A full-service cafe that also serves craft beer, it’s hard not to enjoy time spent at Birch. Roasts vary but don’t travel far from their facility in Long Island City. Nice cold-brewed as well. Birch Coffee 21 E 27th St., New York, NY 10016; (212) 686-1444
Twisting the tradition of Texas barbeque with Carolina-style, native Houstonian Hugh Mangum chooses ingredients with care to create a style worth trying at any one of his six locations in the city and New Jersey. Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque 103 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10003; (212) 677-3733
From Chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, the dining room and bar inside The NoMad Hotel emanates casual elegance. They renovated their bar, which is even more magnificent than before. Highly recommend stopping here for a drink, even if you’re not doing dinner. The NoMad 1170 Broadway, New York, NY 10001; (347) 472-5660
With excellent wood-fired pizzas and even Italian baked goods (the latter available daily through their takeout window), Roberta’s quickly became a new poster child for the gems hidden inside the unassuming concrete buildings of Bushwick. If you didn’t want to schlep all the way out there, they now have a small pizza kiosk inside the … Continued
Spanish food and drink are enjoying a resurgence in Chicago, and we’re not talking about tapas bars. That “small plates” concept is certainly still around, but we’ve now entered the next phase of Spanish dining in the city: food and drink from regions like the Basque country and Catalonia.
As iconic as they come, Russ & Daughters has exemplified the simple beauty of the New York “appetizing store” since 1914, where the emphasis is on seafood. While the experience here is essential, a visit to the sit-down cafe down the street, opened in 2014, offers smoked fish platters at the bar. I make a … Continued
Inspired by the great bagel traditions of New York and Montreal, Black Seed combines the best of both to create something new, hand-rolled and baked in wood-fired ovens. Try one of their rotating chef collaborations for an unusual sandwich option. They also have an East Village location, at 176 1st Ave. Black Seed Bagels 170 … Continued
Behind the unassuming name lies an oasis of fiery, funky and bold Thai flavors, curated and executed by two former Per Se cooks, husband Matt Danzer and wife Ann Redding, the latter of whom was raised in northeastern Thailand. The restaurant picked up a Michelin star in 2015. Uncle Boons 7 Spring St., New York, … Continued
A Jewish deli with Montreal roots (that means smoked brisket, denser, slightly sweeter bagels and excellent smoked fish), Noah and Rae Bernamoff opened Mile End Deli with their close friend Max Levine, and now have two locations. They’ve also opened Black Seed Bagels, one of my favorites as well. Mile End Deli 97A Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, … Continued
Oysters, crudo, and seafood entrees are the one-and-only focus at The John Dory Oyster Bar, tucked into the corner of the über-cool Ace Hotel, next to a swanky hipster clothing store. The John Dory Oyster Bar 1196 Broadway, New York, NY 10001; (212) 792-9000
It’s a little hard to find the one in Flushing, Queens, but now there are six locations in Manhattan, two in Queens and one in Brooklyn, making it infinitely much easier to track down the addictive lamb-and-cumin buns and jagged noodles that made this Northern Chinese joint such a darling with the Bourdain-and-Zimmern set. Xi’an … Continued