One of my favorite things about our recent trip to NYC was all of the delicious food! The food is my favorite part about going to new cities and I always love trying new places. We ate so much good food while we were there so I thought I’d share a few of my top favorite places for you.
Citizens of Chelsea
This was where we ate breakfast on our first day in NYC. It is healthy Australian brunch food and while I’ve never eaten brunch in Australia, CoC definitely made me want to. The vibe is super cute and fun. There is trendy palm leaf wallpaper and cute succulents decorating the place, so my hopes were pretty high based on the decor alone. We sat at a communal table by a window which was perfect because it is on a busy corner so there was lots of people watching to be done. I got a latte to start and it was bold and delicious, bonus that there was artwork included.
I was so so so tempted by everything on the menu (Smashing Avocado toast and Coconut and Blueberry Bircher Muesli I’m talking to you). I ended up going with the Breakkie Sandwich. No Regrets. None at all. It was unlike any bacon breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had. The tomato chutney that was on it added the perfect level of sweetness and it was served on a delightfully tasty cheddar chive biscuit. I’m thinking about attempting to recreate this sandwich at home it was so good!
Sunday in Brooklyn
I had heard such good things about this place so I knew we had to try it. It’s a three story building with a take out window if you just want a quick coffee. We got there early and it was already pretty busy, but we managed to find a seat at the bar. The menu is full of amazing photo worthy eats like the malted pancakes which are shown all over their instagram. That is actually what I originally ordered but when I saw them being served to another table I realized that was way too much sweet food for me. I ended up getting the smoked fish plate which was so good I ate it before I even got a picture. I also had a carrot blend juice which was by far the tastiest juice I’ve ever had. This place had a really cool atmosphere and you could tell there were a lot of regulars, which is how you know the food is good. If you are ever looking for a brunch spot in Brooklyn, I highly recommend this place.
Ivan Ramen
I have a serious ramen obsession but have yet to find a great place here in phoenix. I knew I needed a delicious bowl of it in NYC so Jord and I headed to Chinatown to eat at Ivan Ramen. It’s a pretty small restaurant but there is a cute little outdoor patio as well. Jordan and I both got the Tokyo Shoyu Ramen and it did not disappoint. The broth had the perfect amount of saltiness to it without being overwhelming. The noodles are freshly made toasted rye noodles and I loved the texture of them. I’m already wishing I could go back and try out another flavor, this place was that good!
Emilio’s Ballato
This place seriously lived up to the hype. It’s this little nondescript Italian restaurant that would be so easy to pass by if you weren’t paying attention. It had great reviews and is a common spot for celebrities to eat at, so I figured it was worth a try. The owner sits at a table in the front of the restaurant and just checks everyone out, which is the first thing we noticed when we walked in. The servers are friendly and knowledgable but not particularly engaging. They kind of just leave you to it which we were fine with. I got the spaghetti al pomodoro which sounds so basic but was anything but. The dish was so delicious I’m still thinking about it. Can they just open a restaurant here in Phoenix so I can have that yummy meal again please? If you like traditional Italian food then this is a must try when you are in NYC.
Ice and Vice
I was craving ice cream when we were in the city and we ended up walking so far just to get to this place haha. It was so worth it though. Ice and Vice is known for its unique flavors so if you’re more of a classic strawberry or chocolate, this isn’t the place for you. I think Jordan and I ended up sampling all of the flavors before we made up our minds. They all seriously sounded so interesting. I ended up going with the 9am which is Vietnamese coffee with donut truffles. I love coffee flavored ice cream but this was next level. They have a bunch of different colorful cones that are all fun flavors as well. I ended up choosing this pink cone which was some flavor involving almond and coconut. It was amazing! Jordan got the Basic B which was Mexican vanilla with black lava sea salt. I’m not a vanilla lover by any means, but his was delicious too! If you are in the city you seriously have to visit this place!
Pier A Harbor House
This is a waterfront bar in Lower Manhattan. It overlooks the Hudson River and has views of the Statue of Liberty and the Financial District skyline. It’s a huge three story building with a massive outdoor patio. We opted to sit and enjoy the views and the sunset on the patio. This place was packed and had such a fun energy. It seemed like there were a lot of locals grabbing drinks together after work. The menu isn’t big and is mostly seafood so if you aren’t a fan of fish this probably isn’t the place for you to grab dinner. I would definitely recommend heading here for a drink in the evening while the sun goes down!
