Barts Best of: lunch in New York
Oh, oh, New York, beautiful city, behind the Hudson. If there's anyone we could trade places with without crying, it's the New Yorker. And then preferably go out for lunch every day. Because that can be done well there! Bag in the Citibike basket, Alicia Keys on the Sonos speaker, and go. On to one of these very best of-lunch favorites Manhattan en in Brooklyn. From golden oldies who survived the lockdowns to still-wet-behind-the-ears new boys. Quiz question: did we manage to keep this list short? The correct answer is 'no'. Because impossible.
Whatever you could do, when on a budget: a really good one take-out score and visit one of the many nice parks in New York to have lunch in the open air among the locals. Do we have any tips? We certainly have tips! The best take-out and the best parks in New York.
It could just be that you have Choza Taqueria and Indie Fresh heard, both cases in New York and both cases that are no longer there. The man behind both was Akhtar Nawab (who subsequently went to work at must go taco place La Esquina – not yet on the site, strangely enough... Oh well, people sometimes forget things), and it was certainly not his fault that both things are no longer there, nor the success. As it goes in NYC, you have to keep innovating and in this case that innovation took the form of the new restaurant High quality. Here again the love for Mexico and a menu full of it chips and dips, tacos of course, small dishes to share and a surprising amount of vegetables. Typically a neighborhood shop where you can just walk around the block.
Here is a now well-known (hipster) barber in New York. And yes, as a girl on the go you have no business there. You would think. Because at this business in Greenpoint you might want to stop by for a cup of coffee and a cookie - even if just to stare at the (handsome!) men in the business, or to take a snapshot of the more than very attractive (hipster) counter. Right, with the engine hanging on the wall. Why not. Oh, and you can take tea and mugs with you to take home, which is also nice.
On the corner at the park, just outside Williamsburg, is Five Leaves that place where it is ALWAYS busy. Not for nothing: it is always pleasant, good and… good. A bit (a lot) hipster, although Five Leaves did this trick before it became commonplace, and a bit bistro. The truffle fries are not to be missed.
If you're looking for something nice and quiet, head to the very tip of Greenpoint, where The Glass Series is a picture of a lunch tent, with interesting items such as guava mango french toast on the menu, and poached egg shakshuka-style.
If you still have some money to make (okay, you'd be the first), book a room in the new 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Three reasons: rooftop, rooftop pool, rooftop pool with a view of Manhattan from under the Brooklyn Bridge. Just saying. If you don't have that, at least pop in for a quick bite and a look at the hotel, which was built completely sustainably. There is a beautiful lobby (where there is no dog, so a nice retreat) and a light and spacious breakfast and lunch restaurant. Honestly? Okay, it's food and drink wise nothing special, but the hotel itself is, hence the list. And with a bit of luck you can go for a drink in the evenings (if there is no private party or the hotel is not fully booked).
The entire staff of Otway, also in the kitchen, is feminine and they are very proud of that there in Brooklyn New York. It is a modern bistro, according to the ladies themselves, and there is little to add to that. Yes, the food is delicious, including fresh fish, but no crazy expensive dishes. Go around the block to Otway if you fancy being pampered (so friendly everyone!) and a genuine culinary lunch, with wine, that could last for hours.
No bells and whistles, just a very nice place where you can eat Mexican-style fish dishes. The restaurant is on a corner and when the weather is nice you can spend hours outside with one Rosarito Margarita in hand. Rolling home!
There is certainly more on the menu, but here it is Roberta's it's all about the excellent wood-fired oven Italian American pizzas. (And the twelve-page wine list, which you don't expect at all.) There is one rooftop garden, and it is also a bakery and a radio station. hence the cult following (and the fact that there is online merch is sold, to show off your favorite hipsterhangout to be able to represent it on your cap, so to speak.) Can it still be Brooklyn-ish? No, is the answer.
If you have your brunch place Sunday in brooklyn dares to mention it, as if it were one no-brainer: is where you go on a Sunday in Brooklyn, you have to be able to deliver. And they do that, fortunately - which immediately makes the sometimes long wait for a spot less annoying. They know their classics here, but serve them with a contemporary twist. Recommended. So… what are you doing on Sunday?
Admittedly: you can hardly go wrong for lunch in Williamsburg and this could easily have been a list of fifty… (Marlow and Sons! Asswell! Dinner! Sweet Chick! Egg!). But people have to choose and in this case you choose the African, plant-covered, relaxed Café Mogador.
A bit off the beaten track perhaps, but there's a good chance that you've scored a great Airbnb about a ten-minute walk from Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg (not towards the water) (there are plenty of them there) and then this address could just be your can become a new favorite. The small shop serves a wide range of salads and sandwiches. Small yes, but that certainly does not apply to the portions: they are gigantic! What else can be said about that? Not that bad actually, just that it is exactly the local supermarket you were probably looking forward to.
Uhm, well, I hope you like Mexican, otherwise you'll be pretty shitty with this list. Apologies. Hahaha there is also one of those (so you can say yesjaja, you don't have to say Plantas Mexicana, Jajaja Mexicana is also allowed) and you will find the place not far from the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge (although even closer to the Manhattan Bridge, but there you can cycle you usually don't get over it). Nice exit when you cruise from Manhattan to the nicest part of Brooklyn (or the other way around of course). There are also branches in Manhattan. The menu is nice and compact (clear - nice) so take some time and just eat everything, as Jajaja is surprisingly affordable. What we did? The nachos, what else, a 'cocktail' with cucumber and basil (why is it so much better to drink non-alcoholic in NYC than anywhere else in the Netherlands?), the fish tacos (so so so good) and the raspberry cheesecake. Also great: Jajaja has a relatively extensive selection vegan food!
Also for the cookies, but certainly for the different types of cake you have to go here. Small, cozy, delicious coffee (affordable!) and lovely staff. You can also have breakfast here or sit and work in front of the window with your laptop.
First there was Tilda, an all-day success in Brooklyn Heights. Just as was the case with Choza Taqueria and Indie Fresh, you have to keep innovating in New York in the picture to stay and so the owners of Tilda closed the doors to open a similar concept three blocks away (if it ain't broken, don't fix it): Gold. Almost the same concept; at Tilda it was mainly about the patisseries, at Golda it's all about goodies from the Middle East, the owner's birthplace. There's breakfast and there's lunch, there are egg sandwiches with muhammara, there are sandwiches with fish and caviar and there is strawberry cardamom amber. Yes. For the day, but in the evening there are regular pop-up concepts that use Golda's kitchen.
More Brooklyn New York tips? Do we have: Barts Boekje x Brooklyn
The bar/lounge looks like a NYC classic, thanks to its dark green leather booths, chandeliers, art and red walls, but still it is San Remo Cafe, in the eternally wonderful Nolita, not that old yet. The rest of the place has that white, light, nice bistro look with plenty of art on the walls. The business has been a mega success from day 1, both during the day and certainly also in the evenings (then you dive more into that 'red' corner) and it must be said: we also have some of our little birdies not yet heard an unruly word in the city. Nothing but praise for the business. What do you eat there? Everything you expect in a bistro in New York: poached eggs with a cocktail on the side during brunch hour, homemade bagels with sweet icing, a cheese board with a divine burrata, hard cheeses and sweet apple syrup, salads with quinoa and parmesan cheese, a pasta with wild mushrooms and the personal highlight for lunch: the 'Porchetta sandwich' with burrata, tomato confit and pesto on a focaccia. NOM. You should do this one (although it might be even more fun for the evening – you tell me!)
Very honestly, especially recommended for the Barbie-style looks of the store, inside and out. The food is not bad at all, but good looking boy, recovery: good looking girl, who is not constantly distracted by all the pink. Phone/camera at the ready, there's no other option. And yes, then we usually lose track when it comes to food. If you're going to eat, go for brunch, preferably on the weekend. But to be honest: you don't even have to go inside for a nice selfie or group photo. #noshame. Around the corner from The Butcher's Daugher by the way, in one of the nicest shopping streets in the city.
Tacombi is a household name in New York (the one in Nolita is always a great base when shopping) and since there always seems to be a new branch of the location popping up somewhere, and since Mexican seems to be the theme of this list, the newest NYC locationstaco joints nevertheless not missing. Always completely fine here, nothing more to do.
Café Gitane For those who love avotoast and like to spot hipster birds of paradise. The menu is French-Moroccan and there is also a branch in LA and Tokyo.
Jack's Wife Freda Another well-known lunch brunch spot where things rarely or never go wrong. Light, white place - although you don't see anything of it, because it is always full of people - with friendly staff and classic dishes on the menu. There are several locations, the first in Nolita.
America = fastfood. Black Tap, in Soho, is a gift for burger lovers. And not just any burger with bacon, tomato and cheese. No! Burgers with avocado, cheese and truffle mayonnaise. Heavenly. The wooden tables are covered in graffiti and there are about twenty televisions around you showing a match The Knicks is broadcast. The glasses of coke are big, huge, included free r. Although most New Yorkers come to Black Tap for the 'milkshakes'; gigantic, unparalleled works of sweet art that are to die for.
On the outside a cozy bistro as you often see in New York, on the inside a delicious Italian restaurant with the most photographed sign wall in Manhattan. There are three New York locations, the one in Soho at 265 Lafayette Street being a favorite.
There are restaurants, clubs, cafes and other spots on every 'best of-' list are mentioned. And often by the time we visit, they have already been exhausted and packed with tourists instead of nice locals. Café Select is an exception: well-known among NYC locals and tourists alike, it still lives up to its name. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, all delicious and well varied selection of dishes. Don't miss: eggs benedict swiss, the truffle burger and the quinoa salad. On weekends you can expect a queue, but then you have something. Plus: right in the middle of Soho, so you can always take a nice walk around the block.
You will find many vintage shops in the middle of Soho, around the corner maman. An uber-cute coffee shop and bakery with a combination of American and French cuisine. Walk through the narrow hall to the back, where you can enjoy your cup of coffee and lunch among all the hardworking locals. The sweet rolls here sell as uuuh, sweet rolls.
Bleeker Street is a popular street to walk from Soho to Meatpacking, or vice versa. And to pass by Beatnic (formerly By Chloe) to walk. The vegan fast food joint is immensely popular, and rightly so: the burgers are finger-licking good, vegan or not.
The Mercerie For a chic lunch in Soho, opt for the impressive French cuisine of chef Marie-Aude Rose. All beautiful tableware which you see there is by the way here for sale. You can thank us later.
Vesuvio Bakery The Italian bakery in New York. Guaranteed stress of choice, because: focaccias, ricotta cheesecake and panzarotti. And so much more. (That you can't say we didn't warn you.)
Altro Paradiso Another Italian in the heart of Soho, but with the heavier work; pastas in particular. And pasta that gets the approval of real Italians (the kind who actually live in Italy). And from us. But the first probably says a little more.
Il Buco and Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria Is it a market? Is it a restaurant? The sister of the popular Il Buco on Bond Street, the Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria around the corner is – you guessed it – both. When you enter you think: deli, but behind it is a cozy restaurant with delicious Italian dishes on the menu.
The smile Such an always-good place, which mainly locals know about. Tavernesque, thanks to its rustic atmosphere (in a good way). They serve healthy but delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes. And yes, with a smile. Otherwise they wouldn't do much justice to that name, would they?
Maybe not exactly on your route, but definitely worth the detour. Bee Zou Zou's (lots of velvet, wood, marble and mirrors), you will find influences from Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Jordan on your plate. Nom. The New York Post early 2022, the duck borek on the menu was proclaimed New York's best dish. If you go in the evening, move after dessert, hop, one floor up. There's Chez Zou, the cocktail bar.
Aussies on tour hooves, when in New York, not home sick to be thanks to Banters NYC in the always beautiful Greenwich. Decent coffee like they can almost only make in Australia and a brunch that is worth a visit in an attractive, super light and sunny (again: it's just Melbourne here) local. Nice atmosphere, genuinely friendly staff and, above all, incredibly delicious food.
The cozy Sel Rrose is a solid competitor of the oyster bar, which is very (very!) loved by the undersigned Maison premiere. Not least because you will find Sel Rrose (with 2 xr indeed) in the Lower East Side, a neighborhood that (please don't shoot me) beats Williamsburg as far as I'm concerned. The doors you enter through are pink (mining), the wine is pink (well) and the oysters are served for next to nothing during happy hour every day between 16.00:19.00 PM and XNUMX:XNUMX PM. Possibly with pink shrimps on the same silver platter, to maintain the atmosphere. Okay, that's not lunch, but it is a place you can race to immediately after lunch. The rest of the day, from breakfast with coffee to dinner, Sel Rrose is highly recommended: everything around you is beautiful (including the public), everything is delicious and the staff is excellent. .
Don't let the name fool you. A somewhat dark pub, which you would quickly walk past if you didn't take a second look inside. But thirty types of craft draft beers await you here, a pleasant audience and - quite surprisingly - delicious tapa snacks. So definitely walk in!
Ah, I liked this. On my own, with a book, for hours, not a rooster crowing (okay, a little after lunch when the place starts to empty). Small and friendly, with an incredibly tasty range of sandwiches and salads for the day. Be sure to do the shakshuka too! You get a simple salad on the side, as well as delicious home-baked bread. Just right.
(Ps. diagonally opposite I had my nails done – no recommended!)
We praise her for many years, 'our' restaurant Gemma in 'us' Bowery Hotel in the Bowery neighborhood we love so much in New York. Give us a nice set of tables, walls and people and happy we are. Restaurant Gem does that well, and as mentioned, is also located in The Bowery Hotel, a picture of a dark hotel where it is fantastic to stay even without an overnight stay, thanks to the crackling fireplace in the lobby. Oh, and both The Bowery and Gemma restaurant are secretly immensely popular among many entertainment/media moguls. And accompanying celebs. Probably because it is not a new novelty, but a new classic in the city. What to order? What not. Good for dinner, highly recommended for lunch, but since it is a hotel (so there is always going on, even in the early morning hours), also a great tip for an extensive breakfast.
Around the corner from Gramercy Park, near Union Square, you will find Friend of a Farmer, a with-your-legs-outside classic where you can expect a line for weekend brunch. Justifiably. Inside it is old-school cozy, including floral wallpaper. Creaking wooden stairs, mini table for two and classic, heavy lunch and brunch dishes in front of you, which will last you for the rest of the day.
NYC for the evenings is in the works. Curious now? On that list, among others Palma de Mallorca, bozu, Pig on Bleecker, Sunday In Brooklyn, the Spaniard bar, From Maria, Alta and Cata.
Do you remember the fantastic – you can't not go there – The Butcher's Daughter in the Nolita district yet? Around the corner from all the fun of the Lower East Side and a stone's throw from Soho (I think Nolita is one of the nicest NYC neighborhoods anyway). Well: still go there, do it. But if that doesn't suit you, you can now also go to the newest branch of The Butchers Daughter, near the Meatpacking District. Admittedly, I didn't like it as much here as the one on Kenmare Street, but still: it's not a party if you haven't been to The Butchers Daughter.
Ps. Around the corner (okay, kind of around the corner, but it's not really far). Calliope, an amazing interior and gift shop that you didn't see coming and where pop-ups are held regularly. Also pop in.
Rosemary's This is no small, blink-and-you'll-pass-it lunch spot. Rosemary's is a somewhat larger concept, in three locations in New York. So with more tables (read: more chance of a spot), and damn good Italian food to the recipes of the owner's Italian nut, Rosemary.
Palma de Mallorca We will remain in a Southern European atmosphere for a while. The owner couple of Palma have Italian and French roots and catered for New York's fashion and entertainment industry for many years. In Palma, nothing but fresh produce from the organic market and the nice living room atmosphere makes it a favorite among locals.
Pinto Garden Thai cuisine in the heart of the West Village, where all ingredients are purchased locally as much as possible. The highlight is the heated (covered) garden where you can sit all year round.
butchery A traditional French restaurant Slash steakhouse. The one in the West Village is housed in the former Circle Repertory Theater and that is reflected in the vibe. But the other branches (La Grande Boucherie!) are also impressive.
Okay, as a Dutch person you won't easily end up in New York for your first date, but if it does happen, go to epistrophy. An authentic Italian restaurant with seating areas like your grandmother used to have. A warm bath, so to speak. Epistrophy is located in, you wouldn't expect, Little Italy. To make it all even more fun: you can come here any time of the day. The ideal place to enjoy Italian bruschetta, a fresh salad or a divine pasta. Another important detail: the tiramisu is soooo delicious!
A classic of a favorite, Sullivan Street Bakery. This gem was founded in 1994 with baked goods based on Italian cuisine. In 2000, Sullivan moved to Hell's Kitchen and is now an indispensable place, although there are five locations in New York. For Italian bread, divine pizzas and… cake.
The name sounds like a party, and it is. The founders were inspired by the people of Japan while traveling. Back in New York they chased their dream ChaChaMatcha as a result. Fun fact: the name is derived from the word 'ocha', which means 'tea' in Japanese. And for a cup of tea, you've come to the right place. Combined with matcha pastries, you'll really feel like you're in a different world. Where? Somewhere in Japan, probably.
What almost no one knows is that through the lobby of Hotel Thompson you end up at a hidden burger bar, Burger Joint. In the shop covered with concert posters you can eat, according to many, the tastiest hamburger in Manhattan. Still have some budget? There is a beautiful nail salon in the basement of the hotel: there is hardly any city in the world where you can get a better (and cheaper) mani-pedi treatment.
Seamores The people of New York Meatball Shop are behind this concept: Seamores. Open for lunch and in the evenings, for the tastiest fishdishes (especially the tacos). There are several establishments and in principle they take reservations (but for large groups), which is good news for casual passers-by. They work with the best suppliers such as Dock to Dish, Greenpoint Fish & Lobster and Intelligentsia for coffee.
Bilao Not a design hotspot, but damn good Filipino food and a place that is mainly visited by locals - and kept a secret. Sorry, locals.
The migrant kitchen For lovers of both Arabic and Mexican flavors. Here it is exceptionally good to eat and do good. Because part of every meal is donated to New Yorkers in need. You have a plate, so does someone else.
On the website of Oliver Coffee the coffee house describes itself exactly as follows: 'a coffee shop', nothing else. But it does itself a bit of a disservice. Because yes, thanks to the sympathetic hatch in the wall where you can daily caffeine-fixed can achieve, it is mainly a coffee shop, but you can also score delicious fluffy croissants and the latest indie magazines inside (or read them at your leisure), and Oliver is known for its somewhat creative menu. Something with CBD oil specialty drinks.
Chick Chick At Chick Chick you eat vegetarian. Just kidding. It's all about chicken here. Korean Fried chicken and ramen to be precise, those are the main characters on the menu. According to some insiders the best in town. Supporting roles are for chicken sandwiches and salads.
Native Noodles Owner Amy Pryke started her business with a food truck in Queens, but now has this brick and mortar shop on the Upper West Side (Washington Heights to be precise) to sell its sought-after 'Singaporean' noodle dishes.
A well-known, but oh so nice place with an amazing view: Top of The Standard. With live jazz music, great views of the city and cocktails, you will feel like you are in another world. Be sure to take your nicest clothes out of the closet; Unfortunately, you cannot enter here in your jeans and sneakers.
Don't feel like doing all that fancy stuff, but I'd rather Deutsche songs and mugs of beer? Then dive the Biergarten at The Standard in, hidden under the High Line. Buy coins in advance and get (half) liters of beer, sausages & pretzels. And ping-pong until you drop. Also nice; At the end of September/beginning of October you can usually participate in the Munich – but New York-style – Oktoberfest madness.
This pleasant food market takes place twice a year (May/June and September/October). Several restaurants in the city are moving part of their stores to Worth Square (the heart of the historic Flatiron District) for a few weeks. In addition to tourists, you will also find many locals who come here during their lunch break. It is small and therefore there are not too many seats; Come by (during the week) for a late lunch or a drink and you are assured of a spot.
Can we be brief about it: oyster bar, floating on the water, breathtaking view of the New York skyline. We need to say no more. Okay, let's just make sure that you can also have an extensive lunch - because only oysters and alcohol around lunchtime is pretty much it.
Of all the pizzerias in New York, this has to be the best. Can be found in NoMad and Astor Place, where they collaborate with local artists (such as for making this photo, much more on their Instagram here) and musicians, to show the uniqueness of the neighborhood. As you walk from left to right along the counter, your pizza is prepared on the spot. Choose the ingredients you want, toppings and the sauce. Five minutes in the oven and voilà; it can hardly be fresher.
Smith has several locations in New York, one of which is in the middle of the NoMad district. A large, open space, which is of course packed during the weekend. It's worth waiting for a spot because you'll only find goodies on the menu here. And there are almost more staff walking around than there are people eating, so luckily you don't have to wait long for your food.
More tips on Manhattan? Of course we also have: Barts Boekje x Manhattan
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