best nyc bites (a tourist's pov)

a collection of my best bites over 2 days in nyc

I am from Boston, but took a trip to NYC recently with a friend who grew up there. There is no world in which I would move to NYC (its sheer size overwhelms me), but the one thing that could convince me otherwise is the food. I was only in the area for two days, but I made sure to eat up a storm while there.

If you’re from the city, please leave me recommendations for my next trip!

1. Thai Diner

crispy rice eggs, thai diner egg sandwich, and thai tea babka french toast

I went here at 9AM absolutely starving which was the perfect state to be in. My favorite dish was the Thai Tea Babka French Toast with condensed milk and and Thai Tea Butter. The butter tasted exactly like the classic drink with a deliciously salty aftertaste. I would recommend the egg sandwich to anyone facing a severe hangover…it was dense, well-spiced, and saucy. The crispy rice eggs were a bit underwhelming not in taste but in texture. The crisp almost felt stale instead of crunchy. However, the taste combination with the salad underneath helped lift the dish.

2. Bond St. Hudson Yards

   

   

   edamame, tuna tarts, short rib gyoza, spicy crab crispy rice, chicken katsu bao buns, spicy tuna roll, lychee panna cotta, and mochi trio (not pictured: king salmon sashimi and cocktails)

   The tuna tarts from Bond St. are a top 3 bite of the year for me. There were delicious, thin slices of tuna over a salty, truffle garlic sauce. The crisps were thin enough to not overwhelm the amount of fish. If you order one thing at this restaurant, order those! The short rib gyoza were also a new favorite dish for me. I’ve never had gyoza in that style before, but the meat was juicy and delicious with a sweet, sticky sauce. Now, I am not usually someone who chooses to get dessert. If I have the opportunity, I will always choose another savory appetizer over something sweet. However, my friend recommended I try the desserts here, and I’m glad I did! The mochi flavors were rich and not too sweet, and the panna cotta texture was the perfectly gelatinous.

3. Dante West Village

   

   

   dirty martini, salty dog, half-dozen oysters, mushroom toast, and clarified pina colada

   The interior of Dante was gorgeous for both brunch and dinner. We ordered pre-dinner snacks including a half-dozen oysters with lime gremolata. I’ve never had oysters paired with cold citrus like this, and it became more of an obsession with each one I threw back. The mushroom toast was not something to write home about. Dante is known for their drinks, and we were not disappointed. They put on a show when pouring you their happy hour martinis, and allow you to make it as dirty as you would prefer. The clarified pina colada was a perfect example of clarified alcohol, with all of the flavor and none of the bite. I’d recommend the salty dog as everyone’s first cocktail to get an idea of how Dante works and how much fun they have with drink-making.

4. La Pecora Bianca (Upper West)

   

   whipped ricotta and rigatoni alla vodka

   I know I may get some hate for ordering two things I could most definitely make at home, but sometimes it’s nicer when someone else makes it…you absolutely cannot go wrong with the toast. It has a lovely sweet honey drizzle with red pepper flakes for more acid and spice. The vodka sauce was one of my favorites I’ve had while eating out (but again, I don’t order it often). It was rich and there was enough to cover each noodle. The stracciatella was the perfect addition to the pasta, and even more delicious if you mixed it in with the sauce.

5. Tompkins Square Bagels

   

   I ordered the classic bacon, egg, and cheese from here. As someone from Boston, I am not often spoiled with good bagels. We had to order in advance due to the sheer volume of the line, and would recommend to anyone who’s going on a weekend morning. The bagel was light, the cheese was dense, and the bacon was crispy. It was an amazing breakfast and one I hope I can find an alternative for in my own city.

Overall, I may have hit some tourist traps (Sadelle’s and Magnolia Bakery), but I had a lot of amazing bites I will be thinking about while back in my own city. Again, if anyone has some more recommendations, I would love to go back on another foodie tour of NYC.

xoxo, Brooke