My New York Top 12 (July ‘24)
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