Feed us NYC in a weekend
August 9, 2023 9:27 AM Subscribe
We will be in the city Friday-Sunday 9/22-24, so probably 2 breakfasts and 4-5 other meals. What to eat?
My husband grew up in NJ and worked in Manhattan as a baby IT Guy who could only afford office-worker food, but has no specific requests except that he has spent all his non-NJ decades searching for even a passable Italian hoagie. I've somehow only been to NYC beyond the airport once, with him, for one afternoon many years ago. We lived in Texas for 10 years and SoCal for another 12 and have spend the past year roaming the PNW and the midwest, including all summer in Milwaukee before we head to Albany for the fall.
We are not really looking for trendy food that you can get in LA and Chicago, and I'd rather spend moderately well over these 6-7 meals than have one or two $$$$$ fine dining blowouts. We are also still fairly COVID-cautious and will probably skew to eating at odd hours or outside where possible or takeout. Like, atmosphere is our least requirement - we learned well in Southern California that some of the best food is fluorescent-lit with a wobbly chair.
What I really want is "only in New York" or "you HAVE to get in New York" food. Specific names would be great, or at least "get X in Y neighborhood".
We generally eat anything (which includes vegan food!), no problem with new things, probably a white-people-medium spice tolerance. I haven't had proper Polish or Ukrainian food in way too long, would love some recs there. Also I have somehow never eaten oysters and I feel like this would be the right place to fix that - again, I'd prefer really good oysters and elbow room rather than trying to wedge my large ass into a room full of viral load and instagram opportunities alongside really good oysters.
I don't know yet where we're staying. We'll be in Manhattan Friday night to see Eddie Izzard and then no specific plans until our train back to Albany on Sunday. We will likely plot our weekend around things we want to eat and then go do enrichment near those places.
My husband grew up in NJ and worked in Manhattan as a baby IT Guy who could only afford office-worker food, but has no specific requests except that he has spent all his non-NJ decades searching for even a passable Italian hoagie. I've somehow only been to NYC beyond the airport once, with him, for one afternoon many years ago. We lived in Texas for 10 years and SoCal for another 12 and have spend the past year roaming the PNW and the midwest, including all summer in Milwaukee before we head to Albany for the fall.
We are not really looking for trendy food that you can get in LA and Chicago, and I'd rather spend moderately well over these 6-7 meals than have one or two $$$$$ fine dining blowouts. We are also still fairly COVID-cautious and will probably skew to eating at odd hours or outside where possible or takeout. Like, atmosphere is our least requirement - we learned well in Southern California that some of the best food is fluorescent-lit with a wobbly chair.
What I really want is "only in New York" or "you HAVE to get in New York" food. Specific names would be great, or at least "get X in Y neighborhood".
We generally eat anything (which includes vegan food!), no problem with new things, probably a white-people-medium spice tolerance. I haven't had proper Polish or Ukrainian food in way too long, would love some recs there. Also I have somehow never eaten oysters and I feel like this would be the right place to fix that - again, I'd prefer really good oysters and elbow room rather than trying to wedge my large ass into a room full of viral load and instagram opportunities alongside really good oysters.
I don't know yet where we're staying. We'll be in Manhattan Friday night to see Eddie Izzard and then no specific plans until our train back to Albany on Sunday. We will likely plot our weekend around things we want to eat and then go do enrichment near those places.
If you want Ukrainian, Veselka on 2d and 11th or 12th is the classic NYC East Village diner.Veselka
posted by LizardBreath at 9:52 AM on August 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by LizardBreath at 9:52 AM on August 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
Also don't discount your classic New York slice joints for quick take out. For example, grab a few at Joe's Pizza and take to Washington Square Park or any of the little pocket parks around the Village.
posted by greta simone at 9:58 AM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by greta simone at 9:58 AM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also, my friend does really great food tours of classic NY food, Chinatown, Jewish foods, etc if you wanna make an event out it.
posted by greta simone at 10:03 AM on August 9, 2023
posted by greta simone at 10:03 AM on August 9, 2023
Have a look at the Eater web site for New York for starters. They're pretty good about covering the NY food scene, at all levels and price points. They also have a lot of maps, including this one of 38 "essential New York restaurants". There's also a map to iconic NYC pizzerias, a map for finding really good hot dogs, and their top 40 cheap dinners. They also have maps for where to eat in various neighborhoods as well, so once you do find a place to stay, you can search the maps section for that neighborhood and will likely also get some hits.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:05 AM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:05 AM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
It’s been around a few years now, but I’m still in love with Via Carota in the West Village. Wonderful owners and staff, simple dishes made with fresh, high quality ingredients. There’s never been a false note when I’ve eaten there. Go during off hours and/or sit at the bar if you want to avoid long waits. Also it happens to be a good place for oysters!
For a truly only-in-NYC oyster experience, though, you’d go to the Grand Central Oyster Bar.
Another quintessential NYC place would be Russ & Daughters. Go to their cafe on Orchard St if you want to sit down.
Hard to argue with Veselka for Ukrainian, but also check out Ukrainian East Village Restaurant nearby.
posted by theory at 10:11 AM on August 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
For a truly only-in-NYC oyster experience, though, you’d go to the Grand Central Oyster Bar.
Another quintessential NYC place would be Russ & Daughters. Go to their cafe on Orchard St if you want to sit down.
Hard to argue with Veselka for Ukrainian, but also check out Ukrainian East Village Restaurant nearby.
posted by theory at 10:11 AM on August 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
For a "New York" oysters experience, normally I would say GCOB, but it's unlikely to make a COVID-cautious person happy. Therefore, I suggest Grand Banks, which is actually on the deck of a little ship on the river. I haven't been there, but reviews are generally positive and you will be outdoors.
The new location of Superiority Burger is (despite the name) the new vegetarian hotness.
If you can snag a spot at Mâm (which requires some advance planning due to its semi-popup nature, look it up first), that should be a distinctive experience for you, and unless it's changed recently it's mostly outside. If you can't, not too far off is Spicy Village, possibly an even more bare-bones affair that last I looked still had a couple of folding tables perched awkwardly on the sidewalk. Get the Spicy Big Tray Chicken (not all that spicy).
If you're sticking to Manhattan, Little Poland in the EV is your main Polish option, heavy on the comfort food. Veselka is of course well-known but you'll definitely want to try to go in the off-hours, as it can get slammed. But you could also take the ferry to Greenpoint (the East River ferry is a pleasant trip) and try one of the survivors hanging on there.
The Emily/Emmy/Squared Detroit-style pizza restaurants are one of the best versions of same I've had ("Detroit-style" pizza is a relatively recently identified phenomenon and it's not like it's fancy anywhere). The West Village Emily is in the best location, a half-grubby, half-charming little nook on the border which happens to be close to Film Forum, one of the old school art houses.
posted by praemunire at 10:37 AM on August 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
The new location of Superiority Burger is (despite the name) the new vegetarian hotness.
If you can snag a spot at Mâm (which requires some advance planning due to its semi-popup nature, look it up first), that should be a distinctive experience for you, and unless it's changed recently it's mostly outside. If you can't, not too far off is Spicy Village, possibly an even more bare-bones affair that last I looked still had a couple of folding tables perched awkwardly on the sidewalk. Get the Spicy Big Tray Chicken (not all that spicy).
If you're sticking to Manhattan, Little Poland in the EV is your main Polish option, heavy on the comfort food. Veselka is of course well-known but you'll definitely want to try to go in the off-hours, as it can get slammed. But you could also take the ferry to Greenpoint (the East River ferry is a pleasant trip) and try one of the survivors hanging on there.
The Emily/Emmy/Squared Detroit-style pizza restaurants are one of the best versions of same I've had ("Detroit-style" pizza is a relatively recently identified phenomenon and it's not like it's fancy anywhere). The West Village Emily is in the best location, a half-grubby, half-charming little nook on the border which happens to be close to Film Forum, one of the old school art houses.
posted by praemunire at 10:37 AM on August 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
(I should add that one should definitely go off-hours to Superiority Burger, on account of its being the new hotness and all.)
posted by praemunire at 10:44 AM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 10:44 AM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
I’m a big fan of Yonah Shimmel Knishes, if you want something that feels like old school NYC and you don’t mind that the grime on the front window dates from 1973. Lots of different flavors of knishes, sweet and savory.
posted by LizardBreath at 11:58 AM on August 9, 2023
posted by LizardBreath at 11:58 AM on August 9, 2023
Off the top of my head, the types of food that I think New York is doing better than Chicago or LA these days includes 1. really good pasta, 2. various cuisines from the African continent, 3. more obscure Eastern European cuisines, 4. fancy and cheap pizza, 5. fancy seafood, and 6. Caribbean food.
For each of those, I can vouch for the following but there are many more if you do some digging. I make no claims as to the covid safety of any of these but all would be good for off-hours dining. They're pretty far flung -- sorry, I spend most of my time in Brooklyn these days!
1. Lilia (Williamsburg) or Rezdora (Flatiron)
2. Le Baobab Gouygui or La Savane (both in Harlem)
3. Omar Khayyam (Brighton Beach) or Old Tblisi Garden (East Village)
4. Ops (Bushwick) or Paulie Gee's Slice Shop (Greenpoint), plus you have to experience the dollar slice at any corner pizza joint, they're all great.
5. La Bernadin for a splurge or Mary's Fish Camp (West Village)
6. Negril BK (Park Slope) or Grandchamps (Bed Study)
posted by LeeLanded at 12:02 PM on August 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
For each of those, I can vouch for the following but there are many more if you do some digging. I make no claims as to the covid safety of any of these but all would be good for off-hours dining. They're pretty far flung -- sorry, I spend most of my time in Brooklyn these days!
1. Lilia (Williamsburg) or Rezdora (Flatiron)
2. Le Baobab Gouygui or La Savane (both in Harlem)
3. Omar Khayyam (Brighton Beach) or Old Tblisi Garden (East Village)
4. Ops (Bushwick) or Paulie Gee's Slice Shop (Greenpoint), plus you have to experience the dollar slice at any corner pizza joint, they're all great.
5. La Bernadin for a splurge or Mary's Fish Camp (West Village)
6. Negril BK (Park Slope) or Grandchamps (Bed Study)
posted by LeeLanded at 12:02 PM on August 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
You want to go to Chinatown. It's been too long since I've been in NYC for any specific recommendations, but east coast Chinese and west coast Chinese are really different and I think that's cool to experience.
Growing up on the east coast we were always taught that oysters are only safe in cold weather - in months with an R in them - and I know that has changed but it still makes me wary of eating them in August. Also that may mean you're getting Alaskan oysters; I would check the provenance first.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:12 PM on August 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
Growing up on the east coast we were always taught that oysters are only safe in cold weather - in months with an R in them - and I know that has changed but it still makes me wary of eating them in August. Also that may mean you're getting Alaskan oysters; I would check the provenance first.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:12 PM on August 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
Superiority Burger is a must. There might be a line, it's worth it- you can also wait it out in the back bar area, bring quarters for the cocktail mix. Don't miss the specials which are written on paper by the desert case. the waiters will not mention them to you. They are open late night on the weekends from midnight-2am as well, could be very fun after the concert. No outdoor dining, but maybe worth the risk.
Spicy Moon Vegetarian Sichuan has a location in both east village & west village. VERY GOOD, def has out door dining in east village
If you like cooking at home, consider stopping by Kalustyans to browse and take ingredients home with you. This is also right by a number of delicious Indian restaurants.
On Saturday you could also make an afternoon of heading out to the Queens Night Market- it's in the specacular Flushing Meadows Corona Park in queens, arrive when the doors open to beat the lines, but also the lines move fast and it's an incredibly cute scene, all outdoors, food from all over the world. Pair with Queens museum or Queens Hall of Science if you want a twofer in that park. Smorgasburg is another lots-of-cuisines-in-outdoor-settings kinda deal, down by the WTC on fridays.
Essex Market in the lower east side is a lot of good food businesses- Shopsins is an iconic restaurant there, but there's lots of little food stands & some robust niche grocery action. Also home to the finest rare cheese shop in the city AND the finest Vegan cheese shop in the city.
For bagels Russ & Daughters can be a zoo- I like Blackseed Bagels and Ess-a-Bagel too.
For manhattan based pizza slices, Scarr's Pizza is bangin.
In general for covid consciousness, this year will likely be the last fall of totally unfettered outdoor street dining, so that could be a fun thing to prioritize.
For sandwiches- hit up this link
posted by wowenthusiast at 12:21 PM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Spicy Moon Vegetarian Sichuan has a location in both east village & west village. VERY GOOD, def has out door dining in east village
If you like cooking at home, consider stopping by Kalustyans to browse and take ingredients home with you. This is also right by a number of delicious Indian restaurants.
On Saturday you could also make an afternoon of heading out to the Queens Night Market- it's in the specacular Flushing Meadows Corona Park in queens, arrive when the doors open to beat the lines, but also the lines move fast and it's an incredibly cute scene, all outdoors, food from all over the world. Pair with Queens museum or Queens Hall of Science if you want a twofer in that park. Smorgasburg is another lots-of-cuisines-in-outdoor-settings kinda deal, down by the WTC on fridays.
Essex Market in the lower east side is a lot of good food businesses- Shopsins is an iconic restaurant there, but there's lots of little food stands & some robust niche grocery action. Also home to the finest rare cheese shop in the city AND the finest Vegan cheese shop in the city.
For bagels Russ & Daughters can be a zoo- I like Blackseed Bagels and Ess-a-Bagel too.
For manhattan based pizza slices, Scarr's Pizza is bangin.
In general for covid consciousness, this year will likely be the last fall of totally unfettered outdoor street dining, so that could be a fun thing to prioritize.
For sandwiches- hit up this link
posted by wowenthusiast at 12:21 PM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
P.S. If your husband wants a delightful Italian sandwich, hit up Faicco's in the West Village, or Russo's in the East.
posted by praemunire at 3:53 PM on August 9, 2023
posted by praemunire at 3:53 PM on August 9, 2023
If I were you, since you're going to the Beacon theater, I'd start an hour before and go get delicious bagels / lox and lots of only -in -NYC fixins a few blocks up from the Beacon at Zabar's. I'd eat it in Riverside Park and then stroll over to the show.
posted by ojocaliente at 4:08 PM on August 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by ojocaliente at 4:08 PM on August 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
How about Afghan food? Sami's Kabab House is a few subway stops into Astoria, and is absolutely delicious. Here's an old NYT review. I just saw a bunch of recent online reviews complaining about the service, so take that into consideration, but even those grouchy reviews concede the food's still great. Last time I was there at lunchtime it was pretty deserted in a relatively large dining room, so since you're on the fence about dine-in due to COVID, it might work for you for lunch.
posted by hovey at 7:30 PM on August 9, 2023
posted by hovey at 7:30 PM on August 9, 2023
There's a branch of viand near the beacon; they make their turkey in-house
posted by brujita at 4:56 AM on August 10, 2023
posted by brujita at 4:56 AM on August 10, 2023
If I were you, since you're going to the Beacon theater, I'd start an hour before and go get delicious bagels / lox and lots of only -in -NYC fixins a few blocks up from the Beacon at Zabar's.
Ooh, seconding this. Zabar's is a longstanding institution.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:49 AM on August 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
Ooh, seconding this. Zabar's is a longstanding institution.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:49 AM on August 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
Since you’re on the Upper West Side, you’re also going to be right by Gray’s Papaya, and if that’s not an only-in-NY-thing, I don’t want to know.
posted by Mchelly at 10:45 AM on August 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Mchelly at 10:45 AM on August 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm dropping back in here to 3rd the suggestion about Zabars & Riverside park. That is such a good pairing with the Beacon if the weather is nice. Great people watching. If you have extra time to kill, the upstairs at zabars is a fun hodgepodge of kitchen stuff.
posted by wowenthusiast at 9:03 AM on August 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by wowenthusiast at 9:03 AM on August 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
As a third generation New Yorker (now living elsewhere and going back to visit a few times a year) Zabar's is to me the apotheosis of NYC food especially if you're already on the UWS. Yes to a picnic of their rye bread, bagels, whitefish salad, lox, assorted schmears, some potato knishes AND please make sure to get babka or ruggalach for dessert!!
posted by lesser whistling duck at 2:06 PM on August 12, 2023
posted by lesser whistling duck at 2:06 PM on August 12, 2023
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For Ukrainian there's always the crowd favorite Veselka, but you'd also want to hit up off hours bc it can get crowded.
posted by greta simone at 9:51 AM on August 9, 2023 [4 favorites]