Before I kick off some serious food porn, I feel that I should mention that everywhere we ate in NYC was ridiculously sexy. So this list is, in my limited experience, the places that you absolutely MUST go to, that will leave you in a state of pure foodie happiness, that you will want to go back to immediately.
A few things first. For starters, I HAVE to mention the 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar. Not included in this list for obvious reasons but what a place to go to for a cocktail. You can sit directly in the shadow of the glittering Empire State Building and basically cry at how beautiful it is.
Next, I haven’t included The Boathouse in Central Park because we weren’t blown away by the food. It was nice, don’t get me wrong, but it didn’t feel like it was worth the price or the fuss. The location, however, was so dreamy particularly if you manage to get a table by the water. My advice? GO. It’s a gorgeous location and will make you feel like you’re in a film, but just grab a drink or snack and then go to one of the below for the main event.
And finally, a shout out to Maxwells, a cosy little place G discovered in Midtown which did some sexy mac n cheese, Patsy’s on the upper west side for delicious oven-baked pizzas and Junior’s near Times Square and/or Brooklyn for top notch NYC cheesecake (in about eight million different flavours).
And now for the main event:
Jack’s Wife Freda
Hands down, the best place we ate at in the week we were in NYC. We went for dinner here on our last night and it was so flippin’ good, we went back for our final brunch the next morning. There’s two locations and both have major Instagrammable décor (check out their dreeeeamy instagram account here). It’s American food with a Mediterranean twist and it was tasty, scrummy; all of the descriptive words. Just so good. Brunch is what they do best (I’m salivating at the memory of the eggs and halloumi) but try and squeeze in an evening trip as well. Also the cantaloupe juice is a must-have. Oh and we saw David Schwimmer here so if that’s not reason to go, then I dunno what is.
Bubby’s
The main menu is kinda like a posher version of Nandos in that you pick a meat, sauce and two sides but that’s not why you should go. Bubby’s is famous for the pie and for a bloody good reason. I had their peanut butter and chocolate pie and it was literally the best thing I have eaten. Seriously, I haven’t stopped going on about it since. It also has a cute décor, an awesome old-school playlist and is located right on the high line.
ShakeShack
You may judge me for this one but look at me, not giving two hoots. I bloody loved ShakeShack and it felt so New York. I know we now have them in the UK but I’m almost scared to go because how can it possibly be as good when you’re not sat in the sunshine in Madison Square Park? Which btw, is apparently the original ShakeShack. Their SmokeShack burger may be the best burger I have ever had (the sweet pepper is what does it for me I think). Just sayin’. The crinkly fries and milkshakes are also crackin’.
The Meatball Shop
If you don’t love a hearty bowl of pasta at least once a week, then we probs can’t be friends. Soz and that. You can choose between pork, beef, chicken, veggie or speciality meatballs as well as different sauces like homemade pesto or spicy meat and different pasta like spaghetti or penne. There’s also a good selection of sides; I panic ordered some chilli broccoli cos WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I ATE VEG. Each bowl comes with lashings of parmesan and a slice of focaccia bread. Heavenly.
Dough
Lol at how poor doughnuts are in the UK compared to ‘Merica. These babies are as big as your face and I’m not ashamed to admit I ate it all. I ordered the lemon poppy seed and can confirm it was as sexy as it looked.
Absolute Bagels
I was kinda expecting something a bit more from this place cos it was recommended to me more than once (and there are a lot of bagel places in New York) but, nope, just a side street bagel shop with kinda rude staff. But there were HUNDREDS of different types of cream cheeses. Sweet and savoury. And the bagels were doughy and warm and really rather sexy. We took ours into central park and sat in the sun as the adrenaline from our helicopter ride seeped out of us.
Emack and Bolio’s
About two blocks out of central park and a necessity on a hot day. Not only does it do every flavour of ice cream you can imagine, it also specialises in the sexiest (and weirdest) cereal toppings, coated in melted marshmallow so it sticks to your cone. G said it was too much and, okay after a while I did feel like I was eating radioactive sugar… but who even cares? LOOK at it.
Tick Tock Diner
Probably the most stereotypical American place we went to during our week. It was actually the place we went to on our first morning and it was so perfect for making us feel like we’d arrived in the US of A. Exactly like you imagine an American diner, full of colour and waitresses filling up your coffee cup as you walk past. Oh and the pancakes and bacon were the stuff of your filthiest dreams.
Rice to Riches
Imagine Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour for rice pudding instead of beans and you’ve got Rice to Riches. IT’S A WHOLE SHOP FOR RICE PUDDING, NEED I SAY MORE? Ngl, there were so many flavours that I actually kinda panicked. Too. Much. Choice. I asked if I could have two different flavours not realising that I’d actually ordered two portions. And G doesn’t like rice pudding. Oops. It’s quirky, fun and full of the best pudding in the world. I’ll say no more.
Can I just go back now please? There are still so many places to try.
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