With so many great bars and restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn to choose from, where do you begin? Recently I was in New York City to visit friends and had a marvelous time checking out new places and visiting an old favorite. Check out my list of suggestions for all types of trips:
First Stop: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
We met up for dinner at Juliette. Once inside, it’s surprisingly spacious for a city bar/restaurant. I started off with the signature cocktail, the eponymous Juliette Spritz, which was a delightful concoction of Contratto Aperitivo, Pamplemousse Rose and Blanc de Blanc. The cocktail list is lovely, with a mix of classic interpretations such as The Wild Bee’s Old Fashioned and Sleepytime Toddy alongside Thyme Out and Keep It Cumin. Juliette also serves local beers including those from Brooklyn and Bronx breweries. The wine list features primarily European vintages.
For appetizers, my gang and I tried the blistered shishito peppers and the warm cauliflower and leek gratin with aged white cheddar and brioche bread crumbs. I selected the Allen Brothers’ aged NY strip with blue cheese butter as my entree, which included pommes frites and watercress salad. My friend ordered the hand-cut steak tartare and toasted baguette. Those who are super-strict about gluten sensitivity may want to ask for a substitution on the pommes frites. Other foods with gluten may go into the same fryer, so there’s a chance of some exposure. 135 N. 5th St., Brooklyn, (718) 388-9222
Saturday Brunch: Herald Square
My friends recommended Friedman’s because I’m eating gluten-free. What a marvelous eatery! The menu indicated which items could be prepared gluten-free—and there are many. It’s rare to find a mainstream restaurant that can provide several options. I happily ordered the blueberry pancakes with Vermont maple syrup. My food came out with little “gluten-free” flags on it so there wouldn’t be a mix-up when serving. With a side dish of Applewood smoked bacon and a cup of coffee, I was ready for an afternoon of exploring. 132 W. 31st St., New York, (212) 971-9400
Sightseeing: Meatpacking District
I hadn’t yet been to the new location of the Whitney Museum of American Art, which opened in 2015. The Whitney’s collection spans the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with more than 3,000 artists and more than 22,000 works. We were lucky and had great weather, so we could use the external staircase, which also enabled us to enjoy beautiful views of the city.
The Whitney offers two dining options: Untitled (on floor one), a full-service contemporary restaurant that boasts delightful cocktail options such as the River Front, with vodka, lemon, creme de violette and sparkling wine, and The Biennial, with gin, honey, lemon and macari. Lighter fare can be found at Studio Cafe (on floor eight). 99 Gansevoort St., New York, (212) 570-3600
Afternoon Break: East Village
After walking around museums and markets, it’s great to take a break and find a place for a quiet drink or snack. We went to Greecologies and I ordered my usual: a decaf latte with almond milk. My friend ordered the matcha latte, which looked delicious. Greecologies also offers yogurt, smoothies and probiotic drinks and tea. You can tell that matcha is still a trendy drink because there was a packed place right next store called Cha Cha Matcha. 379 Broome St., New York, (212) 941-0100
Sightseeing: Chelsea Market
We walked through the Chelsea Market, which reminds me of a hipper version of our beloved Reading Terminal Market. This NYC landmark has great shops with gorgeous handmade jewelry and other fun items as well as a variety of food and beverage vendors with enough options to fulfill anyone’s culinary cravings. 75 9th Ave., New York, (212) 652-2110
Desserts to Go: Upper East Side
One night we hit Whole Foods and made dinner in, but we picked up some glorious desserts from Maison Kayser. The shop had two gluten-free offerings, and I picked the chocolate one. My friends split a decadent raspberry confection from the regular selection. This boulangerie originated in Paris, and we are fortunate to have these creations stateside. 1535 Third Ave., New York, (212) 348-8400
Sunday Brunch: Chelsea/Flatiron
I wrapped up my trip with a delicious brunch at Markt Restaurant. We’ve eaten here before and were happy to return because of its proximity to Penn Station. It’s a quick cab ride; if you’re in the mood to walk, it would take less than 20 minutes.
Because I indulged most of the weekend, I opted for a healthy but still delicious entrée, salade verte au saumon: grilled salmon filet and roasted plum tomatoes with brown butter-Dijon dressing on a bed of fresh greens. This classic Belgian brasserie also has amazing cocktails, such as the class Pimm’s Cup, with cucumber and lemon, or the Peartree, with IW Harper bourbon, pear nectar and rosemary syrup. Markt also has wine and, of course, Belgian beers. 676 6th Ave., New York, (212) 727-3314
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Fortunately, getting to New York City is easy even from the Philadelphia suburbs. You can catch Amtrak from the Coatesville, Downingtown, Exton, Paoli or Ardmore stations. You can also use Septa and NJ Transit lines as an alternative. If you head to the 30th Street Station, you can also grab a Bolt bus as a cheaper option. Take a day and treat yourself to a culinary tour around the city!
- Photos: Diane Cooney
