It may be Italian in name, but this Manhattan neighbourhood is as diverse as they come when it comes to cuisines. Check out some of the best with our handy guide.
In New York City, smoked salmon is considered a seafood staple. Few places make the Jewish dish as well as the 1914-established Russ and Daughters Cafe. The Manhattan appetizing store and café particularly specializes in Nova smoked salmon along with pastrami-cured salmon, herring, caviar, and much more.
Boasting several New York locations (the Nolita address is a fan-favorite), Seamore’s is the city’s premier seafood chain. Crowd-pleasing plates of seared and crispy fish tacos on corn tortillas and Maine-style lobster rolls, plus a weekday Oyster Happy Hour, continue to reel in customers.
Don’t let taiyaki’s literal translation—“fried fish”—fool you; the Insta-worthy offerings at Taiyaki NYC are sweeter than Snapper. Here, fish-shaped waffle pastries are baked and filled with sweet red beans, custard, or soft-serve ice cream in Asian-inspired flavors such as matcha and black sesame. Enticing seasonal specials, including pumpkin spice soft-serve and croissant taiyaki, make this Chinatown creamery a year-round destination for New York City dessert lovers.
Behind a (highly Instagrammable) dusty pink door lies the Cafe At Sel Rrose, the little sister of beloved Bowery cocktail and oyster bar Sel Rrose. Here, chocolate croissants and Tuscan kale salads are enjoyed alongside Counter Culture coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos and, naturally, plenty of camera phone photographers.
With its $20 price tag, Gelso and Grand’s Unicornolli is as lofty and intriguing as its namesake creature—and every bit as magical too. Two unicorn-inspired fillings, lavender-berry and funfetti cake, along with toppings, including mini macarons, rainbow sprinkles, and a bite-sized slice of funfetti cake, make this super-sized dessert well worth every cent.
Of course, New York City has a “showcase ramen shop.” At Ramen Lab, “craft ramen” is what’s on the (ever-evolving) menu, which has been known to feature out-there ingredients such as lobster oil and pork ribs. A rotating cast of chefs and an affiliation with artisan noodle-giant Sun Noodle ensure every experience at the Lab is as fresh as it is flavorful.