Eating My Way Through NYC

…are we surprised? Of course not. In December, I spent about a week in NYC visiting my childhood BFF who just moved the city. The trip started with my mom surprising me at the airport (I died y’all…so fun. so cute). She stayed for a couple days and then Peyton was planning to come for the ~day of my birth~ so I had a few days completely alone in New York City. After breakfast, we would make the trek down to SoHo to drop my friend off at work and then I had a few hours by myself between breakfast + lunch and lunch + dinner which was so fun — there is just something about being alone in a big city that makes you feel so independent.

My mom and I used to travel to New York during the holidays with my friend who lives there and her mom (and now she’s living there – wow! proud), so I already had a list of trusty favorite spots but I was already adding places to my list before I even booked my flight to LGA…oops.

Ok, let’s get on with it. Here are my top favorite NYC restaurants we ate at and what I loved.

CATCH

Y’all. This food was UNREAL. Like no joke, the best shit I have ever put in my mouth. This was my birthday dinner so it was definitely a splurge, but I genuinely, full-heartedly believe it was worth it and I will happily pay the price for it again. Peyton, my friend and I ate here on our last night in town and we just ordered a bunch of food for the table; some favorites include the mojito (not a big rum girl but this was soo good), lobster mashed potatoes, filet skewers, roasted brussel sprouts, sushi (the catch roll and the california roll were delish), and most importantly the hit me cake. YOU GUYS. That cake was the whole reason we came and it did not disappoint.

sarabeth’s

I am a biiig breakfast girl so I LOVED this Gossip Girl location. I feel like in our first trip that we took freshman year of high school (? I think?) we were so into checking out every GG spot, but we somehow missed this one. I like to think I’m very picky when it comes to pancakes — in reality I would probably happily eat any pancake, but these were the best I’ve ever had (genuinely). They were covered with fresh strawberries and the bacon was crunchy and ugh. So good.

CAFE SELECT

Eating here was completely an accident. We were planning on going to Jack’s Wife Freda but the wait was too long. Apparently this is a v hot location for spotting celebs, but we only saw a Blake Lively look-a-like. I don’t have a pic or a specific item bc the mimosa was…a little strong. I looked for the menu online and could not find what I had, but it involved a swiss hashbrown base with prosciutto and a fried egg on top…and y’all. It. Was. HEAVENLY.

Jack’s wife freda

This is a classic NYC trip staple. I love the Chicken Prego sandwich with fries (ugh so hungry typing that), but their Mediterranean Breakfast is also incredible. I accidentally ordered bottled water for the table bc I’m an idiot but we’re moving past it because the food is that good.

veselka

I absolutely saved the very best for last. Veselka has always and will always be my all time favorite restaurant ever since the first time we came to the big apple (haha almost got through an entire post without using that term I hate myself). Both my family and Peyton’s family have Polish roots and we were both born and raised on pierogis — we have had the real deal, authentic Cleveland version several times, but nothing will ever compare to Veselka (I bought my mom their cookbook for Christmas…definitely may have been more of a gift for me). Another location that I, of course, don’t have any photos from. I love my pierogies boiled and P prefers his fried, so we ordered a combo with a variety of fillings (meat, potato and cheese) — HIGHLY recommend the boiled potato ones and the fried meat ones. They’re beef stroganoff is also delicious. You really cannot go wrong with anything from Veselka!!!