Spicy Moon – East Village

Spicy Moon is a relatively low-key whole-in-the-wall joint in the East Village, and actually happens to be right in the heart of the Ukrainian village. The place is rather small and casual, but nonetheless has a very comfortable and home-like vibe. The service and owners seem very caring, pleasant, and overall the vibe left a…

The Cotillion – Jericho

The Cotillion is a catering hall located off of Jericho Turnpike that commonly caters to large and extravagant Indian parties and weddings. Although the place is generally widely used for parties, there is a small restaurant area on the side upon entry. Although the restaurant is relatively modest and not the main focus of the…

Sweetgreen – Morningside Heights

Sweetgreen is a favorite amongst health fanatics and college students alike. Located right by Columbia University, this spot is frequented by passing joggers and hungry students. It is similar in nature to ‘Chopt’ — A Chipotle of salads, if you will. The decor is very modern and simple, with no smoke or mirrors. There is…

Taiyaki NYC – Chinatown

Behold, Instagram’s favorite. There is no doubt that at some point throughout your Instagram career, you have had a glimpse of ice cream… in a fish. Not a real fish, of course. But rather, a nice aesthetic cone in the shape of a fish, with some swirling ice cream radiating off the top and a…

Super Bowls – Syosset

It’s quite a travesty that I haven’t reviewed Super Bowls yet, considering I’ve been to this eatery more times than I’d like to admit since their opening in Syosset. When I first heard of the renowned “acai bowl,” I was very skeptical. Sure, perhaps the bowl is visually appealing. But after all, the bowl is…

Ippudo Westside – Hell’s Kitchen

Ippudo is a tasteful Japanese ramen restaurant on W 51st Street, tucked in slightly at a lower level than the street with a large Japanese sign that makes a passerby hesitantly trust that this is the correct restaurant. The interior is stylish and comfortable, and the place gets packed immediately upon opening. We came on…

Vandal – Lower East Side

After my visit to the New Museum last week, I was very intrigued by the tons of cool and trendy restaurants around the area. Vandal immediately caught my attention, and after some investigation, I realized this restaurant was definitely one to go to immediately. What really sealed the deal was the moment I learned that…

Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream – Lower East Side

I wanted to go to Morgenstern’s back in the summer when they had Kanye West week, but the line out the door was so big and unbudging that I was deterred from staying. However, after a visit to the New Museum, Morgenstern’s is located right around the corner a couple of blocks away. It’s a…

Oso – Harlem

Right next to CCNY is another hidden gem. Oso — a trendy and tasteful authentic “Mexican street food” restaurant with dim candlelit wooden tables and overhead greenery. The kitchen is open and everything is made before your very eyes. The prices are reasonable, and the waitstaff is phenomenal. The atmosphere is very comfortable, hip, and even romantic….