Harissa - Middle Eastern - $ (Astoria)

Website

Wow, another treasure in Astoria. Harissa is such an underrated gem and I can't believe that I had to find out about it from my Jersey City-residing friend! Harissa cafe is an Algerian restaurant with a small menu that has a big impact. North African food is one of my favorite foods, simply because they mix spices that we as Americans consider to be reserved for sweet dishes, in their savory dishes. It's such a contradiction of flavors that we are typically not accustomed to, and for some it's hit or miss. But you can't help but identify the difference with every bite.

I read the reviews on yelp before we went there and everyone on there gushed about the restaurant. It's a very small space with few tables, but they do deliver. They serve bread and pastries from Balthazar and their own dishes are so perfectly spiced.

- Burek
This appetizer is finger-sized cigars of filo-dough stuffed with cinnamon-spiced beef, and then deep fried.

- Lamb Tajine
A whole lamb shank served with peas and artichoke hearts. The meat is perfectly falling off the bone, and in fact, the joint just dissolved itself and the bones completely separated from each other. It's soooo good!!



- Chicken Couscous
You can choose 3 different kinds of couscous, with the meat or veggies served on top of the bowl of couscous. Another delicious dish and a very generous portion.




We spent $18 each. Insanity. And there were leftovers.

Luke's Lobster - Seafood - $

Website

Who doesn't love lobster rolls? And Luke's doesn't skimp on lobster and replaces it with mayonnaise instead. It's straight up fresh lobster on a buttery, toasted roll.

Some days when work sucks, I need to go over and indulge. It really does make everything better.

- Lobster Roll




Expect to pay about $20 for 1 roll, but it's worth it.

Veselka - Ukranian - $

Website

Veselka is a staple to the East Village. It's been there forever, and it always surprises me how busy it maintains to be.

I went back for brunch recently, after only having been for dessert previously. Now, I know that I probably should have taken the opportunity to sample the borscht, or pierogies... but i was in the mood for brunch brunch. And since I was nursing a heavy hangover, I went big time.

I ordered a monte cristo. Something I'd never had before, and something I'll never order again. Granted, I should have known what I was getting myself into: french toast made with challah, then sandwiching turkey and some krakovska- a polish sausage which is pretty good. But the sandwich came out totally soggy and mushy. And the sweet potato fries were your typical, frozen-fried fries. Not fresh, not good.



I'll never order that again. I'd say, stick with the Eastern European treats. There's a reason why Veselka is still famous, and there's practically no other place to get potato pancakes or pierogies, so go basic.

Republic - Noodles - $

Website

Republic was one of the first "ethnic" food restaurants I tried when I came to college in the city. (I grew up in the smallest, blandest town in NJ). It was very exciting to try Thai food, and at the time, Republic was all the rage-- everyone talked about how great their noodles were.

As far as the dining experience was concerned, this was one of the cheaper options (important for college students) that had table service. We loved it. Everything from the pad thai, to the glass noodles, their noodle soups, or satay. And since it's located in Union Square- walking distance from my school, and had the coolest space with the coolest communal tables, we frequented often.

I recently revisited Republic after a long hiatus. Its quality is still as great, although the wait time for a table is drastically reduced. The prices have also increased, but it has been about 10 years.

We went for a very simple old-school choice on the appetizer, the always-good: chicken satay. I followed that up with a beef noodle soup, very much like a pho. Their cocktails, thai iced tea, and juices are all also worth mentioning.





I still love this place and will highly recommend it to someone visiting from out of town. Not only is it delicious but its location is perfect. If you find yourself in Union Square, you should definitely stop here.

Expect to pay a mere $20 without drinks.

Kunjip - Korean - $

Website

I went here for lunch one day and had a great experience. The thing I respect about 32nd street is how Korean all the restaurants really are. Most of the customers are Korean and most of the waiters are so Korean, they can barely communicate with you in English. So you know that what you're having is an authentic experience and an authentic meal.

These restaurants are also efficiently run and perfect spots for lunch.

Everyone ordered different items from noodle soups, to bibimbob, or my favorite, the spicy udon noodles with the squid. I get this almost every time.




Try this place out for its good lunch special and an authentic meal.

Lunch $10.

J.G. Melon - Burgers - $

Website

J.G. Melon is one of those old-school, hasn't changed since it opened, authentic burger joints. After a few good burger-ventures, a coworker recommended this as being one of Bobby Flay's "Best Burgers I Ever Ate."

This place feels so out of place up on the Upper East Side. It's a dark pub-like restaurant packed with people and tables. The menu is simple but the burgers aren't too cheap.

I went ahead and ordered the cheeseburger and split some fries. Burger was good, but certainly not my favorite. But for the sake of its reputation, I had to include this in my blog. If you're looking for that "normal" no-frills kind of American burger, this could definitely be it. I particularly prefer a juicier, fattier meat that melts in your mouth with every bite.





Burger and fries $15.

Othello's Deli - (Astoria) - $

Website

Everyone needs a good, local deli. I found this one on yelp and decided that I'd stop over on one of my weekend bike rides. When I got there, I found it crowded with customers placing orders inside as well as seated outside. Good sign.

It's your typical deli with grocery items, fresh fruit, hot prepared foods and deli meats. I went ahead and ordered what's now become my all-time favorite sandwich: smoked turkey, lettuce, tomato, onion and kefalotiri cheese on a hero. The kefalotiri cheese is obviously a Greek cheese, and when in Astoria... it perfectly compliments the smoked turkey and is just A----mazing.





The fact that it's always packed and everything is fresh is a good sign. Othello's has since become my go-to deli. This makes a great pit stop before biking over the tri-boro for a randall's island picnic.

Sandwich and bottled water, $8.

JG Melon - Burgers - $

Website

Another burger adventure in the city, inspired by my friends' burger obsessions in the city. A coworker had recommended this place and I learned that it's Bobby Flay's favorite burger from "Best Thing I Ever Ate."

This old, original restaurant features walls of watermelon posters and paintings, and a simple menu of burgers and steaks.

- Cheeseburger
(A good one, but not my favorite. It's a good, no frills version of your typical cheese burger)

- Fries
(Really good, crispy-- I liked these more than the burger)

The burger alone is about $10, plus whatever you eat and drink on the side.

Katz's Deli - Sandwiches - $

Website

Katz has pretty much been around since forever and has kept true to the authenticity of the kosher deli. It's the place where Sally faked her orgasm in When Harry Met Sally, and when you go, there's a sign hanging from the ceiling over the her seat saying something like "I hope you're having what she had".

I still don't quite understand how the ticket system works, but when you walk in, you're given a ticket as you pass through the turnstile, which you're supposed to turn in on your way out. But you're sent straight to the counter, where there are almost a dozen men waiting to take your deli order. You have choices like liverwurst (my favorite), turkey, corned beef, pastrami, beef salami, etc. You choose your bread and mustard, and then you're given a plate of pickles.

It's not the kind of place that offers insanely large sandwiches like Stage or Carnegie Delis do, which are essentially catering to tourists anyway. Katz's is the real deal, and their sandwiches are normal-sized, pricey, but delicious.



You can also order the deli meats if you wanted to. All in all, every New Yorker has to go here at least once, and anyone visiting shouldn't miss out on this either.

Expect to pay about $15 for a sandwich and a drink.

David's Bagels - $

Website

Do yourself a favor. If you're in NYC and you need a good bagel, go to David's Bagels on 1st ave and 19th st. It will forever change the way you choose a bagel, and it will forever change the way you eat a bagel. It is so unimpressive from the exterior, but it will always be packed with people- evidence of what you're getting yourself into.

The bagels are perfect-- crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and always just... well, perfect. If you're from out of town, this is the perfect place to try a New York bagel, but DON'T get a bagel and creamcheese. You can get that anywhere. DO get a bagel with lox, or better yet, the smoked whitefish. Both are amazing here, and they're so New York, you likely will not find it outside of the city.

Even if you get whitefish, the bagel will be less than $7. Soooooo gooooooddd.

Burger Joint @ Le Parker Meridien - Burgers - $

Website (Midtown)

This place is soooo good! It's a tiny hole-in-the-wall hidden behind a heavy drape in the lobby of Le Parker Meridien. You wouldn't expect it at all. Amidst the upscale hotel lobby decor, this place totally doesn't fit in-- probably why it's hidden behind such a heavy drape. It looks like the kind of "joint" you'd find in the Village. But its quality is exactly why it's remained. The line is consistently long, and the place is consistently packed, so have some patience. The burger is well worth the wait and the crowd. This would be up there on my top 10 burgers in the city... if I had a top 10 burgers in the city, list!

- Cheeseburger
- Fries



$14 Burger-Fries-Soda

Financier - French Bakery - $

Website

Financier has all these amazing little French pastries that lure you in when you pass by. At first glance, this place can look a little intimidating, or expensive, but it's not that bad.

My favorite thing about this place is that they're one of the first patisseries in nyc that actually have flan. And by flan, I don't mean the Spanish flan, I mean the amazing custardy slices of French flan that my mom and I pursue and indulge in when we go to France.



I popped in there for Easter and bought a few of their chocolate eggs- they're decorative AND delicious.

Parisi - Italian Bakery - $

Parisi Yelp-ed
(Broadway and 31st St, Astoria)

I have mixed reviews about Parisi, but some people love and swear by it. There are some things that I think are great, and some things that I think I've had better elsewhere. They're just your typical Italian bakery, selling cheesecake, cannolis, and rainbow cookies. They have a great breakfast special: coffee and a roll for $1.50, and are conveniently located in my direct path to the N/Q train. They also have a really great cinnamon raisin biscotti that I bring into the office on occasion.

I wouldn't say that Parisi is my go-to place. In fact, I would go all the way in to Veniero's in the East Village if I really wanted some great Italian pastries. But Parisi is convenient and good...

2 Bros Pizza - $

http://www.yelp.com/biz/2-bros-pizza-new-york

St. Marks between 2nd and 3rd ave.

You're drunk, you want to grab a slice before heading home. You're short on cash and you want a good cheap bite. You're shopping and you need some quick sustenance.

Whatever your reason for desiring pizza, can you justify not coming here? At $1 a slice, honestly, do you need anything else? The craziest thing about it is that it's actually delicious pizza! It's not gourmet or thin crust or brick oven. It is just simple, NY style cheesy pizza. And it's $1!!! Unless I'm sitting down and being served, there's no where else I can go for pizza anymore. I can't justify going elsewhere and spending sometimes as much as $4 a slice. At that price, it's worth it to take a subway ride over there and go to 2 Bros Pizza!




Enjoy!

Bakeway - Cafe/Bakery - $

http://www.yelp.com/biz/bakeway-nyc-astoria

(Broadway and Crescent, Astoria)

I cannot love or rave about Bakeway enough. Bakeway was one of the first cafes I discovered in Astoria, and I have never needed to go elsewhere. It's the kind of place that makes me wish that I had opened it instead. It literally has everything you need in a neighborhood cafe. The decor is really cool, clean and modern with an organic feel. I really like how the bakery, located in the back, is completely open and visible to patrons. Almost everything they sell is organic, from chocolate to tea to salads/sandwiches and juices. And almost every baked good they sell is made there, from scratch. They have displays of huge cupcakes, Greek pastries, croissants, you name it. And there's also a display of ready-made cakes and cookies. The coffee is good, although sometimes I think it's a bit too strong.

-Almond brioche
(It's sticky, buttery and overflowing with goodness. It is out of control.)

This is my go-to spot and I try to me a frequent and regular customer here.

Champignon Cafe - Cafe/Bakery - $

http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/champignon-cafe/

(Madison & 96th St)

Champignon is that perfect little cafe with the perfect display of perfect pastries and sandwiches on the Upper East Side. They serve everything from cafe au lait to quiche to smoothies, and the most mouth watering cookies I've seen in a long time.

It has a cozy, French cafe feel where you can have a great cup of coffee and a pastry while sitting and reading a book. I popped in there on my way to work in the morning and ordered the Samantha smoothie- so refreshing. And I liked the place so much, that I popped back in there a few hours later to grab a sandwich for lunch.

Now, whenever I'm in the area, I will always stop here. I'm sold.

Mark - Burgers - $

Website

This place is one of the best burger places in the city. They have a small space and a super simple menu: burgers and fries. Their sliders are like a gourmet, perfected, white castle-tasting slider. Their fries are perfectly fried and crispy. Each table comes equipped with 4 different types of ketchups and sauces, all worth trying. But the best thing that Mark serves is their guiness milkshake. Yes. A milkshake made with ice cream and guiness. You have to try it.

This place is so good and cheap, that I was even able to get my vegetarian friend to take a night off and enjoy some sliders with me.



$10pp

Ten Ren's - Bubble Tea - $

http://www.tenrenusa.com/

Ten Ren's is my favorite bubble tea spot in chinatown. Always a great pit stop after a morning of Dim Sum at Jing Fong's, this particular area of chinatown has plenty of great little bakeries with red bean-filled pastries and cheap street food. You also might need a break from faux purse shopping here. Bubble tea is always refreshing and i love love love the tapioca gummies at the bottom of the cup.

My favorite bubble tea flavor is taro, which I always describe as tasting like... purple. It is the color purple and has this aromatic, floral flavor, that really would be what purple tastes like, if purple had a flavor.

Enjoy a small for only $3!!

Cherry Cafe - Hookah, Egyptian - $

http://cherrycafenyc.com/ (Astoria)

I really love hookah, sheesha, nargile, whatever you want to call it. It's a relaxing, social past time and it always comes with great Middle Eastern mezze. It's pretty well known that Manhattan hookah can cost around $25 per hookah, but if you venture out to Queens or Brooklyn, you can find some hookah for as little as $7! Cherry Cafe is not on Steinway, which is also known as Little Cairo. The restaurants and cafes over there can be a little intimidating, as they're filled with mostly male Arab immigrants who stare at young women who pass by. It's a cultural thing that I find best left avoided. Cherry has a younger, more diverse crowd in its welcoming space. The hookah is good and cheap, and the food was surprisingly incredible, which I wasn't even expecting!

- Melon Hookah
- Mezze Combo

- Kofta Sandwich/Platter
(This kofta was some of the juiciest, most delicious kofta I've had in a while)
- Kosheri
(It's not listed on their menu, but I remember asking for it once and they had it. It's an Ancient Egyptian recipe of lentils, rice, pasta, chickpeas, topped with a spicy tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. A carbohydrate nightmare, but total Egyptian comfort food.)
- Mint Tea
- Karkaday
(A tea made with dried hibiscus. It's tart and very sweet, blood red, and considered great for circulation.)

Bareburger - Organic Burgers - $

http://www.bareburger.com/ (Astoria, NY)

While Astoria has plenty of great restaurants, this is one of the best restaurants for the yuppie scene. Bareburger serves all kinds of organic options for burgers. They let you choose your meat, offering bison, elk, turkey, veggie, beef, etc., as well as your bun option. You can go whole grain, brioche, even lettuce wrapped if you want. Everything is organic, including the ketchup and fries. All their choices sound incredible but I've only had a couple to comment on.

- Maui Wowie Burger
(I had it with the turkey. Yummmm)
- Lamb Burger
- Portabella Burger
(Haven't had this one but I cant wait to try it.)
- Sweet potato fries

$20 pp