As a 22-year-old celebrating yet another trip around the sun, I was not going to hold back from enjoying New York City to the fullest extent. Or at least as much as I could considering the current state of the pandemic. I made it a mission to have a good time and eat locally to make an effort to help the people of the city. Supporting small restaurant businesses is important because they enhance almost every aspect of their communities, allocating as many as 77 million new jobs over the past 17 years.
Fulfilling what I set out to do, I visited many unique brunch, breakfast, lunch and dinner establishments throughout my vacation. However, seven stood out for their flavor palettes and 360 dining experiences.
- Friedman’s
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All-day lunch, brunch and breakfast restaurant Friedman’s is family-owned and has established six different locations throughout New York City. The quaint, cozy atmosphere is a perfect partner for their comfort food menu choices. And to top it all off, all of their bread, from pancakes to fried chicken, are intrinsically gluten-free. A part of their “eat good food” mantra is to be proud of the food you serve as they should be because their french toast was immaculate.
Price range: $$
Ordered: French Toast, Drip Coffee, Grilled Chicken Swisswich
- Marie Blachère Bakery & Café
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While visiting the city, we popped into Marie’s bakery about a block off of the subway. We had no idea we’d be stumbling into our French paradise. A long case of baguettes galore ran the trace of the store. It was so difficult to decide which pastry to get because they all glistened. And you could smell more fresh bread being baked behind the register. Beginning in Provence, France, Marie Blachère Bakery & Café moved to New York City’s Greenwich Village just three short years ago. And expanded to Miami in the past year.
Price range: $$
Ordered: Cinnamon Roll, Orange Juice, Ham and Swiss Croissant
- Paris Baguette bakery
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As an intern at this bakery’s advertising agency, I dreamed about eating one of their King Cream Donuts. I would look at pastry after pastry and cake after cake, writing about the delicious, delicate flavors of Paris Baguette. I’m pretty sure another intern caught my mouth watering. I’m happy to say I was more than pleased when I finally got to dig in. Paris Baguette’s claim to fame is their masterful bakers, and their pastries have definitely helped them earn that title.
Price range: $$ (Cakes $$$)
Ordered: Chocolate Cream Croissant, Mint Chip King Cream Donut, Mocha Latte
- Sarabeth’s
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After a long afternoon exploring the American Museum of National History, we head over to Sarabeth’s for an intimate and wonderful dinner. Crisp, clean tables perfectly spaced and wine glasses that sparkle in the light, the food at Sarabeth’s just about matches, if not exceeds, the restaurant experience. The cocktails were no letdown either. Bright, tangy flavors and spice in the Pear to Remember vodka cocktail was the perfect kickoff to dinner.
Price range: $$
Ordered: Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich, Sarabeth’s Signature Sirloin Burger, A Pear to Remember
- La Mela Ristorante
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Located in the heart of Little Italy, La Mela Ristorante has stood for 30 years, serving an assortment of celebrities throughout the decades, including Bill Murray and Frank Sinatra. With faces plastered to one restaurant wall, La Mela is proud of its history and menu. We happened to eat within the time of the lunch special, and the food was as immaculate as the price points. $5 house wine and $13 pasta and excellent customer service, won us over immediately.
Price Range: $$
Ordered: Spaghetti, Rigatoni, House Red Wine
- Nittis
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What can I say? I love a good Italian meal. Right around the corner from our hotel, we decided to make a last–minute reservation at Nittis. While it was more upscale than anywhere we had eaten out previously, the dollar was worth every bite. The decor was intricate and even had a vintage movie playing over the bar instead of sports games. The dim lighting and loud music would have made this the perfect first date spot. This restaurant also had the most unique drink options.
Price Range: $$$
Ordered: Lasagna, Hell’s Kitchen Sour, Italian Mule
- 2 Bros Pizza
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The corner $1 pizza joint won the week. There were too many nights we’d grab a slice and take it up to our hotel room for a late-night snack. You just couldn’t beat the price or the immaculate taste. 2 Bros Pizza gets a 10/10 for sure.
Price Range: $
Ordered: Lots and lots of $1 slice cheese and pepperoni pizza
There’s nothing I would change about my experience in New York City. I’m happy I challenged myself to try new foods and restaurants, and I can’t wait to visit again as soon as possible.