15 NYC restaurants I love
In honor of our four-year New York-iversary, here are fifteen great spots:
Of course, allllll the disclaimers: this is heavily weighted toward the West Village and Chelsea, because that’s where we live. And it’s heavily weighted toward Israeli, French and Italian, because those are my favorites. Also, these are mostly special occasion spots—the places I’d pick if I was here for a weekend.
This is just a start…as I was making this list, it started to get so long, I already started making the next one!
1. Roberta’s: In my opinion, 100% the best pizza in the city, and also the best vibe. There’s a new one in Domino Park, but we really love the original in Bushwick. Get the Bee Sting.
2. Shukette: Vibrant, loud, fun spot right in Chelsea with the most incredible Israeli food. Everything’s made to be shared, and the food is surprising and brightly-flavored and absolutely delicious. (Aaron’s 2nd favorite)
3. Buvette: A tiny, perfect jewel-box that makes you feel like you’re in Paris. Famous for their super-silky scrambled eggs—the ones with goat cheese are my favorite.
4. La Bonbonniere: a cash-only diner on 8th in the West Village. We still can’t figure out how they get your food out so fast, or how they calculate your check by just sort of glancing at the table, but it’s all part of it. (Henry’s favorite)
5. Los Tacos: many people call them the best tacos in the city, and who am I to disagree? We go to the one in Chelsea Market, but there’s also one in Times Square, which is a great pre-theater option, and one in Tribeca, too. Don’t worry if the line is long—it goes really fast. (Henry’s 2nd favorite)
6. Cookshop: Always good, every single time. Their pizza changes seasonally, and we always get one for the table. Other favorites: at brunch, the cinnamon roll and a bloody mary, for lunch and dinner, oysters, their burger, the roasted chicken, and for dessert, the pot de crème.
7. Grand Banks: a vintage sailboat docked at one of the piers on the Hudson River with an amazing view of Tribeca. Great oysters, cocktails, lobster rolls, French fries. One of my favorites NYC traditions: a long lunch there on one of the first nice days of the spring. Bike-riding down the West Side Highway: optional but highly recommended.
8. Café Habana: Killer Cuban food, and it’s on a great people-watching corner in Nolita, one of our favorite neighborhoods. Aaron & Henry always get the ropa vieja, and William and I get tacos. (Aaron’s favorite)
9. Pastis: Keith McNally is a legend, and the re-opened Pastis in the Meatpacking District is, in my opinion, the best of his restaurants. I walk by every day on the way to pick William up from school, and I always want to stop just for the escargot in garlic parsley butter.
10. Juban: our favorite sushi spot. Every bite’s delicious. (William’s 2nd favorite)
11. Laser Wolf: New-ish, on the rooftop of the Hoxton hotel in Williamsburg—so you get a great view along with a fantastic meal. It’s a prix-fixe menu, and you start with hummus and pita and about a dozen little dips and salads, and then you order skewers of meat—chicken, brisket, lamb, etc. Incredible.
12. Lilia: Commonly called the best pasta in the city, and I do not disagree. Start with a negroni, definitely get the mafaldini—it’s legendary, and finish with the Italian Job. Perfection.
13. Ci Siamo: I love the design. I love the food. I love Danny Meyer and Hillary Sterling. One of the best things to eat in the city right now is the caramelized onion torta…if someone sitting one table over or next to me at the bar there doesn’t order it, I sometimes--very politely--intervene. :)
Empire Diner: Another neighborhood favorite. My 100% go-to: extra-dirty martini, their wedge salad, side of fries—a perfect meal. William loves the mac & cheese, and the Empire Sundae is next level. (William’s favorite)
15. Sadelle’s: fancy and stylish, with tiered plates of lox and salmon and whitefish salad and bagels made in-house. Peak brunch situation.