NYC restaurant recommendations

It’s been a while since I’ve done a food post, but don’t worry – I’ve still been eating! I am such a fan of trying new places in NYC and love to share my thoughts and recommendations. I am going to do my best to make this a regular series on the blog (no, I am not turning this into a food blog – just sharing a bit of what I love), so hopefully many of you that want to visit NYC (or live here now) can find some new places to explore. I have a soft spot for desserts, so that will always dominate on my food posts, but I have a few other good restaurants thrown in my post for good measure. So here is a look at some great places I have been frequenting over the past few months:

1. Emack and Bolio’s Ice Cream – The cone sealed the deal for me when deciding if I wanted to try this place. They make these amazing waffle cones dipped in different options such as fruity or cocoa pebbles mixed with marshmallow fluff. It takes the average ice cream experience to the next level. The flavor assortment is quite good as well but it really comes down to the cone. GET A GOOD CONE. 

2. Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit Co – I have such a weakness for soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt. I like harder ice cream, but I LOVE soft serve. This place provides a healthier alternative but it certainly doesn’t taste like it (which is a good thing). I got their banana soft serve which was unreal and proceeded to douse it with peanut butter, chocolate sauce, bananas and pretzels – which took it to a whole other level. The level of “I need an entire gallon of this stuff for the rest of my life”. You get my drift.

3. The Smith – The Smith is an institution in NYC almost. It is a chain of restaurants that somehow manages to appeal to New Yorkers, since it’s quite known that we are not fond of chains. But this restaurant bridges the gap effortlessly and serves some great American food. Basically you can bring your parents here from out of town and then meet your girlfriends here for a bite – it will surely please any and every palette. I recommend the Mussels, mac & cheese side and though I’m not a fan of deviled eggs, I hear they are to die for here.

4. Root & Bone – Do not come here to be comfortable – come here strictly to eat. This place is teeny tiny and the tables are insanely close together so you most definitely will be eavesdropping on the next table over during your entire meal. But who really cares when you are eating a fried chicken sandwich that comes served between two waffles. Your mind will be too blown to care. And though the sandwich sounds stereotypically “foodie” or “trendy”, it’s stinkin’ delicious. And don’t forget to add on a mac & cheese side and a spoonbread to start. A nap will soon follow

5. Oatmeals – Who knew oatmeal could be so exciting? This place really jazzes it up and takes it to the next level. I went for the standard sweet offering with bananas, peanut butter and honey but I am dying to try a savory option such as one with diced ham, gruyere cheese, nutmeg, sea salt and pepper. Breakfast never tasted so good. Heck, these oatmeals are a meal for any time of the day. 

6. Dough Brooklyn – Get ready for the largest and fluffiest (and delicious) donuts around. I recently popped by here and was in heaven. I splurged on a cheesecake donut which was one of the best donuts I’ve ever had, and then picked up a nutella filled donut for the next day. My husband grabbed a chocolate covered salted caramel and thought it was delicious. But be warned, these are not your average sized Krispy Kreme donuts. These are an eat-in-two-sittings kind of donut, and are large enough to even split with a friend. Just make sure your friend isn’t looking when you divide up the halves. 

A few other places I have loved recently, but was not able to get pictures of the meal were: 1. Los Tacos No. 1 in Chelsea Market – these are some of the freshest tacos you will ever eat. 2. The Lobster Place in Chelsea Market – they steam a fresh lobster right there for you and you can eat it standing up at the tables nearby, simply amazing. Ronnybrook Dairy, also in Chelsea Market serves farm fresh ice cream that will make you want to quit your job and go work on a diary farm – seriously I had that thought after eating this. It’s magical.

Hope you enjoyed my off-the-beaten path post, and if you are in NYC and try any of these places, let me know! And also, if you have any great recommendations of your own that I should try and review later, let me know in the comments below. Happy eating! 

Today’s outfit post is a bit different from others before – mainly because I am eating desserts in all the pictures. If that is not the definition of WINNING, I don’t know what is! I had the opportunity last Friday to pop by the Momofuku Milk Bar store in Williamsburg, tour the commissary where they make the desserts and try out some items from their new summer menu. The items I got to try that day were the strawberry lemon truffles, german chocolate jimbo truffles, the confetti cookie and the huckleberry cheesecake soft serve. I know, I can’t believe it either. 

If you are new to the Momofuku Milk Bar experience, please make yourself familiar with it STAT. And if you are not in NYC, it needs to be on your list of stops next time you visit. It’s become somewhat of an institution in New York, and for good reason. The desserts are playful and absolutely decadent, with the birthday cake truffles, cereal milk soft serve, compost cookies and crack pie among some of the most legendary menu items. I don’t even think I can pick a favorite from all the ones I tried on Friday, but the most surprising one for me was the strawberry lemon truffle. Not typically a fan of fruity desserts, this truffle is coated in white chocolate which made it absolutely amazing (and probably my favorite if I had to pick). The german chocolate truffles were hard to put down, especially because they were rolled in coconut which is a favorite of mine. I would have loved the Confetti cookie just for it’s fun appearance but it’s classic sugar cookie flavor won me over as well. Finally the huckleberry cheesecake soft serve was rich and creamy with a refreshing twist. I was beginning to fall into a slight sugar coma by then so my husband (who was taking my photos) graciously swooped in to help share. How selfless of him.

In addition to all the single serve desserts, they also do large cakes and even wedding cakes! You can order most of the their standard items online and they ship all over the country. But if you are here in the NYC area, and want to try your hand at these things yourself, they offer baking classes where you can learn how to bake all your favorite Momofuku desserts. How awesome is that?! Head to their website for more details. (June has a bunch of classes that are just calling your name – just sayin….)

I’m not sure any of my future outfit posts or shoots can live up to this one, but the only thing we can do is try. (But really, what can top cake truffles? NOTHING)

Blouse – Club Monaco (similar here) | Jeans – Rag & Bone | Belt – Madewell (similar here) | Shoes – Coach (similar here and here) | Bracelet – Giles & Brother | Clutch – Clare Vivier | Nails – Essie ‘Bikini So Teeny’

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