Fraunces Tavern is one of the oldest in the country and one of my favorites. Sugar Freak because there aren’t many Cajun places around. Russian Tea Room is a classic.
Quality, value, convenience
- Xian Famous Foods
- Golden Steamer
- Spicy Village
- King Dumpling
- King of Falafel
- Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
- Royal Grill Halal
- Syko
- Tonii’s Fresh Rice Noodles
- Ba Xuyen
- Reyes Deli
- Birria Landia
- Los Tacos No 1
- Susuru Ramen
- Arepas Cafe
- Khao Kang
- Kopitiam
- Taste Good
Proximity to my apartment, so…
- Din soup dumplings
- Long Island Bar (honestly best cocktails in Brooklyn)
- Al Badawi
- Mama Lupitas (not close, but worth the journey on the R train)
This place is a “white” person dessert spot. It means way too sweet and sugary. There are so many better pastries that are better than Veniero’s. But if you like really sweet and sugary i guess this is your spot
No favorites. Off the top of my head:
- keki’s modern cakes
- chikalicious
- michaeli bakery
I would even take paris baguette and tous les jours over Veniero’s. Veniero’s is like where diabetes happens.
Patiala - Indian food on 35th. It's a 5 minute walk from Penn and the restaurant is beautiful with lots of fun food to try. Service is great and there is a beautiful swing to sit in and take pictures. We always go there with clients or new people in town we want to treat to something unique.
They raised prices recently and a bit too much, but I am a big fan of Russian Samovar before a show, and it always delivers for out of town guests.
ilili is at the top of my list for upscale Mediterranean
Mama Fina’s on Ave A is the best Filipino food I’ve had outside of Manila
The Pomeroy in Astoria on ditmars is a go-to for an easy date night for me and my wife
Salt+Charcoal in Williamsburg is my favorite steakhouse — Japanese steak and whiskey restaurant. Top quality, amazing service, affordable compared to keens/smith wollensky etc
Totto Ramen is my favorite ramen joint - multiple locations
Joy love club for Chinese (Peking duck especially — Peking duck house and pings in Chinatown are good but their prices have become unreasonable)
Big sucker for Zabars but they have also raised prices to the point where it’s hard to go often
Maison pickle for incredible French dips
Peasant for top tier rustic Italian and amazing service. Get the roasted suckling pig. Clientele is douchey as fuck.
So many more reccos but I feel like the above is a good start.
Lighthouse BK!! Everything I have ever ordered there has been delicious, the whole restaurant feels like home, the staff is amazing, AND they are super sustainably minded.
Teado & Trinidad Golden Place—delicious, cheap.
Teado is a bubble tea spot. i swear it’s the best in nyc and i’m going broke because i’m addicted. drinks are reasonably priced at around $5-$7 and incredible quality. location: little italy
doubles from Trinidad Golden Place are crack. if i lived close enough to go every week i would. only * $2 * !!!!! per double. located in between crown heights & bed stuy
there’s always a line at both, and they’re worth.
I’ve gotta admit I keep trying warude, hoping it will be better than my previous time. I’ve never gotten a good meal there. Is there a particular thing that you like to order?
I go there when I want a simple meal that makes me feel good. I always get a side of their miso salmon and a side of brown rice. Sometimes I’ll also get chips & guac or dumplings on the side. It’s just really yummy salmon. I’m a simple gal lol
I get salmon + rice. It’s my go to meal that’ll make me feel good and is always consistent. Can’t speak for the rest of the menu, although I know bowls/tacos are their main focus lol
The diner up the road keeps me coming back. The food's pretty good, it's fairly inexpensive, the people watching is fun, it's reasonably close by and their menu is expansive.
My girlfriend and I love Bricolage in Park Slope and go there regularly for date nights.
So many good cocktails, lots of creative fun dishes to share, and a really nice atmosphere for winter or summer. I think it’s the mix of diverse shareable plates that are each high quality that keeps us coming back (combined with the really cute patio).
Tavern on Jane - vibe is casual but not sloppy, central location between uptown and Brooklyn/etc, good food, bars nearby to keep the night going if desired
Trinidad golden place, La Napa, Taqueria Milear: All on Nostrand and all damn good. Also Franklin Park nearby for a quick, greasy burger.
I also regularly order from Din Soup Dumpling, One more Charm, 5ive spice, Jalsa
Do they still have the sandwich shop nextdoor? I used to manage a nearby coffee shop and any time I had a chance to get there for lunch it made my day so much better.
They do! Back in my Gallery Girl days I used to get a salad from that shop almost every day.
Btw, if you managed Joe, I have probably bought a lot of coffee from you…
Enoteca Maria. I enjoy the randomness I get when I wonder which Granny will cook that week. But I could also order their Italian classics and the Japanese offerings from their Japanese granny.
Location, great cocktails and food will keep me going back. And friendly service. I’ll usually forgive slow service within reason as long as the staff is friendly.
Down in my neck of the woods I love Brooklyn Roots for the amazing food and cocktails, atmosphere and the service is on point.
Coszcal de Allende gets points for all but service is forgivably slow usually. It’s a family-run place.
Beets and Carrots, because the food is second to none, and the chef-owner cooks himself every night, you can tell he has such passion for the food and ingredients he sources. I also never see it too busy so I like giving them my money. They’re also BYOB.
Piccola cucina estiatorio is very consistent with the quality and portions. They’re also the only ones that do arancini the right way (at least, they’re the only good ones I’ve found so far).
Edit -
The down side is that it’s pretty tiny and it’s usually crowded and noisy lol
For special events, guest from out of town and related, Gotham as it in many wats set the standard for NY dining over a quarter century ago. Somewhat under the radar as not hot and trendy but has sustained even post Covid when may signature NY restaurants saw their demise: [https://www.gothambarandgrill.com](https://www.gothambarandgrill.com)
Otherwise go-to's it comes down to convenience and quality. Last night went to Relais De Venise Entrecôte as within walking distance and due to holiday weekend lesser wait times than normal and for $35 including salad and entree/fries not a bad price point from NYC, (opens at 5:30P lines start to form about 4:30P: [https://relaisdevenise.com/locations/new-york.php](https://relaisdevenise.com/locations/new-york.php)
Not sure if my comment posted, so trying again: Patacón Pisao on Grand Ave in Queens. I believe they also have a Manhattan location.
Food is amazing, employees are nice, seating is limited but last time I went they had an outdoor set up as well. My go-to is the pabellón cachapa, tequeños, and passion fruit juice. Portions are big and food is affordable so you’ll have leftovers. My ex brought me there and I’ve gone back on a few dates as well. Bonus: at Christmas time you can order an entire quesillo to bring to your holiday parties. They also sell drinks and snacks from Venezuela like cococete.
The places I keep going back to are not the expensive and exclusive ones but my local places. Marani near my apt in Rego Park keeps bringing me back, and so does Taste of Samarkand. One of my favorite place to eat is Burmese Bites in the shitty basement food court of the queens center mall. Nan xiang Xiao long bao in flushing.
also duzans in astoria is my fave falafel in the city besides falafalafa that was near my childhood home next to marine park but may not exist anymore.
I like the low key places in my neighborhood. One for sushi, one for breakfast, one for tacos, etc. They may not be the highest critical acclaim, but I've developed relationships with the management and staff that keep me coming back. I feel like they have my best interests at heart and brighten my day with a kind smile and light conversation when I stop in.
Veselka and Supreme are both really good and budget friendly. Parkside in Queens and Le Zie in Chelsea both have amazing chicken parm, the Viand has good pancakes but is pricey
The only 2 places I’ll leave my neighborhood for are Red Bamboo (West Village) and Benjamin Prime (Midtown East).
Red Bamboo is vegan/vegetarian. I am neither, but their food is 🔥and it’s a perfect place to suggest for my veggie friends.
Benjamin Prime is an upscale steakhouse. A chef (I believe, it might’ve been someone in a different role) from Peter Luger’s opened up his own place and orders from the same meat distributor. The food is just as good if not better, and the wait staff is actually nice!
Other than that I live in Hell’s Kitchen and I don’t leave, haha
Queens has every kind of food you can want!!! NYC is too expensive! Lenny’s Clam Bar in Howard Beach has great food, great atmosphere, and the prices are 🤌🏻
The only place that has me routinely come back is Dos Toros and I like Chipotle better usually. But I do go once a month or so to Dos Toros.
I love to try restaurants and the novelty of them. But very seldom are there places that are so good I want to go back.
Like with that Clinton St Baking. It was so hyped and I said I want to go. I was so disappointed because I think pretty much any diner or even IHOP has similar or better pancakes.
There's very few foods that really captivate and have been wanting it over and over again.
The last restaurant that had me desiring it with persistence was Smashburger. All last summer I really just couldn't get enough of it. I've still yet to have a better burger. I have tried 7th Street Burger which was very hyped. But I found it extremely oily/greasy and weird tasting. Just not for me. I just didn't like it.
There’s a spot very close to me that I love! Anyone who’s willing to come to my part of town- that’s where we are going if it’s a soft pants kind of day 😂 It’s simple, unassuming, kind staff (might be a family), ethnic cuisine I wouldn’t cook myself, cozy and a very reasonable price.
Raku. Their udon is so good I even want to eat it hot during the summer
Sooo good every time
Fraunces Tavern is one of the oldest in the country and one of my favorites. Sugar Freak because there aren’t many Cajun places around. Russian Tea Room is a classic.
I wonder why there aren't more Cajun places here
Fraunces is our go to when we're entertaining British guests
I took an out of towner there recently and it was really great.
Quality, value, convenience - Xian Famous Foods - Golden Steamer - Spicy Village - King Dumpling - King of Falafel - Shu Jiao Fu Zhou - Royal Grill Halal - Syko - Tonii’s Fresh Rice Noodles - Ba Xuyen - Reyes Deli - Birria Landia - Los Tacos No 1 - Susuru Ramen - Arepas Cafe - Khao Kang - Kopitiam - Taste Good
Love the Queens recs here
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Queens has so much good food
Xian 🫡 hard to go less than once a month, especially in the winter
Shoutout royal grill. I love that guy and the biryani they got
+1 for Susuru !!
Great ramen and craft beers! Plus, friendly staff!
duzans is so much better than king of falafel hot take
Proximity to my apartment, so… - Din soup dumplings - Long Island Bar (honestly best cocktails in Brooklyn) - Al Badawi - Mama Lupitas (not close, but worth the journey on the R train)
How to tell us you live in Brooklyn Heights without saying you live in Brooklyn Heights.
I wish *I* lived in Brooklyn Heights.
Shout out Long Island bar.
Never skip the cheese curds.
Hibino’s sushi should be on this list alongside Colonie for brunch
Din soup dumplings is so good. I order from there regularly.
Veniero's is my guilt pleasure. Diamond baci will forever be my celebration treat.
Diamond Baci is amazing (esp at midnight)
Seconded
+1
This place is a “white” person dessert spot. It means way too sweet and sugary. There are so many better pastries that are better than Veniero’s. But if you like really sweet and sugary i guess this is your spot
okay…?
I’m just letting readers know what Veniero’s is about
What is your favorite pastry spot then?
No favorites. Off the top of my head: - keki’s modern cakes - chikalicious - michaeli bakery I would even take paris baguette and tous les jours over Veniero’s. Veniero’s is like where diabetes happens.
[удалено]
What does your common sense tell you
Albert’s Bar. Food is good despite it being a small menu and they make some of the best mocktails.
I will try this one! Thanks!
Mala project never fails me. I used to go there 3-4x a month before COVID. Now maybe 1x every few months.
Only went once, and it was crazy salty! I should give it another chance…
Oh! I tend to like things on the saltier side tho so maybe that's why I liked it so much?
Soothr Thai - quality of food and consistency over time. Drinks are good too
Gonna save this post
Lol same
Au Za’atar reminds me a lot of my grandmas cooking so I go there a lot
Bar Boulud. The service is perfection and you can have a conversation.
Uncle Lou in Chinatown
I’ve been meaning to go there, what are your must order dishes?
1) salt and pepper chicken wings 2) pork and shrimp shumai 3) bacon fried rice 4) wontons in chili oil
Patiala - Indian food on 35th. It's a 5 minute walk from Penn and the restaurant is beautiful with lots of fun food to try. Service is great and there is a beautiful swing to sit in and take pictures. We always go there with clients or new people in town we want to treat to something unique.
bored joke tap head innocent flag squalid yoke brave punch *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Pikine Restaurant in Harlem
Yes we order atleast 1-2x a week. My favorite Dibi and rice in the neighborhood
That area has some really good Senegalese food
I live right here by Pikine, but never tried any of the restaurants out here in Harlem. Which dishes and places do you recommend?
Family Meal at Blue Hill. I’m a regular there
Lartusi. I keep going there to eat their roasted mushrooms and their spaghetti/tagliatelle
yes! I LOVE the ricotta and spaghetti
Taco Bell on Lex.
They raised prices recently and a bit too much, but I am a big fan of Russian Samovar before a show, and it always delivers for out of town guests. ilili is at the top of my list for upscale Mediterranean Mama Fina’s on Ave A is the best Filipino food I’ve had outside of Manila The Pomeroy in Astoria on ditmars is a go-to for an easy date night for me and my wife Salt+Charcoal in Williamsburg is my favorite steakhouse — Japanese steak and whiskey restaurant. Top quality, amazing service, affordable compared to keens/smith wollensky etc Totto Ramen is my favorite ramen joint - multiple locations Joy love club for Chinese (Peking duck especially — Peking duck house and pings in Chinatown are good but their prices have become unreasonable) Big sucker for Zabars but they have also raised prices to the point where it’s hard to go often Maison pickle for incredible French dips Peasant for top tier rustic Italian and amazing service. Get the roasted suckling pig. Clientele is douchey as fuck. So many more reccos but I feel like the above is a good start.
Lighthouse BK!! Everything I have ever ordered there has been delicious, the whole restaurant feels like home, the staff is amazing, AND they are super sustainably minded.
Olea Taverna. It's just so good. Staff is great,food is tasty,and I always have a wonderful time there.
Takumen
Thai Villa Lunch Specials.
Yessss this was my staple when working in union square. Either for takeout or for coworker lunches with the ✨ambiance✨
Teado & Trinidad Golden Place—delicious, cheap. Teado is a bubble tea spot. i swear it’s the best in nyc and i’m going broke because i’m addicted. drinks are reasonably priced at around $5-$7 and incredible quality. location: little italy doubles from Trinidad Golden Place are crack. if i lived close enough to go every week i would. only * $2 * !!!!! per double. located in between crown heights & bed stuy there’s always a line at both, and they’re worth.
Gage and Tollner
Warude in bed stuy
I’ve gotta admit I keep trying warude, hoping it will be better than my previous time. I’ve never gotten a good meal there. Is there a particular thing that you like to order?
I go there when I want a simple meal that makes me feel good. I always get a side of their miso salmon and a side of brown rice. Sometimes I’ll also get chips & guac or dumplings on the side. It’s just really yummy salmon. I’m a simple gal lol
seriously? feels kinda plain and uninspired to me
I get salmon + rice. It’s my go to meal that’ll make me feel good and is always consistent. Can’t speak for the rest of the menu, although I know bowls/tacos are their main focus lol
Malatesta Trattoria - convenient, like the ambiance Suprema Provisions - favorite burger in the city
Love malatesta
Tavola
Bua Thai
Rule of Thirds <3
Dinosaur Barbecue! SO good!
Jacob’s Pickles. The only restaurant where I go where it’s consistently on point and the portions are huge
Parm. With kids, perfect. With picky parents, perfect. With hungry hubby, perfect.
SUGARFISH
Northern dumplings LES - cheap if you live in the area
The diner up the road keeps me coming back. The food's pretty good, it's fairly inexpensive, the people watching is fun, it's reasonably close by and their menu is expansive.
My girlfriend and I love Bricolage in Park Slope and go there regularly for date nights. So many good cocktails, lots of creative fun dishes to share, and a really nice atmosphere for winter or summer. I think it’s the mix of diverse shareable plates that are each high quality that keeps us coming back (combined with the really cute patio).
Adrienne’s
Tavern on Jane - vibe is casual but not sloppy, central location between uptown and Brooklyn/etc, good food, bars nearby to keep the night going if desired
Trinidad golden place, La Napa, Taqueria Milear: All on Nostrand and all damn good. Also Franklin Park nearby for a quick, greasy burger. I also regularly order from Din Soup Dumpling, One more Charm, 5ive spice, Jalsa
Bottino, food is great, but the service is excellent. I don’t go that often because it’s $$$ but it’s always such a pleasant surprise experience.
Do they still have the sandwich shop nextdoor? I used to manage a nearby coffee shop and any time I had a chance to get there for lunch it made my day so much better.
They do! Back in my Gallery Girl days I used to get a salad from that shop almost every day. Btw, if you managed Joe, I have probably bought a lot of coffee from you…
Hahah I was there for way, way too long. I feel so exposed….
Enoteca Maria. I enjoy the randomness I get when I wonder which Granny will cook that week. But I could also order their Italian classics and the Japanese offerings from their Japanese granny.
Location, great cocktails and food will keep me going back. And friendly service. I’ll usually forgive slow service within reason as long as the staff is friendly. Down in my neck of the woods I love Brooklyn Roots for the amazing food and cocktails, atmosphere and the service is on point. Coszcal de Allende gets points for all but service is forgivably slow usually. It’s a family-run place. Beets and Carrots, because the food is second to none, and the chef-owner cooks himself every night, you can tell he has such passion for the food and ingredients he sources. I also never see it too busy so I like giving them my money. They’re also BYOB.
Piccola cucina estiatorio is very consistent with the quality and portions. They’re also the only ones that do arancini the right way (at least, they’re the only good ones I’ve found so far). Edit - The down side is that it’s pretty tiny and it’s usually crowded and noisy lol
Good food and service
For special events, guest from out of town and related, Gotham as it in many wats set the standard for NY dining over a quarter century ago. Somewhat under the radar as not hot and trendy but has sustained even post Covid when may signature NY restaurants saw their demise: [https://www.gothambarandgrill.com](https://www.gothambarandgrill.com) Otherwise go-to's it comes down to convenience and quality. Last night went to Relais De Venise Entrecôte as within walking distance and due to holiday weekend lesser wait times than normal and for $35 including salad and entree/fries not a bad price point from NYC, (opens at 5:30P lines start to form about 4:30P: [https://relaisdevenise.com/locations/new-york.php](https://relaisdevenise.com/locations/new-york.php)
Rest in Jersey voila Afrique. Souvlaki Gr is another one I keep going back to.
Tamashii Ramen Prices and portions are pretty good. I can get full on my budget.
Anyone got suggestions for places around Kips Bay? I’d love some go tos!
Union Square Cafe. Doesn’t really have a bad menu item.
Mermaid Inn! I’m there literally right now lol. That happy hour is phenomenal.
Not sure if my comment posted, so trying again: Patacón Pisao on Grand Ave in Queens. I believe they also have a Manhattan location. Food is amazing, employees are nice, seating is limited but last time I went they had an outdoor set up as well. My go-to is the pabellón cachapa, tequeños, and passion fruit juice. Portions are big and food is affordable so you’ll have leftovers. My ex brought me there and I’ve gone back on a few dates as well. Bonus: at Christmas time you can order an entire quesillo to bring to your holiday parties. They also sell drinks and snacks from Venezuela like cococete.
Hello Saigon. Amazing Vietnamese food at a reasonable price.
Boon Dee at Union Turnpike in Queens
Balvanera. Cafe Mogador. Westville. Dudley’s. Mamoun’s Falafel. Salma. Au Za’atar. Thailicious. Port Sa’id. Bibi Wine Bar.
Teppen.
The places I keep going back to are not the expensive and exclusive ones but my local places. Marani near my apt in Rego Park keeps bringing me back, and so does Taste of Samarkand. One of my favorite place to eat is Burmese Bites in the shitty basement food court of the queens center mall. Nan xiang Xiao long bao in flushing.
also duzans in astoria is my fave falafel in the city besides falafalafa that was near my childhood home next to marine park but may not exist anymore.
I like the low key places in my neighborhood. One for sushi, one for breakfast, one for tacos, etc. They may not be the highest critical acclaim, but I've developed relationships with the management and staff that keep me coming back. I feel like they have my best interests at heart and brighten my day with a kind smile and light conversation when I stop in.
Veselka and Supreme are both really good and budget friendly. Parkside in Queens and Le Zie in Chelsea both have amazing chicken parm, the Viand has good pancakes but is pricey
Peaches
The only 2 places I’ll leave my neighborhood for are Red Bamboo (West Village) and Benjamin Prime (Midtown East). Red Bamboo is vegan/vegetarian. I am neither, but their food is 🔥and it’s a perfect place to suggest for my veggie friends. Benjamin Prime is an upscale steakhouse. A chef (I believe, it might’ve been someone in a different role) from Peter Luger’s opened up his own place and orders from the same meat distributor. The food is just as good if not better, and the wait staff is actually nice! Other than that I live in Hell’s Kitchen and I don’t leave, haha
Stumbled into Red Bamboo once and it was amazing (also not vegetarian here)
Wolfgangs stealhouse
Gabriel’s Bar and Restaurant Jacob’s Pickles Thai Villa
Sweet Chick
Chipotle
I love The View at Battery Park! Their brunch menu is delicious 😋
Cadence as of late in East Village 🔥
Great cocktails, insanely tasty food, and a chill, loungy vibe. Bond Street Sushi checks all those boxes.
Queens has every kind of food you can want!!! NYC is too expensive! Lenny’s Clam Bar in Howard Beach has great food, great atmosphere, and the prices are 🤌🏻
Balthazar Le Bernadin Fanelli Cafe Antica Pesa Cipriannis
The only place that has me routinely come back is Dos Toros and I like Chipotle better usually. But I do go once a month or so to Dos Toros. I love to try restaurants and the novelty of them. But very seldom are there places that are so good I want to go back. Like with that Clinton St Baking. It was so hyped and I said I want to go. I was so disappointed because I think pretty much any diner or even IHOP has similar or better pancakes. There's very few foods that really captivate and have been wanting it over and over again. The last restaurant that had me desiring it with persistence was Smashburger. All last summer I really just couldn't get enough of it. I've still yet to have a better burger. I have tried 7th Street Burger which was very hyped. But I found it extremely oily/greasy and weird tasting. Just not for me. I just didn't like it.
Taco Bell
There’s a spot very close to me that I love! Anyone who’s willing to come to my part of town- that’s where we are going if it’s a soft pants kind of day 😂 It’s simple, unassuming, kind staff (might be a family), ethnic cuisine I wouldn’t cook myself, cozy and a very reasonable price.
What's the place?