu bendawo batusa
Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery
137 E Houston StIconic Jewish establishment. Famous knishes since 1910. Worth a quick stop for the experience.
Delicious mexican food and margaritas. The focus is on tacos here. The scene is great too, very lower east side hip.
222 abantu bendawo batusa
Barrio Chino
253 Broome StDelicious mexican food and margaritas. The focus is on tacos here. The scene is great too, very lower east side hip.
My favorite Vietnamese (pho) restaurant in the city. Besides the pho, the banh tap (shrimp crackers with rice noodle and pork) and salty plum soda are delicious and unique.
15 abantu bendawo batusa
Pho Bang
157 Mott StMy favorite Vietnamese (pho) restaurant in the city. Besides the pho, the banh tap (shrimp crackers with rice noodle and pork) and salty plum soda are delicious and unique.
Best Sushi in NYC when considering fish quality, portions, and price together.
59 abantu bendawo batusa
TOTO Sushi
216 Thompson StBest Sushi in NYC when considering fish quality, portions, and price together.
Espresso snob quality if you're in the Nolita/Soho area doing some shopping.
296 abantu bendawo batusa
Gimme Coffee
495 Lorimer StEspresso snob quality if you're in the Nolita/Soho area doing some shopping.
Very good sushi with a lot flown in from Japan. Has been there for 20+ years but recently was awarded a Michelin Star. Still very affordable though. Hot food is excellent too including the gyoza and miso black cod. Also order the tuna rib which is off menu, it will be quite the surprise.
26 abantu bendawo batusa
Kanoyama
175 2nd AveVery good sushi with a lot flown in from Japan. Has been there for 20+ years but recently was awarded a Michelin Star. Still very affordable though. Hot food is excellent too including the gyoza and miso black cod. Also order the tuna rib which is off menu, it will be quite the surprise.
Good simple food with a hip setting and crowd. Good for a coffee as well.
64 abantu bendawo batusa
The Smile
26 Bond StGood simple food with a hip setting and crowd. Good for a coffee as well.
My favorite place for a quick cafe con leche or smoothy. It's just a stand that has been on the corner for ages.
27 abantu bendawo batusa
Juice Crawl
85 Avenue AMy favorite place for a quick cafe con leche or smoothy. It's just a stand that has been on the corner for ages.
Probably considered the best Vietnamese in the city though I still prefer Pho Bang.
63 abantu bendawo batusa
Pho Grand
277C Grand StProbably considered the best Vietnamese in the city though I still prefer Pho Bang.
My favorite ramen shop. Featured in Chef's Table on Netflix. The starters are great and the chicken ramen is my favorite.
124 abantu bendawo batusa
Ivan Ramen
25 Clinton StMy favorite ramen shop. Featured in Chef's Table on Netflix. The starters are great and the chicken ramen is my favorite.
The original location. Considered the best ramen in the city. It can be a very long wait though.
226 abantu bendawo batusa
Ippudo NY
65 4th AveThe original location. Considered the best ramen in the city. It can be a very long wait though.
Excellent simple Thai. Other location is in Bangkok. Used to have a Michelin Star but lost it recently. Still very good and not expensive. Seafood pad see eiw is my favorite dish.
51 abantu bendawo batusa
Somtum Der
85 Avenue AExcellent simple Thai. Other location is in Bangkok. Used to have a Michelin Star but lost it recently. Still very good and not expensive. Seafood pad see eiw is my favorite dish.
Excellent higher end Thai with a seafood focus. Is a bot pricey. Get the po tak soup.
17 abantu bendawo batusa
Fish Cheeks
55 Bond StExcellent higher end Thai with a seafood focus. Is a bot pricey. Get the po tak soup.
My favorite Italian restaurant. A more casual restaurant from Michael White of 2 Michelin Star Marea. Pastas are exquisite. Monday's they do half off pasta and lambrusco after 9pm.
28 abantu bendawo batusa
Osteria Morini
218 Lafayette StMy favorite Italian restaurant. A more casual restaurant from Michael White of 2 Michelin Star Marea. Pastas are exquisite. Monday's they do half off pasta and lambrusco after 9pm.
Very good Italian food. They don't take reservations though and the wait can easily be 1-2 hours.
49 abantu bendawo batusa
Via Carota
51 Grove StVery good Italian food. They don't take reservations though and the wait can easily be 1-2 hours.
Iconic slice shop. My favorite slice in the city. Get the spicy spring slice.
126 abantu bendawo batusa
Prince St. Pizza
27 Prince StIconic slice shop. My favorite slice in the city. Get the spicy spring slice.
Roman style Italian restaurant with famous pizza. Federico the pizza chef is the mayor of the neighborhood. Say his when you walk in past the pizza oven.
42 abantu bendawo batusa
Gnocco
337 E 10th StRoman style Italian restaurant with famous pizza. Federico the pizza chef is the mayor of the neighborhood. Say his when you walk in past the pizza oven.
Decent Italian food. Pretty good Neapolitan pizza. The restaurant is all about the scene and the music they blast.
149 abantu bendawo batusa
Lil Charlie's NYC
19 Kenmare StDecent Italian food. Pretty good Neapolitan pizza. The restaurant is all about the scene and the music they blast.
Excellent cocktails with a focus on their own crafted bitters. Tiny and intimate with standing room only. Great for a date.
73 abantu bendawo batusa
Amor y Amargo
95 E 6th StExcellent cocktails with a focus on their own crafted bitters. Tiny and intimate with standing room only. Great for a date.
Good french inspired food from Danny Meyer on the 60th floor of a Wall Street tower. The food and price is very good but the view is why you go. Make a reservation but they do have space for walk ins and the waiting area has just as good of views.
10 abantu bendawo batusa
Manhatta
28 Liberty StreetGood french inspired food from Danny Meyer on the 60th floor of a Wall Street tower. The food and price is very good but the view is why you go. Make a reservation but they do have space for walk ins and the waiting area has just as good of views.
Great dim sum during the day and peking duck, garlic chicken, and other dishes at night. Best part is that you can bring your own wine for free. Stop by one Discovery Wine, my recommended wine shop, for some interesting wines to pair with food. Tell the staff where you are going to dinner and they'll help, they know the place well.
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Wu's Wonton King
165 E BroadwayGreat dim sum during the day and peking duck, garlic chicken, and other dishes at night. Best part is that you can bring your own wine for free. Stop by one Discovery Wine, my recommended wine shop, for some interesting wines to pair with food. Tell the staff where you are going to dinner and they'll help, they know the place well.
Drinks & Nightlife
My favorite dive bar. Grab a pickle back and play a game of pool with Slimma the resident poet/alcoholic while listening to some tunes on the awesome jukebox.
33 abantu bendawo batusa
Sophie's
507 East 5th StreetMy favorite dive bar. Grab a pickle back and play a game of pool with Slimma the resident poet/alcoholic while listening to some tunes on the awesome jukebox.
A low key bar with the one of largest booze and beer selections i've ever seen.
26 abantu bendawo batusa
d.b.a.
41 1st Ave.A low key bar with the one of largest booze and beer selections i've ever seen.
The 2nd floor lobby bar and lounge is huge, hip, and high end. That said it is open to anyone and there is a pool table.
50 abantu bendawo batusa
PUBLIC Hotel
215 Chrystie StThe 2nd floor lobby bar and lounge is huge, hip, and high end. That said it is open to anyone and there is a pool table.
Excellent cocktails in a bar that looks more like a eclectic, throwback living room. Can be very busy on the weekends.
Joyface
104 Loisaida AveExcellent cocktails in a bar that looks more like a eclectic, throwback living room. Can be very busy on the weekends.
Grocery & Markets
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston StLarge grocery store with health and organic focus.
Union Market
240 E Houston StMedium grocery store with quality products and produce.
Large sized wine and liquor store with great classic and specialty selection and good prices.
37 abantu bendawo batusa
Astor Wines & Spirits
399 Lafayette StLarge sized wine and liquor store with great classic and specialty selection and good prices.
Medium sized wine & liquor store with best selection of natural wine in the city.
22 abantu bendawo batusa
Discovery Wines
16 Avenue BMedium sized wine & liquor store with best selection of natural wine in the city.
The old historic Essex Market has moved a block into a new home. The historic feeling is gone but the market itself has only gotten better. This is an amazing place for all things food that you must go to.
The Market Line
115 Delancey StThe old historic Essex Market has moved a block into a new home. The historic feeling is gone but the market itself has only gotten better. This is an amazing place for all things food that you must go to.