NYC Eats & Drinks

I get asked all the time for restaurant and bar recommendations – comes with the territory of being dubbed a “walking Zagat guide.” So, here’s a small sampling of my New York favorites, shared interview-style. By no means is this exhaustive (because really, how could anyone keep up with a city that reinvents its dining scene every other week?). I’ll update this now and then, whenever the culinary tides shift.

And, that gorgeous VittlesVamp restaurant pictured above? Sadly, it is just a fantasy – for now. The list below, though? These spots are the real deal.

Favorite restaurant in New York City? Theodora is absolutely killer. Every dish I have had has blown me away. Aged fish? Say yes. (Runner-up is Eyval for genius Persian fare.)

Best pizza? F&F, because pizza is better topped with crumbled sausage, fried sage, and a drizzle of brown butter.

Best burger? Red Hook Tavern. Smashburgers be damned. I want a serious pub burger. This is a thick, dry-aged beauty.

Best breakfast? Buvette is simply magical. Try the scrambled eggs made in the cappuccino-frother with prosciutto or smoked salmon. Amazing.

Best coffee spot? My fave coffee spot closed, so I am on the hunt for stellar caffeine in my ‘hood. But if you are in Astoria, Queens, I urge you to check out Balancero for seriously good espresso.

Best Chinese restaurant? Wu’s Wonton King is the bomb-diggety. Low-key with fluorescent lighting on East Broadway – and kick-ass food. (Pro tip: After dinner, go to the bar at nearby Venetian spot Bacaro for dessert and Prosecco.)

Best Thai restaurant? Kru is the best of both worlds—a stylish dining room and phenomenal food.

Best French restaurant? Libertine’s chalkboard menu is straight out of the 11th arrondissement.

Best Italian restaurant? Can’t choose one! Adore Brooklyn Heights’ Noodle Pudding in terms of quality, neighborhood Italian (cash only). Also love Café Spaghetti in Carroll Gardens for Italian-American and Via Carota in the West Village for their everything (except the wait for a table). Also need to give a shout to Leon’s off of Union Square for its gorgeous dining room and spectacular Southern Italian fare - with a gentle nod to Egypt for a welcome culinary twist.

Best bar? Long Island Bar is brilliant. Best Boulevardier. Phil Ward is my favorite bartender. His winning combo: being a baller mixologist and rarely smiling.

Best new bar? Bar Snack for all the fun and flirty East Village energy, tasty drinks and nibbles, and the outrageously photographable disco bathroom.

Sexiest bar? Portrait Bar for its romantic lighting, velvet seating, carved stone fireplace and sultry vibes.

Favorite bar snack? While I am enamored of the Kombu Celery at Bar Goto, I’ve been drawn to a much more decadent snack when imbibing this winter - a glorious rendition of Raclette at Cafe Brume. Think pungent melted cheese, draped over miniature potatoes, pearl onions and chopped cornichons. It’s perfect on a brisk evening with a glass (or two) of wine.

Best place to take out-of-towners? Hit the Wythe Hotel for a pre-dinner drink at Bar Blondeau for a sunset view over the East River and the glittering Manhattan skyline. Then take the elevator downstairs to Le Crocodile for elegant French fare in a lovely brasserie with vaulted ceilings.

Best date spot? Karasu is an intimate, candlelit, Japanese speakeasy located behind an unassuming American café in Fort Greene called Walter. In addition to the room’s allure, the drinks and food are marvelous.

Best New York institution? Keens Steakhouse is steeped in NYC history and is a fantastic steakhouse. Just hoping the new owners don’t mess it up. (If they do screw it up, next pick would be the Grand Central Oyster Bar, where I like to sit at the bar in the back Saloon and feel transported to the Nixon era.)

Best wine bar? La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels is a fave. It has a great list and makes me feel like I’ve taken a quick trip to Paris – without the jet lag.

Best source for spices you didn’t know existed? I am an avid admirer of Burlap & Barrel spices, but if I need something esoteric - or frankly, a spice blend that is so off the beaten path that Google Maps can’t locate it, I head to Curry Hill’s Kalustylan’s. It is a gourmet store like no other, with an unbelievable selection of ingredients from all over the world.

Best under-the-radar restaurant? While Cobble Hill’s La Vara gets a lot of attention, I am an even bigger fan of its seafood-forward sibling Saint Julivert Fisherie. The kitchen deftly weaves together Spanish and Portuguese flavors, along with other culinary traditions.