Food Tour was the theme of our last trip to New York City. We went for New York Comic Con with our long-distance friends but unlike in our early twenties, the idea of spending the entire day inside of the convention center was much less appealing. Instead we opted for finding different places to sit down, enjoy a meal, and enjoy eachother’s company.
While I’d be lying if I said we weren’t foodies, we didn’t go to NY specifically to stuff our faces. The fact is, when you’re with friends and not sharing an Airbnb that has a common space for everyone to hang out, you’re left finding different places to just sit and have conversations. Here’s what we had, on a very busy/crowded, Comic Con weekend, in NYC.
For reference, we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriot Manhatten/Midtown, about 2 blocks away from the Javits Convention Center so most of our breakfast/lunches were in that vicinity.
Breakfast
Skylight Dinner
We visited Skylight Diner twice. Once on Thursday and onces on Sunday, both mid-morning. The Sunday slot was MUCH busier than the Thursday visit. This was, however, the most authentic NYC experience ever. It’s like the diners you see in movies. There’s a long line to get in, the waiters aren’t there to chit chat, you need to sit down, peek at the menu, and know what you want. While that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I find it charming. The food is what you’d expect at a diner, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, waffles, eggs, etc. The waffle was amazing and it all came out super fast.
Friedman’s Hell’s Kitchen
Friedman’s we visited on Friday around the early afternoon slot. By that time, most people had left for the convention center and we got to take our time. Their menu is much different than the dinners. They still offer things like steak and eggs, they class it up a bit. The service was quick, the food was good, and they worked at a much more relaxed pace than Skylight.
Fresh&Co
Fresh&Co was more of a fast food place, you order at the counter, find a seat to have your meal, and you keep it moving. Their avocado toast was amazing. I’d stay away from their coffee, but the Orange Juice was SO good.
Lunch
Dim Sum Palace
Dim Sum Palace was another place we visited twice because it was just that good. Dim Sum is traditionally breakfast food. In Boston, most dim sum places are only open until noon so when we found a place that served dim sum all day long, we were excited. The portions are light, you order as many times as you’d like, and the vibe made it comfortable to hang out for a little while.
Zen Ramen & Sushi
We visited Zen Ramen & Sushi just before the dinner rush on Saturday at about 4pm. There was already a bit of a wait but definitely not as long as the 5pm crowd. We opted for their outdoor seating and it was decently warm despite the weather only being 50 degrees. Their sushi was so/so but the ramen was delious!
Dinner
Havana Central Times Square
This one is an absolute staple for us whenever we’re in New York. It has the best hispanic food I’ve ever had outside of my mother-in-law’s cooking. We get tostones, empanadas, and I typically get the ropa vieja with yellow rice. I can’t say enough about this place. The music is on point, the food tastes amazing, and the ambiance is fantastic.
Cacio e Pepe
If you love pasta and you love cheese, you need to visit this place. We’ve been here twice now and both times they’ve been fantastic. The must have dish is Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, It’s brought out hot in the center of a giant cheese wheel and mixed until the cheese gets melted through the pasta. UGH! It’s so good!
Catria Modern Italian
So here’s a hint, don’t leave Saturday dinner plans to a whim. Reservations are important. We aimed for Korean Bbq but every single place was packed so we landed back at our hotel restaurant and we weren’t disappointed. It was such a calm vibe to hang out and have some drinks and finger food.
Dessert
Sam’s Fried Ice Cream
Sam’s Fried Ice Cream is another one that I try to get to whenever I’m in the city. It’s the absolute best Fried Ice Cream I’ve ever had. It’s about a 20-25 minute drive down to the lower east side from Times Square where we were eating lunch so it’s very much out of the way. However it’s absolutely worth it to make the trek down there every so often.
Thoughts?
Let me know your favorite NYC eats. Honestly food tours are my favorite way to plan a trip around town and I’m always willing to add more favorites to my list.
