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New York is the one destination I head to time and time again where my entire schedule is focussed around eating.
The city has something for even the pickiest of foodies; upscale Michelin starred menus, hyped up pop-ups, boundary-pushing food trucks, century old pizza parlours, delis to die for and everything in between.
After a decade of regular visits, extended stints and work trips here, I’m sharing a list of some of my favourite places to eat. Some are new, some are old, some I’ve been to time and time again and some I’ve not long discovered, but each are worthy of a spot on the list.
King Restaurant, SoHo
On King Street SoHo lies a modest but heaving restaurant with a menu that changes daily between lunch and dinner. The focus is simple, seasonal Italian produce. Hearty, fresh dishes and irresistible desserts, it’s incredible dining. A small ever evolving menu sings with all the notes you’d want each dish to hit. The space is pared back, wine is carefully selected and service swift. The open kitchen where female duo Shadbolt and De Boer reign is where they bring together their passion for home cooking whilst drawing on their shared experiences at London’s renowned River Café. Given the chance, I’d dine here daily. This restaurant should be at the top of your list.
Waverly Inn, West Village
The New York institution owned by ex Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter is still bursting with charm and is a firm favourite of NYC celebs. Low lit with plenty of open fires and a menu that will warm your soul, it’s a winter must and the perfect date spot. The infamous $50 Mac and Cheese is no more but the classic chicken pot pie is still on the menu and worth a visit alone. All ingredients are organic and the wine list mixes old and new world stars. For those with a ghoulish interest, rumours abound of frequent sightings of the Waverly Inn ghost which has been known to light candles and the fireplaces to help the staff at busy times!
Misi, South Williamsburg and Lilia, Brooklyn
Both Misi and Lilia are creations of Missy Robbins, a revered chef on the New York food scene (in 2018 she won best chef in New York City by the James Beard Foundation). Anyone with a passion for pasta should head to either the Brooklyn or Williamsburg locations where handmade pasta, as well as wood fired seafood and seasonal vegetables make up standout menus.
Misi focusses solely on antipastas and pastas whereas Lilia offers a broader menu featuring secondi of fish and meat. Book both well in advance, arrive hungry and consume as many different dishes as you can. Each is as exciting, balanced and bursting with flavour as the next. Pastas at each location are buttery smooth, delicately rich and impressively moreish. Misi’s celebrated rigatoni, 30 clove pomodoro and basil is proof that the most simplest of dishes are often the best. The spinach and mascarpone filled tortelli with brown butter, ricotta salata was joyous and vibrant mint leaves elevated this vegetarian delight.
lilianewyork.com; www.misinewyork.com
Freemans, Lower East Side
Once a hidden spot for only those in the know, Freemans is now a Lower East Side institution. Despite its rapid growth in popularity, the celebrated baked artichoke dip remains as great as it ever was and it’s the same with the cocktails. Recent renovations mean there’s now even more room to bring a gaggle of friends too. Expect wood panelling, a generous array of taxidermy and a chic fashionable crowd.
The Lowell, Upper East Side
The Lowell is a recent find of mine and is an elegant gem hidden away on a quiet (yes quiet!) Upper East Side street in amongst stately townhouses. Just a five minute walk from Central Park, this boutique hotel is beautifully and classically designed with rich upholsteries and open fires throughout. With 47 suites and 27 deluxe rooms, The Lowell offers timeless residential style living and a chic refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Ground floor restaurant Majorelle is worth a visit alone and is the perfect spot for special occasions. Head chef Emmanuel Niess serves up French classics with a Mediterranean influence. Wines are paired, waiters wear white tuxedos and there’s not a thing they don’t know about the menu. Book ahead and request a table in the glass conservatory where you’ll be able to dine beneath the stars.
La Mercerie, SoHo
Part high end interiors store and part French café, La Mercerie offers a glamorous refuge for tired SoHo shoppers. Both coffee and pastries are excellent and it’s a popular spot for lazy weekend brunches. Luxe velvet clad banquettes dominate the vast café space and the double height, high gloss, wooden panelled ceilings add a further layer of richness. Beautiful, earthenware crockery adorns each table accompanied by delicate linen napkins. This may well be the most picturesque of all the places to dine in NYC. Open for breakfast through to dinner.
Café Dante, Greenwich village
Originally opened in 1915, this small Italian restaurant, clad in white subway tiles has had many a reincarnation but none as successful as the last. 2019 saw Café Dante named the world’s best bar. Its prestigious cocktail list speaks for itself, but it’s the negronis that everybody stops by for. On our last visit we stumbled upon live jazz, incredible Italian small plates and rosé on tap. There’s nothing we didn’t love about this unassuming haven.
Le Coucou, SoHo
Located just a few blocks from La Mercerie, Le CouCou is its older, slightly more formal sibling serving up French fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each site is headed up by one of acclaimed husband and wife duo Daniel and Marie-Aude Rose. Le CouCou, with Daniel at the helm, is all about classic French cookery with copper pots, linen table cloths and suited staff. It’s hard to decipher which is more impressive; the dining space with high ceilings, statement chandeliers, brass lamps and that instafamous bar area full of hand painted trees and opulent marble, or the food itself which arrives richly indulgent and classically refined. I’m so keen on this spot that I’ve returned as a solo diner to sample the lunch menu which only reconfirmed how much of a treat it is to dine here.
Momo Sushi, Bushwick
This lowkey sushi joint is just a stone’s throw from famous pizza spot Roberta’s. My best advice would be to bypass the queues there and head straight to Momo Sushi instead. Next tip is to opt for whatever the staff recommend that day, you won’t be disappointed. It’s lively with communal tables which undoubtedly will lead to over ordering to avoid food envy. There’s a generous vegetarian offering. The thick homemade tofu cream cheese and shiso impressed, as did the Vegan Eel bomb.
Spicy Moon, East Village
You’d be forgiven for walking past this small, low key, wallet friendly vegan restaurant without noticing it. Lit with red and orange light bulbs, Spicy Moon looks better suited to the Red Light District than the trendy East Village strip its sits in. For those that do cross the threshold, a menu dedicated to vegan Chinese Szechuan awaits. The dishes all pack a punch and really deliver and even the most avid carnivore won’t notice the meat missing.
For more restaurant recommendations and recipes head to AnnaBarnettCooks.com, or follow along on Instagram @AnnaBarnettCooks
