New York City, New York
I’ve visited NYC three times now, each time, scouring for the new best restaurants. I tend to like the road less travelled - food adventures off the beaten path (AKA not in crowded overly tourist-centric areas). If that appeals to you, than this is the list you’ve been looking for.
Russ and Daughters
Growing up, my Pop and then dad would always make gravlax for Christmas Eve - now that’s all I want out of my lox bagels. Real. Lox. Russ and Daughters not only has real gravlax, but is listed as Anthony Bourdain’s top bagel shop in NYC, so I HAD to try it. The line was a little long, but man, did this crush all of my lox bagel dreams. They also had a ton of variety on their salmon for all of you smoked salmon lovers! And of course, super chewy and delicious bagels.
Essex Pearl
Found this as one of the last places that had $1 oysters for happy hour last year. I’m an oyster FIEND, so on this trip with my best friend, I knew this had to be a stop. Not only were the oysters with their nước chấm cocktail sauce and crispy fried shallots incredible, but their cocktails were amazing as well.
Maison Pickle
Maison Pickle was THE find of my second trip to New York. After spending the day in Central Park and the Natural Science Museum, this was the most perfect Upper East Side eat. It has now blown up, but when I went the first time, the owner came to our table asking how we found his restaurant, since we clearly weren’t native New Yorkers lol. The French Dip I got is still a figment of my dreams!
Claudette
This modern take on French cuisine left its mark on me. It’s only a few blocks North of Washington Square Park, the vibes were immaculate, and the food was incredible! After a long day of walking and having lots of little bites, we snagged an open table at Claudette to share some delicious oysters with bread, and I had some fabulous octopus. The truffle burger was also delicious - our only complaint was that it was too rich after the day we had (but man, did we want to finish it)!
La Pecora Bianca
Searching for an Italian joint - I wanted to stray away from Mulberry Street (the heart of Little Italy). This was a fresh find, while not the most authentic experience, the Garganelli I had still has me scratching my head to try and recreate it. My friend stuck with Bucatini with cacio e pepe sauce, a classic, but neither would’ve been complete without the burrata added! It was an excellent brunch or early lunch spot with some excellent coffee, slurp-able cocktails, and delicious food.
New York City is a culinary wonderland, boasting an incredible array of dining options that reflect its vibrant cultural tapestry. From bustling street food vendors to high-end restaurants, the city offers something for every taste and budget.
All in all, it’s hard to go wrong when you’re in the Big Apple, but I hope this guide helps you to hit the road less travelled and find some amazing and less crowded spots.