ew York is known to be one of the most expensive dining destinations in the world. Although expensive, the quality of the food is very good. There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from, which is great, but it can also be a bit daunting. When choosing restaurants, Trip Advisor is our usual first port of call.
Jack’s Wife Freda
There are a couple of Jack’s Wife Freda restaurants scattered around New York: SoHo, West Village, Chelsea, Union Square and Williamsburg. We went to the one in Chelsea for breakfast and it was very impressive.
I had the Mediterranean Breakfast, which was 2 poached eggs, chopped salad, labne, avocado and pita bread. Although this seems very simple and basic, it was honestly the nicest eggs and avocado I’ve ever had. It was also beautifully presented. This place is incredibly popular and gets very busy, so I recommend making a reservation.
Quality Italian
Quality Italian is located near Central Park. It is the sister restaurant of Quality Meats and Quality Bistro. Everything about this place was amazing – the ambiance, the food and the service. We met friends here, so we shared a couple of dishes, some of which I wouldn’t have chosen myself, but they were all delicious.
For starters, we had Bread with Whipped Ricotta Pine Nuts and Honey, and Crispy Calamari Casino. I had the Pasta Pesto Mafaldine with Italian Sausage for main course, and we ordered a Chicken Parm Pizza for the table. We shared sides of Q1 Tuscan Fries with Parmasan Aoili, and Corn Crème Brulee. Last but not least, for dessert I had Salty Pistachio Gelato.
All of the food was very well presented, and the service was excellent throughout. It was incredibly busy, so again I recommend making a reservation well in advance.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
Ellen’s Stardust Diner is located in the heart of Times Square. You are not able to make reservations here and often there can be quite a long queue outside – it is very popular. We arrived just before 9am for breakfast and got seated right away. The food was average at best, but it was a great experience.
The waiters are aspiring Broadway singers and they get up on the tables to sing. It was great entertainment during breakfast! Service was quick and efficient. It was a fun place to go, but food is nothing more than a diner standard.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
McSorley’s Old Ale House is located in NoHo. It was established in 1854, making it the oldest bar in New York City. Women have only been allowed into the bar since 1970! When you enter the pub, you feel like you are stepping back in time. The walls are covered in memorabilia and the floors are strewn with sawdust.
This is very popular spot, even with the locals. They only serve two drinks – dark and light beer ($8 for two half pints). It is a cash only bar, so be sure to have some cash on hand.
Olio E Più
Olio E Più is located in Greenwich Village. This Italian is rated #5 of 6,700 restaurants in New York on Trip Advisor, so we had to check it out! The restaurant is beautifully decorated and there is a patio full of plants out the front. Service was great, although we did have to wait 20 mins for our table. This wasn’t an issue for us – we sat at the bar and had a drink and watched the chefs cooking.
All of their pizzas are cooked in a wood fire stove. The food was delicious and reasonably priced with a Diavola Pizza costing $25. The pasta also looked divine. It is a very busy spot and hard enough to get a booking. Yet again, I would book well in advance.
They run a happy hour Monday-Friday from 3pm-6pm with reduced priced cocktails (available at the bar only). Highly recommend.
Tao Uptown
Tao is a quirky Pan-Asian restaurant with a giant 16ft Buddha as its centre piece.
There are two Tao restaurants in Manhattan, one uptown and one downtown. It is a very trendy, young, bustling and energetic place. There is a great buzz, with a live DJ playing music.
Our table was upstairs on the balcony and we had a great view for people watching. There were a lot of options on the menu to choose from. I had the Pad Thai with chicken, it was delicious and the service was excellent.
It’s a large restaurant with ample seating, but it is a very busy spot, book early!!
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- Tao Uptown
Nubeluz, Ritz Carlton Nomad
Nubeluz is a hidden gem in Manhattan. It is situated on the 50th floor of the Ritz Carlton Nomad. This was probably the highlight of our trip. The views were incredible with a 270-degree view of New York’s famous skyline. There are full length glass windows overlooking the city. The décor is beautiful, with gold, green and pink tones.
We went at 6pm before dinner to watch the sunset. We ordered wine and beer, but the cocktails also looked very impressive.
Book in advance online and make a note in the booking requesting a seat by the window. It is expensive but worth every single penny for the experience.
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- Nubeluz, Ritz Carlton Nomad
Keens Steakhouse
Keens Steakhouse is located in the Garment District. Established in 1885, it is the second oldest steakhouse in New York. It is an old style traditional steakhouse with lots of history. The restaurant houses more than 50,000 clay smoking pipes. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful, with a dark and intimate atmosphere.
Although Keens is famous for it’s mutton chops, I opted for the fillet steak, which was divine and cooked to perfection. An 8oz fillet steak was $55. We also had one of New York’s famous Cheesecakes, which was delicious. Service was also very good.
Again this is a very busy spot – be sure to book in advance.
Liberty Bagels
There are four Liberty Bagels shops in Manhattan. These old-fashioned hand rolled bagels claim to be the #1 rated bagel shop in Manhattan. I had the Diablo bagel, which was massive but incredibly delicious. This place is busy – expect to queue!
Levain Bakery
Levain Bakery can be found at a number of locations across New York. They are well-known for their Instagram famous cookies, which we tried and tested and can confirm that they are worth the hype!
The double chocolate chip cookie was warm, gooey and deliciously fresh.
There was a long queue, mostly of locals, which is always a good sign.
Joe’s Pizza
There are five Joe’s Pizza pizzeria’s in Manhattan. We went to the one near Washington Square Park on Carmine Street. This is an authentic New York pizzeria, which featured in the movie “Spider-Man 2”.
The pepperoni pizza slice was fabulous and a must try. The pizza had the perfect balance of sauce, cheese and pepperoni.
Expect a queue but service is very quick and worth the wait!
Ralph’s Coffee
This particular Ralph’s Coffee is located in the Ralph Lauren store at 888 Madison Ave. It is a gorgeous little coffee shop and very reasonably priced. The café is beautifully decorated.
There is a lovely outdoor area, which has seating for when the weather is nice.
