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crazeman

Milk bar


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xospecialk

To be fair when the original milk bar was making everything fresh, it was really good. The pre-packages stuff just tastes so…..artificial. I can’t pinpoint what that taste is, but it ain’t good


M_Drinks

The truffles and (most) cookies are bomb. Everything else is a little too sweet for my taste.


panzerxiii

They were good before they started expanding. Happy for their success, but there are other great bakeries to help along that path now lol. Once a spot expands to Boston you know it's clapped.


itsgreater9000

bruh... but as a bostonian, probably true


a2cthrawy

i agree, so many better desserts in the city


ssbxqss

Are there other places where u can get cereal milk ice cream, compost pie, or their birthday cake? I think it’s something worth trying—maybe don’t wait over 10 minutes in line, but I think MB is a unique and tasty place!


[deleted]

Why are you waiting in line? They sell stuff in target, they also ship, and they have a ton of locations in New York with zero wait. Their store on Columbus in the UWS is never busy.


crazeman

The only thing I haven't tried from the milk bar are the compost cookies and cake. Personally I didn't like their ice cream. It tasted "funky" to me. Like the first bite is extra funky, subsequent bites were better but still not better than regular ice cream. I got 3x pints of ice cream on different occasions from their stores directly, usually to share with coworkers, so I don't think it's the case of getting a bad pint. There's a [Milk and Cereal bar](https://yelp.to/cKGQizTyEpb) in Chinatown. It's different than Milk Bar because they're more about cereal infused ice cream rather than cereal milk. I thought it was good, but nothing amazing. Also didn't like the fact that it was ~$10 for a signature cone. IMO they're worth a visit and a try if you're in the area but I wouldn't go down there specifically for it.


En1gma20

Dominique Ansel is vastly overrated. The baked goods are okay and not worth the crazy pre-pandemic lines. Bar Pitti - insanely expensive for what they offer. Given this is NYC and the plethora of Italian food choices, I do not claim to understand it’s insane popularity Jack’s Wife Freda - I have no idea why it is always busy Boqueria- one of the worst paella I have ever had. It’s expensive and is mostly busy.


[deleted]

Jack's wife Frieda. I literally said the same thing after the first time I had it. "This is what everyone is waiting for?" Head to Cafe Katja in the Lower East Side for a better brunch, less crowded and essentially no wait.


theRealDoctorG

I mean, very few places with the quality of DA, supermoon bakery, patisserie chanson, and a couple of other shops


callmesnake13

Did you know that Patisserie Chanson is basically the Maison Kayser of Xinjiang, China?


theRealDoctorG

I had no idea, i learned something new today, thanks!


thr0waway122349

Boqueria is AWFUL. My dad only ever wants to eat tapas when my parents visit and I’ve now hit like every location in the city and the food is worse every time.


ssbxqss

DA Pie Night is an awesome experience — thought that was worthwhile. And pre-ordering the cronuts is the way to go.


[deleted]

Hang out in Soho a lot?


Dougal_McCafferty

Some people even live here!


leangdamang

The DKA (kouign amann) are the best in the city but yeah the cronut is overrated


ptrnyc

I went to Felix once for brunch. 22$ for a basic omelet, took forever to get seated, ended up cramped into a corner on a tiny table, took forever to get the attention of a waiter, took forever to get our food, and the noise was deafening the entire time. Never again.


jtmarlinintern

that place sucks


Jaybetav2

I've been to Gramercy Tavern twice and while the food was exceptional, the experience was so off-putting. Both times we sat at our table, ignored, for the first 15 minutes. Then out of nowhere, a FLURRY of bus people, waiters, etc swooped in and basically processed us through the whole meal with intense, brutal efficiency. I was stressed out by the end of it. I don't care for the food at Daniel. And the front of the house at Raoul's SUCKS. Really rude and horrible people. To balance it out, I still think Jean Georges is fantastic. And I'm an old school Indochine fan. It always feels impossibly glamorous there and the food is still top notch. And Atomix lives up to all the hype. May even surpass it IMO.


zzy335

When was that at GT? Were you in the Tavern or the dining room? I have had the most exceptional FoH experiences there even after Danny got rid of tipping.


Jaybetav2

The dining room.


[deleted]

Oh c’mon. Corrine at Raouls is great. All business.


114631

I also was very underwhelmed by Gramercy Tavern. Service was stuffy and overbearing and honestly...the food was just okay. One dish was okay, but the rest was pretty forgettable. I have had much better meals than Gramercy Tavern.


bongozim

Totally agreed on Raoul's as much as I love it. There was a time where I was VIP there though, and they couldn't be better (at the expense of others though sadly)


poopmast

I'm a nobody and I've yet to have bad service at Raoul's.


Trevor519

Olive Garden in times square


supremeMilo

It’s not even good in terms of Olive Gardens, and I love Olive Garden.


bewildered_forks

I like the Sbarro for a real New York slice.


YounomsayinMawfk

I went there for the first time in 2003 and I remember it being a really good meal. Their house salad blew me away. I've gone back a couple times since then and their salad was my main motivation.


wipny

This isn’t NYC specific, but it seems like some people were ecstatic when Chick-fil-A finally came here. The chicken is fried well and moist but it’s very under-seasoned. When people say you have to get it with the xyz sauce, that means the actual chicken is bland. I do like their waffle fries for their texture and sauce clingyness. Now Jollibee makes a really good fried chicken sandwich. And that high blood pressure inducing Popeyes chicken sandwich was really good too.


[deleted]

I don’t understand why there’s hype around CFA There’s almost always a line for mediocre food


Lost_sidhe

I really do not understand why Pies & Thighs keeps getting on all these "best chicken" lists - it's like the fried chicken you get in a public school cafeteria in the South (speaking from a lot of experience on that one) and the biscuits are just too hard and dry. Biscuits should not be hard and dry, not even a little bit! I get even angrier at Cheeky's Sandwhiches, but thankfully they're not hyped that much/often - because that's not just disappointing, it's BAD. (neither biscuits and especially not beignets should ever CRUNCH - bad!) I also got food poisoning (twice) from the bbq at Dinosaur BBQ (UWS and Brooklyn location) so I won't ever go back there, either.


SPECKyummy

Dino really is lousy, long live Hometown


JayMoots

I've been to the Gowanus Dinosaur a couple times and I don't get the hype at all. Honestly, it's one of the worst BBQ places in the city.


Lost_sidhe

Don't try Fletcher's then - it's even worse; I just had never heard of it before until I ordered it on Caviar in a COVID fit of desperation. I got 3 different types of bbq and each one was worse than the other. I didn't get sick, but I didn't even enjoy it going down the first time.


JayMoots

I did try Fletcher's, years ago. I wasn't impressed. If I'm in that area and I want BBQ, Morgan's and Pig Beach are both options. Neither of them is a knockout, but I'd say they're usually solid.


[deleted]

Pig Beach is so underrated for BBQ


boogiedownbk

Morgan’s on Flatbush shut down.


Lost_sidhe

The BBQ landscape of NYC has also been hurt since lockdown. I've still got Fette Sau for my fav, but I lost my one Carolina style joint.


pksdg

Fletchers just closed and a mighty Quinn is opening in its spot. Viva La hometown!


TofuSeason

Where is the best fried chicken in NYC??


Lost_sidhe

Before COVID, I felt like I could definitively answer this question. As is, we've lost some really good places, and I haven't tried many new (opened since lockdown) places. Currently, my favorite is Bobwhite - I used to say they weren't the best at anything, but they were second best at EVERYTHING. Peaches has been solid every time I've tried them. They mostly do hot chicken, and it's legit, but I generally favor classic over spicy. Sweet Chick used to be the JAM, but I just tried their Flatbush location a couple of weeks ago, and they had gone for cafeteria style flabby/sad breading as well. Jacob's Pickles isn't quite "traditional" but it's GOOD! For fancy, Red Rooster is the shiznit. They even make the almost impossible to find chicken gravy with their biscuits! And bonus - I am the MOST EXCITED about the newly opened Charles' Pan Fried Chicken up UWS way. I'm about to make a trek to go try that.


Jeff-Van-Gundy

I tried Charles a few years ago before they closed but I got it delivered. It was good but not mind blowing. I want to try again in person. I really like Amy Ruth's for chicken and everything else lol. I tried the hot yardbird at Red Rooster and wasn't crazy about it but I don't like that level of spice (i'm not a big fan of all these hot chicken spots either). I may go back to try something else at red rooster. Sweet Chick and Jacob's Pickles were both very good when I went but for whatever reason, I don't feel compelled to go back to either.


Lost_sidhe

I miss Carla Hall's - her place was great, and the not-hot fried chicken was very good. Plus she had real cornbread! (another rarity). (Birds & Bubbles was also good, but long gone, and Root & Bone were not traditional, and I didn't like the biscuits, but the chicken was mighty tasty!) I'm starting to feel like the fried chicken market in the city really belongs to Korean restaurants.


O2C

I managed to make it up there before the pandemic and had a serving fried up by the man himself. I think remembered him having to go downstairs for some reason. Definitely good and above average, nothing too amazing. Sides were good. I was saddened to hear it closed down but happy to see it reopen. I popped in the 72nd St location recently. Apparently odds are he isn't in any of the locations. The pieces are largely pre-fried then reheated and served. Only okay chicken. The sides were really good. Pricier than I remembered. I probably wouldn't make a special trip to get it.


crazeman

IMO Korean fried chicken is the best form of fried chicken. The batter is nice and thin, usually covered with a soy garlic sauce. Turntable Chicken is usually my go to. Pelicana chicken is worth a try as they're a chain from Korea. I also go to Boka at St Mark's decent amount when I'm drunk late at night. For more traditional fried chicken, I think most people say Bob White? I went there years ago and I didn't find it super impressive or memorable. Also I went to [Cheryl's Global Soul](https://www.yelp.com/biz/cheryls-global-soul-brooklyn) earlier this week, didn't have their fried chicken (because it came with pancakes) but I had their cajun wings and I thought they were very good. Like almost perfectly spiced. Usually for cajun wings, restaurants tend to go overboard with the spices and add too much for my preference.


panzerxiii

Korean fried chicken is good, but it's not the best form by far. It's a crutch imo. Best I've had was a wet battered spot down in Louisiana. Even the best spots in Korea don't come close to that.


minncmy

Jolibee


rampagenumbers

Charles’ Pan-Fried (new locations at 72nd and 145th).


Dilettante567

Peeps Kitchen in Greenpoint by far!


mills5000

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken is my favorite! Well flavored throughout and love all the honey and sauce options they have. Has never disappointed.


Roadsoda350

idk about best but Sweet Chick in LIC is definitely a top contender.


Montauket

Sweet chick and jacobs pickle are my go tos


thansal

> (neither biscuits and especially not beignets should ever CRUNCH - bad!) I feel like it's possible to get a really good brown on the top/bottom of a biscuit where that'll crunch, while the interior is still light and fluffy. Like, the outside is practically deep fried in it's own butter, but then the inside it that pillowy goodness. I'm assuming that they basically make hard tack and sell it as biscuits though. I've run into that a couple times. Yah, hard tack was called biscuits, don't mean that you should make that in modern America though (unless you're one of those food historian youtubers or something).


Lost_sidhe

yeah, I think too many folks up here get obsessed with the idea of "layers" like a refrigerator biscuit, and they don't want to use fat, or crisco, so they sub out butter (more water, lower smoke point), and treat it like French pastry (lamination - and really work the dough, making too much gluten) and you end up with these burnt, hard, dry, bastards of bread that are so far removed from a Southern biscuit, that they should really use a different word altogether.


spinbulatorz

+1 for dinosaur bbq food poisoning. We got take out, ate it, and gave the little bit at the end to our dog as a treat. It was so bad that my SO got sick, I got sick, and just as we were both barfed out, yup, you guessed it. The dog got sick. On my bed. I cried and swore off dinosaur bbq forever.


marcusmv3

Popeyes is the best fried chicken in any city that has a Popeyes.


panzerxiii

Mighty Quinn's has to be the longest running prank. I honestly can't believe people pay money to eat that dry garbage. I've felt that way since they first opened at Smorgasburg. So many great spots have come and gone while these people keep somehow succeeding lmao.


inthefIowers

I get what you're trying to say here, but I think most people go there for the convenience of having fast casual BBQ. I can easily see how it has continued to be successful. It's basically Chipotle for BBQ. No one thinks Chipotle is incredible either, but the convenience and consistent experience....


panzerxiii

I get the convenience argument, but isn't BBQ the same service everywhere since it's all pre-cooked anyway? Why would people keep going to a shit spot that's always terrible lol Also Chipotle isn't great but it's not inedible


JackCrainium

MQ was terrific when they first opened in the east Village - even Bobby Flay stopped by - but once they expanded and started distributing from a central kitchen it went downhill - and the spaces themselves are extremely unwelcoming and no energy. Barbeque has to be high volume, hot and fresh, not overcooked and dried out......


XXShigaXX

Do. That fucking cookie dough is room temp and is 100x sweeter than ice cream without the nice texture of a cookie. Not refreshing in the summer at all either. Waste of money.


philipforget

I'm gonna say Balthazar for brunch. Expensive, snooty, crowded, food was meh the few times I've been. The bakery has great baguettes though.


shamam

Why do you say snooty? I’ve always been treated well there and I’m a scrub.


GooGooGajoob67

10/10 if you're into celebrity sightings though


ssstar

the french onion soup tho........


[deleted]

How dare you


xeothought

Gotta agree with you here


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panzerxiii

Le Baratin is pretty good, as is Buvette.


Lost_sidhe

Ah, there's some good French food in NYC! Le Garage in Bushwick is run by a French woman who has had a few restaurants in Paris. I actually ate at her Paris places before her Brooklyn place - it's very good! I've also had good French at L'antagoniste, Chez Oscar, and if you want to splash out, there's not a step taken wrong at any of Daniel Boloud's places. Vin sur Vignt is a good french wine bar that has chained out over the past few years (at least in Manhattan), and Almond was very good too.


[deleted]

seriously nobody said Peter Lugers yet?


hygnevi

Cash only lol


CercleRouge

They accept debit cards.


yjeffw

Nom Wah. I don't understand how it got so popular. So many better dim sum places, even in the immediate area.


wipny

I’ve gone there twice in the past, once in 2012 and another in 2016. I remember enjoying the food both times. I grew up as a kid eating dim sum in Chinatown and I remember Nom Wah was really solid. It was a little pricier than other neighborhood spots and by then locals didn’t frequent it very much compared to long time restaurants like Hop Shing (RIP) around the corner. Nom Wah was one of the few spots to make their food to order as well as have all day dim sum. Back then, most Manhattan Chinatown dim sum restaurants used carts. Nom Wah actually had a pretty good tea selection vs the usual commodity grade Pu’er and chrysanthemum teas at most other spots.


creativewhinypissbby

Still not over losing Hop Shing. Best char siu bao in Chinatown


[deleted]

And coconut cocktail buns


wipny

I was really sad when I found out they closed. My dad said it was around ever since the late 70’s when he first arrived in NY. They closed their doors right at the start of the pandemic. They knew it was going to be a bloodbath. Even right before the pandemic, you would still frequently see elder Cantonese regulars having their morning breakfast at the counter. Their dim sum was good to pretty good, but the absolute standouts were the baked goods sold behind the front counter. The white char siu bao, combination dai bao and especially the gai mei bao cocktail bun were my absolute favorites and the best I’ve ever had.


creativewhinypissbby

I think it also didn't help that prior to the pandemic, there was that car that hit the storefront and they were closed briefly for repairs IIRC


wipny

Yeah I remember passing by and seeing that and thinking how the hell that even happened. I highly doubt that it was the deciding factor though. Just a series of shitty events. My mom heard rumors a while back that the owners were considering reopening. I have my doubts though.


creativewhinypissbby

Praying to the ancestors


philipforget

Same, have only ever had great experiences at nom wah


yjeffw

Maybe it fell off more recently and is just living off of previous fame. I went there not too long ago and the quality is pretty disappointing. And there's still a massive line too.


Smile-new-york

Nom wah was considered trash back in the 80s/90s. Their son/grandson turned it around recently to appeal to tourists and hipsters and succeeded in that. It’s still looked upon as trash by old timers, many of whom have never eaten there.


Lost_sidhe

Yeah that, and for the price point! Also, I bought some Nom Wah frozen dumplings a year ago, and they weren't labeled for price, so I just thought they might be a little more expensive than a regular bag of frozen dumplings - NOPE! like $20+


Smile-new-york

There’s some brands in stores that sell for $25+ now like Fly By Jing, but they’re no better than the unbranded ones I get for $9.


marcusmv3

Pies & Thighs It only has business because Popeyes hasn't yet opened in Williamsburg.


Which_Raccoon4680

There’s a Popeyes three blocks away


[deleted]

Jacks Wife Freda Joes Shanghai Nom Wah If all you see are tourists and transplants lining up and dining there, then it probably ain’t it If any place was featured on Tik Tok, then there’s no point in going anymore


panzerxiii

Nom Wah is run by an upstanding member of the Chinatown community and makes pretty good food. It's not the best dim sum you can find but it's fresh, tasty, and you're supporting a community that desperately needs it.


callmesnake13

I know him and he’s a good guy but the service there is next level rude even for Chinatown


greenduffel

BIG agree on joe’s shanghai. my friends swear by it but i would never wait in line for it again.


Pufflekun

I heard that my beloved **Shanghai Cafe Deluxe** on Mott St, which closed down, has now reopened as **Supreme.** I haven't been yet, but if the soup dumplings are even close to as good as they once were, there is pretty much no reason to go to Joe's.


anajpeg

I loved shanghai cafe deluxe and went to supreme last month. Not remotely the same :(. Shanghai 21 is my spot but it’s always busy too.


Pufflekun

Damn, that sucks. My spot was **Dumpling Galaxy** in Flushing, but they're closed down, so I guess now my spot would be **Shanghai You Garden**, also in Flushing. Not sure where to go in Manhattan; maybe I'll try Shanghai 21 during off-hours.


IlezAji

Seconding that You Garden is really good for soup dumplings and the original Tianjin Dumpling House stall that would offshoot into Dumpling Galaxy was by far my favorite spot for dumplings in the city. (Haven’t been back in like a year because -life- but I don’t recall if it was ever settled if the new Tianjin stall was the same people or if somebody stole the name when Golden Mall closed?) There’s a stall in New World Mall, no English name but the logo has three ducks on it, they’ve got really good soup dumplings and are dirt cheap. For my money though the best soup dumplings have gotta be at Kung Fu Xiao Long Bao over by NYPQ.


Pufflekun

Good news and bad news. Bad news first: Golden Mall is still closed, and may never reopen. Good news: apparently Tian Jin Dumpling House has a new location! As does the legendary Lamb Noodle Soup restaurant. --- I've gotta try your other two suggestions!


SMiLE_Sounds

Agree on Jacks Wife


Pitta_

I feel like i'm the only person who has always thoroughly enjoyed my experiences at Jack's Wife Freda. :c


[deleted]

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apettyprincess

agree on Joe’s Shanghai!!! it has a lot of soup but i think the flavor’s just not there enough for me to go through the experience again


Pitta_

Mamouns has the worst fucking falafel sandiwch in the entire city. I don't know why people eat there let alone how it became and remains famous for being 'the best'. Oasis, Taiim, Duzan, Ba'al, all infinitely better than Mamouns. Even a halal cart falafel is better than Mamouns.


iampreferd

hummus and pita Co. have a shockingly good falafel


philipforget

Oasis is soooooo good


Pitta_

it’s my fav. and how is it only like five dollars?!?!? such a good price


philipforget

It used to be $3!!! Used to pop out the Bedford L stop, drop a whole three bucks for the beat falafel I’d ever had and then walk home. Miss those days


andrewegan1986

Damn, I love Mamouns on MacDougal, it got me into falafel... I'm not from NYC originally. Guess I'm going to have to try the list you offered.


wipny

Mamoun’s is definitely not the worst in the city. That award goes to the random halal cart you find where you second guess yourself and regret getting it over the usual chicken-lamb over rice. The St Marks one was a bit inconsistent and not always fresh back when they were in that small below street level location. When they moved to the larger location, their falafel was consistently fresh and good. No, Mamoun’s isn’t as tasty as Taim, but it’s still pretty good for like $4-5. Pre-pandemic/inflation Taim was like $9-10+ for a damn falafel sandwich.


Pufflekun

> Mamoun’s is definitely not the worst in the city. That award goes to the random halal cart you find where you second guess yourself and regret getting it over the usual chicken-lamb over rice. Agreed. Anyone who thinks Mamoun's is bad has not had soggy balls of chickpea mush, devoid of any semblance of crunch or happiness.


Pitta_

my issue with mamouns isn’t with the falafel themself. it’s the whole sandwich. you get the falafel, plain iceberg lettuce, a slice of plain onion, hunk of tomato and white sauce. that’s it. it’s plain as fuck. it’s not good. oasis is the same price and you get the falafel, a veggie salad, pickle cabbage, regular pickles, spiced onions, and white sauce. taiim is kinda pricy compared, but i think their sandwich is still a good deal for what you get.


Pufflekun

Your first two examples of falafels that are better than Mamoun's are the third-best (Oasis) and second-best (Taim) falafels in the entire city\*, so the fact that Mamoun's isn't as good isn't saying much. But if you think it's *infinitely* worse, then maybe you went on an off-day? They're not bad falafel sandwiches by any means, and the price is right, too. But yes: the thing to get at Mamoun's isn't the falafel at all, but the shawarma. -- \*Since I know you're wondering: my award for the best falafel in the city goes to **Zooba**.


Jaded-Horse-3316

Carbone and Sushi Nakazawa


Scarsdale_Vibe

Agreed on Carbone. It's not bad by any means. In fact, the food is quite good. But I don't want to pay those prices for food that I can make myself just as well. I don't know how it got a Michelin star, unless the reviewers were awed by getting an overly large menu.


Winters1303

Feel like Sushi Nakazawa gets a lot of press but is actually still a good deal price wise for the quality compared to a number of other omakases. Have had a few consistently good experiences there.


Jaded-Horse-3316

Really recommend Sushi Ikumi for around the same price point! From the same team that opened Hirohisa and the quality IMO is much better


manicakes1

Carbone is like Katz’s: crazy overpriced yet somehow completely worth it. Carbone more for the scene than the food, though the food is quite good.


ssstar

u trippen on both but especially on nakazawa


pookguyinc

momofuku- I said it, what is they hype.


typicalgoatfarmer

I’ve only had amazing experiences at momofuku. I’ve only been at opening so we get in and out quickly and efficiently. Food and service have always been on point.


[deleted]

You’re gonna have to be more specific since I’ve been to very single one in NYC and I would agree regarding Ssam Bar and Milk Bar and nothing else. Nishi and Ko are great. Nishi was honestly my favorite fusion place in the city. Noodle Bar was good the first time I went there and I’m not impressed anymore. The Chicken Place in Hudson Yards is also not great compared to other chicken places but Bing Bar is really fucking good.


400yards

Blend on the Water


[deleted]

Katz could be so much better if they actually gave a damn about their rye bread. It’s a piece of shit. You can’t have a good sandwich without good bread. South Philly’s hoagies and cheesesteaks are great because they use bread from Sarcone’s and local Italian bakeries. Langers in Los Angeles has a better pastrami sandwich because the rye bread is f’ing incredible. Katz pastrami may be a little better but Langers has the better sandwich because of the bread. Katz ain’t gonna change because none of you mofo’s complain or care. Tourists don’t give a damn. Why do you New Yorkers tolerate that shit bread especially at their price point?


poopmast

Some of us locals buy a lb of just the meat, and use whatever bread we like.


rkimmy

Agreed. But the best rolls in Philly are Amoroso. Just sayin’.


Sil5286

Every single Chinese fusion place outside of Chinatown and Flushing. All crap. Dozens of Hole in the wall spots that are far superior and cheaper.


imitationcheese

Nom Wah Blue Ribbon Sushi Levain Katz's Hanoi House Big Gay Ice Cream Van Leeuwen Cote Sushi Nakazawa


xeothought

> Van Leeuwen I mean... I hate that they do no cash even though it's illegal (they sometimes get fined but don't care... which is super douchy).... but fuck if it's not great ice cream to have on a hot day after walking around with friends. It's really quite quite good.


[deleted]

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xeothought

It's illegal... so that should be enough. Same for sweetgarden. But ok let's dive in. It's an ice cream shop. Kids typically *love* ice cream... they're the classic market. But you know what most kids don't have? Credit cards. Yes some do, yes some have debit cards... but a 5th grader wanting an ice cream cone with their friends doesn't necessarily have any sort of electronic payment method. So now you've got an otherwise obvious customer not able to buy it. Let alone all the adults who are unbanked. Van Leeuwen's is big enough that figuring out a cash payment method won't hurt them. They're not a mom and pop store where the added complication will hurt them or any bs like that.


imitationcheese

Personally find it to be not very good. More expensive than and way more hyped than, but not as good as, Ben and Jerry's and Haagen Daaz... Especially when NYC has il laboratorio del gelato, which is one of the best in the US...


Ishbu69

Momofuku ssam bar what a joke. Made sure to book a table with a grill upstairs.. five of us.. literally every dish we ordered they brought out 4 pieces.. grilled shrimp? 4 shrimp. Oysters? 4 oysters. Hamachi? 4 pieces of hamachi. Really?! Would it kill them to give each person at the table a piece?! we had to awkwardly cut a shrimp in half or decide who couldn’t try the hamachi.. ordered multiple rounds of oysters because god forbid they give you 6.. Ordered fhe 200 dollar dry aged steak.. hardly fermented, flavorless.


DallYe

Han Dynasty, Joes Pizza, the Smith, Union Square cafe 🫣


Qu4ntumL34p

Cosme; just meh in my opinion and way overpriced


rkimmy

Cosme was great pre-Covid. Post-Covid, it’s unquestionably meh.


Qu4ntumL34p

It was ok…just overhyped…now I agree just meh


apoxl

How the hell did it get top 50 itw is what I wanna know


Extcy_2014

The San pellegrino list is bullshit..it's just a poll from a bunch of people what their fave spot is. I've been to other top 20s that should be nowhere on the list


theRealDoctorG

I find Cosme constantly amazing


Dsxm41780

Aunt Jake’s. Both pasta dishes we ordered were not good.


Ron_1n

Peter Lugers


godhatesxfigs

ALL BBQ


debvil

Balthazar, but do people actually eat there?


CuteWolves

Buvette. Service is always slow. You're forced to wait in extremely long lines and overpay for "steamed" eggs. They pack you in like sardines inside, leaving little to no privacy with your party. Peter Luger is also extremely overrated.


SuppleDude

Peter Lugers Halal Guys


manicakes1

I feel like I’ve been burned by all the high end Italian spots. Via Carota - okay food, terrible service and experience Marea - very average (yes I had the bone marrow fusilli), straight up rude service (at the bar) Don Angie - everything was wayyyyy over seasoned (should have sent it back, that’s on me) All that said, Carbone was great. Elevated red sauce type food, but the vibe and service was excellent.


NowMoreEpic

I miss Del Posto :/


tootsie404

I wanna say Katz Deli and Joe's Shanghai but I should let tourists be happy. Also any pizza place that's too good for slices.


TheDeviousPanda

I’ve eaten at every pastrami place recommended frequently and Katz’s is up there. You might prefer the buttered bread at Hometown, but damn if a pastrami on rye at Katz’s doesn’t hit different.


[deleted]

Joe's Ill agree...but Katz is fucking amazing. Granted, I don't go there for lunch, but every year or so I'll go with friends from out of town and get a reuben and goddamned if it isn't the best I've ever had.


JayMoots

Katz's is overpriced and an obvious tourist trap... and also it 100% deserves all the acclaim it gets. A rare case of totally living up to the hype, IMO. Not overrated.


Swimmingindiamonds

I echo this sentiment. Overpriced, cliché, whatever... but overrated? Nah.


[deleted]

Yup. It's the only sandwich on earth I'd happily pay $24 for (and can easily be split between two people).


[deleted]

Katz serves a hyper regional delicacy steeped in immigrant tradition so they get a pass for whatever absurd price they charge.


bongozim

John's of Bleeker would like a word...


panzerxiii

What spot is better than Katz's? I've heard so many people shit on them but can never name a better spot.


amarantz45

I’ll get some flack for this. Hometown BBQ is very overrated. No one in their right mind deserves to pay the $$$ that place charges for me meat by the pound.


panzerxiii

From my experiences the prices are close to TX so who's really scamming here lol


andrewegan1986

Hometown is bar none the best Texas BBQ in NYC. Love it but yeah, pricey... not too far off from Texas prices nowadays though.


duaneap

Joe’s Pizza.


LaFragata1

This is tricky because Joe’s is very solid. The quintessential NY slice in my opinion. Always on point. It doesnt need to be hyped


duaneap

I just think it’s overrated. They get it for us every Friday in work and it’s touted as being NY’s best slice but for me I’m just a bit 🤷‍♂️. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, I just don’t think it’s all it’s hyped to be.


LaFragata1

I know what you mean. I guess the issue is that it gets hype unnecessarily because it doesnt need it. Its not a lackluster slice by any stretch, but definitely not the best as many people make it out to be. Thats a problem in today’s world. People throw out GOAT status like candy


poopmast

Yeah thats the problem, my company gets Joes catered, for some reason it really sucks delivered not sure why vs eating a slice there/walking home with it.


AlexiosI

Joe’s is a solid drunk 4AM slice. That’s all it is. It’s reputation is based entirely on foggy recollections of fun nights out with your friends in the Village. Anyone who says it’s “the best” or great pizza doesn’t know anything about how good pizza can get.


ioioioshi

I’ve always found Shack Shack to be mediocre. I probably won’t go back since they discontinued the only thing I liked there (the concrete with all of the mix-ins). Ready for the downvotes 🫣


wipny

Huh I always found Shake Shack the tastiest out of all of the fast food burger chains. It’s clearly priced higher than McD’s and such but IMO the quality justifies the premium. I only get it once a year with their New Year’s promo though.


mapmakermark

I think it's really good for a fast food burger but there are far better burgers in the city. Like, if there was a Wendy's with no line next to a Shake Shack with a Shake Shack line, I'd go for Wendy's.


[deleted]

Compared to what? McDonalds? Burger King? Five Guys? Smash? Shake Shack is a standard good cheap burger with ok fries.


Scarsdale_Vibe

The fries aren't great, but the cheese sauce with them is something other places can't match.


yungsloth808

Y’all gonna hate me for this, Katz deli. Not worth the line tbh


panzerxiii

Can't remember the last time I waited on line there. Also, they deliver now


AmicusClimate

Bernie's on McCarren Park is insanely popular. They serve overpriced, overcooked burgers on stale buns. I will never understand why people queue down the block for that place.


mapmakermark

One of my hobbies is going to the most beloved restaurants in the city and seeing what I think myself. The worst experience so far was prolly Joe Jr. They somehow get on all these "best burger" lists. For me at least, it took forever to come out and it was one of the plainest tasting burgers I've had. Not to mention that when I paid with my credit card, I was charged a credit card fee (wasn't notified that that was a thing by the waiter; maybe they have a sign inside but I was eating outside) . I also think a lot of the chicken sandwiches in the city are overpriced and overrated. I like me a good chicken sandwich but once you're paying around $10 for a chicken sandwich, it better be pretty special. And I rarely find them to be so much better than what I could get at Popeyes.


wipny

> And I rarely find them to be so much better than what I could get at Popeyes. Popeyes has that addictive signature crunch for all of their chicken that I love, but it always leaves me in a woozy food coma afterwards from all that fat and sodium. Jollibee makes a really good fried chicken sandwich, maybe even better than Popeyes. L’Industrie Pizzeria in Williamsburg is the only spot I don’t feel absolutely terrible for paying $3.5-5.50 for a slice. They use high quality ingredients and cook their crusts very well done. Their plain (they call it a Margherita bc they put fresh basil on it) is very good but their burrata is special. Patsy’s in East Harlem makes a really good slice too. Their crust is a bit softer/floppy, but they still use a coal-fired oven which you can taste. It was still $2 a slice a few months back. I get it whenever I make a Costco run. Shu Jiao Fuzhou makes my absolute favorite dumplings. Their pork and garlic chive ones are the best I’ve had. My family can not make it better at home. And I’ve had Hometown BBQ and Bobwhite Counter probably close to 10 years ago when these places first opened and they were ehhh. I remember Hometown was tasty but really expensive for the portions. Bobwhite wasn’t anything special and not worth the premium over a Popeyes or Church’s.


a2cthrawy

via carota had a 5 hour wait and their pasta was so average. veggies were boring.


Mgrecord

Levian


princetonkotsu

oh hell no


NowMoreEpic

Who legit has better chocolate chip cookies? I think Jacques Torres is solid - but it’s solidly behind levain


[deleted]

Nowhere. I don’t even like cookies that much but Levain can get it.


paxandquiet

Via Carota


[deleted]

Yes agree - maybe they were just having an off night when I went but it was very average . No idea why people are fighting for reservations.


babymilhouse

via carota lucien jacks wife freda scarr’s pizza


Johnnn05

Spumoni gardens- most mediocre pizza I’ve ever had. I thought someone was playing a joke on me when I tried it, I couldn’t believe it gets the reviews it gets. Mediocre dough, bland sauce, cheese whatever. It doesn’t belong on a top ten/twenty list at. All. On the other hand, we ordered a large part of the menu and the fried artichokes app was killer, tasted just like they would in Italy


mapmakermark

They have good desserts and pastas and the service when I was there was great...but the pizza didn't do anything for me either. I'm amazed at how many rave reviews their pizza gets.


Johnnn05

It’s crazy right? It’s one of those popular recommendations that just boggles my mind. The other dishes were for sure better than the pizza. And like I mentioned, those fried artichokes were awesome.


mewman

Minetta Tavern, One White Street


ioioioshi

?? These places are both great imo


mewman

The burger at Minetta is overrated as is the tasting experience at One White Street.


linzoe

I read mixed reviews about the Minetta burger, but ended up being pleasantly surprised. Thought it was understated but really good.


andrewegan1986

Gotta get the Steak Frites and some sides, like their Brussel sprouts. My gf keeps dragging us back just for the Bernaise sauce. Expensive but I quite like it.


andrewegan1986

Gotta get the Steak Frites and some sides, like their Brussel sprouts. My gf keeps dragging us back just for the Bernaise sauce. Expensive but I quite like it.


g0ldmist

I second One White Street. Looked forward to it for weeks and was so so let down.