Located right on the water in Island Park (close to Long Beach), Paddy McGee’s feels like a local New England fish house where you’re just as likely to see the dudes who caught your fish eight hours earlier downing a beer and a bowl of chowdah at one of the outside bars. Local tip: it gets super crowded on the weekends, but in a fun way.
Paddy McGee’s Fish House & Bar
6 Waterview Road, Island Park, NY
516.431.8700
Gino’s is the main spot in Long Beach that surfers and locals hit to get their pizza fix, and their location right by the LIRR can’t be beat. The Sicilian and Grandma slices are almost as good as, er, Grandma’s!
16 West Park Ave., Long Beach NY
516.432.8193
Just up the block from the beach, George Martin’s Grillfire has got something for everyone: they accommodate large and small parties, have free delivery and a bar where you can get your drink on. You may not run into the 5th Beatle while you’re here, but you WILL get a discount on your order (including booze) when you show your Quiksilver Pro NY press pass!
152 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY
516-889-3366
Local-endorsed A Whale’s Tale is right by the beach, and straddles the line between bar and restaurant. Kick back at the bar with a cheap beer and some fish tacos or conch fritters (or the $10 unlimited lobster on Thursdays; call ahead to reserve your lobster), feed the jukebox some money, and watch the world go by.
(images courtesy Thomas Brookins)
916 W. Beech Street, Long Beach, NY
516.432.9587
Talk about a secret local spot! Colonie is located in a thoroughfare not exactly known for its culinary prowess, easily one of the best new restaurants in South Brooklyn. Yeah, we’ve been throwing around the words “seasonal” and “local”, but we really mean it. Portions aren’t huge, but they’re superb. The menu changes by, er, season, but we recommend the shrimp & grits, Brussels sprouts, and wines on tap.
127 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn
718-855-7500
French-Canadian diner M. Wells makes us ask, “Canadians, do you really eat like this?” Our Québécois friend says “Yes”, but he also bellows nonsensical French-Canadian curses when drunk. We’ll just go ahead and believe that our pals to the north always gorge on burgers the size of a small cow, sweetbreads, veal brains, and escargots and bone marrow.
21-17 49th Avenue at 21st St, Long Island City (Queens)
718-425-6917
The original Artichoke Pizza is a tiny takeaway storefront where you line up for the privilege of sitting on someone else’s stoop drinking a beer and eating the trademark slice: hearty crust loaded down with a gooey, burn-your-mouth hot artichoke and cheese combo. It’s sort of like artichoke dip on pizza, and is much better than you think. Check out their other locales if you want to have a proper sit down meal.
Artichoke Pizza East Village
328 E 14th Street btwn 1st & 2nd Ave
212-228-2004
Artichoke Pizza Chelsea
114 10th Ave corner of 17th Street
212-792-9200
Artichoke Pizza Noho
111 MacDougal Street btwn 3rd & Bleeker
646-278-6100
Chef David Chang is pretty much like a rock star here in NYC. He came, he saw, he totally kicked ass. The theme may be primarily Asian, but there’s tons of fusion thrown in, and we don’t mean it in a PF Chang’s kind of way. Pork abounds, and the “crack pie” (that’s chess pie to you Southerners) at Milk Bar is truly addictive.
171 1st Avenue btwn 10th & 11th Street, East Village
15 West 56th Street btwn 5th & 6th Ave, Midtown
212-757-5878
Momofuku Milk Bar East Village
251 E 13th Street corner of 13th Street & 2nd Ave, East Village
15 W 56th Street btwn 5th & 6th Ave, Midtown
382 Metropolitan Avenue at Havemeyer, Williamsburg
163 1st Avenue, btwn 10th and 11th Street, East Village
207 2nd Avenue, corner of 13th St, East Village
You don’t need to be down with the great Alsatian chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (he of Spice Market, The Mark, and Mercer Kitchen) to enjoy ABC Kitchen. So named because it’s located inside ABC Carpet & Home (one of the best, most pricey home wares stores in the city), this could be the healthiest meal you’ll have while visiting. Try the crab toast, sweet pea soup, and ricotta ravioli. Tip: the wait can be super long, but they do accept reservations. Call now. We mean it.
35 East 18th Street (btwn Broadway & Park Ave), Union Square
212-475-5829
Word of warning: Blue Ribbon Sushi is so good that you’re gonna have to wait a long time if you go during prime dinner hours. It, however, is totally worth it. Just make sure you don’t get it confused with their brasserie down the street – Blue Ribbon is somewhat of an independently owned empire. Order the Kanpachi Usuzukuri – you won’t regret it.
SoHo: 119 Sullivan Street, 212-343-0404
Mid-Town: 308 W. 58th Street, 212-397-0404
