My on-a-good-day nyc experiences haven't changed too much in awhile. These are a few of them...
Caffe Latte at Abraco in the East Village. This must be accompanied by an olive oil cracker (not the olive oil cake, but rather, the cracker).
Tres Leche cake doughnut from the Doughnut Plant in the LES. This is nice with the hot chai that they also sell. I recommend purchasing two doughnuts. You are there, after all.
A Super Heebster sandwich at Russ & Daughters in the LES. Accept no substitutes. Ordering the "Super" version is key, btw.
The tea service at Lady Mendl's, on Irving Place. Come early for your reservation and sit in the waiting room for awhile. So lovely.
Many good options exist for Neapolitan style pizza, even now that Una Pizza has left to LA. I personally end up at Motorino now and again, but there are lots of potentials.
Prune is my favorite restaurant in New York, I think, and specifically at lunch time, when it is possible to walk in without a wait and have a delicious meal. I highly recommend the lamb burger on toasted Enligh muffin. East Village.
An order of pork buns at Momofuku Noodle Bar (which I prefer to Ssam Bar right now). In the East Village.
The grilled corn at the take out side of Cafe Habana in Nolita.
Composed dishes (not sushi) at Soto. West Village.
Go to Milos Estiatorio. Select your own fish from the wall of fish. I usually get the Turbot, if it is available, and I am prepared to wait extra for it. Have it simply grilled whole. Have a nice bottle of greek white wine. Share with someone whose company you enjoy. Best to make a reservation in advance, so as not to get stuck at the bar tables. Midtown West.
Second City Dog at Shake Shack. Lots of locations now.
Bergdorf's has I think the best window displays of the all the major retailers.
The Greenmarket days at Union Square are fun to be at.
The beer room at the Whole Foods Bowery has a nice selection of imported beers. I think it is a good option for grabbing a few bottles of brew.
The best grocery shopping, all things considered, is probably to be found at Fairway Market on Broadway.
The Loster Rolls at Luke's Lobster are the best versions of the prized sandwich that I am aware of in New York at this time.
The cocktails at Vandaag are great. And the staff is nice. Really worth a stop. East Village.
A very good porchetta sandwich can be had at Porchetta, although sometimes they are a touch dry these days. A bit of evoo would help with that. Make sure to sprinkle on some of the flavoring from the little tin can by the cash register. East Village.
An evening at the NY Philharmonic in Lincoln Center. The Summer Series is very deftly handled. Arrive early on a sunny day and sit on the grass above Lincoln.
Aburiya Kinnosuke for the Yellowtail collar special, if available, and a fresh squeezed juice cocktail. Near Grand Central.
The Ten Bells. Of course.
A stop into PJ's wine shop for a look at the sherry selection on my way to The Cloisters museum for a walkaround followed by a picnic overlooking the Hudson. Waaay uptown in Morningside Heights.
Finding a great wine with age on it for a more than reasonable price is easy enough at Tribeca Grill, as you can see here:
http://www.myriadrestaurantgroup.com/tribecagrill/TribecaGrill_WineList.pdf
The housemade non-alcoholic sodas at Perry Street are delicious. Sit on one of the couch like things in the lounge and look out the window at the river. West Village.
I enjoy to have breakfast in the Waldorf Astoria's Peacock Alley. Check out the antique clock in the lobby nearby.
The tea smoked duck entree at Grand Sichuan on 55th and 2nd Ave. They allow corkage here.
I like to stroll through oldish churches. It is something that I enjoy. Two of note are St. Bart's in Midtown and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Harlem.
The Kreuz Market sausages available at Hill Country make it worthy of a stop in.
A Dark & Stormy at Smith & Mills in Tribeca is an ideal of the form. Also, this venue, along with Apotheke, sports one of my favorite bathrooms in New York City.
If you are willing to pay up, the various locations of Grom have delicious gelato.
I enjoy to go to Dinosaur BBQ, up by Columbia. I won't say that it is great, great BBQ. But I will say that I enjoy to go there.
July is good timing to catch something at Summer Stage in Central Park. The shows are usually very good, and also free. An easy walk from the Whitney Museum, if you want to double up on the day.
A frisbee toss on Roosevelt Island can be nice on a summer day, as long as the wind isn't too strong. Roosevelt Island's grassy spaces are less populated than Central Park's, and so lend themselves a bit more to frisbee adventures. Take the Tram out there. Pack a lunch. There is no where worth eating at once you arrive.
Grandaisy Bakery on Sullivan Street in Soho. This used to be the original Sullivan Street bakery. Still a favorite destination for me. Get a pizza square. The funghi is my favorite.
A visit to The Paris Theatre for a viewing of what is current amongst French Cinema. 58th St. near 5th Ave.
People have their favorite steakhouses. But one they usually forget to mention is Le Relais de Venise l'Entrecote, which admittedly is more about the sauce than the steak. But what sauce!! Just the best steak frites idea imagineable. Midtown East.
Most people think of the same 4 or so places to have a good bagel, but my favorite remains unheralded: Bagel Works on 1st Ave., between 66th and 67th Sts. Arrive at 5:30am or so for a fresh from the oven, totally terrific warm bagel.
Terramare Cafe on East 65th St. has delicious bombolone. Don't get anything else, or risk getting fleeced. Just get a bombolone and promptly leave, walking over to Central park to sit and eat.
Lunch at Ippudo offers what is probably the best ramen currently available in NYC. It is best to go as a singleton to have any hope of getting a seat within a reasonable amount of time.
The Morgan Library and Museum has this glass elevator that I just love. You feel like you are riding up to the very sky. Midtown East.
Di Palo's on Grand Street is a must visit for fresh mozzarella. Be prepared to wait.
It is a good idea to have oysters at (the original) Blue Ribbon. Also the bone marrow. But especially the oysters. Soho.
It is worth it to go to the Time Warner Center just for the Nutter Butter cookies at Keller's Bouchon Bakery.
Banh Mi Saigon in Little Italy is good if you want a delicious sandwich (skip the other options) and you aren't too worried about what may actually be in it, in terms of protein.
Despana on Broome Street is a good market to go to when looking for gourmet items from Spain.
It has been too long since I checked in, but in my experience, Sistina on the UES is underrated for very good Italian food.
Of course for wine there is Chambers Street, Crush, Astor, and Uva.
Recommended bars that could be referred to as dives: Milano's (LES), International Bar (East Village), McSorley's (East Village), Dubliner House (UWS)
Franny's in Brooklyn's Park Slope is a favorite. Be prepared to wait for a table.
Manducatis in Long Island City still has enough back vintage Italian red wine gems at great prices to make it worth a special trip to raid the cellar. Perhaps you want to eat elsewhere beforehand, like at M. Wells Diner.
If you haven't strolled through the great hall of Grand Central Terminal before, you really need to do that at least once. There is a Murray's Cheese and a Joe coffee shop in there, too.
A stop into the Gramercy Tavern bar room for a glass of wine. 20th off of Park Ave. South. Also to mention, Chef Michael Anthony is right now turning out the finest food in the history of GT. I usually eat something while I am there.
A stop into Bar Jamon for a glass of Ameztoi "Rubentis". Just perfect about this time of year. And the 2010 is back on form for this wine.
I have yet to have a spellbinding Kaiseki meal in NYC, but the closest I have come to that ideal was at Rosanjin in Tribeca, which is a place that I would like to return to some time soon.
A trip out to the Brooklyn Botantical Gardens for a stroll amongst the cherry blossoms.
A visit to the Met Museum on 82nd for a walk around - there is a newish American wing, btw - to be followed by taking in the view from the roof. Eat and drink before you arrive, though. Options inside have often have long lines. Of course, Central Park and it's lake with all the small boats is just right around the corner.
A pastrami sandwich on light rye from counter service at Katz's Delicatessen. Accompany with a Dr. Brown's soda. LES.
Stuffed Grape Leaves at Bereket. LES.
It has been awhile, but I have liked Little Giant for a casual dinner in the past. On Orchard Street.
Dinner at the hidden Japanese restaurant Tsukushi, on Tudor City Place, where the only chef is the owner, and the clientele are mostly Japanese folks working at the U.N. There is no a la carte menu here. It is a set menu, and it is full of little, special treats. Sometimes they allow corkage. Best to ask ahead.
A visit to the hidden back drawing room at Gilt, which is amazing little spot to have a glass of wine. Or get the couch by the fireplace in the vestibule. A highly coveted perch, in my opinion.
An order of amaro at Lupa. I dig on Caffo del Capo a lot, myself. Soho.
A late night run to Sake Bar Hagi, in midtown near Times Square. 49th St. Have some Kubota sake and order several many skewers. Delicious and cheap. Avoid the larger entree offerings.
A beer or scotch at the original PJ Clarke's on 3rd Ave. Open till 4am every day. Skip the food, though.
There is a Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown very near the courthouse that is very good and cheap. Great condensed milk coffee. My remembering the actual name of this venue would be impossible. Also, there is no atmosphere here aside from the old characters who compose the waitstaff.
The only street food I return to with regularity is the Lamb Sandwich on Pita at the Halal Guys food cart, 53rd and 6th Ave. Look for the guys in the yellow sweatshirts.
An afternoon trip to Bryant Park, and perhaps a stroll through the main Library Building as well. One way to take in Bryant Park that not a lot of people realize is to go up to the second floor cafe of the Japanese bookstore across the street and take a stool at the window seats.
Late night Bi Bim Bap at Kun Jip in Koreatown. Get a beer to accompany. Don't overorder, they are going to lay out a lot of food for you.
A stop into the Essex Street Market (LES) for a cheese discovery at Formaggio Essex.
A Lure Burger at Lure Fishbar in Soho.
Brunch in Chelsea Market. Why Chelsea Market? Because you have tons of options to mix and match your meal from the different vendors there, there is open seating, and best of all, no huge lines. Brunch in NYC usually involves huge lines. This is a get around of that phenomenon. I especially recommend the Grilled Cheese sandwich from Amy's Bread or the meatloaf sandwich from Dickson's Farmstead Meats. The Highline is nearby.
Pegu Club for a Gin-Gin Mule. Still one of the best cocktails on offer in NYC. Soho.
Take in a picture at the Film Forum.
The most trendy place to eat in NYC right now, which I also enjoyed myself, is Torrisi Italian Specialties. The wine list isn't the reason to go, though. Get there early (5:15pm or so) to get a table at dinner time.
Stop in to Argosy Books on 59th St. to check out the selection of out of print wine books (downstairs). This is a special place in Manhattan.
A visit to the Peking Duck House for, what else, Peking Duck. I like a side of Chinese Broccoli, myself. Corkage allowed.
Dinner at Soba Koh for cold Inaka Soba, and an appetizer from the specials list. Sapporo on draft. Avoid dessert. East Village.
A visit to Cocktail Kingdom/Mud Puddle Books on West 21 St. for a look at vintage cocktail book reproductions and high quality barware accessories.
The original Wondee Siam in Hell's Kitchen for Thai. Bring your own beverage. The experience is increased ten fold if you happen to bring someone who is Thai with you. Somehow the food becomes much better.
In terms of the Four Star restaurant experience, keep in mind that most of them are open for lunch. Perhaps DANIEL being the only exception to this? Personally, I prefer Jean-Georges at lunch, for instance. Request the main dining room at JG. Get the uni on brown bread for one of your courses.
People I seriously enjoy to talk with, if they are on duty and available: Raj at DANIEL, Michael Madrigale at Bar Boulud, Pascaline at Rouge Tomate, Juliette at Gramercy, Ralf at Trestle, Jim Meehan at PDT.
Places that people talk well about that I have not been to include Brooklyn Fare and Kin Shop.
I have plenty of advice about places to avoid. Just message me for those.