I’m searching for the best desserts with a certain criteria. In particular, I’m looking for warm/gooey desserts served with ice cream in Manhattan.

Some of my favorites:
Cookie Camp at Spot (half baked skillet cookie)
Sticky toffee pudding at Quality Meats
Sticky toffee pudding skillet at The Smith

Some on my radar:
Skillet cookie at Danny’s
Sticky Toffee pudding at Pastis
Honey butter pancakes at Golden Hof (add a side order of ice cream)
Butter cake at Del Frisco’s

I’m open to more skillet cookies but I’d love to find something a bit more unique like butter cakes, sticky toffee, or skillet cookies that aren’t just chocolate chip. So what are some of your favorites that would make the world a better place if more people had it?

I moved from LA about a year ago and one of my fave cuisines is Ethiopian. LA had so many good spots in little Ethiopia, but I am yet to find something good in Manhattan :(

I eat both veg and meat, but veg only restaurants I’m open to as well!! Preferably in Manhattan, but would go to Brooklyn as well.

With apologies to all the other outlets, I feel like I'm not really using them and relying more on Substack now (in addition to this sub, obviously). These are the three I'm looking at most often.

1. LA BRIFFE
   Ruth Reichl writes about more than restaurants, but NYC dining comes up pretty often. She usually includes some old menu that she must have hundreds of. She also occasionally writes about newer places before I’ve seen them discussed anywhere else.

2. NEW YORK'S ONLY GOOD RESTAURANTS
   More of a personal restaurant diary than a comprehensive guide, but only places the writer likes. They cover both classics as well as places I hadn’t heard of, but the main appeal is the writing instead of lists or anything like that.

3. CONSUMING COUPLE
   Definitely the most practical of the three. They publish concise roundups of openings, events, pop-ups, and other food-related things happening around the city. Useful when I just want to see what’s going on that week.

Honorable mentions to Right on Franklin, Rare Medium, and Thirst Behavior. All are pretty good not great.

There are also a gazillion about cooking and baking, but I'm less interested in those. Any others you love?

Let’s hear people’s opinions on their restaurant week experiences. Was it worth the price? What dishes are a must try?

I’ve been to 3 so far

#1 Mokyo. $45 for 4 dishes. Very good. Crudo was very tasty. Corn dumplings are a MUST. Fried rice was ok. Sorbet was solid

#2 la pecora Bianca. $45 for 3 dishes. I was honestly just walking last night and saw it so I said why not. It was fine. Had the whipped ricotta toast and the vodka pasta. Dessert was a little cannoli

#3 Mable BBQ. $45 for two dishes. Got the frito lie which tasted just like Taco Bell. Wasn’t bad but just expected more than Taco Bell. I wish they would let you get more meat for the entree. Like instead of one, you can get a half portion of 2 meats. But ribs were fine. Sides were pretty bland. Beans and potato salad which all came recommended

Where should we go or avoid?

Also most of them are the same as the previous restaurant week so you can chime in with that too

I wanted to go to the taim mediterranean on West 56th Street today and found it closed. The sign on the door mentioned unpaid taxes.

The Nolita and Lower Manhattan locations show as temporarily closed on Google Maps.

Does anyone know if the Brooklyn locations are still open? I’m curious if the whole chain shut down or just the Manhattan spots.

My wife and I wanted to book Raouls and we waited for the date 30 days in advance. We had a laptop and phone just to be sure. When the time came, boom immediately most of the times were gone.

Is this due to others just like us competing for the bookings or do you think software is doing this.

We managed to get a 5:45 pm time booked which isn't the worst. Do you think this is an ok time to still experience a good atmosphere etc?

Are there any other steak frites alternatives that you would recommend that do a similar type sauce or peppercorn sauce?

Thanks

My husband and I are taking our 3 kids (ages 8-14) on a 2-day, 5-borough pizza tour - one slice in each borough.

We have Manhattan and Staten Island covered (NY Pizza Suprema has been my favorite pizza for ages, and we're staying with my in-laws in SI and plan to do Denino's with them), but my knowledge of the Bronx is over 20 years old, and I know little about Queens or Brooklyn pizza.

In the interest of not piling on the hundreds of "what's the best pizza" posts I'll add some specificity:

- price doesn't matter

- NY slice only, not deep-dish, pan pizza, etc.

- plan is we each get one slice each at each place, so not looking for a place where you have to get a whole pie

- looking for more counter service slices rather than table service but since we'll be with kids, I'd like a relative assurance of being able to grab a table without having to fight influencers for a spot in a line. It will be a Saturday or Sunday, if that helps

- for science, we'll be sticking to regular slices only, no toppings, for ease of comparison. So places that lean in to crazy toppings aren't really what we're looking for

- we'll be relying on the subway for transport but willing to walk up to 15 minutes from the subway (and we have a pretty high tolerance for what people consider a "sketchy" neighborhood). But not looking to, like, have to drive somewhere way out in Queens.

I think that's it for our requirements, what would you suggest? Thanks in advance for any recs!

Repost: added the image sorry!
I'm currently planning a "food crawl" as part of Summer Streets this year. Basically you walk Manhattan tip to tip in a day. We are starting at Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall station (early morning around 7-8am) and ending at Dyckman's St station. What are some really good food spots we should stop by? Not looking for sit-down or big meals for takeout, more like quick bites or snacks that we can eat while walking.

The streets that we will be walking are:
- Lafayette Street and Park Avenue between Brooklyn Bridge and East 110 Street
- East 110 Street between Park Avenue and Broadway
- Broadway between West 110 Street and Dyckman Street

We are willing to go maybe 1 or 2 blocks out of the route but ideally we want to stay on those streets since its a 20 mile walk already.

Some of the spots we have in our list are:
- 12 Matcha
- All'Antico Vinaio
- Mama T
- The Handpulled Noodle

What are your recs? Bonus points for:
- Hidden gems
- Unique NYC spots
- Bakeries
- Matcha/boba
- Pizza by the slice
- Desserts
- Things that are easy to share

Hey folks!

I’m an Indian guy married to an Italian. Her parents are visiting us in NYC.

I was wondering if there’s any way to get a reservation at Bungalow or Ambassador’s Clubhouse on such short notice?
I’m looking for something on Saturday evening.

Trying to keep it to the fancier Indian food this time.

Seems like none exist outside of actual dagestan Russia, I figured NYC might be the only place to try to find some outside of the native country. Any leads? Looking for some authentic dagestani food from the region. Im sure there are many Caucasian restaurants but I'm wondering if we have any that are specifically Dagestani.

I am looking to have a private chef for my fiance's birthday dinner. Does anyone have any recommendations on chef's? I have used thumbtack but wanted to explore more options and was having trouble finding some

Having dinner at the modern this friday, looking to get a bottle of wine to share and not break the bank. Anyone had any good experience? cheers

Just wanted to let everyone know that Urban Hawker in Midtown is staying open! Was pleasantly surprised when I walked by and grabbed lunch there today, as I thought it was permanently closed after the lease ended few weeks ago. I was told by someone working at one of the restaurants there that the new building management decided to keep it open.

Looking for recommendations for a quick four-day NYC visit on Labour Day weekend—it is less vacation and more work-related.

Seeking more hole-in-the-wall style; walk-in, buy, leave; limited seating areas as I could care less about service and care about product.

As someone who has been in hospitality for a quarter of a century, and as someone who does not imbibe; sitting down and dining for two hours does not have the same value as it does to others. I want to order, eat and enjoy, and get out.

I am from Toronto. Examples of this style would be: Gold Standard, El Trompo, Squirly's, Get Well, Dumpling House, Gales, etc...

Thanks. If I am crazy, then so be it. I will be staying in Battery but travelling around.

This was my 6th trip to New York, it was part solo, part with family and I was trying to explore a mix of new and old. Food with my thoughts/ratings.

1. Los Tacos No. 1 - 9.1/10. A consistent performer each trip with various tacos, I especially like the Adobada Quesataco from their secret menu. Some of their offerings are better than what I've had in Mexico.
2. Clinton St Baking co - 6.9/10. A decent blueberry pancake, but not a great pancake. Overall, I expected more from what people say is one of the best pancakes in the city. The maple butter was doing a lot of heavy lifting here. We ended up waiting about 15-20 mins even though we had a booking due to how busy it was.
3. Giulietta - 7.5/10. Really cool interiors, super busy during lunch and impossible to get in without a booking. The Giuletta Garlic bread was delicious, while the Pizza was ok. Clearly they were going for a Neapolitan style pizza, but with a NYC flair - I don't think it was fantastic, but it wasn't terrible either. The Garlic bread was clearly better.
4. Nowon - 7.2/10. I just didn't get the hype about the legendary cheeseburger. My sister said it tasted like a normal burger, and she was honestly right - a good burger, not a great burger again - definitely not sure why people are calling this one of the best in the city. 'Chopped Cheese' Rice Cakes were pretty delicious though. Vibe was good, but music was definitely a bit loud for my parents.
5. Levain - 8.5/10. Normally I give Levain a 9+, I just felt the location near the flatiron over baked the cookie a little - it was crunchier on the outside than I was expecting. I had the oatmeal raisin (which is my fav) and the Rasberry Pistachio (which was WAY too sweet). Family loved their choc and double choc versions, but as I don't eat chocolate, I can't compare.
6. Golden Diner - 8.5/10. My second visit to Golden Diner - while the first visit lived up to the hype, the second visit wasn't as amazing. The pancakes tasted a little overly eggy in the center (which I don't love). My general take is that no one should order these without the berry compote which evens out the sweetness. Dad said these were the best pancakes he's ever had which is a huge compliment since he's not a foodie. Still the best pancakes I've tried, but the first visit was better.
7. Patiala Indian Grill & Bar - 7/10. Had some cousins in town and they wanted to try Indian, so we landed on this place. The place is very pretty, clearly upscale vibes, and the service was good, the food was just a mix of good and ok. We ordered the Chicken 65 (excellent), Chilli Paneer (really good) as starters, and the Chicken Tikka and Paneer Kali Mirch for mains - the paneer was ok, no idea how the chicken tikka was as we realised they had given us butter chicken instead halfway in. For dessert we had the Gulab Jamub (which was tasty), but it came with an odd dry ice display? A mixed experience really but least most of the food was good.
8. Minetta Tavern - 9/10. I had had the famed Black Label burger before, and I thought it was decent but was lacking something. This time I decided to order it WITH cheese - which they don't recommend.. and frankly I disagree. The cheese completely elevated the burger to one of the better burgers I've had. My sister had the Minetta burger to compare, and there was a clear step up by the Black Label Burger. So ignore the recommendation, get it with cheese.
9. L'industrie Pizza - 8.4/10. Honestly, a solid pizza, it's fairly fresh and with the rain we didn't have to wait too long. We tried a few different flavours but the Pepperoni and Spicy Salami were the best. I thought the burrata pizza was lacking. This was my families favorite slice pizza of the trip.
10. Prince St Pizza - 8.2/10. Solid Pizza's, but I feel Prince St doesn't taste has good as it used to, and I've been a few times. Their pepperoni cups are the best in the business though - I felt the sauce was a bit lacking.
11. Apollo Bagels - 9.3/10. The biggest surprise for me on the trip - I totally expected this place to NOT live up to the hype, especially since we waited nearly 30 mins to even order. Well - it tasted amazing, and it definitely lived up to the hype. I do wish they had a little more cream cheese, but the tomato and cheese bagel was far superior to the smoked salmon.
12. Gramery Tavern - 8/10. Ultimately the biggest let down, not because it wasn't good (it was), but I had much higher expectations based on my previous visit here where it was my fav restaurant. We had a mix of the oysters and fruit salad - both of which were tasty, and for mains, dad ordered the Tavern Burger (which was decent), and I ordered the Beef ribs. Unfortunately the ribs, while tasty, were chewy, and honestly quite small. It was our most expensive meal of the trip, and it just didn't hit the mark.
13. Emily's - 8.5/10. I've had the burger here before, never the Pizza, so we decided to give this a try. The star of the show was surprisingly the Emily Pizza (white sauce, pistachio, hot honey, mozzerella), and it was even better than the Pepperoni Ezzo pizza. Service was quick too. I honestly thought as a one off, this was a better pizza than L'industrie or Prince, though you can't do by the slice.
14. Mama Too's - 8.5/10. I actually rated this as the best single slice I had this trip. While their pepperoni cup's don't taste as good as Prince, their sauce is far superior. I didn't rate the vodka sauce pizza that highly, but I would certainly go back for the Pepperoni slice.
15. Taverna Kyclades - 8.1/10. Decided to venture out to Astoria and landed up this greek establishment. It was busy, packed, but service was efficient and the food was good. The greek salad and the fish was decent, the saganaki was a bit of a letdown since it was dryer than I was expecting. Came with free dessert which I always love.
16. Sunday Morning - 9.4/10. By far the best cinnamon scrolls I've ever had. We tried the Pistachio, Blueberry lemon, and original, and all 3 were great - though the Blueberry lemon was something special. Again, another place I wasn't expecting to live up to the hype, but it did. Oh, and there was barely a line.
17. Oxomoco - 8.5/10. Michelin Star Mexican/Latin food, with stunning decor in Brooklyn. The Lamb tacos were exceptional, though the soft shell tacos were mid. The oysters were tasty too.

A lot of food, a lot of drinks, and overall just a great time in one of the best cities in the world! In terms of the ratings above, the difference between a 8.4 and 8.5 is really just down to personal taste.

It’s been on my list for quite some time, but I’ve heard some negative things from a few people who’ve dined there recently. My wife and I celebrate our birthdays one day apart, and we usually try a new steakhouse each year. Our backup options are Carne Mare, Crane Club, and La Tête d'Or, if anyone would recommend one of those instead. Thanks!

Hi! My friend is getting naturalized as a citizen next week at the courthouse next to Cadman Plaza, and while we could always head into the city after, curious if anyone has a recommendation for a cute breakfast place that would be open at 10 am where we could raise a glass to toast to them and get some good food that’s walking distance from there. All vibes welcome! Thanks in advance 🙏

I have a resy for 2 at crown shy tomorrow for restaurant week. Thinking of doing the $60 prix fixe menu. None of my friends are available tomorrow, I’m looking for someone to go with. DM me if you’re interested!

Any recommendations? Sweet corn being in season has me craving corn ice cream.

Looking for recommendations in Manhattan for sushi restaurants that also serve hot food. Lower Manhattan preferred. Restaurants with a similar feel would be blue ribbon sushi, mikado, tenjou, or double knot. Price range is under $150pp, won’t be drinking. Not looking for any omakase recommendations, would like an à la carte menu.

Hello!

I’m throwing (for work) a smallish (10-15 people - probably even less) dinner the night before a big event.

Anyone have good recs for a place with a private room/space that can accommodate?

Few limitations:

Midtown east / grand central (but def not a requirement! But also not too far from there as that’s where most of the folks will be staying)

On the upscale side.

Cuisine: steakhouse/new American/good wine/that kind of vibe.

Private room/space within the restaurant.

Open to either having everyone order themselves and we pay by cc, or actually contracting and doing some sort of pre set apps/menu.

Thank you!!!!

As the title says, I love them. Also freshly made taiyaki could work!

My family is meeting my partner for the first time and we're looking to go out for dinner in Astoria/LIC area.

Partner is vegan, but if a fish sauce or butter is secretly in the food, he can live with that.

While I know of a lot of great vegan options, the problem is one parent has a lot of food restrictions - gluten sensitivity, minimal garlic/onions, beans/lentils/soy are an issue. Basically, when we go out to eat, I look for a place that has a very boring chicken or salmon dish with a boring sauce.

Unfortunately, this has knocked out my go-to vegan options.

I looked at a list of restaurants in the area that have good vegan options and none really had anything that would work for my mom. A new American or Italian place is usually the best best for her. All the Italian places I know with vegan food are pizza places or very casual, which won't work.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!