To say that I ate out alot this year is quite an understatement. Even spending most of my summer outside of New York City, I still managed to eat and blog about alot of brunches, lunches, dinners, burgers, and cupcakes.
So here it is, the top picks of 2009. Keep in mind that as a student with a limited budget, I kept a frugal mind and splurged in between on occasion. And if you’re impatient and want to see whose ever preserving stomachs made it onto the list, scroll all the way down for the “thank you” section.
Jump to…
Brunch Spots
Restaurants
Burgers Picks
Cupcake Favorites
Thank you’s!
5.Petite Abeille: Waffles
Waffles, waffles, waffles- that’s what they specialize in. Although I didn’t enjoy my experience as much as I would have liked, this is one of the few places where you can get yourself a liege waffle with toppings and all. Memories from Brussels much? Yes, I think so.
4.Corner Cafe Shop: Creme Brulee dipped French Toast
That’s right, you heard it. There’s not much to say as the description says all, but another dish not to miss out on is the portobello mushroom burger. Make sure you make reservations if you go after 12pm on a weekend because this place fills up fast!
3.Friend of a Farmer: Apple Chicken Curry Salad
Many New Yorkers don’t know where Irving Place is, but if you pass by on a weekend morning, you’ll find this place with a line outside the door. They use fresh and organic ingredients, and all of their dishes have a homey touch. It may be a bit on the pricey end, but that Apple Chicken Curry Salad was phenomenol!
2. Danal: Croissant French Toast
I’m not sure if it’s possible to put into words how amazing their Croissant French Toast is, but beyond that, the owners transformed the once Korean deli into a gorgeous two story restaurant equipped with fireside dining. And the fact that it’s quite reasonably priced (at least for brunch) is a plus. We spotted Rachel Weisz while dining so it goes to show you that quality food can be cheap too.
$35 for a 3 course brunch is quite a splurge, but going to Park Avenue for one of their “seasons” is quite worth it. Their pastry and bread basket is decadent, and the rest of their courses don’t fail to deliver. Dishes to watch out for are the Procini Ravioli and the Upper East Sider.
5. S’MAC: Mac & Cheese
Nothing beats a nice hot sizzling plate of good mac & cheese. S’MAC is known for their gourmet take on the dish and unlike most mac & cheeses, theirs is delightfully creamy and flavorful. My favorite is the Cajun but not limited to anything else that includes bacon, sausages, and more cheese. And yes, it’s filling enough to be considered a meal!
4.Sammy’s Noodle Bar and Grill: BBQ Ribs with Noodles in Broth
Lately, the craze has been all about ramen and such, but I just love a large bowl of udon-like noodles topped with some legit pork. Sammy’s gives you a decent amount of meat and vegetables so it feels somewhat healthy too. Plus with the speedy service and the decent prices, you can’t quite complain.
3.Hagi Sake Bar: Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Skewers
Don’t plan on setting foot into Hagi until at least after 5:30pm because that’s when they open until late each night. Dishes to keep an eye out for are their wasabi dumplings, yellowtail collar, bacon wrapped asparagus skewers, and just about anything labeled as “recommended” on their menu. Don’t forget the sake either.
2.Alta: Danish Ribs
I love Alta for their decor, their tapas, and their food. Another place with fireside dining, it’s a romantic sort of place where tables are lit by candles and lanterns with a sky high ceiling. Beyond that, they not only have an extensive list of wine but also tapas. Tapas to watch out for include Danish Ribs and Bacon Wrapped Dates (they are soooo delicious!).
1.Cafe Habana: Grilled Mexican Corn
I’m not a big fan of corn, but I fell in love with their Mexican Corn. Grilled with butter, rolled in powdered cheese, and topped off with chili, it’s a tasty combination. And forget the Cuban Sandwich; their Steak Sandwich is out of this world! But be warned, there’s bound to be a huge wait no matter when you go.
3.Corner Bistro: Bistro Burger
For under $10, get yourself a whopping stack of bun, burger, bacon, cheese, and the works including fries. Unlike most places, this burger is actually a decent size and the flavor is still there. But don’t expect real plates and cutlery. This place is all plastic.
2.DBGB: The Gourmet Burger
Be prepared to shell out at least $14-19 for a burger at the esteemed Daniel Boulud’s bar and kitchen on the lower east side. Burgers are 6 oz. and come with a side of some of the best shoe string fries. Ingredients like “Daisy’s pulled pork,” “grilled pork belly,” and regular old argula help elevate the burgers to the “gourmet” status. My personal recommendation is “The Piggie” over “The Frenchie.”
At the end of the day, after all of those burgers, Shake Shack is still on top of my list. There’s just something about that Shack Burger. Maybe it’s the potato buns. Maybe it’s the dressing. Whatever it is, no one has been able to beat Shake Shack yet.
(Sugar Sweet Sunshine would have undoubtedly been on there, but alas, I never had the chance to visit it!)
Prior to the summer, this was one of my favorite cupcakeries. Their chocolate on their chocolate is extremely rich and moist, making it a true guilty pleasure. But this semester, their cupcakes started declining in quality. We’ll see what the new year brings.
Their carrot-cake cupcake is mind blowing- perhaps the best cupcake I’ve ever had. I guess you have to like carrot-cake, but this is the creme de la creme. I think it’s the raisins that give it the edge and the cream cheese frosting is to die for.
Light, airy, and fluffy are the three words to describe their cupcakes, but what I love more about Butter Lane is that they use organic ingredients without additives or preservatives. Yep, that means their frostings aren’t artificially flavored but rather made from the real stuff. Frostings to look out for are espresso and apple cider.
Last but not least, I’d like to thank all of those stomachs that accompanied me on my eating adventures. This blog wouldn’t have been possible without you! In particular, I’d like to thank…
- Sabrina for being my splurge buddy. I always feel like I’m in Gossip Girl when I’m eating out with you
- Yun for never saying no to dessert and always saying yes on the fly when I’m hungry
- Jungyon for putting up my Ketcup mistake and accompanying me from Europe to the US in my good eats
- Steph Khoo for being an awesome exchange buddy and sending me those tim-tams all the time!
- Si, Angela, Jenny (Sun and Henricks) for those cupcake and burger adventures in introducing Si to the wonders of gaining weight and American portion sizing
- Amy, Clare, Glen, Kathy, Wendy for the many potlucks to come and being my favorite eating buddies in Jersey
- Jerry Zhao for constantly listening to all the burgers that I’ve eaten as well as introducing me to Five Guys cajun fries
- Seth, Albert, Jerry Lee for never saying no to eating and for those unforgettable moments that aren’t always food related
- Patrick for always taking me out to eat and making sure that I don’t forget whenever I gain weight
- Anthony, Daphne, Neha, Steph Lo, Shelley for making those ISP food moments memorable and some nonfood moments unforgettable
- Suzie for being an awesome little, accepting the fate of a bigger stomach upon being my little, and taking me around LA (you too, Slo!)
- Trevor for forcing me to consume copious amounts of delicious pizza, but copious amounts nevertheless
If I’ve forgotten you, I’m terribly sorry, but I promised I tried. Here are some of my favorite food related moments from 2009.
You should also check out:
- The Great GoogaMooga | Prospect Park, Brooklyn
- An interview with Terry Chen of “Filled with Sweets”
- Co. Pizza
- Crif Dogs (take 2)- best hot dogs ever
- Saturday brunch at Locanda Verde
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
“We spotted Rachel Weisz while dining so it goes to show you that quality food can be cheap too”
How did you come to that conclusion?
Anyway, love your blog and keep up the good work.
Haha because people have the misconception that celebrities only go to expensive upscale restaurants and Danal’s brunch is in the low teens.
But thanks!
I love this blog.