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.
Whether we're checking out (and adding the highlights to the ) or hitting up classics that have been around since before BART broke ground, we do a lot of eating. These are the dishes that stand out from the rest-the ones where we'd spend our own money on our off nights, and that you should go get for yourself, immediately.
Flip the script on the usual romantic dinner obligation at Tanzie's, where spicy Thai lava eggs bring the heat, but brunch hours keep it casual. For a dash of fancy, book a reservation for their prix fixe option. For another just-another-day-date option, grab a beer and some seafood comfort food at Sailing Goat. The Richmond hotspot has live music, great views, and a crowd-pleasing menu for day and night noshing, plus a walk-in only policy ideal for last-minute decision makers. Test the romance waters by timing your visit to the sunset. If there's a wait for a table, you can also check out the collection of former Burning Man art pieces at the Point San Pablo Harbor.
And it makes sense, as Indian culture and cuisine are alive and well in the city - Washington is one of the top states of residence for Indian immigrants, and Seattle itself is among the U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest number of Indian-Americans. Meanwhile, the state offers great growing conditions for Indian staples such as rice, lentils, chickpeas, eggplant, okra, onions, peas, potatoes, and much more.
There's something magical about a really well-done buffet, and we're not even talking about the chance to pile all your favorites on a single plate. It's also a great way to try new dishes without making a commitment to ordering something off a regular menu that you might not love, and we're fans of anything that leads us to new foods.
Connoisseurs know that there's more to making a great BBQ sandwich than just piling some meat on a roll. Take pulled pork, for example. There are a number of ingredients that will seriously upgrade your pulled pork sandwich, from pickled red onions to a dash of apple cider vinegar. It makes sense that the professional pitmasters know all of these tricks, and more. That, however, brings up the question: Who's doing it the best?
Beginning in the 1980s, when figures like Wolfgang Puck and Marco Pierre White ushered in the era of the rock star chef, we've taken an outsize interest in what chefs eat when they're off duty. Anthony Bourdain turned this notion into a second career, of course, and countless shows during the age of peak food TV, from Chef's Table to Ugly Delicious, have cast an eye toward where cooks choose to eat when they're not in the kitchen,
Burgess is the 34-year-old host of Topjaw, a small but mighty internet chatshow with chefs and foodies' that, for better or worse, has changed the way Londoners and beyond eat out. Launched in 2023 with his friend Will Warr, who is also Prince and Princess of Wales's videographer (he made Kate's cancer statement video), it has now grown to almost a million followers.
Fine dining and fast food definitely have their place in the foodie world, but there's nothing that hits quite like one of those classic comfort food dishes. We'd go as far as to argue that there's something about a perfectly-made, pillowy, flavorful meatball that makes them kind of the backbone of comfort foods. Whether they're served up in a rustic Italian wedding soup or a classic Swedish meatball dish that's perfect for when the weather starts turning cold, we'll never say no.
