Here again for another Sunday Spotlight. Today we are taking Royce’s advice on her favorite places to go out in NYC! Royce is an old friend and I have always admired how amazing her Instagram feed is! I highly suggest you go and check it out. Besides having good restaurant suggestions- Royce has an eye for aesthetics of food pictures. I must say, I respect and really appreciate all of Royce’s suggestions as they are not necessarily the hip funfetti filled croissant restaurants that you have to wait 2 hours to sit at, instead they’re good, some old, staples in NYC.
1. L’Artusi “First choice!”
228 W 10th St # 1, New York, NY 10014
Royce, very boldly claims that the spaghetti with garlic, chillies, and parmesean might just be her favorite thing on the planet! I can’t disagree, this restaurant is amazing. Although, I cannot have that dish, I can tell you everything I have ever had there was amazing! Not worth the reservation if you’re going to be on a diet.
2. JG Melon “Burgers and cottage fries are the best!”
1291 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021
It’s true, they have been around for years. If you’re looking for a great burger and fries, this is the place to go. Once again, not the place for a diet. Not worth it! I love the location on the Upper East Side. It feels old school and super comfortable. Don’t expect to go and sit right away. There is usually a wait, especially on the weekends.
3. The Smile “Bacon is maple glazed and just totally beyond words!”
26 Bond St, New York, NY 10012
Royce suggests you go for brunch, obviously so you can have the bacon. I have been for dinner the lamb meatballs and the cocktails are also worth talking about. Besides that the restaurant is dark and homey, and Royce says it has good people watching haha.
4. Kanoyama “Casual sushi spot”
175 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Not something you hear these days. Every sushi spot is more expensive than the next, especially if it has a zawa at the end of the name. Royce does say the fish is high quality, and this restaurant is basically Sushi Seki, but at a fraction of the price. She also pointed out that they have a Michelin star!
5. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory “Great for trying different, Asian influenced, flavors”
63 65 Bayard Street, New York, NY 10013
I am intrigued are you? Zen butter? Sounds weird at first , but it is just peanut butter ice cream with toasted sesame seeds. The durian are musts. TBH I don’t know what that means so we will all have to go to find out!
6. Peter Pan Donuts “Old school coffee/donut shop”
727 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Although, not physically in the city, but rather in Greenpoint, this is on my must try list! Especially after Royce so eloquently described their glazed donuts that are fried to a perfectly crisp outside, but are soft and not oily on the inside. WOW!
7. Claudette “the décor is so cute!”
24 5th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Royce suggests brunch because you can almost always get a reservation on Open Table. I can attest that Claudette’s food is really good! I loved the baked eggs! Royce gets the black truffle hummus, wow, and cured salmon with eggs! They’re her favorites.
8. Frankel’s “modern cool deli”
631 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Pastrami, egg and cheese sandwhich and potato latkes. Need I say more? Another Greenpoint restaurant. I think this calls for a Greenpoint outing! Royce suggests you go to Frankel’s and Peter Pan Donuts in one run. That’s bada$$.
LetsGABaboutfood 