StuartThere are two things that are certain when you eat out in New York. Firstly, you’ll be spoilt for choice for restaurants and cafes whatever cuisine tickles your fancy. Secondly, it is definitely no longer a cheap place to dine – especially when you factor in tips and taxes!
However, I thought I would share my four favourite places when I went to the Big Apple recently.
Let’s start with the most important meal of the day – breakfast!
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
Ellen’s Stardust Diner is not your ordinary place to eat out in New York – it’s a place where magic happens. The waiting staff are a group of talented individuals who serenade you with Broadway tunes while you savour your meal. I found there was an extensive menu comprising of a wide range of breakfast options. While the entertainment is free, be sure to show your appreciation with a tip.
I highly recommend trying the eggs benedict, which was fantastic, while my partner enjoyed a delicious full breakfast. Moreover, we were served coffee in generous mugs and was free-flowing throughout the meal. Be prepared to queue, as the restaurant does not accept reservations and can get quite busy. However, trust me, the wait is worth it for this one-of-a-kind experience.
On to lunch now and to a New York staple – the bagel…
Liberty Bagels
You cannot visit New York without trying a bagel. In Liberty Bagels, their hand-rolled bagels are amazing and huge! These will certainly set you up for the day. They have a massive array of bagels including the famous rainbow bagel. They have 4 locations across New York and I decided to go to the one near 5th Avenue and Central Park as I was up at that part of the city at lunchtime.
It took me a while to order due to the huge variety of bagels and flavoured cream cheese. However, I settled on a sesame bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Washed down with delicious filter coffee, it certainly was a tasty meal and somewhere where I would go back to again. If bagels aren’t your thing, you can also have sandwiches or a full breakfast. The service was professional and friendly and it was very popular with visitors and locals alike.
Bobby Vans Grill Times Square
Bobby Van’s Grill Times Square is probably the best place I have eaten in New York.
I went here for dinner on a couple of evenings during my stay and I have to say it was amazing both times. Our friendly yet professional waiter was very knowledgeable about wine and the dishes they served – he is a credit to the restaurant. We were sat at a table which meant we had space between us and others so it didn’t feel too crowded.
One of the things that attracted me to this place was that it is fairly upmarket. However, it offered a fixed price menu of 3 courses and a bottle of wine for 2 people for $150. Whilst this could be classed as fairly steep especially with today’s exchange rate, the service and food including the portion sizes meant it was definitely worth it. When I mentioned I didn’t like standard white wine Chardonnay, he changed it to a more palatable Sauvignon Blanc. The Caesar salad was very tasty, as were the meatballs and the steak was very juicy and tender. I finished the meal off with a NY Cheesecake – well, when in New York…
Tony’s Di Napoli
We dined at this great Italian restaurant just off Times Square. For an evening meal, this place is more casual than Bobby Vans but offers a great range of pastas, meat and seafood. They serve platters that can serve up to 2-3 people and, believe me, they are huge! Their wine list was large and reasonably priced.
I reserved a table and I am very glad I did as the place was completely full. However, when I arrived I was seated pretty much straight away. The waitress then came to take our order for our starters, main and wine and the wine arrived pretty promptly. Once I had eaten the starter, the waitress asked if we wanted the main course. I said yes and this was probably a mistake as, within minutes the main course pasta carbonara platter arrived.
Next time I would slow the meal down a bit by letting the waitress know that we’ll have it a bit later as it surprised me it was so quick. Despite that, the pasta was delicious although I’ve probably never peas in a carbonara and would probably ask for it without next time.
As I said, you’ll be spoilt for choice for restaurants in New York but my big recommendation is that you do your research, look for offers if available and make sure you book as I saw people being turned away.
