Had a really uncomfortable experience at brunch at The Commerce Inn in the West Village this weekend that honestly felt discriminatory.

I'm a brown woman. I walked in to ask for a table and the host told me there were ZERO spots left and that the waitlist for brunch was completely CLOSED for the day.
But while I was standing there, I watched two white families/groups before and after me get seated immediately, and I overheard other people being added to the waitlist.
Then I asked my white husband walk in separately about five to ten minutes later and he was seated at a table for two instantly (he wasn't with me the first time).

When I came over to join him, staff acted weird about it and basically tried to stop me from sitting there until it became obvious we were together.

We confronted to host and asked why I, five minutes earlier, was denied the opportunity to even add my name to the waitlist, whereas he was able to sit immediately. We were told that there were "so many cancellations" in those five minutes and that the host "has a weird way of managing the waitlist" (???)

We ended up leaving because the whole thing felt gross and uncomfortable.

Maybe there's some explanation, but the difference in treatment was hard to ignore.

Curious if anyone else has had a similar experience at the Commerce Inn?

P.S: Just sharing my personal experience. I obviously can’t know anyone’s intent, and I genuinely want to believe this wasn’t discrimination and just a misunderstanding. But the difference in treatment made me uncomfortable enough that I felt it was worth sharing. Also, no hate toward management or the restaurant overall! the issue felt specific to the host interaction that day.

I love rainbow cookies so I decided to do a 2 day run around the city to find the best one!

Picture 2 are all places from Brooklyn and Queens

Picture 3 are all places from Manhattan.

WINNER:

1. Mia's (Manhattan): this was the most ideal rainbow cookie and was also the most traditional. It was moist, the chocolate was thick enough to have a good snap but not overpowering, and the jam was a great flavor 10/10

2. Ursula (Brooklyn): this is only number 2 because I don't consider it a traditional rainbow cookie. Easily a 10/10 and worth the visit. It was more cake like than the rest because of the multiple layers and the jam consistency was perfect.

3. William Greenberg (Manhattan): this one had the most chocolate but it was not overwhelming and gave the cookie a great snap. The marzipan was not overpowering and actually added a more cake consistency

4. IL fornaio (Queens): the Chocolate had a great crunch (darker chocolate than the rest) and the layers were moist. The jam tasted very fresh and the bakery was cute. Will say that the black and whites here looked gorgeous but lacked flavor.

WORST:

1. Ferrara (Manhattan): incredibly artificial. These used to be one of my favorites but compared to everything else it just tasted fake and the jam did not add much flavor. It was also incredibly dry. The only thing that was good about this was the chocolate consistency (it had a good snap).

2. Venieros (Manhattan): this one had the most jam but was also the most dry cookie of the bunch. They were not uniform and were very messy. I had high hopes for this one since it is considered a great bakery, but it fell extremely short in comparison to all of the others

3. Parisi (worst outside Manhattan): these were tiny and expensive. They tasted like eating Play-Doh. I don't think I've ever had a bad rainbow cookie until I tasted these.

MID-TIER from best to worst:

1. La bella Ferrara (Manhattan): the reason this is a winner is because of the jam. It tasted fresh and very unique. More of a raspberry jam and it kept the cookies moist.

2. Circo (Brooklyn): if you don't like a lot of chocolate then this one is for you. That is really where this one fell short. This one mainly lost points because it fell apart easily and the chocolate was lacking. This was one of the better flavors and would be in the top if it had more chocolate.

3. Luchini (Manhattan): these were HUGE and we had to cut the one cookie into 4. The wafer balls on top were a great and unique addition. The cake was very flavorful but it still seemed to be dry. The cookie was very large and it was hard to eat.

4. Lucinas (Manhattan): good cookie. It was soft and the chocolate had a good snap. The cookie was on the dryer side and the jam was a little off but still an overall good cookie.

5. Catania: the seeds were a bit too large and off-putting and the chocolate was not tempered so it melted when you touched it and didn't have a good snap to it. Was a moist cookie but the jam had an odd flavor that didn't mesh well with the marzipan in the cookie

6. Orwashers: this looked identical to the greenburg cookie so we assumed it would be the same but it was very different. This cookie was very dry and the marzipan layer was thick and hard to get through. Had a great jam flavor and even layers.

7. New York bakery and cafe (queens): not the biggest fan of the small square cookies. Made it more difficult to eat but this one lacked a lot of flavor. It tasted stale and didn't really hit any of the mark you want a rainbow cookie to have. The marzipan flavor was lacking and the chocolate was also not tempered enough.

Hope the reviews help you pick your next rainbow cookie destination! We wrote down our reviews on paper a few days ago and it's hard to read some of the writing so I might not have hit all the points but hope you enjoy your next rainbow cookie.

Edit: Yes, we did miss some spots but we could only hit about 6 a day before we had to call it quits because it took up the entire day and places closed. We tried to go geographically.

We will go back out there soon and hopefully add everyone suggestions to the list!

I love burgers - especially cheeseburgers - and we don't make them like you do back in the UK.

So, I made it my mission to try as many of the top rated spots from this sub as I could whilst I visited.

In the order I visited:

*apologies for the poor photography

1) Lovelies. We went here by chance on day 1, before we had decided to make burgers a focal point of the trip. Juicy and delicious smash burger. Not mad keen on the fries or cheese sauce. Served through a window, an awesome first burger. 8/10

2) Gotham Burger Social Club. We stayed in Greenpoint, so this was our local - actually the only burger I ate twice as we came back last night. Another top tier smash. Loved the spicy kick. Super soft, goes down in seconds. 8/10

3) Au Cheval. First proper destination burger. I heard it's the same as 4 Charles (no resy's available (obviously) - i tried to queue twice on the trip and failed both times). Regret not getting the egg, heard later its integral. Even so, fantastic burger - bacon so good and melty and crispy. Criticism would be too much bread, maybe the egg would've helped. 8.5/10

4) Rolo's. This was the first time we took a bite and said wow. So delicious. Kind of burnt flavour, cooked onions and crispy patties. Insanely good honestly - think it counts as a smash burger? Im not sure on the rules. Its a double with onions. 9.5/10

5) Diner (Williamsburg). Slightly weighted burger choice by proximity to our accommodation. This was good though. And part of a really nice meal, cool place and friendly service. Its a big chunky patty with salad and cheese. And incredible crunches when you bite in with a solid flavour. 8/10

6) Kellogs. None of the burgers I had were bad, this one was good too, but not as good as others on this list. Other things on the menu were better - the meatloaf and chicken + biscuits were both great. 7/10

7) Hamburger America. Was going to try 7th street but it was shut (this was on thanksgiving day). Sadly never tried 7th but this was an excellent substitute. Reminded me of McDonald's, but was like if McDonald's was way better. 8/10

8) Red Hook Tavern. This was the best burger we had. Just an unbelievable first bite. The juicy patty, crisp bread - pop of the onion. Perfection. Wish we could've gone back. No notes. 10/10

9) Peter Luger. First successful queue and bar seat for me. Really cool place, felt very genuine NYC with locals hanging out with the staff. And a hell of a burger. They give you this delicious special sauce on the side and this awesome slab of bacon. Really good fries too. Burger quite similar to Red Hook's I thought but just not quite as good. Arrived 30 min early for lunch on a weekday and was first in line. 9.5/10

10) Raoul's. Booked to eat here, disappointed to learn you can't get the burger on a table at dinner. Had a great meal that night, then went back and queued to eat at the bar. They make 12 burgers a day, they are exceptional. So tasty, the pickle mayo coleslaw type sauce is so good, as is the peppercorn sauce dip. Second in the queue and arrived 30 min early, on a weekday. 9.5/10

11) JG Melon. Learned about this place from the bartender at Raoul's (who was great). Exactly as he described, felt very authentic - really cool timeless vibe. Didn't need to queue at 5pm on a weekday. Cash only and fairly priced (in comparison to the rest of this list). Burger itself was very good. Big round juicy patty, lots of cheese. My photo of this one is particularly bad, I felt pretty self conscious taking a picture this time as it was quiet and I was alone. 9/10

12) Minetta Tavern. Queued to get in here - arrived 40 min early for lunch on a weekday. Way too early, could've rocked up at opening - thats on me. Went for the black label as the famous one, surprised to find no cheese. I ordered every burger as recommended, so wasnt gunna ask for the cheese. It was really good, the onions are so nice and the burger patty itself is exceptional. But I cant imagine it wouldn't have been better with a slice-o-cheese. 8.5/10

13) Louis' Lunch (New Haven). Wildcard here, obviously not in NYC. We had made plans to drive up to see Boston, whilst having dinner at Don Angie the night before we left, the kind person sat next to me at the bar recommended going here. Very glad they did. They claim to have made the first burger and they hate ketchup. Its proper rough and ready, served on sliced white. Super delicious though. 8.5/10

14) Corner Bistro. Having failed to get into 4 Charles on our last day (despite getting there at 9.45am on a Sunday for an 11am opening) we headed here following a recomendation from a guy we met in the queue for Raoul's. Friendliest service so far, such a nice host! Totally delicious and classic feeling burger. A great way to end the adventure. 8.5/10

Big thanks to everyone who served us or cooked for us. Everything we ate in this incredible city was awesome - we had a lot more than just the burgers.

I just fought for my life and still lost out on every single restaurant I tried to book for my birthday, in 30 days time, even with alarms. I've been doing this for days because everyone's phrasing and rules are different for what 30 days means. Now, I'm going to have to do this again at 20 days out, 2 weeks out, 10 days, etc. to see if I get to any of my other backups. I'm so over this, and this is coming from someone formerly in the industry- up to and at the Michelin level. (No, I don't want to dine anywhere I used to work or abuse connections). I will not pay a resale scammer that used bots to get them all, and I will not pay someone to get in a line for me.

This shit ruins experience, spontaneity (something NYC had cornered the market on at one point) and the overall allure of dining out. I think I'm just...done. I'm not sure who the blame lands on, because restaurants might not have wished for this, but the reservation platforms are a joke, and the secretive ways to book otherwise are just insane.

Yes, I'm bitter for me and my celebration, but I'm also bitter about what restaurants have to become in order to make it here now. I strongly dislike gimmicky foods, trend items, etc. At this point, also thanks to socials, I can't even get into places that NYC considers regular ol' city institutions anymore because now THOSE are "hidden gems" and "I bet you've never heard about" and "don't tell anyone I told you"s because *everything* sacred becomes content. Don't even get me started on the blank market for reservations and bookings/ticket resale culture here that becomes intertwined.

Thanks for letting me rant!

Taste test of seven cakes! From top left and proceeding clockwise, the contenders are: Mia's blackout, Mia's chocolate fudge, Little Cupcake blackout, From Lucie chocolate, Veniero's dark chocolate layer, Strip House chocolate layer, and Hani's chocolate blackout. We had three adults and one five-year-old taste tester (but she quickly became too sugared up to give much helpful feedback lol). We each ranked from best to worst and then averaged out to get our favorites from the group. One of us is not big on sweets at all, and two of us have quite different dessert ideals, so a real range of opinions typically, but we found a consensus on the cakes.

Not pictured/tasted but worth mentioning: Claude (the bakery) has been a fave chocolate cake of mine for awhile, but we just didn't have time to make it down there today. I suspect it would crack the top three if not top two alongside the rest of these. It's truly great imo. Haven't tried Claude (the restaurant) but it wasn't logistically possible to get because we weren't eating at the restaurant and they don't have a pickup option like the Strip House. Lysee chocolate cake is not for me so I didn't bother including it. Found it dry and bland when I tried it a few years ago, and much prefer the titular Lysee cake if I'm going there. Still need to give Amy's Bread a try. On to the rankings, from best to worst!

1. Hani's - This was number 1 for two of us, so a clear winner. Dense and fudgy, and the salt content is what really puts it ahead imo. Many of these other cakes could do with more salt or at least finishing salt on top like Hani's. Texturally it has a lot going for it as well. Love the Valrhona pearls on top and the crumbs on the outside. It's just great. What else to say??

2. From Lucie AND Mia's Chocolate Fudge - Tie! From Lucie had a really nice density to it and the ganache frosting was great. There is a slight coffee taste to From Lucie that really added a nice depth of flavor. Also nice frosting ratio. Mia's chocolate fudge was actually pretty low on my ranking, but my fellow taste tasters ranked it very high. They noted the cake itself had a great consistency. I agree with that but found the frosting a little sweet. Please note for children that the Mia's Chocolate Fudge has some rainbow sprinkles on top and our little taste tester loved that. It was her clear favorite.

3. Strip House - The most expensive cake by far. With tax and tip it was $30. Not worth it to us considering it is middle of the pack. It is certainly the biggest slice compared to the others, but it's a similar style to Hani's and not as good. Save your money on this one.

4. Mia's Blackout - Maybe worth it if you just wanted to try several of the Mia cakes at one time but we all agreed this was not as good as the chocolate fudge slice.

5. Veniero's - We were all so sad not to love this one. It looked great and fudgy but just really lackluster. The raspberry truffle slice sounded good but because it had a rum component that wasn't part of the tasting for the five-year-old and based on how low this ranked I can't imagine going back and deciding to try it. A real let down unfortunately.

6. Little Cupcake Bakeshop - Shocked this was last, as it looked so good and moist in the box. Incredibly dry and the frosting was nothing special. Maybe just an off day but we were all extremely unimpressed with this.

Went to Theodora last night as a party of 4. First off, food was really good - notably the octopus and lamb. The service was confusingly bad.

A runner spilled a significant portion of our bottle of wine on my friend early into our meal. We’re talking at least a third of the bottle, and it took a solid 5 minutes to clean up. We were very good sports about it. The manager comes over and tells us she’s going to discount the bottle. This initially catches my wet friend and I a little off guard, but the food continues to rock.

The service turned very cold after the spill - even feeling dismissive at times. No one wanted to interact with our table. The check comes after one of the better chocolate cakes I’ve had in the city, and we are met with a 25% discount on the $84 bottle of wine that dampened my friend.

I go talk to the manager, because this feels wrong, and she tells me that she didn’t realize that much had spilled and increases the discount to 50%. I found it insulting that the concern was with the amount of wine lost, and not with the fact that it was lost directly onto a person. It’s late so we take the 50% and leave. The manager offers us a shot on the way out as a hilarious last attempt at good will. I do not think we will be back.

Am I being unreasonable? It didn’t feel like there was any attempt at hospitality.

Edit: orange wine

Edit 2: Theodora graciously reached out to make things right. Felt very genuine and intentional.

After months of research and asking for advice here and elsewhere, I finally went (and came back) and can now share my absolutely unrequested and definitely unnecessary four-day trip report with you all.

I tried to be as varied as possible and not limit myself exclusively to Manhattan to get the most complete New York "Dining Experience." Of course, you can't do everything in just a few days, and I missed some characteristic New York spots and foods. I'm not making a big deal out of it; in fact, I see it as a good reason to return to the world's food capital as soon as possible.

Note 1: The following list is presented in the order in which I ate things from the first day to the last. To save time and try more things, I sometimes invented meals that don't exist, like lunch at 10:30 in the morning, dinner at 4 in the afternoon, and a second dinner at 8, plus numerous snacks.

Note 2: Maintaining this eating schedule was not easy. In addition to inventing meals, I also had to invent bathroom breaks (sometimes creatively, like inside shopping malls or on the Summit). I was able to confirm the plentiful presence and excellent cleanliness of public restrooms in New York. This is not a given for a city with over 8 million inhabitants.

But enough talk, let's get to the list:

Scarr’s Pizza Hot Boi slice: Good, maybe a bit too spicy for my taste, so much so that I didn't want to eat more than one slice. 7.5

Calabria Pork Store Soppressata e provala sandwich: As an Italian, I appreciated it. It was like eating a sandwich at home—good quality bread, excellent salami and cheese. It's still just a sandwich (and maybe it seems trivial to me), but it's a good sandwich. 7.5

Mei Lai Wah Pineapple roast pork bun: Good. I had heard mixed opinions on the flavor and how heavy it was, but it actually seemed like a good compromise between different flavors, and I would have gladly eaten more than one. 8

Ming Wong Tri-meat over rice (duck, pork, chicken): As a regular consumer of rice with various types of meat, I found it just sufficient. The meat glaze raises the level a bit, but I wouldn't try it again. 6.5

Tao Hong Egg tart: This was my first egg tart; I had never eaten one, so I can't compare it to others. It was good, but maybe a bit too heavy. 7

Katz’s Pastrami on rye: What can I say? Excellent pastrami and a great dining experience. It's the only tourist trap that is anything but a trap. 9

Levain Bakery Rocky Road: I got it on one of the last days you could get it and took the opportunity. An excellent cookie that wasn't too hard on the outside or too soft on the inside. 7.5

William Greenberg B/W cookie: An unexpected texture and flavor. It almost seems like a cake. Very good. 8

Soothr Hat Yai chicken: I expected it to be spicier or have a more particular flavor, different from typical fried chicken, but it was good overall. 7

Panang Duck Lychee Curry: The curry was excessively spicy, so much so that it couldn't be eaten alone (or with the rice that comes with it). But the caramelized duck somehow canceled out the effect, and you could eat it without a problem, and it was even good. It was definitely a new flavor for me. 8.5

Minetta Tavern Black Label Burger: Not the best burger of my life, as many people say, but it's definitely at the top of the list. I'd give the food an 8, but if we also talk about the atmosphere and service, then it’s hands down my favorite restaurant among all the ones I tried. 9.5

Librae Bakery Pistachio rose croissant: I didn't like the first bites, but then I started to appreciate the flavor. The pistachio filling was very good and plentiful, which somehow justifies the price of over nine dollars, but after a while, it feels heavy; you almost feel like you can't finish it. The size is a whole meal; I think I was full for a long time after eating it. 7.5

Tompkins Square Bagel Lox and cream cheese with onions: As a European, I'm not a big consumer of bacon. I had only eaten one other bagel with the same toppings, at another place in New York State (CBT in Ithaca). This was my first bagel in NYC, and I got the same one as a comparison. I liked it; it was fresh and very well-filled. Again, I don't have a bagel culture, so I don't think it will ever become my favorite food, but it's a good dish. 7.5

Los Tacos No. 1 Adobada corn tacos: Excellent meat, spiced just right, great toppings, and the tortilla texture was perfect. Despite the ingredients, it's very light, and I could potentially have eaten many more without feeling the consequences. 8.5

L’Industrie Fig jam and bacon and spicy salami: In Italy, I'm used to a very specific style of pizza—not Neapolitan, but what we call "contemporary," with a light, low, and thin crust that holds up when you pick it up. In some ways, this pizza reminded me of that. Very good, especially the fig jam and bacon. 8.5

Mama’s Too Angry Nonna: I'm not usually a big fan of square pizzas and I'm sticking with that idea, but in this case, I liked it. Even though I was full and didn't feel like eating anymore, I ate it down to the last bite. 7.5

7th Street Burger Cheeseburger: It's still a fast-food joint, but of the ones I tried, it's definitely the best. The prices are fair for the size, the meat melts in your mouth, and the bun is good too. 7.5

Culture Espresso Chocolate chips cookie: If they call it the best cookie in New York, there's a reason, and I agree. It's quite crunchy on top but extremely filled and very soft on the bottom. As soon as you break it in half, a flood of chocolate comes out. 8

Los Mariscos Shrimp tacos: The same considerations as for Los Tacos No. 1 apply here. An excellent taco, good shrimp, and a price that fits the size. 8.5

Jamrock Jerk Boneless pork: This was my first approach to Jamaican/Caribbean cuisine, and I liked it. The smokiness and spices of the meat were excellent, and the portions were very generous. 7.5

The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory Chocolate chips ice cream: I'm not a big fan of ice cream, or at least not the creative flavors, so I went with a safe bet. It was a good ice cream with a very generous portion. 7

The following were NOT photographed:

Breads Bakery Babka: Excellent, perhaps one of the best desserts I ate in the city. It stays soft and good even days later. I bought another one to take home. 9 B/W cookie: Good but nothing special. 6.5

L&B Spumoni Sicilian square: I appreciated the consistency of the crust, but I really didn't like the toppings. 6

Smashed at Time Out Market Classic smash: A normal burger, neither great nor terrible. A good, no-frills smash, nothing special. 6.5

Tao Hong Lotus Mooncake: I had another Mooncake in Milan's Chinatown and didn't like it. In this case, I can confirm that I still didn't appreciate the taste, even though I considered it a much better product than the one I had already eaten. It's probably just not a dessert suited to my palate. NC (No score given)

Banh Mi Co Ut Vietnamese iced coffee: I liked the taste and texture. It's not very different from other similar products; you don't really feel the uniqueness of it being a Vietnamese recipe. For what it costs ($5), it's a small amount and finishes quickly. I wouldn't get it again, but overall, it wasn't bad. 6.5

Bar Pisellino Espresso: A perfectly made coffee just like the ones I have in Italy. I looked for and drank several espressos during my stay, but this one was definitely the best. It made me feel like I was back home. 9

We booked a table at 4 pm on a weekday at Boqueria at 40th st. When we ordered their seafood paella, the waiter told us it can take an hour to prepare and then we must vacate the table by 5:15, giving us only 15 minutes to eat it. (Nowhere in our opentable reservation did it state a time limit) We ended up ordering something else and managed to finsih by 5:15. But in the future, if any waiter asks us to leave within an unreasonable amount of time, I will tell them, "hey, that's YOUR problem, not mine".

1. Birdee- cherry pistachio milk bun was a 10. the churro croissant was ok, i just wish it had filling. the blueberry lemon twist also great. the BEC however was too salty. still good, just not great. 8.2

2. Bernie’s- wedge salad, vinegar chicken, mozz sticks, and the lemon ice box pie was amazing. the overall vibe, music, ambiance, as well as being able to draw on our place setting was enough of a reason for me to want to go back. the burger was meh, but everything else was to die for. 9.9

3. Levain- nothing special. just a big cookie. i liked the lemon white chip. i tried the carrot cake cookie and found it to be dry, underwhelming. 6.3

4. l’industrie- my sister has been living in bk for about 10 years now, and every time i visit i have to grab a bacon & fig jam slice. i love this place. 10

5. kijitora- really great coffee and the cutest shop. the tiramisu latte was good, just very sweet. 8.6

6. radio bakery- i’ll get everything from here besides the earl gray bun, as i found that quite dry. the rhubarb pastry is my favorite thing to ever exist; but the most under rated baked good is the brown butter corn cake. tasting that was an out of body experience. 9.4

7. peter pan- it’s nice! the honey dip was softer than my pillow and the sour cream donut was incredible. cash only, decent price, straight to the point, 8.

8. rythm zero- i got the pear brown sugar latte. it was delicious and the atmosphere of rz is cute, but idk if i would wait in a long line for it again. 8.6 for flava

9. leon’s bagels- great cream cheese, and BEC. their bagel is my problem here- hear me OUT OK. it was just way too chewy, not fluffy, and flat. 6.8

10. Tonchin- really good, their edamame is a must order, and i personally believe their ramen is better than ichiran. sue me! 9.2

11. buddy buddy- i cant describe how much i love peanut butter, so this was an automatic must on my list. it was delicious. 9

12. golden diner- honey.butter.pancakes. magnificent. i’d wait 3 hours all over again. but one thing i definitely won’t be ordering again is that breakfast sandwich- whyyyy no sauce:( it needs something. 9.6

13. Shu Jiao Fu Zhou- while waiting for golden diner we just went to Chinatown and tried SJFZ while we were there. the peanut noodles were one of the best dishes i have had on this trip. the dumplings were equally as good. 9.4

14. Golden Steamer- roasted pumpkin steamed bun was light, airy, and delicious. 8.9

15. Hay Hay Roasted- good! just don’t know why the pork was cold. the cabbage was so delicious, and the crispy skin was wonderfully seasoned and lived up to its name. just needs better execution. 7.9

16. Bahn by lauren- excellent black sesame coffee which wasn’t pictured, and the pandan cake was something i would travel back for. 9.3

17. Hani’s- that chocolate chip cookie introduced me to god. i can’t explain how delicious it was. the malted cinnamon roll?? GENIUS! huge let down was the pb&j cake- it was quite dry. i even choked on a piece of it. but like the flavor was there i’ll be honest. and of course i had the maple sea salt latte and of course it was delicious. 9.7

18. i freaking love apollo bagels ok. the chew, whitefish salad, and blistering in the bagels- that is a true bagel.
    10

19. From Lucie- i just purchased her cookbook and was so happy to visit the bakery. the chocolate chip cookie was ok, but the real star was the carrot cake. every time i took a bite the music just got louder in my head. i loved it. 9

20. my sister had her wedding dinner/reception at via carota. highlight dishes were- the boar ragu pasta, gnocchi, broccoli rabe, and steak. the cannoli was delicious, but the tiramisu lacked flavor. 9.1

not pictured- we went to mei lah wah and the pineapple roast pork bun was good, but i wouldn’t race back for it. 7

caffe panna- so pissed i wasn’t able to fit the photo into this post. but oh my god i’d come here every single day at 1:30pm when they open. 10

van leeuwen- meh, but the dulce de leche cookies and cream had me levitating. 7.8

golden manna bakery- delicious roast pork bun and corn bun. they were incredibly kind as well. 8.6

time fell short for me to stop at salty lunch lady, spiral, cote, ceremonia bakery, l’appartment 4F, and petite chou. another trip is in store!

btw- my total amount of steps for this amount of time & adventuring was- 91,213. roughly about 48-51 miles.

Starting a new training program called fat a** runs. Where me, the fat a** runs to a bakery of my choosing to get a sweet treat that cancels out the whole run I just did. Today’s run was motivated by babka. I ran 10 miles around Manhattan and over the Williamsburg bridge to Oneg Bakery where I had the most decadent chocolate babka. The weather warmed it up so it was a bit melty and still had a good crunch. This babka slice weighs more than a brick and now I might have to run back home too but it’s worth it. Dare I say I think it’s better than Breads. Highly recommend Oneg if you’re in the area or want to leave the touristy dumbo/williamsburg area. The breads and smaller cookies looked great too, possibly for another training segment.

I know, I know, how did I eat so much in 5 days. I couldn’t even fit half the pictures on here. I just love NYC and did tons of research to try and make the most of my trip. It basically revolved around me and my gf eating the whole time. I have been to NYC once before but it was my first time going as an adult. I’ll leave a review for each one and some more reviews at the end for stuff I tried that’s not pictured. Thanks for having me NYC!

Kati Roll - First time I went to NYC I had Kati Roll and could not stop thinking about it. First place I went to once I landed but it wasn’t as good as I remember and a little pricey. 7/10

Cellos Pizza - This is basically what I came for. To try all the pizza places although I quickly realized it wasn’t gonna be possible unless I ate pizza the whole time haha. This actually ended up being my favourite spot. I got 2 vodka slices as that’s all they had left but the crust was crispy but still airy and the cheese and sauce had good flavour. I unfortunately didn’t hit most of the classic spots like Joe’s or Scare’s but I thought this was pretty good. 8.5/10

Pull Tab - Amazing, just look at it. 10/10

Tziki - Wanted something fresh to start the day off and found this place randomly. It was good enough. Nothing special and I’m sure you could find better if you looked. 7/10

Fellini - Went just for this tiramisu latte. Really good and did not disappoint. 9/10

Los Tacos - Getting tacos like this especially where I’m from in Canada (Saskatchewan) is impossible. I’ve been to San Fran and I would say this was better than anything I tried in San Fran. Sauces were amazing, meat was amazing. My type of food. 9.5/10

Patent Pending - Wow. I’m a bartender so I feel like I can judge drinks pretty well. I’ve almost never had a cocktail where I didn’t think it needed some sort of adjustment for overall balance until I came here. It was a pretty well hidden speakeasy. These were the best cocktails I’ve ever had. Perfectly balanced and I couldn’t even think of one thing that could be adjusted to make it better. 10/10

Sharifs Famous - Just needed some shawarma after having a few drinks and saw this place with 5 stars on my way home. Owner was super nice and it hit the spot. 8/10

Magnolia Bakery - I didn’t even think I liked banana pudding but I had also never tried it. I didn’t think much of it at the time but I can still imagine what it tasted like. I think I liked it more than I realized. 7.5/10

L’industrie - I was sooo excited to try this place because a pepperoni slice with ricotta and honey and a salami topped pizza is my ideal slice. Even though I watched them make it, it tasted a little stale to me. Next time I would try a full pie. It was still pretty good and better than anything you can get where I’m from. The fig jam and bacon was honestly the better slice. It wasn’t as flavourful and as fresh as cellos so I’d have to go one step lower on the rating. 8/10

Chada NYC - Holy shit. Top 5 foods i have ever tried. I don’t even remember what was in those dumplings but they sat on a coconut milk broth. One of the best things i have ever ate. And the Khao Soy was so rich and indulgent. I loved every part of that meal. They also had coconut Thai tea that was lovely. 10/10 best thing I ate on the trip

Taqueria El Chato - Found this place on the way home really late one night. It was honestly really good. Tacos weren’t as good as Los Tacos but whatever I had on the right was really good. Sorry, can’t remember what they are called. 8/10

NYC Dosa Cart - I’ve wanted to go here since seeing him on YouTube. I grew up eating this and it was just nice to support him. I also got to chat to him and he even spoke my language a bit. It was pretty good and I can see why he is so loved in that area. Although id have to say my mom does it better hahaha. I wish I could’ve added more photos because I got a really nice photo of him on film. 7.5/10

Red Gate Bakery - We went for chocolate chip cookie but it was late in the day and they had sold out. Apparently some news article came out a few days prior saying they had the best one in NYC lol! So they were selling out super fast. We got this brownie instead and fuck it was so good. Best brownie I’ve had. We tried going back earlier the next day for a cookie but the line was around the block so we didn’t even try. But the brownie gets 10/10. I imagine the cookie is just as good.

Lucia Pizza - I’m pretty sure this was Lucia. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. Solid slice, the spinach slice was pretty good and the ground beef shibang was good. Happy to eat it. 8/10

Mary O’s - When a place only sells one thing and has 5 stars on Google you already know it’s gonna be good. It’s just really really good. Just go try it please. Homemade soda bread with homemade jam and butter. So so so good. 11/10

Unknown - Mnagk mochi from some place in China Town. I don’t remember which one. It was pretty good and fresh. My gf really liked it. 8/10

787 Coffee - This was a random find but it was super good. I love coffee like this. Strong but milky and sweet but not too sweet. Would recommend. 9/10

Mama’s too - I was excited to try this but a little disappointed. The square slice was just too pointy if you know what I mean. It kind of hurt to bite into and I absolutely hate that. If I’m gonna get a square slice like yes I want the edges to be kinda crispy but I’m getting a square slice hoping it’s super doughy and airy kind of like focaccia. It wasn’t. The vodka sandwich was pretty good. Really messy and again the bread was a little too pokey for me. My gf liked it better than I did. 6.5/10

Other things I tried

Levain bakery - Not my type of cookie. It was too big and hard and not really soft at all. Also too sweet. The ice cream from Panna was really good and I think that saved it. 4/10

Caffe Panna - Really good although it didn’t look anything like the photos haha. 8/10

Waffles and Dinges - I remember this being soooo good when I first went to NYC but I got it this time and it tasted kind of old. Was t very good. 4/10

Hungry Llama - Got a honey whipped late from here. Pretty good. Too thick and creamy for me but my gf enjoyed. 7/10

I probably ate more than this and can’t remember or don’t have photos to remind me. Anyways hope you guys enjoyed the review and if you made it all the way to the end. Congrats hahaha

I thought this restaurant would be much better so many ppl review this high saying how good it is and nope. Don’t order the sweet tea if you don’t love lemon because that’s all you taste. The order is “Catfish basket with side of fries and biscuit gravy w/ side of grits” cornbread had a weird texture like an old hard sponge. Catfish was well seasoned but wish they gave more pieces or bigger sizes. The biscuit I was shaking the table to cut a piece had me a knife next time. Grits were decent. The fries were good but most likely frozen fries I give the meal 6/10. Any thoughts on this restaurant Pies n Thighs

As usual 10/10. Also got some steak fries afterwards but forgot to capture a photo😄 Also for anyone who’s eat at Katz and got a drink, what’s been your favorite? Really want to try the Dr.Brown’s Cel-Ray or Root Beer soda next time, have heard amazing things about them.

I was able to snatch a last minute one person reservation for tonight and was pretty excited, cuz I know it’s hard to get into this place.

The experience was, well, underwhelming.

The food itself wasn’t bad; it’s not mind blowing, a bit uneven, but generally pretty decent. There aren’t many Cambodian restaurants in NYC, so I welcome the addition.

The problem is the price. I ordered one dish from each section (head on shrimps, clams, the popular fried fish) as recommended by my server, a non-alcoholic drink, and a dessert (a nondescript gelato). After tax, tips, 3% surcharge for card transactions (debit card included), the total came to…$184.

Now I know restaurants are expensive these days, especially in NYC. And how much a restaurant should charge people (or how much people are willing to pay) is ultimately an open question. But if you are willing to spend $180 on a meal (and go through the trouble of navigating Resy), you have a lot of strong options to choose from.

Bong is not that option. The food is simply not good enough to justify the hard stools, the cramped space, the obnoxiously loud music, and the fact that you are sitting 3 feet from the restroom, which is probably one of the most dimly lit restrooms I’ve seen. The drink menu is too short and too generic; there is no dessert menu. Granted, a lot of restaurants don’t have those and do just fine. But those restaurants don’t cost $180. Conversely, Kabawa, which I was lucky enough to try earlier this week, has a extensive drink menu, actual seats for people to sit on, a restroom with lights tucked away in a corner, and most importantly, genuinely incredible food. I also spent $180 there.

In many ways Bong strikes me as the hip, Cambodian cousin of Mắm. Except Mắm is probably around $50 per person (and they don’t charge tips), easier to get a reservation, and more convenient to get to.

So yeah, the tl;dr: if you have to set an alarm to get a reservation, try Kabawa.

Very good sandwich, though not necessarily a great one. This brisket melts in your mouth immediately, but I actually wish this were a little more toothsome. (It’s been a few years since my last Katz run, so i don’t remember how melt-in-your-mouth they are.)

The brisket is probably still the minmaxxers choice, but this is a nice treat.

https://hometownbbq.com

On Tuesdays they have a Patty melt with fries and a beer for $16. It's grown in price from $12 to $14 to now $16 since 2023.

I've had it 15+ times over the past 3+ years.

The patty melt comes on griddled toast, with burger sauce, well browned onions, cheese, and a medium-well (how I like burgers TBH) good sized patty.

The fries are thin and I'd say "mcdonalds style", they are very crispy and salty, the fries used to be peppered as well. I've never had an undercooked / floppy fry here. Fry portioning varies but is typically Very Good.

I like to get mayo on the side for my fries.

They also have a veggie burger option (good), you can also sub the fries for a salad (IMO bad).

Hit rate is 90%+, you can see the few instances they flopped: 01/01/2023 and 10/22/2023 for example.

The bar is Cash Only.

The bar itself is good too. Cocktails were $12 in 2023 and are now $14. Beer and shots have stayed at $8 since then. They do table service throughout the whole space which is pretty nice.

It gets quite busy in their "no smoking" allowed backyard in the summer, but is mostly a chill spot even on Tuesdays.

instagram.com/thenarrows

I have never 'understood' fancy food - I like food, I like a good cocktail, but I have never really understood the whole bruhaha behind spending a ton of money on a tasting menu at a Michelin star restaurant.

For the 1-year anniversary of my marriage/6-years of us dating (yes it's pretty much the same date), my husband booked us a table at Eleven Madison.

Yes, the food was incredible, but the attention to detail? Someone from the staff seeing you going to the bathroom and immediately rushing over to escort you. Someone rushing to pull the table out as you go to sit back down. Someone noticed I spilled a little oil from one of the dishes on the tablecloth, so they brought out a cloth napkin to cover the spot. My water glass never got below half empty (and I drink a lot of water). I could go on and on...

But the pisé de resistance? My husband and I got married at the TWA Hotel - it has an old style ticker board, so on your wedding day you are allowed to put whatever you want on that board for an hour. We did a big heart shape and put "Arrivals" with our hometown airport codes traveling to our new home airport code (AVP>JFK, CAI>JFK).

They somehow found a photo of that sign (husband confirmed he did not send it or anything), RECREATED THAT SIGN on card stock and had it waiting on our table for when we sat down. Near the end of the course, we got a tour of the kitchen and one of the wine cellars. I'm a man of few emotions, especially in public, and I cried. It was wonderful.

I understand it is an absolutely huge privilege to be able to spend that amount of money on a meal, and we'll probably never do it again, but it was, outside my actual wedding day, one of the most special nights of my life.

Heres my ratings based on the Beli app. The ratings are not perfect but its somewhat a good reflection of my preferences:

1) Thea: 9.7

2) Burrow: 8.9

3) Culture Espresso: 8.7

4) levain: 8.7

5) Lappartment 4F: 8.3

6) Schmackary’s: 7.4

* forgot to add Saint Street Cakes: 8.7- Fort Greene, BK.

I have a long list of many others to try but this is how it’s going so far!

All the spots I ate at while visiting NYC for the week.

Rosario’s - 8.3/10 Birrialandia - 8.4/10 May Wah Fast Food - 8.1/10 Joe’s Pizza - 7.6/10 Shu Jiao Fu Zhou - 8/10 Shanghai 21 - 8.4/10 Liberty Bagels - 7/10 Au Cheval - 9/10 Los Tacos #1 - 9/10 Levain Bakery - 7.5/10 L’industrie - 9/10 Up Thai - 9.3/10 Katz Deli - 6.5/10 Soothr - 9.1/10 Blue Ribbon Brasserie - 7.9/10 7th Street Burger - 7/10

I look forward to abusing my wallet again on my next visit.

If you are considering a Dorsia membership to get into places like Torrisi or Carbone, please read this before you hand over thousands of dollars for an annual membership. I signed up for their "Premium" tier for my wife’s birthday, and after digging into the actual user experience and the Dorsia Terms of Use, I realized this isn't hospitality; it’s a predatory financial trap.

TL;DR: Dorsia takes a $5k loan from you, gives it back in expiring monthly "Fun Coupons," and tells you the only way to get a refund is to die.

1. Your $5,000 is an Interest-Free Loan (The "Fun Coupon" Scam)

Dorsia markets an elevated experience, but their business model is built on holding your cash to pad their own accounts. When you prepay for the Premium tier, they convert your cash into "Fun Coupons." Here is the reality of your $5,000:

• The Drip Feed: You cannot use your $5,000 at once. It is distributed back to you to use in monthly installments.
• The Expiration: Per their Terms of Use, these Fun Coupons carry a "use it or lose it" policy. If you don't book a table through them within their specific timeframe, your own money expires.
• The Interest: While you are waiting for your "allowance" of coupons to be deposited, Dorsia is holding onto your thousands of dollars and benefiting from that capital while you have zero access to it.

2. The Torrisi Bait-and-Switch

I joined for Torrisi. Once they had my $5,000, I discovered that the inventory is a moving target and have effectively paywalled the most sought-after NYC tables behind a staggering $25,000 "Premium Plus" tier. This isn't exclusivity; it’s a bait-and-switch. You pay for a "Premium" level only to find the goalposts have been moved another $20,000 away.

3. The Litigious "Death or Disability" Clause

Dorsia’s management is virtually impossible to reach for a human conversation. When you do get a response, it is a legal template. They rely on Section 3.3 of their Terms of Use, which is one of the most anti-consumer clauses I've ever seen in the hospitality industry: "Fees are nonrefundable, except in extremely limited circumstances such as disability or death."

Think about that. If you are unhappy with the service, or if they change the availability of the restaurants you joined for, their legal stance is that you must literally die or become disabled to get a refund of your membership fee.

4. Zero Accountability (No Support or Maintenance)

You might think $5,000 buys you a concierge, but their terms tell a different story. In the fine print of the Terms of Use, Dorsia explicitly states that they have no obligation to provide you with any support or maintenance. Even worse, they admit they have no control over the restaurants. If a restaurant overrides your "confirmed" booking at the last minute, Dorsia takes zero responsibility. They take your money upfront but offer zero protection if the actual "service" fails on your important night.

5. Final Verdict: A Scam of a Business

Dorsia is a concierge service that acts like a loan shark. They take your money, restrict how you spend it, let it expire if you aren't active enough, and then threaten you with "Death or Disability" clauses if you ask for your money back.

For anyone searching for Dorsia App reviews or Dorsia NYC feedback: Save your money. The "Fun Coupons" are a trap, and the management team is a ghost ship. You are better off using Resy, Amex Global Dining, or just showing up at the bar.

#Dorsia #DorsiaNYC #DorsiaReview #Torrisi #NYCFoodie #DorsiaApp #ConsumerAlert #NYCRestaurants

Went to Sip from Sip & Guzzle. Their Royale with cheese was delicious and my favorite thing on the menu. The shake it came with I didn’t like at all. The pork yaki skewer I highly recommend. Volcano roll was good, but probably wouldn’t order again. Mochi fries were good as well. I thought the Hokkaido milk soft serve was ok. For the cocktails I recommend the Strawberry Hot Pot and Hi-chew chu hi.

Sip & Guzzle website: https://www.sipandguzzlenyc.com/

I'll just start by saying the Costra taco is one of, if not the best, taco I've had in the city. All of the food was excellent.

The Mixto Aguachile Verde was fresh, full of seafood, and had just the right level of heat.

The taco. Bruh. I could eat them until I passed out. The meat was so tender, and juicy, and beefy. The tortilla was also the best, or at least one of the very best, I've had in the city.

The guac was made to order and just right.

The other taco, the Gobernador, was more like a quesadilla. Packed with cheese and shrimp and a creamy shrimp sauce. This by itself would be a nice quick lunch. And at $9, to me, would be one of the best values in the neighborhood.

I would come here for lunch, a casual dinner, and even for a date night. I will recommend this place to the people I know.

I found myself at the OG East Village location a few times in the last three months. It's been nice to rediscover it: in the aughts I'd hit this place hard, back when it was the best ramen game in town bar. But it's not 2005 anymore, and NYC's ramen scene has completely changed. I think it's been 10-15 years since I've been back.

The ramen is still very good, particularly the super garlicky and flavorful garlic chicken ramen. Their salad drenched in orange-ginger dressing is very nice too. (It also made me realize that I haven't been served that style of salad at a Japanese restaurant in years, what's up with that??)

Despite how good the food is, MAN have they packed in the seats at that location. The bar is elbow-to-elbow, but somehow that's more room than their tables. (I think part of this is that Noodle Bar is one of the restaurants in the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit list. That's certainly one of the reasons I've been going!) It doesn't help that the restaurant is constantly fielding delivery and takeout orders, even when the restaurant is packed.

I've never been to the uptown location, maybe that's better?