One of the most asked questions we get at EatingNYC is something along the lines of, “I’m coming to New York for the first time in a few weeks, where should I go?” So, here’s our attempt to answer that question the best we can, assuming you only have about 48 hours here. As always, feel free to get in contact if you have any questions, comments or concerns about how to get this all done – we know it’s a lot. Enjoy!
Pizza
Spicy Pepperoni Square Slice at Prince Street PizzaYou can’t come to NYC without having a classic slice of pizza…or five. Some of our favorite spots for a slice on the go include the Spicy Pepperoni Square Slice at Prince Street Pizza, a plain cheese slice at Joe’s, and the very rich Artichoke slice at Artichoke Basille’s Pizza. Go to L&B Spumoni Gardens or Roberta’s if you’re up for an adventure out in Brooklyn.
Bagels
Bagel with Lox and Cream Cheese at Sadelle’sAnother must-have NYC bite is bagels. They say the NYC water is what makes them so tasty, but I like to think we’re just really good at preparing bagels. Stop in at the old-school Russ & Daughters — they have CAVIAR CREAM CHEESE, Sadelle’s for the most luxurious bagel brunch ever, or H&H Bagels if you’re uptown — open till 4 AM.
Dim Sum
Assortment of dim sum from Nom Wah Tea ParlorIf you’re up for some authentic Chinese, dim sum in Chinatown is a good idea. Joe’s Shanghai, Nom Wah Tea Parlor, and Jing Fong are all great choices. Drunken Dumpling is also home to the XLXLB soup dumpling which is pretty absurd.
Burgers
The Emmy Burger at EmilyAlthough the first hamburger is said to have originated in Louisville, we’re pretty sure NYC’s eclectic and experimental culinary landscape means we have some of the very best burgers around. J.G. Melons is our all time favorite for a simply delicious, classic burger. Some of our other favorite spots for burgers include Minetta Tavern, 4 Charles Prime Rib, Raoul’s, and Emily.
Dessert
Cereal Milk Soft Serve from Milk Bar.After filling up on every food ever possible in NYC, dessert is always a good idea. For ice cream – our favorite dessert – we’d recommend checking out Ample Hills – order the ooey-gooey butter cake, Big Gay Ice Cream, or Milk Bar. Also, Milk & Cream Cereal Bar is a new ice cream shop that’s quickly becoming a favorite. Lastly, we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t mention the super ‘gram worthy milk shakes at Black Tap.
Other Quintessential Restaurants
Pastrami Sandwich at Katz’s Deli.Other quintessential restaurants in the city include Katz’s Deli for pastrami sandwiches, Peter Luger Steakhouse for a hunk of juicy steak, and Barney Greengrass, an old-school appetizing shop on the UWS.
All Time Favorites
Vodka Pizza at Rubirosa.Finally, some of our all time favorite NYC restaurants include L’Artusi, Rubirosa, Sushi of Gari, and Carbone – their Spicy Rigatoni is life-changing. Please note that these eateries do require a reservation in advance.

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