Up until November of 2019, New York City was still at the top of my bucket list for places to visit. I received an email from my school two months before the trip, stating that a charter bus would be taking students to Washington D.C. and NYC for an affordable price, and I knew I had to take the opportunity. As you might know, there is A LOT of things to see, do, and eat in NYC. NYC is well known for its diversity in food, so it’s essential to know where to hit up the best restaurants. Before I left for the Big Apple, I did my research on the best places to eat, combined with affordable prices, and I found some great places. To help you out, I am going to list a few restaurants that I enjoyed as a first timer in NYC.
- Little Italy and Chinatown
I am going to start first with my favorite: Little Italy and Chinatown. Located in Manhattan, the neighborhoods thrive with variation in food and culture, and you really can not go wrong with a restaurant there. In Little Italy, there are authentic Italian restaurants around every corner. It is not easy to choose a restaurant because all the food is amazing, so I am going to recommend a bakery with amazing cannolis: Ferrara Bakery & Cafe. The cannolis have the perfect crunch on the outside and the sweet, creamy filling on the inside. They come in multiple flavors and sizes at an affordable price. Although I only tried the cannolis, they had other pastries that looked divine as well. While in Chinatown, I got to see different markets that sold fresh seafood, produce, and I even saw the sales of fake designer products on the streets. After all of that walking, I was craving an eggroll and walked into Super Taste. Like most restaurants there, Super Taste has all of the different Chinese dishes, but their egg rolls are homemade and cooked to a perfect crisp. They have all the right fillings with pork and cabbage and also at a reasonable price.
2. Ellen’s Stardust Diner
Most people consider Stardust Diner as a place of entertainment, and not a restaurant that is known for its food; however, I beg to defer. It has a lively atmosphere where it is themed as a 50’s diner and is the place for aspiring Broadway performers. All of the waiters and waitresses sing and sometimes perform on tables, so it is quite a show. They serve American food such as burgers and classic sandwiches, but with a twist. When I was there, I ordered the burger with a donut as the bun. I love the combination of salty and sweet, so it was right up my alley, and I have never tried something like this, so to my surprise, it was excellent. The burger was quite big, the patty was juicy, and it also came with waffle fries. The prices are reasonable if you consider the entertainment with the meal; however, the shakes are pricey. It is hard to find a place with entertainment and good food, so I recommend experiencing this, plus you could be watching a potential broadway star!
3. Katz’s Delicatessen
Some food is a must-try while in NYC: a slice of pizza, street dogs, bagels, cheesecake, and sandwiches. When I say sandwiches, I don’t mean your basic sandwich; I’m talking about a meaty, hearty sandwich with hand-sliced meats stacked high in-between two slices of thin bread. Katz’s Deli is the perfect place for a classic NY sandwich. Their most served and famous sandwich has pastrami with mustard on rye bread. When I went, I split one sandwich with three other people! They pack as much meat that the bread will allow without it completely falling apart. I ordered the pastrami with mustard, swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on rye bread with pickles on the side. The sandwich was pricey, but when you consider all the meat and the overall quality of the sandwich, it is worth it. The atmosphere is interesting also; when you enter the restaurant, you receive a ticket, and then you order straight from one of the butchers who cut the meat as you are ordering. It is not only famous for its sandwiches, but it is also where “Harry met Sally.” I have personally never seen When Harry Met Sally…, but from what I understand, part of the movie is filmed in the deli. When you visit Katz’s Deli, you might be able to snag the table where they filmed the movie.
If you select the restaurants I recommended, you should be satisfied with experiencing the NY atmosphere and food. Regardless of the places you choose to eat, most of the food in NYC is guaranteed to be appetizing. If you do decide to try a restaurant that you have not heard of and maybe a hole in the wall, consider using Yelp for reviews.
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