NYC

As a foodie, living in New York City for nearly 3 years was truly a dream come true.  During that time I was fortunate enough to dine at some of the most amazing (world renowned) restaurants.  In addition to the fancy shmancy places, there were several cheap and delicious hole-in-the-wall joints too.  Here are some of the best places I’ve wined and dined in NYC:

Cafes/Coffee shops

• Aroma Espresso Bar
• French Roast
• Joe
• Think Coffee
• Cafe Angelique
• Stumptown Coffee Rosters
• Roasting Plant Coffee
• Cafe Grumpy

Desserts/Bakeries

• Babycakes NYC (v)
• Stogo (v)
• Cocoa V (v)
• Lula’s Sweet Apothecary (v)
• The Soft Serve Fruit Co (v)

Quick/Takeaway chains

• Au Bon Pain
• Europan Bakery Cafe
• Pax
• Cosi
• Le Pain Quotidien *
• Pret A Manger
• Cafe Metro
• Europa Cafe
• Chop’t

Casual eateries

• Peacefood (v) * – get the chickpea fries
• Bonobos (v) *
• Nanoosh * – insanely creamy hummus
• Blossom Du Jour (v) – Blossom’s takeaway
• Curly’s Vegetarian (v)
• Josie’s
• Caravan of Dreams (v) *
• Liquiteria (v) *
• Quantum Leap
• Candle Cafe (v) * – best seitan in NYC (recreated recipe here)
• ‘snice (v) * – great sammies
• One Lucky Duck (v) * – quick/takeaway version of Pure F&W
• Hummus Place
• Murray’s Falafel & Grill (v)
• Maoz
• Galanga
• Fat Hippo
• Ozen
• Cafe Viva
• Alias
• Souen
• Land Thai
• Joya * – if you find yourself in Brooklyn
• Rosa Mexicana
• Eataly
• Bruno Ravioli – amazing fresh bread

Fine Dining

• Pure Food & Wine (v) * – holy raw
• Blossom (v) * – this place never got old
• Candle 79 (v)
• Dirt Candy (v)
• Angelica Kitchen (v)
• Zen Palate (v)
• Spring Street Natural
• Fig & Olive
• Tabla
• Del Posto *
• Hearth
• Gobo (v)
• Cibo
• Blue Hill *
• Le Bernardin
• Gotham Bar & Grill *
• Tavern on the Green
• The Boathouse
• Extra Virgin
• Redeye Grill

Bars

• B Bar
• Boat Basin *
• The Frying Pan
• Riviera Cafe
• Faces & Names
• Johnny Utah’s
• Oliver’s Bar & Grill
• Dive Bar/Dive 75
• Blondie’s
• The Parlour
• Me Bar/La Quinta
• Joshua Tree
• The Standard
• The Dove Parlour
• Bourbon Street
• Cleopatra’s Needle
• Jake’s Dilemma
• Pianos NYC *
• The Back Room (aka teacup bar)
• VON Bar

(v) = exclusively vegetarian/vegan

(*) = hippie fave