Favorite NYC restaurants

sallyawp
Mon, 03 May 2010 12:07:13 +0000

Many years of living in NYC have definitely left me with a list of favorites, many of which are not on the lists of “best” restaurants.

Skip Sarabeth’s and try Barney Greengrass for breakfast. It’s located at 86th and Amsterdam. You will not regret it.

For great bagels, I skip H&H and head to Ess-a-bagel. They are out of this world!

For a quick bit on the UWS for breakfast or lunch, I would recommend Lenny’s on Columbus Avenue. They make great sandwiches, and have fantastic bagels and coffee. It’s a local staple.

For reasonably priced, delicious sushi, you can’t beat Yama (East 22nd Street). Hatsuhana in midtown is also excellent.

One of my favorite Italian places is Babbo (already mentioned here, I believe) and another that I won’t share because I don’t want my neighborhood FANTASTIC Italian to become any more crowded than it is (the locals flock here 7 nights a week).

For really good Italian in Little Italy, try Il Cortile. My mouth is watering just thinking about their antipasto.

For steak, first choice is always to head over the Williamsburg Bridge and head to Peter Luger. There are no menus and only one type of steak is served (porterhouse). The only question is whether you will get the steak for 2, 3, 4, etc. I don’t know what they do to that steak, but it will rock your world. The bacon appetizer is like nothing else. Of course, they have all of the other traditional steakhouse appetizers and side dishes, and all are very good. Be prepared - Peter Luger only takes cash.

If you wish to stay in Manhattan, for my money, the best steak is at Del Frisco’s.

I will always love Gramercy Tavern, especially the area by the bar up front where you can sit down and eat without a reservation. Blue Smoke is also excellent.

For desserts, I recommend Cafe Lalo. Shake Shack is also very good. Touristy though it is, there is something very special about the frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity III (though I wouldn’t wait hours for it). I can’t help but stop for Italian pastries at Ferrara when I am in Little Italy.

For burgers, I like Shake Shack and Corner Bistro.

Those are all I can think of for now. There are many others, though. I highly recommend asking folks who live in different neighborhoods what their favorite neighborhood places are. Often you will find excellent food at reasonable prices.