WHAT & WHERE to EAT in NEW YORK CITY
EATERS GUIDE to NEW YORK
RAO'S
"It's Great,but You Can't Get In" !!!
JOHN'S of 12th STREET
OLD SCHOOL ITALIAN
"RED SAUCE JOINT"
CHINATOWN
NEW YORK
What to eat in New York? It's one of the Worlds Great Cities, if not the Greatest City of All?
Besides being the capital of many things and many business sectors, New York is known as one of the Worlds Great Food Cities, with some Great Restaurants. We've got Great Italian Food, Chinese, Japanese Sushi, Korean BBQ, Indian Food Restaurants, Pizza, Bagles, and Pastrami. Those last 3 food items mentioned are New York's most iconic of all New York Food Eats, with Pastrami, Bagels, and Pizza. When you think of Iconic New York Foods, most people will think of these 3, along with maybe Hot Dogs as well. When it comes to Hot Dogs, New York doesn't really have a great Hot Dog selection other than Nathan's in Coney ISland, brooklyn New York, and Gray's Papaya Hot Dogs, which sadly, has recently close down.
Now back to Bagels, Pizza, and Pastrami. In these 3 departments, New York excels. We've got great Pastrami at our famed Jewish Delis of Katz's Deli on Houston Street in New York's Lower East Side.
Katz has great Pastrami, Brislet, and Corned Beef Sandwiches, and a good Hot Dog too. They also have a great old slogan that popped up during World War II, in "Send a Salami to Your Boy in The Army" for their Kosher Jewish Beef Salami.
"SEND a SALAMI to YOUR BOY in The AMRY"
KATZ DELI
JEWISH DELIS - PASTRAMI CORNED BEEF & MATZAH BALL SOUP
New York has lost two Great Jewish Delis in recent years when The Stahe Deli and the famed Carnegie Deli closed in recent years. The loss of these two great old Jewish Delis, was a great blow to the New York Food and Restaurant Scene, but sadly they are gone, and there's nothing to be done.
About 20 years ago, we lost what in my opinion (quality & tastewise) was bar far the best Jewish Deli in all New York with the most tasty Pastrami Sandwich of them all, was The 2nd Avenue Deli, which was on 2nd Avenue at East 10th Street. On March 5th 1996 Abe Lebewohl, the owner of The
2nd Avenue Deli was savagely murdered bys some no good piece of shi_ while making a early morning / night deposit at The NatWest Bank on 2nd Avenue. The no good bastard who shot Mr. Lebewohl (aged 64), shot him in the head 1 time and in the stomach. Lebewohl died at Bellevue Hospital at 9:40 AM. A few years later. Not long afterwards The 2nd Avenue Deli closed.
The 2nd Avenue Deli re-opened a few years later in Gramercy Park, but it's not the same without Abie and not on 2nd Avenue in the Lower Easr Side of New York.
Though Jewish Delis and New York Pastrami has lost a bit of their luster without the famed
Carnegie Deli and Abe Lebewohl, there still remains some good Pastrami in New York, at Sarge's Deli on 3rd Ave in Gramercy Park, The Pastrami Queen on Lexington Avenue UES of New York, Ben's on West 38th Street, and PJ Bernsteins.
BAGELS
New York is known for its Bagels. Bagels are a great Breakfast item on the go, as well as the base for all kinds of Sandwiches. They are best with a smear of Cream Cheese. Plain Cream Cheese is best, but there are many different flavored ones to choose from, like : Scallion Cream Cheese, and Cream Cheese flavored with Smoked Salmon and other varieties as well. A Bagel with Cream Cheese and Lox is the ultimate, if you've got the cash. My personal favorite is an Everything Bagel with plain Cream Cheese from Bob's Bagels on University Place in Greenwich Village, or Bagles on The Square on Carmine Street.
Famous Bagel Joints : Kossar's Bagels & Bialys on Grand Street, Muray's Bagels 6th Ave Greenwich Village, Bob's Bagels, Zabar's on Broadway on New York's Upper West Side, and Zecuker's Bagels & Smoked Fish on Lexington Avenue near the Chrysler Building.
Russ & Daughters for New York's Best Smoked Fish, Bagels, Lox, Smoked Sabel and Salmon.
PIZZA
John's of Bleecker Street Pizzeria
NEW YORK PIZZA
When it comes to Pizza, New York is King. Not only is New York America's Greatest City for Pizza, it also happens to be one of the World's Great Pizza Cities of them all, including Naples Italy. Chicago can't even come close. Some even feel as thouhg New York might have the Best Pizza in the World, including and beating out Naples (Napoli) Italy, for The WOrld's Best Pizza. "We agree" !
Does New York make the World's Best Pizza? Believe it or not, the answer is Yes. Yes beelieve it or not, New York may be the Pizza Capital of the World, when it comes to making the Worlds Best Pizza. "Are you insane?" some may say. Not not really, but I get people thinking this, if anyone makes the claim that New York makes the Best Pizza in the World, and that includes Napoli, and all of Italy, in this said statement.
Well everyone knows that New York makes the Best Pizza in all of America. That's a fact. You can forget about Chicago, New Haven, and Pizza Bianco in Phoenix, everyone knows New York Pizza is the best, from a couple thousand regular Pizza Joints turning out great Pizza from gas fired ovens, to the awesome historic Pizzerias like; Lombardi's, Johns' of Bleecker Street, Patsy's Pizzeria in East Harlem. and Tottono's on Neptune Avenue, Coney Island, all of these with coal firened pizza ovens, to wonderful spots that make traditional Neapolitan Pizza in Wood Burning ovens, at places like Bella Blu on Lexington Avenue, Motorino, and Trattoria Gigino in Tribeca, New York collectively may very well be the spot that makes the World's Best Pizza. "I kid you not."
I love Italy and Naples and have numerous wonderful Pizzas, but I have often had dissapointing ones as well, as in the case of Pizzeria di Matteo in Napoli, which many consider one of the World's best pizzerias, making some of the World's Best Pizza. "Not" !!! No way. This and some other places in Naples, Italy, do not really turn out great Pizza. Sometimes yes as in the case of Da Marino Trattoria / Pizzeria which makes amazing Pizza that lives up to the moniker of Best in The World. The Pizza that I've had at Da Marino is among the nest Pizza I have ever eaten anywhere, and for me, along with Tutino Pizzeria. Their Pizza is amazing, and one of the best in Naples, and the World.
The SOHO SQUARE
The Soho Square
PRINCE STREET PIZZA
"AMAZING" !!!
THE BEST PIZZA I HAVE EVER EATEN
THESE ARE MY FAVORITES of ALL TIME
DiFARA PIZZA ... Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York
RISTORANTE PIZZERIA MARINO, Naples, Italy
JOHN'S PIZZERIA , Bleecker Street, New York NY
L'ARCHETTO PIZZERIA, Salerno, Italy
TUTINO PIZZERIA, Via Cesare
PRINCE STREET PIZZA, Spring Street, NY .. "The Soho Square with Pepperoni is Amazing !"
TOTTONO'S, Neptune Avenue, Coney Island, Brooklyn NY
L&B SPUMONI GARDENS, Brooklyn, NY
BELLA BLU, Lexington Avenue, New York NY.. A Secret Gem making "Some of NYC Best Pizza"
La LANTERNA, Greenwich Village NY .... "The Potato Onion Pizza is Amazing"
The Above LIST is not in any particular order. I've eaten Pizza in the Best Places in the World, including Naples, Sicily, Rome, Salerno, The Amalfi Coast, and New York. These are the best Pizzas I've ever eaten.
TRIBUTE to DOMONIC DeMARCO
The Late Great DOM DeMARCO
RIP
Is a Religious Experience !!!
"Yes it is" !!!
Much has been said of the now famed Pizzeria (DiFarra Pizza) on Avenue J in Brooklyn, New York the Capital of Thee Best Pizza in the whole United States of America, bar-none, even Manhattan. Brooklyn lays claim to the Top two Pizzerias in the country, the top of the list 1 and 2, number 1, The Best and number 2, the second best. Well no, I don’t know if I should put it that way, as it sound s as one is better than the other, which is not ht e case, as they are both equally good, equally Great and equally the Best Pizza and the Best Pizzerias in the United States, though they are are little different than one another. The Pizza at both Totonno’s on Neptune Avenue in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York and Di Farra Pizza on Avenue J in Brooklyn are both otherworldly specimens of some the Finest Pizza on other and the Undisputed Best Pizza in America.
Excerted from "Eating Pizza at DeFarra Pizza is a Religous Experinece"
DBZ
ITALIAN RESTAURANTS
Some of The BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANTS in NYC
Not in Any Paricular Order "They're All Great"
Bar Pitti
Greenwich Village
Bar Pitti
Bar Pitti
Where Friends & Family Eat Some of New York's Best Italian Food
The NEON SIGN
MIONTE'S TRATTORIA
GREENWICH VILLAGE
Chef Pietro Mosconi
From PIACENZA, Italy
The Man Behind MONTE'S
Chef Pietro Mosconi is a Real Italian Chef. We say this, meaning that he was born and raised in Emelia Romagna, Italy, home of Parmigiana Reggiano Cheese, Prosciutto di Parma, Ragu Bolognese, Tortellini en Brodo, and Tortoloni Panna, to name but a few monumental food items of thea rea where Chef Pietro was born and raised, and Pietro werves them all. He makes the tastiest fressh homemade pasta dishes in all of New York, including : Lasagma Bolognese, Canneloni,
Paglia Fieno (Straw & Hay Pasta), Gnocchi, and Fettuccine Bolognese to name a few of the great dishes on Pietro's menu.
Monte's is what is known as an Old School Italian Red Sauce Joint, of which there are very few left in New York City. These are without question the best Italian Restaurant experience to be had in New York, bar none, in places like Monte's and John's of 12th Street on East 12th Street, on the other side of town.
Monte's Trattoria has been around Since 1918, when the Monteverde Family first opened the place. It's still there on Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village, NY, and still going strong under the guidance of Chef Pietro Mosconi, and his son Peter Mosconi, the General Manager, who run sthe front of the house, and along with his father Pietro, give their customers the warmest welcome you are likely to so at any restaurant in all of New York. This is one of the reasons, along with a wonderful ambiance, excellent service, and great food, Monte's is always busy and very sucessful, as the place is so warm and welcoming. There are many regulars, both local and from all over teh country and around the World. All the out of town regulars, always make Monte's a stop on their itinerary whenever in New York.
So if you've never been to Monte's, one of New York's Best and coolest Italian restaurants of them all, go, and maybe you'll become a regualar too. And don't foregt to get their Tira Mi Su. "It's the Best in Town."
DBZ
CIPRIANI DOWNTOWN
Cipriani Downtown
Soho, New York
Raviolis at CIPRIANI
Inside CIPRIANI DONWTOWN
Great Artwork
It may be Eurotrash Central, but that doesn't stop it from being one of New York's Best
Italian Restaurants, serving the same amazing Italian Food you get at their famed father restaurant Harry's Bar, Venice, Italy.
If you're dining at a Cipriani Restaurant anywhere in the World, whether it's : the original Harry's Bar, Venice, Nonte Carlo, Hong Kong, Miami, or New York, the food is the same. If you're a Chef at Hary's Bar (Venice), or any Cipriani restaurant, no matter where it is, you can't make your own food, but the food that has always been served at Harry's Bar in Venice, where Giuseppe Cipriani opened Harry's Bar in 1933, serving great Italian Food and Cocktails. The food never changes. It's always great, and consistenly so. If you take a job as the Executive Chef at a Cipriani restaurant, you must make the Cipriani Dishes according to the recipes as they were developed by the Cipriani family and the first chef of Harry's Bar, Venice. Make them tasty, make them the same as they have alway been made, and be consistant.
I always tell people that Harry's Bar is my favorit restaurant in the World, and it is, "I Love."
And I Love it for the great feeling I get when I'm there. I love the food, the wine and cocktails, the ambiance, the feel of the place and the top notch service. It's not cheap, but it's worth it.
Carpacio was invented at Harry's Bar in Venice, and so was the Bellini Cocktail. other famous dishes that are always on the menu are : Taglierlini Gratinatee, Calves Liver, Pasta Bolognese. These dishes are always tasty, and always the same, "Delicious."
If you want a great Italian dining experience in New York, go to Cipriani Downtown, you're sure to have a good time.
Basta !
The LEMON MERINGUE PIE
At CIPRIANI
"You can't believe how Damn Good it is" !!!
"It's AMAZING" !!!!
JOHN'S of 12th STREET
CLASSIC NEW YORK RED SAUCE JOINT
SINCE 1908
Yes John's is a Classic Old School Italian New York "Red Sauce Joint" and we Love it. We love it for it's great ambiance, atomosphere, history, Classic New York Italian Food, and just for being there, and still operating. Most people don't releive itit, but places like John's Italian Restaurant on East 12th Street, is what I call a "Living Museum" .. Yes it is. It's an Old School Italian Restaurant that you do what people did 100 years ago. It was a much different time back then. No TV, no Celphones, no Internet. This neighborhood where this great old Italian restaurant John's is still in operation was pretty much an Italian neighborhood, with a few Ukrainians mixed in. Not just Italian, but primarily Sicilians. Sicilians who came to this neighborhood on the Lower East Side of New York. It's now known as the East Village. Sicilian families immigrated to the neighborhood. One such family were the Luciano's of Lercara Friddi, Sicily. Luciano's you ask? Yes that Luciano. None other than Charle's "Lucky" Luciano, his mother Roselia, father Antonio, and Salavatore's 4 siblings, settled on East 10th Street in 1906. Salvatore Luciano aka Charle's "Lucky" Luciano would go on to become head of the Genovese Crime Family, and most powerful Mob Boss in all of America. He often ate at John's. No doubt Pasta Fagioli, Eggplant, and Maccerhoni Pasta.
Well enough of all that Luciano stuff. Lets get back to John's. This restuarant is one of only a handful left of New York's beloved Old School Restaurants that remain. There's Rao's up in East Harlem, Monte's Trattoria in Greenwich Village, Bamonte's in Williamsburg, and just a few more. Sadly, Lanza's, around the block from John's on 1st Avenue, and was over 100 Years Old closed a few years ago. It was a tragic loss, as was the 100 Year Old plus Sicilian Pastry Shop "DeRoberti's" next to Lanza's. All these places were Mafi strongholds back in the day.
If you go to John's these days, you will find a great atosmosphere of this 112 year old relic, that has a decor that is still intact from 1908. It's got the same 114 year old tile floor and murals of iconic Italian locals, suc as : Naples, Pizza, Rome, and Venice, Italy. They still have the same old bar were gangsters downed shots of Anisette, Amaro, and glasses of Chianti.
During Prohibition., the restaurant operated a Speakeasy in an apartment on the 2nd Floor of the building.
John's serves the usual suspects of any good Italian New York Red Sauce Joints, with dishes like : Baked Clams Oreganata, Calms Posillipo (Siantra's Favorite), Speedino alla Romano, Stracitella Soup, Manicotti, Canneloni, Spaghetti Meatballs or Vongole, Chicken Parm, Eggplant, and Veal Parmigiano. No place in all of New York makes Speedino quite like John's, it's amazing. They excel at making Baked Clams, and the best plate of Spaghetti Carbonara in all of New York. Go and check it out. You'll be glad you do.
"Basta" !!!
DBZ
SUNDAY SAUCE
WHEN ITALIAN-AMERICANS EAT
NONNA BELLINO'S COOKBOOK
RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA
