My friends…here we are right in the heart of the holidays, the day after the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. From here on out, we are gaining sunlight every day!
Next year maybe I’ll dedicate a post to the best holiday markets in Europe…do you guys have any favorites, since we’re thinking about the season? Of course I love Fira de Santa Llúcia, the very famous market on the Cathedral Square in Barcelona, where you can buy gifts and decorations for Christmas and the very funny Catalan tradition of the caganer, the little pooping figurine that Catalans add to the nativity scene. Last Christmas I got a caganer of R2D2—some Catalan traditions come from a galaxy far, far away…
My very strange R2D2 caganer...
In the US at least, I think New York City is the very greatest city for the holidays. There’s the lights, the beautiful big tree, the shopping, and always lots of excitement for kids and families. And of course, amazing food!
I was just looking at our shared map for Chef’s List premium subscribers (my team is actually looking at a map upgrade in the new year…stay tuned!), and after a month and a half of The Chef’s List, we only have a handful of recommendations in New York beyond what Marcus shared with us last week. Here are a few of them: two pizza spots (from the same reader, Nat, who seems to know a thing or two about good pizza!) and the very famous Daniel by my friend Daniel Boulud on the Upper East Side.
John's of Bleecker Street — My favorite Pizza in New York, and also the world. For me John's sets the bar against which all others shall be measured. Splotches of sauce and mozzarella allow each ingredient to shine on their own. The crust is charred and very crisp, and not too thin. The setting along the West Village's famous Bleecker street couldn't be more perfect. Whole pies only. –Nat Hawkins
Joe's Pizza — Around the corner from John's, Joe's is my go-to slice shop in NY. If you don't have time for a whole pie at John's, do not miss a slice or two from Joe's. You can be in and out of there in 5 minutes if you need your NY slice fix. I've even been known to get a slice after a meal at John's. I always stop here when I'm in town, and since it's in the West Village why wouldn't you stop by? –Nat Hawkins
Daniel — Gorgeous room with nicely spaced tables and the ability to have a conversation without shouting. That alone gives it high marks in my book. Service was impeccable, without being stuffy or pretentious. Incredible food and a phenomenal wine list. The madeleines after dinner are melt-in-your-mouth light and airy. –Bobbi Bauer
So…everyone else…let’s fill up that map! Where’s Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx?
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So friends…where do you like to go in New York City, at the holidays or the rest of the year??
I am a native New Yorker but in Virginia part of the year and my favorite restaurant in DC is Jaleo! Would love a branch in NYC! Gramercy area would be perfect!
Every time I’m in NYC, I MUST go to Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen (multiple locations). I think their pastrami and corned beef sandwiches are better than Katz’s. I always like Leah Cohen’s Pig and Khao. Their food is fantastic and they have some inventive cocktails. Death & Co. is one of my favorite cocktail bars. For cheap but great hand pulled noodles, I enjoy Xi'an Famous Foods (multiple locations). My favorite Chinese bakery was the legendary Lung Moon Bakery in Chinatown. They closed during the pandemic. Can anyone recommend another?
I live in Queens - for the last year and a half two friends and I have visited a different ethnic restaurant a month and have so far sampled Ecuadorian, Cuban, Thai, Philippino, Mexican, Indian (of every sort), Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Himalayan, Peruvian, and many more. People who visit NYC without eating in Queens are making a huge mistake.
ilili has been a holiday go-to for eons. Their kibbeh nayeh, brussels sprouts and hummus are fantastic. Also, I love buying rugelach from Lee Lee's Baked Goods in Harlem.
Brooklyn - Win son restaurant and their bakery down the street too! Still some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life. It’s Taiwanese-American and incredible!!!
My husband has celiac, so he misses out on so many good foods in NYC. But once he discovered Modern Bread and Bagel, he was able to finally get legitimate delicious kosher bagels again! They are so good, that it is easy to forget that they are gluten free! They have figured out how to make a fantastic bagel, whether you need gluten free or not!
Friedman's is our go-to for delicious gluten free food that is safe for my husband to eat, since he has celiac. The location in the theater district has waiters who sing, and they are fantastic! It is not at all cheesy, it is like getting an amazing dinner and a show. The other location we love to visit is the one at Herald Square. They serve gluten free lemon ricotta pancakes at that location that my husband loves, and I love their French toast. Since we usually stay close to the theater district, these are the 2 locations we have dined at on multiple locations, we have not tried their other 4 locations. But these 2 are so good that we always stop in to at least 1 of them when in NYC.
We were thrilled to see that there is an Angelina Paris in Bryant Park! They serve the best hot chocolate and their Mont Blanc is incredible...along with all of their other pastries. It is a piece of Paris in NYC!!
And, of course, there are Jose’s wonderful restaurants, especially Lena in Little Spain. They have the best ribeye steak I’ve ever had and the sommelier is exceptional.
Iris on Broadway at 55th St is our favorite: excellent Mediterranean food with creative twists and an aestheticly attractive setting with first rate service. A true find.
I am a native New Yorker but in Virginia part of the year and my favorite restaurant in DC is Jaleo! Would love a branch in NYC! Gramercy area would be perfect!
Better put the NYC Jaleo in Brooklyn, so I can go there when I visit my kid!
Favorite slice: Joe's on Bleecker
Best donuts: The Doughnut Project
Best overall restaurant experience: Union Square Café
Favorite brunch: La Mercerie, Russ & Daughters Café, Fish Cheeks (need to try Thai Diner though!)
Cocktails: King Cole Bar, Dante
Spanish: Spanish Diner (of course!), Casa Lola
Mexican: Casa Enrique but I need to try Oxomoco
Omakase: Sushi Ikumi
Neighborhood Thai: UpThai (I crave that clay pot rice!!)
Soup dumplings: the old Joe's Shanghai was better, but the soup dumplings at the new location are still great
Chinese: House of the Red Pearl (Café China is a close second but I don't like the new location as much as the old one)
Pastrami sandwich: Katz's (avoid the weekend)
Favorite splurge: Marea
Best lox: Murray’s Sturgeon Shop
Best bakery: the original Breads on 16th St.
…and so many more - this is just off the top of my head!
Grand Central Oyster Bar - old school and wonderful selection of raw and cooked oysters!
Txikito - what a great Basque restaurant!
db Bistro moderne - a relaxed superb French restaurant under Daniel Boulud's guidance
Algonquin Hotel - famous and worth the visit to see the roundtable...
Every time I’m in NYC, I MUST go to Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen (multiple locations). I think their pastrami and corned beef sandwiches are better than Katz’s. I always like Leah Cohen’s Pig and Khao. Their food is fantastic and they have some inventive cocktails. Death & Co. is one of my favorite cocktail bars. For cheap but great hand pulled noodles, I enjoy Xi'an Famous Foods (multiple locations). My favorite Chinese bakery was the legendary Lung Moon Bakery in Chinatown. They closed during the pandemic. Can anyone recommend another?
Claud
I live in Queens - for the last year and a half two friends and I have visited a different ethnic restaurant a month and have so far sampled Ecuadorian, Cuban, Thai, Philippino, Mexican, Indian (of every sort), Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Himalayan, Peruvian, and many more. People who visit NYC without eating in Queens are making a huge mistake.
In Brooklyn - Clinton Hill neighborhood: Place de Fetes @pdfbk - Spanish wines, excellent creative food & desserts, great vibe!
ilili has been a holiday go-to for eons. Their kibbeh nayeh, brussels sprouts and hummus are fantastic. Also, I love buying rugelach from Lee Lee's Baked Goods in Harlem.
Doughnut Plant and Supermoon Bakery
Brooklyn - Four Horseman. James Murphy’s wine bar and they have small plates. Never had a bad meal there, the musics great, and the wines spot on
Also any of missy Robbins restaurants.. Misi, Lilia.. delicious
Brooklyn - Win son restaurant and their bakery down the street too! Still some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life. It’s Taiwanese-American and incredible!!!
Sartiano is also great. Also King, CiSiamo, Tourisi, Dante. 53
Agora on Second Avenue. Excellent Mediterranean food.
NYC - Kanoyama, Fairfax, Jolene, Gotham Restaurant, Gramercy Tavern, Grand Central Oyster Bar, Tribeca Grill, Nobu, Bar Boulud, Lobster Place
Williamsburg, Brooklyn - Brooklyn BK, St. Anselm, Ensenada, Le Crocodile
Fort Greene, Brooklyn - Sailor
Rule of Thirds, Brooklyn
My husband has celiac, so he misses out on so many good foods in NYC. But once he discovered Modern Bread and Bagel, he was able to finally get legitimate delicious kosher bagels again! They are so good, that it is easy to forget that they are gluten free! They have figured out how to make a fantastic bagel, whether you need gluten free or not!
Friedman's is our go-to for delicious gluten free food that is safe for my husband to eat, since he has celiac. The location in the theater district has waiters who sing, and they are fantastic! It is not at all cheesy, it is like getting an amazing dinner and a show. The other location we love to visit is the one at Herald Square. They serve gluten free lemon ricotta pancakes at that location that my husband loves, and I love their French toast. Since we usually stay close to the theater district, these are the 2 locations we have dined at on multiple locations, we have not tried their other 4 locations. But these 2 are so good that we always stop in to at least 1 of them when in NYC.
We were thrilled to see that there is an Angelina Paris in Bryant Park! They serve the best hot chocolate and their Mont Blanc is incredible...along with all of their other pastries. It is a piece of Paris in NYC!!
And, of course, there are Jose’s wonderful restaurants, especially Lena in Little Spain. They have the best ribeye steak I’ve ever had and the sommelier is exceptional.
Iris on Broadway at 55th St is our favorite: excellent Mediterranean food with creative twists and an aestheticly attractive setting with first rate service. A true find.
Tortilleria Nixtamal in Queens; Izakaya MEW in Manhattan; Maria’s in Staten Island; café spaghetti in Brooklyn.
Agora
Dirt Candy