My New York Top 12 (July ‘24)

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 on 2023.05.25
12 Places
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Penny

Seafood restaurant · East Village

Walk in friendly-ish, smart and good and makes you keep wanting to eat more of it? - the bigger icebox - stuffed squid - confit oysters - tuna carpacio - the bread x2 - the lobster - ice cream sandwich

Meju

Restaurant · Long Island City

The price point isn’t light, but after eating Korean food for all of my life, I had never had such a… pure(idk what word to use) version of so many of the ingredients and fermented products. It really is unlike anything I’ve ever had. It’s in LIC so it’s not necessarily the most convenient, but walking through the convenience store and through a beautiful hallway (pictured below) is also a nice touch.

Mission Chinese Food

Chinese restaurant · Chinatown

It’s extremely dialed in right now and as of June 13, here’s where I’m at as far as perfect orders goes: - wings - pea shoots or cucumbers - shiso or salt cod rice - one of the aggressive hits (pastrami, mapo, etc) - beef chow fun (seems regular, but it just hits) - steak with chili butter - shaved ice

Rolo’s

Bar & grill · Ridgewood

Everything is kind of just really good, somethings are REALLY good? - mortadella* - polenta* - herb salad* - chili pepper - pork chop (didn’t get but have heard great things) - steak

Monkey Bar

American restaurant · Midtown East

Still the same extremely pretty room, but the food is done by the people from 4 Charles (but is much easier to get a reservation). - The burger - The salads - The prime rib - Truffle pasta - Also just everything

Mắm

Vietnamese restaurant · Chinatown

Sneaky great Viet food that, when the menu is right (they’re always changing it), is REALLY right.

Eel Bar

Basque restaurant · Lower East Side

For some reason it looks and feels different and more human then other new places, especially in the area. Just a nice place to eat. - the egg and shrimp Gilda - grilled oyster - grilled mussels - black rice - shrimp + tomato - burger - trout

Thai Diner

Thai restaurant · Nolita

For me, I’d go for lunch (because it’s easier to get in) and get any combination of: - The Thai Diner egg sandwich - Cheesesteak phat bai - Baan salad - Laab - Crab fried rice - Pea shoots

Le French Diner

French restaurant · Lower East Side

Extremely small, like a hallway, but just really delicious. Menu keeps changing but it’s just great. Go early or be ready to put your name down and go get a drink.

uluh

Sichuan restaurant · East Village

The second of two Chinese restaurants I find myself going to the most. - fatty beef with cilantro - mayo tofu - fish in chili oil - Peking duck - pea shoots - mango sago with mochi

Superiority Burger

Hamburger restaurant · East Village

You’ll have to go early or late, but literally everything is great and I don’t want to type it all out.

Torrisi Bar & Restaurant

Restaurant · Nolita

I agree with the reservation is impossible, but the main dining room is a nice room and the food is actually very good, it’s more attainable for lunch or later at night on a week day. - The ramp pasta - The bao - The zeppole and ham - The pomodoro - The raviolini - Chicken alla griglia