The Smith - New York, NY
A long term favorite of me and my friends. Everything here is delicious. Try to Truffle Gnocci with steak. You can’t go wrong.
El Jibarito - https://eljibarito.business.site/
This is the best restaurant in San Juan Puerto Rico we have eaten in. Something about the food here was really special. If you go to old San Juan.... you should visit this place.
Tony's at the J House - https://tonysatthejhouse.com/
Google Tony's at J House on Google Maps. There are many incredible pictures and the food is just as incredible. The Tagliatelle Truffle is a black truffle pasta with lobster tail which is hands down the best pasta I have ever had in all my culinary experiences.
Sushi of Gari - Best Sushi in New York City - https://www.sushiofgari.com/
This is a traditional sushi spot and i think the best sushi in New York City. If you are a fan of sushi..... this should be a spot you visit often.
1891 Vintage - Larchmont - http://www.vintage1891kitchen.com/
Great food. Lively atmosphere in the cute town of Larchmont.
Little Pub - Greenwich - http://www.littlepub.com/
An amazing little spot in Cos Cob, CT. Delicious food. Family rustic atmosphere. Lobster mac is yum.
RiverMarket Bar and Kitchen - Tarrytown - https://rivermarketbarkitchen.com/
The food, the drinks and the decor in this place is really special. The menu is creative this place is a solid 10. Gogogo. Lunch. Dinner. And then brunch.
Le Escale - Greenwich - https://lescalerestaurant.com/
Probably the best restaurant in Greenwich, Le Escale is truly a gem. Super fresh delicious French food is perfect for lunch or dinner. In the summer the outdoor patio is massive and makes you feel like you are on vacation.
Mediterraneo Restaurant - Greenwich - http://zhospitalitygroup.com/mediterraneogreenwich/
This place is me and my wife's local favorite. Very fresh delicious food. Try the Lobster and butternut squash ravioli. It will make your day.
Au Cheval - Tribeca - http://auchevaldiner.com/new-york/
Amazing atmosphere. Delicious burgers. This is currently one of the best burger spots in the New York City Area. If you like burgers you need to pay this place a visit.
Kyu - Miami - https://www.kyurestaurants.com/
I have traveled the world exploring the best restaurants and have been enjoying the New York City food scene for 20 years. Kyu in Miami is currently the best restaurant I have been too.
If you enjoy food. Plan a trip to Miami and make reservations at Kyu. We had to make reservations 3 weeks out for a saturday night. This is currently one of the hottest restaurants in the world. Thank you to the Kyu team for bringing this to reality.
Sushi Den - Denver, CO
In a rare non NYC post, this is some of the best sushi i have had in the world. Everyone that appreciates good sushi should plan a trip to Denver and visit Pearl St.
Miku is the current best sushi in Greenwich. Fish quality is top and the atmosphere is special.
Delicious spot in Dobbs Ferry. Bone Marrow pasta with bone in rib eye steak.
I ate lunch at the Grand Central Oyster today. This place has been a part of New York City since 1913 and is located in Grand Central Station. The menu is huge and the seafood is delicious. What is even more special is the atmosphere and eating in a piece of New York City history. This is now my favorite place to eat in Grand Central.
Bar Taco is currently my favorite restaurant. If someone was to ask me, what is your favorite. A clear winner is Bar Taco located in Portchester. The music is trendy and filled with life. The food is my favorite. The guacamole is simply the best I have ever had. The margaritas are made with fresh squeezed lime right in front of you. Quite possibly the best margarita I have ever had. The outdoor deck is truly an experience in the summer time. The food is very inexpensive and comes out fast. The fried oyster taco is like nothing you will ever taste. Make sure to try to corn off the cob. Bar Taco continues to be my favorite place to eat either with friends or family.
http://www.bartaco.com/
Piper's Kilt is located in Eastchester and is crowned as the best burger in the world. Every time I hear a claim of "the best burger" I always compare it to Piper's Kilt and nothing has yet to take the crown. Overall the Spotted Pig in the city has better food and a much better experience. But if judged just on the quality and taste of the burger, nothing beats Piper's Kilt.
This place is not for a big wild night out. It is simply for the best burger in the world and a cold beer. Actually writing this makes me crave one of their burgers. I will be sure to visit them again soon.
http://www.piperskilt.com/
The Spotted Pig is now closed :(
Old review:
The Spotted Pig is located in the West Village and is a great dinner destination for after the Standard Hotel rooftop or Biergarten. The burgers are quite possibly the best in the area, only rivaled by Piper's Kilt in Eastchester.
The atmosphere is amazing. Great time with friends for lunch or dinner. Everything on the menu is incredible. Everyone should come here once and then make it a regular destination on their food tour of life.
http://www.thespottedpig.com
Beauty and Essex is located south of Houston on the east side in the city. It is really difficult to capture this place in pictures. You shouldnt even look at that picture. Beauty and Essex is so unique. So spectacular. That it should literally be on people's bucket list. It is one of those places that you need a reservation well in advance to even get a table. The front looks like a grungy old New York city pawn shop. Then you walk through a secret door into a trendy swanky amazing 2 floor restaurant. Every room in the restaurant looks different and its impossible to capture in pictures. The food is unique and absolutely delicious.
http://beautyandessex.com/
Koi is located in Soho and is an upscale sushi restaurant. I went here only once recently with good friends to celebrate my engagement. The atmosphere is exquisite. The sushi was a 10. The menu was unique and spectacular. I would bet this place is one of the top 10 best sushi restaurants in the city. If you are a fan of sushi, you should find time to come here atleast once.
http://www.koirestaurant.com/new_york-soho/galleries/1/#2
The Bayou is located in Fleetwood and serves some of my favorite food. It is a cajun restaurant that looks like it should be on one of those Food network hidden food gems shows. The food is AMAZING. We love the po'boys, friend shrimp, and the salads. Also worth mentioning is they have the best fried pickles I have ever had. I am a big sucker for fried pickles. The Bayou has always been a big spot for live music. This place is really special. I have been coming here for about 6 years for business lunches, dates with the wife, and with family.
http://www.bayourestaurantny.com/
The Standard Biergarten is located in the meatpacking district at the base of the Standard Highline Hotel. The Biergarten is always a fun time. It is just an awesome time to be with friends. There is no music, just lots of talking. It gets pretty crowded but we have always had a table every time we have come here. It is mostly outdoor so and every time we have come here was during the summer. Come for the beer, grab a warm pretzel or a bratwurst.
http://www.standardhotels.com/high-line/food-drink/biergarten
Falucka is one of our favorite places. It is a hookah bar in the west village. At night it turns into a wild party. It doesn't get obnoxiously crowded like Le Souk and is priced right. If you enjoy hookah, this is the spot to call home. Why did I name this place the best in the city? Because after a recent not so great night in Le Souk we all talked about how consistently we have had amazing nights at Falucka. We have never had a bad night there. The hookah is the best tasting in the city, the music is amazing, the service has always been great, it doesnt get obnoxiously crowded, it has live belly dancers every time we have come, and is priced well. Get the apple hookah with a fresh pineapple head.
Le Souk is a hookah bar located in the west village. I have a love hate relationship with Le Souk. I have honestly never tried the food. It is a Moroccan menu and I have heard it is VERY good. I hope to go during the day sometime.
I know Le Souk after 10pm where it turns into the hottest hookah club in New York City. This is where the love/hate comes in. On one hand. some of our most epic nights have been in this place. I truly have love for Le Souk. The music is probably some of the most amazing in the city. The hookah is delicious. If you want to experience a true New York City night club experience, this is the place to go. From around midnight to 4am this place becomes one of the most crowded places you will ever go to. If you are below 30 years old, it is either tolerable or the most amazing night of your life. After 30, you are going to have issues. This is the type of place where you need to get a bottle to have a spot. The service becomes chaotic. The bill is large and unpredictable. But if you just get in the zone it is amazing. If you want an epic party, you need to experience this place at least once in your life.
The Standard Hotel's rooftop bar is located in the meatpacking district and is truly special. I recommend coming here in the afternoon if you want to avoid a long line. The Standard hotel style is unique to itself. It is very industrial modern with exposed cement and metal fixtures. The hallways of the staircases are dark and covered in stylish graffiti. It is really an interesting experience every New Yorker needs to have. Once you get to the rooftop, the first level is a big Jacuzzi bar area lounge. Then up another flight of stairs you enter a green fake grass floor rooftop. You can sit on the floor or on a number of funky chairs. The selection at the bar is not huge but really tasty and unique. They also have a crepes station right at the roof top. We came here in the summer of 2015. I heard the sunset from this rooftop is the best in the city. Unfortunately we did not get to stay for it because we were already there for 5 hours. The view from the Standard rooftop is probably one of the best I have seen. Glass walls give you an amazing picture of downtown Manhattan.
Eataly is located in the Flatiron district in the city, right across the street from Madison Square park.
We went here on 8/22/15 to celebrate my best friend's engagement. Eataly itself is a dynamic Italian market. It is like a super market, gelato shop, butcher, deli, and several restaurants all in one indoor market. It is truly special. They also have a rooftop beer garden on the 14th floor which is one of the most beautiful places to eat in the city. The beer selection is endless and the food is just delicious. The atmosphere is fun and lively and is a perfect summer spot.
http://www.eataly.com/us_en/nyc-la-birreria/
Tonight I ate at my favorite restaurant in Westchester, Haiku: Bronxville. Sushi is my favorite food and I have probably eaten at all the sushi spots in the area. I have been eating in Haiku Bronxville for over 7 years and by my assessment, they have the best sushi in Westchester. The sushi is always buttery fresh, the Saporos a perfect near frozen temperature and the atmosphere is both warm and filled with life. I have eaten in all the Haiku locations. I think the bronxville one came first and it still remains the best.
We visited Wolffer Estates Vineyard this week. It is located in Sagaponack, NY which is the part of the Hamptons. The wine and cheese plates are delicious. You have a view of rows of grape vines while you eat. The whole atmosphere and experience is something everyone should try once. The picture above does not do this place justice. On the right side of the picture is a beautiful rock floor patio where you get an elevated view of the property.
75 Main is located on Main St in Southamton, NY. We ate there today and had a special experience. The food and service were exceptional. It is American style food. We had the sandwiches and drinks during a warm July day. The greatest part of the experience was the hustle and bustle of Southamton all around you. If you visit the Hamptons, you should have lunch or dinner here.
http://www.75main.com/
I have long been thinking of creating a log of places that provide a truly special eating/drinking experience. After a summer night eating at the Red Hat on the River, the beauty of this place pushed me over the edge and inspired me to write this blog.
The Red Hat on the River is located in Irvington, NY and is overlooking the Hudson River. It is a french American restaurant and the food is GOOD. The atmosphere is what truly makes this place special. The inside is beautiful, there is a trendy 3rd floor roof top bar serving the fantastic bloody marys that you can stay at while you wait for your table in the outdoor patio. The outdoor patio is special on another level. Feet away from the Hudson river, eating in the outdoor patio is what inspired this blog. We had the sea food which was delicious. Red Hat also has Jazz every Wednesday night.
http://redhatontheriver.com/
