For the uninitiated, gimbap is sort of like the Korean answer to Japanese sushi: the dish consists of cooked rice and various fillings rolled in dried seaweed and then sliced into biteable pieces.
As a European immigrant in New York City, I remember a time, at least 20 years ago, when American bread and pastries, bagels aside, felt nearly inedible. Sourdough was not a thing. Croissants or any kind of viennoiseries were a punchline. There were regional specialties, sure, but broadly speaking, bread culture in New York was bleak.
Those bagels are excellent: chewy yet airy, with a satisfyingly crisp crust. They're ideally sized for sandwiches, too, and that's the best way to order here. The eggs are always fluffy, and Rollin' is one of too-few bagel spots with Spam as a protein option.
Sonny's Corner has opened in the former home of beloved bar Pencil Factory, which shuttered last summer after 25 years in business. Sonny's hasn't messed too much with Pencil Factory's proven success: Its vibe, layout and interiors are quite similar to those of the previous business. Residents just seem happy the space has remained a bar, and one run by local business owners.
When Ceylon India Inn opened near Times Square in the early 1900s, the city's first South Asian restaurant quickly became a hub for New York's burgeoning community of desi (a term used to describe people of South Asian descent) dock workers, and students. More than a century later, there are more than 400 such restaurants across the five boroughs, enticing a far more diverse array of diners.
The caviar, uni, and egg dish has been in Akiyama's repertoire since he worked at the now-closed NYC restaurant Lan. It's presented as a rich chawanmushi, topped with generous uni and caviar. The nigiri course comes with three pieces, including the aori aka, in which the bigfin reed squid is chopped and intricately layered; the texture was far creamier than I ever expected squid to be.
The Tusk Bar exudes old-guard Manhattan élán-the sort of room that could have doubled as a private clubhouse for the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers. The name is a wink to the Gilded Age fascination with exotic taxidermy, and the polished brass trim, elegant marble counter, and stuffed ostrich overlooking the salon would make any louche Robber Baron chortle into his Champagne flute.
The New York City restaurant and bar where Humphrey Bogart once held court closed in December 2020. A casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 21 Club enjoyed a remarkable 90-year run before it shuttered for good. During its mid-20th-century heyday, the iconic Manhattan venue was one of film legend Humphrey Bogart's favorite haunts.
With the debut of "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" on FX, Ryan Murphy has reignited a full-blown fascination with 1990s New York; the nightlife, the fashion, the downtown lofts and the restaurants that are still around 30 years later. Murphy even makes smoking cigarettes look classy and cool.
Every time I go a couple years without a home base here, I feel a little off-center. Though she's based in Los Angeles, she's almost always had a place somewhere in Manhattan - Gramercy, King Street, a grimy Chelsea loft with ex-husband Chris Robinson (a real-estate memory that delights her when I bring it up midway through our lunch).
What once began as a shared meal in Tokyo during the pandemic has become a cultural exchange. This is a dialogue between Tokyo and New York told through dough, fire, and simplicity. Long before the residency was even announced, the foundation for it had already begun in Tokyo.
The sakura raspberry cream donut ($8), which starts with the brand's signature airy dough. It's filled with raspberry mousse and raspberry jelly, then dipped in sakura-infused white chocolate for a creamy, floral finish. A dusting of sakura powder and crunchy dried raspberries adds texture, while a fresh raspberry on top delivers a bright, tart pop.
Sometimes, all you really want is a cheap beer and a shot or a simple, strong highball that may or may not arrive in a plastic cup. That's where the beloved dive bar comes in. And NYC is practically crawling with dive bars - or spots that deliver on the promise of a dive bar, even if whether or not they're true 'dives' is up for debate.
At Smorgasburg, we've always believed that food is a gateway to culture and Six Coasts brings that to life in its own vibrant and unique way. The space will bring together chefs, music and global coastal traditions against the backdrop of New York Harbor.
Start downtown, where the couple essentially built their unofficial dining circuit. The Odeon, the red-banquette brasserie that has anchored West Broadway since 1980, was a go-to for date nights and dramatic reunions alike. It's easy to picture them sliding into a corner booth, ordering burgers or something French-leaning and lingering over drinks. Even today, it remains one of the easiest ways to channel that particular downtown cool.
I made a pastry cream with saffron, and bloomed it in the milk for the pastry cream - no vanilla, because we really want the saffron to shine brightly. I decided to make white chocolate tempered with saffron, which I blended and dipped the pastry into, which creates that nice little crunch. It's very saffron-forward, but the white chocolate helps break it up.
How, exactly, were these rolls constructed at Suka Sushi, the relatively new eatery in NoMad at 61 Lexington Avenue? What's in them? Is soy sauce part of the experience? Can they really be eaten on the go, or do they require the kind of gastronomic pyrotechnics that doom a trend to obscurity? Of course, we had to try them for ourselves.
Photo: Courtesy of Tokuyamatcha Last week, we brought back "Cheap Eats," a list of singular, wonderful foods that all cost, even in this era of ballooning expenses, $17 or less. One of the goals, as we wrote, was to celebrate the work that goes into cooking food for all New Yorkers. Of course, we also wanted to give readers a list of amazing things to eat.
Forget the influencers. From wood-fired pasta in Chelsea to the city's top-ranked pizza, these 5 Yelp-vetted spots are actually worth your family's time and money. New Yorkers want food that delivers. These five local favorites made Yelp's prestigious list and offer great vibes for families: Ci Siamo (Chelsea): High-end wood-fired Italian that's surprisingly spacious for big family dinners. L'Industrie Pizzeria (Williamsburg): The #27 restaurant in the country, perfect for a quick slice near the park.
.jpg)