{I bumped into Roxanne at Wordcamp this year and found her story inspirational. When I learnt that she had just come back from New York City, I just had to ask her to guest post about great places to eat. Roxanne’s site. The Skinny Scout, has more style and beauty tips!}
New York isn’t just about Times Square, Wall Street and Broadway, though visiting all three is a must for any traveller. And what if you’re looking to get the best out of it, in terms of food that will last in your memories? Here are my picks for a great tummy time if you ever find yourself in this lovely city of yellow cabs, all of which are very easy to find and within walking distance to subway stations.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co
Since we’re on the topic of Times Square, the one place you need to visit is Bubba Gump. Based on the famous story of Forrest Gump, Bubba Gump is the one place to go to for shrimps and fresh seafood right in the middle of the city. There are other outlets all through the country, but only one in New York City. There is usually a queue to get seats in the restaurant on the second floor, but the queue is fast moving and you probably don’t need to wait more than 30 minutes for yours. Even if it is a 30-minute wait, you’re in Times Square – you might end up buying last minute tickets to a Broadway show after dinner. I highly recommend their fish and coconut shrimp dishes.
Address: 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
Little Prince
Craving French cuisine? Little Prince in SoHo is the one place you need to check out. As if exquisite exteriors aren’t enticing enough in New York, the interior of this little nook is cosy and warm. They have different menus for lunch and dinner, and you’re there for lunch, try the French Onion Soup Burger and Ratatouille (which may be considered a small serving for a big eater).
Address: 199 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
La Lanterna di Vittorio
I love this space if not only for the little village garden at the back of the restaurant and the very satisfying Italian food. The closed garden (air-conditioned in the summer, heated in the winter) is a great space for dates and I find it one of the most romantic places where you can share a meal with your significant other. The crowd here is generally on the calm side, and people are mostly respectful of the enclosed space shared together. The restaurant has also won the 2015 Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator. If I’m visiting New York again, I’m definitely returning.
Address: 129 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
Chelsea Market
If you visit New York City, you need to go to Chelsea Market. This place is like Pasar Bella but way, way better. Think fairy lights and brick walls. You’ll find food from all over the world – Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, German… you name it they’ve got it. Spend an entire afternoon here (great idea, especially if it’s raining), starting from lunch and ending with a visit to a random sample sale popup. If you need a short coffee break, they’ve got it too. I highly recommend The Lobster Place, Very Fresh Noodles and Hale and Hearty Soups for a good bite, and Fat Witch Bakery for chocolate brownie souvenirs. A trip to Artists & Fleas and Anthropologie wouldn’t hurt either.
Address: 75 9th Avenue (Between 15th and 16 Streets), New York, NY 10011
Big Gay Ice Cream
Yes, it is what you think it is. You definitely can’t miss the rainbow-coloured ice cream logo on its store fronts, and neither can you resist taking a bite off their huge soft-serve ice cream cones. You might need to queue a bit, even if it’s 10pm on a weeknight, but it’s so worth it. They’ve got floats, sundaes and melt sandwiches, and I recommend trying out the Salty Pimp, which is vanilla ice cream with dulce de leche, sea salt and chocolate dip. You will need napkins for this and oh yes, a spoon would be useful too.
Address: 125 East 7th Street (between 1st Avenue & Avenue A), New York NY 10009; 61 Grove Street (at Seventh Avenue South), New York NY 10014 & 353 West 14th Street, New York NY 10014
District Social
Need a drink at the end of the night, or just somewhere to replenish your energy? Try District Social, which is a bar and restaurant rolled into one. Their dishes are made perfectly and the dimmed lighting creates a soothing atmosphere for you to wind down after a tiring day of exploring the city. Even a simple Pan Fried Trout can be quite satisfying – if you can finish it. I highly recommend their brussels sprouts, though you’ll need at least 2 people to share it so that it doesn’t seem too excessive in terms of taste.
Address: 252 West 37th Street (7th & 8th Avenue), New York, NY 10018
About Roxanne
Roxanne is the face & brain behind The Skinny Scout, a blog about beauty, style and travel, that hopes to inspire women around the world to be more self-confident. She is also the founder of indie jewellery brand, Trouvée.Co, which specialises in semi-precious gemstone pieces that are classic and timeless in design. She loves a decent cup of coffee, makeup and meeting people from all over the world. You can contact her directly at roxanne@theskinnyscout.com.
