Renee, where to next?

Must try NYC Dining Experiences

New York has to be my most visited place in all my travels. But I feel I have yet to genuinely explore the city. Most of my visits were centered around seeing friends or just as a means of transit to another destination. On my last two visits however, that changed. Finally, I was able to take a bite out of the New York pie. Both visits were a stark contrast, only because of the seasons, winter versus summer. Of course I got to experience more during the summer, but winter in NYC is always an experience I think we should all have.

To sum up my stay, I’ll just say one thing, food, food and more food. At this point, we should all know that food is always the first priority on any trip I take. Being able to try different spots from different price ranges and cuisines, was definitely the focus of my trip. NYC is known to be a melting pot of cultures and this remains a strong contributing factor to all the different cuisines that are available throughout the city. With all that being said first on my list of places to try has to be Miss Lily’s.

Miss Lily’s

Jamaican cuisine similar to various others, also contributes to one of the many blocks that New York food culture is built on. If you are looking for an ambiance that gives you the feeling of Jamaican dining, then Miss Lily’s is the place to be. From the music to the decor and even a few of the cocktails are reminiscent of Jamaica. We began the night with the Cod Fish Fritters, which was accompanied by a creamy curry sauce. Unlike the traditional flat shape of the Jamaican fritters, these were round, but still had the quintessential Jamaican fritter taste.

Moving on to the main dishes, we decided to try the Jerk Grilled Salmon with their signature jerk sauce, steamed Jamaican greens, cucumber escovitch and a mango chutney. This was more of a fusion dish in my opinion, but still packed a lot of flavor. The crispy skin of the salmon was thoroughly complimented by the jerk flavors. Our final main course was the Classic Jamaican Oxtail Stew complimented by its rich gravy, broad beans, rice & peas with an additional side of Mac and Cheese. The oxtail was tender and had great flavor. I would say the flavor is suited more for the non-Jamaican palate. I only say this because it’s not as spicy as Jamaicans would make it, but it was tender and still flavorful.

Overall, Miss Lily’s is a great spot to dine and even enjoy drinks and a party atmosphere, after the kitchen is closed and the DJ turns up the music. If you are craving a little piece of Jamaica, may it be food, drinks, or music, I think Miss Lily’s can satisfy that craving.

Joe’s Pizza

Late night treats are an essential in the city that never sleeps. Joe’s Pizza is one the most famous spots to satisfy your cravings, early or late. From gaining fame from its feature in the Spiderman movie, it has become something of a must try pizza spot for many visitors. For me being able to see all the pizzas being made in front of us was also a treat. I opted for a slice of cheese and one slice of pepperoni and I don’t think I have ever had pizza like this. It was not the best pizza I had ever had but it was still good pizza. A few months later I was also able to try another location while in Shanghai, and it was just about the same. Thin crisp crust and deliciously melted cheese and slightly on the greasier side. Pretty much all that’s needed for the basic foundation of some good pizza. Nothing about the flavor or texture of the crust made me think ‘Wow I need more of this’, unfortunately I suppose.

Peaches

Next up, we head to Brooklyn for lunch and brunch at Peaches Kitchen & Bar, the Lewis Avenue location. This cozy spot, was perfect for a midday meet up for lunch, or even a brunch. I’ve visited twice and enjoyed the food and drinks completely. On my first visit I had the Corneal Crusted Cat fish. This was probably the first time I’d ever had this take on fish, but I enjoyed it. The portion was large and packed with flavor. The accompanying salt and pepper fries and coleslaw paired perfect with the well seasoned fish and the rum punch sealed the whole meal.

On my second visit we decided to try something from the brunch menu, and I decided on the Chicken and Toast. This was a combo of boneless fried chicken, french toast and some fresh fruit. Does that not just scream brunch? The only thing I was missing was some eggs. Peaches is definitely a great place to explore if you are in the Brooklyn area. They have an ample menu, that I’m sure you will more than likely be able to find some thing you like.

Movies With a View

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s summer series of Movies With a View is the perfect outing for friends or a simple but romantic way to have an evening with your significant other. It gives picnic vibes but with some music and a large screening of a movie over looking the water at the Brooklyn Bridge. This is a series that you have to keep an eye out for, as they screen a variety of movies, and each event is catered by various food trucks offering different cuisines. I think this is a great way to have some good food and not break the bank, we all know these New York prices are not the cheapest. I recommend that you get there early with your blanket and pick your ideal spot, get your snacks and enjoy the view.

Trad Room

Still staying in Brooklyn, we head to Trad Room. Not too far away from Peaches, this Japanese food restaurant gives a cozy and laid back vibe perfect for an after work bite, set in a dimly lit ambiance. Our starters were the Chasu Bao and the Drunken Shrimp. Let me just say the star of this show was definitely the Chasu Bao. The pork belly was reminiscent of butter, the way it effortlessly melted in my mouth, with its perfect ratio of fat and lean meat. Now, with all that said I’d definitely also recommend the shrimp option. It was a great pairing of the sweetness of the shrimp and some tart and spicy flavors, that were able to marry and bring forth a tasty union of flavors.

Initially we did not intent to go to Trad Room, because we has selected another restaurant solely because I was craving ramen. But life being unpredictable, plans changed and we went with plan B. To our surprise we were met with a few ramen options on the menu when we arrived. Without question we both decided to order the pork Paitan Ramen in a creamy broth. They also have a vegetable and shrimp option if I remember correctly, for those of us who do not eat pork. I love me some pork ramen and after that Chasu Bao, I just knew the Chasu in the ramen would not disappoint. It surely served up what was needed, on that cold winter day. The warm creamy broth had flavors that were not too much, it was rich and buttery, however spice lovers may opt to add some chili oil to heat things up a bit.

Cantina Rooftop

When it’s a Tuesday, tacos are always calling my name and the Cantina Rooftop provided the perfect ambiance for an evening of eating tacos and indulging in one of the largest tequila shots I have ever received. With an order of chips and dip, shrimp tacos, and steak tacos we were full before we even knew it. It’s a very up beat vibe at Cantina, perfect for a celebration. The tacos were not the best I had ever had but they were still tasty the beef was definitely the best, and the drinks were strong.

Kyma

Let’s switch up cuisines, and have a taste of Greece, while still in New York. We head to Kyma  located in Hudson Yards. This would be my second time trying greek food, and it has not disappointed me yet. We began the night with our starters, a Greek Salad and the Soutzoukakia. Without a doubt we could not pronounce the latter and had to ask the waiter for some help. The Soutzoukakia is a Mediterranean spiced ground beef, that was baked in tomato sauce and toped with Mizithra cheese. It was packed with flavor and the sauce beneath the beef added just the right amount of tartness to balance out the meaty flavor of the beef.

The service was great at Kyma and our waiter was attentive, each course was rolled out with efficiency, perfectly timed after the completion of each. We moved on to our main course which included the Free Range Chicken and the Shrimp Orzo. At one point we thought we were not going to be full at the end of the meal, but we were in for a shocker. Mid way through the oven roasted chicken and lemon potatoes we could already feel ourselves getting full. But of course there was still space for the Shrimp Orzo. This risotto style dish surprised us with its subtle but delightful of flavor. Needless to say it was devoured in minutes.

The night was rounded off with glasses of prosseco and of course some dessert. If you have never tried Baklava, this is your sign to do just that. It was my first time having Baklava and the taste was a surprise, and I’m not sure I’d ever had a pastry that gave me the same taste as this did. I am not the biggest pastry fan, however, the crispy layers, the crunch of the nuts, and the sticky layers of honey were delectable, not the mention the fresh flavor of the accompanying ice cream. In all honesty I wished the we had a bigger slice.

Fogo De Chao

Our final spot is going to be a Brazilian Steakhouse, Fogo De Chao. It’s a favorite of mine, and this means I’ve been a few times. Whenever we go we always opt for the experience instead of the a la carte option. The only thing we get from the menu is always dessert. In my opinion it’s better to experience the different meat options that are brought around by the servers, after you have taken your choice of salad from the buffet. My favorite has to be their chicken thighs or the chicken wrapped in bacon. Both are on the salty side, but still very mouthwateringly delicious. Steak lovers have little to worry about here, after all, it is a steak house. The choice of different cuts are more than enough to select from and are all done at different temperatures for the various palates.

I look forward to exploring more in New York, it’s the city that just keeps giving. Next up I’ll compile the best attractions to explore while visiting the Big Apple. Until then, let’s keep an eye out for where we will visit next.