New York Magazine

hudson heights

Brunch, New Leaf Restaurant & Bar

1 Margaret Corbin Dr., nr. 190th St.
A bucolic setting for creamy scrambled eggs and airy apple pancakes. washington heights

Rotisserie Chicken, El Malecón

4141 Broadway, at 175th St.
The dictionary definition of spit-roasted chicken, crispy skinned and juicy fleshed. harlem

Burger, 5 & Diamond

2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd., nr. 112th St.
A veritable Frankenpatty of flap steak, beef cheek, and fatback. central harlem

$15.16 Buffet, Charles’ Country Pan Fried Chicken

2839–2841 Frederick Douglass Blvd., nr. 151st St.
Soul food, in all its smothered, saucy, crisp-crusted glory.

EAST HARLEM

Plain Slice, Patsy’s

2287 First Ave., nr. 118th St.
The quintessential coal-fired pie—thin, a bit crispy, with that cooked-in mozz-and-tomato magic. UPPER WEST SIDE

Smoked Sturgeon and Eggs, Barney Greengrass

541 Amsterdam Ave., nr. 86th St.
The preeminent neighborhood breakfast in New York. UPPER EAST SIDE

Sushi, Sushi of Gari

402 E. 78th St., nr. First Ave.
You won’t find more-inventive sushi this side of L.A. Order the omakase. MIDTOWN WEST

Fusilli with Octopus and Bone Marrow, Marea

240 Central Park S., nr. Broadway.
Surf, turf, and pasta taken to ethereal heights.

MIDTOWN EAST

L’oeuf de Poule, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

57 E. 57th St., nr. Park Ave.
Robuchon is a master with eggs, and this $89 appetizer is his finest creation. CHELSEA

Uni Panini, El Quinto Pino

401 W. 24th St., nr. Ninth Ave.
Sea-urchin roe on ficelle with a Korean-mustard-oil-flavored butter given a turn in the panini press. MURRAY HILL

Focaccia Robiola, Da Ciro

229 Lexington Ave., nr. 34th St.
Double-crusted, truffle-scented bliss. ROSE HILL

Tête de Cochon Sandwich, Resto

111 E. 29th St., nr. Park Ave. S.
Curry-braised pig’s-head meat, pickled vegetables, and homemade mayo on toast. A bánh mì gone mad.

WEST VILLAGE

Cuban Sandwich, The Spotted Pig

314 W. 11th St., at Greenwich St.
A requisite fifteen-minute wait, a porky gourmet payoff. MEATPACKING DISTRICT

Spaghetti Tomato and Basil, Scarpetta

355 W. 14th St., nr. Ninth Ave.
Destination-worthy spaghetti. Simple but transcendent. GREENWICH VILLAGE

Bone-in New York Strip and Pommes Anna, Minetta Tavern

113 Macdougal St., nr. Bleecker St.
The perfect meat-and-potatoes match. EAST VILLAGE

Fried-Chicken Dinner, Momofuku Noodle Bar

171 First Ave., nr. 11th St.
Chang combines the messy pleasures of a southern fry-up with the grandeur of Peking Duck.

SOHO

Boudin Noir, Balthazar

80 Spring St., at Crosby St.
Enjoy this perfect version of the peasant classic with several flagons of Côtes du Rhône. NOLITA

Italian-American Prix Fixe Dinner, Torrisi Italian Specialties

250 Mulberry St., nr. Prince St.
Red-sauce reformation in four exquisite courses. LOWER EAST SIDE

Pastrami Sandwich, Katz’s Delicatessen

205 E. Houston St., at Ludlow St.
The seminal sandwich, in the seminal New York restaurant. TRIBECA

Caramelized Brioche, Corton

239 W. Broadway, nr. White St.
Comfort food with the artistry of old-fashioned haute cuisine.

CHINATOWN

Savory Cumin Lamb Hand-Pulled Noodles, Xi’an Famous Foods

88 E. Broadway, nr. Forsyth St. These tender but chewy noodles set the local standard. FINANCIAL DISTRICT

Lamb Belly With Fermented Garlic, SHO Shaun Hergatt

40 Broad St., at Exchange Pl.
The most elegant meat dish in a carnivorous neighborhood. ASTORIA

Ntakos, Agnanti

19-06 Ditmars Blvd., nr. 19th St.
Bone-dry Cretan rusks moistened with a salty slick of olive oil, olives, feta, tomato, and capers. ROCKAWAY BEACH

Tacos, Rockaway Taco

95-19 Rockaway Beach Blvd., nr. Beach 96th St.
Topped with cabbage, cilantro, radish, and lime. Perfect surfer snacks.

CORONA

Tamales, Tortilleria Nixtamal

104-05 47th Ave., nr. 104th St.
The sausage-and-pepper Italiano Special pays tribute to the neighborhood’s past. FLUSHING

Dan Dan Noodles, Spicy & Tasty

39-07 Prince St., nr. 39th Ave.
The compulsory, capsaicin-packed prelude to any serious Sichuan meal, in the place that does them best. JACKSON HEIGHTS

Arepas, The Arepa Lady Street Cart

Roosevelt Ave. nr. 78th St.
Vendor Maria Piedad Cano griddles Colombian arepas de queso to crispy, oozing perfection. LONG ISLAND CITY

Gelato, Manducatis Rustica

46-33 Vernon Blvd., nr. 46th Rd.
Fluffy yet dense housemade flavors; pistachio and hazelnut are standouts.

SUNNYSIDE

Doughnuts, Alpha Donuts

45-16 Queens Blvd., nr. 45th St. This well-worn coffee shop’s star attractions are impeccably fresh, and if you’re lucky, still warm. WOODSIDE

Crispy-Chinese-Watercress Salad, Sripraphai

64-13 39th Ave., nr. 64th St.
A textural triumph of chicken, shrimp, squid, and deep-fried greens. BELMONT

Pizza, Zero Otto Nove

2357 Arthur Ave., nr. 186th St.
The “La Riccardo” (butternut squash, smoked mozz, pancetta, and chile flakes) is a must. CITY ISLAND

Shrimp and Lobster, Johnny’s Famous Reef Restaurant

2 City Island Ave., nr. Belden St.
Deep-fried seaside goodness that tastes just right in this land’s-end setting.

RIVERDALE

Carrot Cake, Lloyd’s Carrot Cake

6087 Broadway, nr. 251st St.
An exceedingly moist and subtly spiced carotene-enriched confection. CONCOURSE VILLAGE

Curried Goat, Feeding Tree

892 Gerard Ave., nr. E. 161st St.
A pregame pit stop for Yankees fans who flock for good jerk and better curried goat. MORRIS PARK

Grilled Pizza, Coals

1888 Eastchester Rd., nr. Morris Park Ave.
The three-cheese Pure Bliss is a paragon of the delicately crunchy grilled-pie form. HUNTS POINT

Ribs, Mo Gridder’s BBQ

565 Hunts Point Ave., at Randall Ave.
Fred Donnelly produces the smokiest, most tender ribs in Hunts Point and beyond.

LONGWOOD

Quesadillas and Tacos, Real Azteca

1013 E. 163rd St., nr. Simpson St.
The pork tacos and huitlacoche quesadillas taste like Mexico itself. ST. GEORGE

Grandma Cuisine, Enoteca Maria

27 Hyatt St., nr. Central Ave.
A rotating roster of Italian grandmas cook specialties from Abruzzo, Sicily, and elsewhere. DONGAN HILLS

Pizza, Salvatore of Soho

1880 Hylan Blvd., nr. Slater Blvd.
The best pie in the borough served, as the menu warns (or brags?), “charred and well-done.” TOMPKINSVILLE

Appam, New Asha

322 Victory Blvd., nr. Cebra Ave.
Bowl-shaped rice-flour pancakes are just one of the novelties found at this friendly Sri Lankan spot.

PORT RICHMOND

Italian Ices, Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices

501 Port Richmond Ave., at Catherine St.
Summer in a cup, since 1928. BAY RIDGE

Meze Plate, Tanoreen

7523 Third Ave., nr. 76th St.
The smokiest baba, the creamiest hummus, and spices that cast a spell. BED-STUY

Neapolitan Pizza, Saraghina

435 Halsey St., at Lewis Ave.
You can taste the pizzaiolo’s passion (and the wood-fired oven doesn’t hurt). brighton beach

Lagman, Cafe Kashkar

1141 Brighton Beach Ave., nr. Brighton 15th St.
Herby, lamby Uyghur soup, packed with springy hand-pulled noodles.

brooklyn heights

Sticky Bun, Iris Cafe

20 Columbia Pl., nr. Joralemon St.
Tender, buttery, house-baked perfection, especially with French-pressed Stumptown. bushwick

Fried Chicken, Roberta’s

261 Moore St., nr. Bogart St.
A convincing evocation of the South, extra-crispy skin, honey-buttered biscuit and all. carroll gardens

Meatballs, Frankies 457 Spuntino

457 Court St., nr. Luquer St.
Even the Italian grannies in the neighborhood marvel over these tender orbs. boerum hill

Smoked-Meat Sandwich, Mile End

97A Hoyt St., nr. Atlantic Ave.
Impudent Quebeçois upstart or the best new smoky, succulent deli sandwich in town? You be the judge.

east flatbush

Doubles, Bake & Things

184 E. 35th St., nr. Church Ave.
This takeout joint’s version of the Trini street-food specialty can’t be beat. ditmas park

French Fries, The Farm on Adderley

1108 Cortelyou Rd., nr. Stratford Rd.
It’s all in the details: skin-on, hand-cut Carolas, twice-fried to crispy perfection. vinegar hill

Pork Chop, Vinegar Hill House

72 Hudson Ave., nr. Water St.
Wood fired, cut in thick slabs like prime rib, and served in grand midtown style. Fort Greene

Black Angus Hot Dog, The Smoke Joint

87 S. Elliott Pl., nr. Lafayette Ave.
Excellent plain, even better topped with pulled pork, chicken, or hacked beef.

greenpoint

Smoked Fish, Acme Smoked Fish Corp.

30-56 Gem St., nr. N. 15th St.
The salmon of your Sunday-brunch dreams (Friday mornings only). park slope

Double Cheeseburger, Dram Shop Bar

339 9th St., nr. Fifth Ave.
A deliciously drippy, Texas-style bar burger. One of the top ten in town. prospect heights

Clam Pizza, Franny’s

295 Flatbush Ave., nr. Prospect Pl.
Screw New Haven. This is the best clam pie in the tristate region. red hook

Latin American Street Food, Red Hook Ballfields

Bay St. nr. Clinton St.
The Salvadoran pupusa, the Mexican huarache, and más.

sheepshead bay

Hot Beef Sandwich, Brennan & Carr

3432 Nostrand Ave., at Ave. U.
Roast-beef sandwiches dunked into vats of broth like doughnuts. sunset park

Hot-and-Sour Soup, Yun Nan Flavour Snack Shop

775A 49th St., nr. Eighth Ave.
An invigorating broth and enough pork dumplings to feed a Yunnanese army. williamsburg

Pastrami With Burnt-End Baked Beans—and a Pickle, Fette Sau

354 Metropolitan Ave., nr. Havemeyer St.
Meat to convert a vegetarian: succulent and smoky. downtown brooklyn

Fish Tacos, The Loading Dock

170 Tillary St., nr. Gold St.
Crisply battered mahimahi tucked into fresh tortillas and drizzled with bright housemade salsas.