Devi, Union Square, New York City

Paneer Bhurji Tacos

Veg Malai Tikka

Shahi Tukra

So, one day for lunch I was deciding whether to have Mexican or Indian... Ended up selecting Indian, but Devi offered much more than that! The restaurant's fusion menu allowed me to satisfy both my Mexican and Indian cravings. Being restaurant week, we got to participate in the three course meal for $24. For appetizers, we tried the Vegetarian Malai Tikka with Eggplant Chutney & Avocado Salad as well as the Paneer & Zucchini Kali Mirch Tikka. For main course we had the Paneer Bhurji Tacos (lol, yes tacos). For dessert, we had the Shahi Tukra (Indian bread pudding) and the Lemon Cardamom Tart with Lime Mint Sorbet. Everything was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant for a tasteful Indian fusion meal!

HanGawi, Midtown, New York City

Avocado Bibimbap

Pancakes

HanGawi offers delicious vegetarian Korean food in a traditional and authentic setting. You must remove your shoes before being seated at the low-lying tables. The decor was very cozy, however I was not very pleased with the service. For appetizers, we had the Combination Pancakes which consisted of leek, kimchi mushroom & kabocha pumpkin and mung beans. Our main course was the delicious Organic Avocado Bibimbap served with brown rice. I also had the Rose Green Tea which was fab. Great place to eat at if you're looking for unique and yummy food!

121 Fulton Street, Financial District, New York City

Banana French Toast

Brunch... The most popular meal in the city... We randomly stumbled across 121 Fulton Street in search of breakfast food in the Financial District and were quite pleased with our experience. The restaurant had a brunch special: One breakfast item + unlimited Bloody Marys or Mimosas for two hours, all for just $20! They were out of Belgian Waffles, so I ordered the Banana French Toast (Caramelized bananas, cinnamon, and sugar) and tried both cocktails. Apparently this sort of brunch deal exists all over New York, but if you happen to be in the Financial District over the weekend, do check this place out.

Delicatessen, Soho, New York City

Margarita Mac

Cocktails

Typically, I would NEVER order Mac n Cheese at a restaurant... But at Delicatessen, that was impossible to adhere to. This lively Soho restaurant is known for it's variety of Macaroni n Cheese (known as 'Macbar') as well as Burgers. We had the Grilled Artichoke Heart and Tomato Panzanella Salad, followed by the Margarita Mac (fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, parmigiano, fresh basil) which was delicious! The outdoor atmosphere is refreshing, especially in the summertime. There's also a hidden inside section with sofa-lounge style seating (you'll see it on your way to the restroom). The central Soho locations makes Delicatessen a great venue to hit up after you've finished shopping in the area.

Eataly, 5th Avenue, New York City

Cheese Plate

Eataly

Do NOT miss this place the next time you're in New York! Eataly's motto is: "We cook what we sell and we sell what we cook." A supermarket with seven restaurants inside, Eataly gives you the option to taste before you buy. There are different sections for cheese, pasta/pizza, fish, meat, wine, coffee, etc. If you're a true Italian fan (like me), you could spend hours at this place looking around and tasting the various items they sell. I visited with my cousin and we opted for a cheese platter with red wine pairing. The cheeses we sampled included: Ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, Marzolino, Taleggio, and Gorgonzola Dolce. Interestingly, the waiter told us the wine we had is only imported and sold by four retailers in the US. We also stopped by the coffee section (Lavazza Caffe) for an espresso on our way out... It did not disappoint! :-)

The Stanton Social, Lower East Side, New York City

California Style Veggie Slider

Baby Spinach Salad

Red Velvet Twinkies

"Social" is the exact word that comes to mind when I remember my amazing experience at The Stanton Social in the Lower East Side. This was the favorite meal of my trip and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a fabulous dining experience in New York. Exhibiting a resto-lounge sort of feel, The Stanton Social is a great place to dine with friends if you're up for a fun and posh night out. The dishes are tapas style and tasted incredibly good (the waiters offered brilliant recommendations)! We tried the: Potato & Goat Cheese Pierogies, Thai Sesame Noodle Salad, Baby Spinach Salad, California Style Veggie Burger Slider, and the Red Velvet Twinkies for dessert. I also feel the dishes were reasonably priced and that the restaurant had high value for money. It does gets very crowded (especially on weekends), so be sure to make reservations!

Zerza, East Village, New York City

Saganaki

Baby Arugula & Pear Salad

Zerza is a quiet and cozy Moroccan and Mediterannean restaurant located in a downstairs space in the East Village. The service was slightly sloppy but the food was decent. We had the Mezze Plate which included Hummus, Babaghanough, and Bakoula served with pita bread. I love the Baby Arugula and Pear Salad which was very well prepared! The Saganaki (marinated and fried sheep's milk feta cheese with honey) was also very tasty if you're a cheese lover like me. We also ordered the Vegetables Couscous and the chocolate cake for dessert which was yummy, but took forever to arrive!

Jaiya Thai, Gramercy, New York City

Thai Basil

Papaya Salad

My go to Thai restaurant... Jaiya Thai offers the best authentic and spicy (on request) Thai food in New York City. The food has remained consistent for years (I started coming here in 2006) and the service is incredibly quick! Recently, I had the Papaya Salad, Thai Basil with Tofu, and Pineapple Fried Rice. Other popular dishes include the Tom Yum Puk soup and the Green Curry. I also heard they opened another location on the Upper East Side which is apparently better in taste and quality than the original. Spicy really means *spicy* so order accordingly! :-)

Petite Eats in New York City

New York is an amazing city for food! This post is dedicated to the small bites I relished on my most recent visit...

Kati Roll Menu

Kati Roll Company
Greenwich Village
I love the Achari Paneer rolls, especially after a good night out (junk food)! You get two rolls for $10. The Chicken Tikka roll is popular among non-veggies.

Mamoun's Falafel

Mamoun's
Greenwich Village or East Village
One of the best falafel pita sandwiches I've ever tasted! Everything is prepared fresh and they still charge just $2.50 for each. Also makes for good junk drunk food or a light snack. The hummus and tabouleh are good as well. Spice lovers - add the hot sauce to your pita if you dare!



Shake Shack

Shake Shack

Madison Square Park
This place has a line any time of the day, rain or shine. I waited in line on a Wednesday afternoon in the rain for about 20 minutes myself to get the divine 'Shroom Burger (crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and chedder cheeses, topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce). The frozen custards are also delicious!

Magnolia Cupcakes

Magnolia Bakery
Greenwich Village or Rockefeller Center or Grand Central Terminal (check for other locations)
My personal favorite for cupcakes! Made famous by Sex and the City, I quite love the original location on Bleecker Street and used to walk from my apartment in TriBeCa just to have a cupcake. The vanilla butter cream frosting cupcakes are what I like best and they're priced at $3.50 each. Also, the Banana Pudding is excellent and a must try!

Georgetown Cupcakes

Georgetown Cupcakes
Soho
This bakery was new to me but I gave it a try and thought it was good. What I really liked about the place was it's cupcake variety- over 20 types of flavors including Cookies & Creme, Cinnamon, Chocolate Mint, etc. I had the Red Velvet one and thought it was good. Priced at $2.75 each.

Baked by Melissa
Soho or Union Square (check for other locations)
These bite-sized stuffed cupcakes truly satisfy a sweet craving. Plenty of variety where flavors are concerned and they're priced at $1.00 each.