“The New Yorker” once wrote, in a caption to a satirical cartoon containing mice on skates in Central Park’s Wollman Rink, “Why do we live in New York if we never do New York things?” Almost as a rebuttal, the author of “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck, once said that New York is “an ugly city, a dirty city. Its climate is a scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, its competition is murderous. But there is one thing about it – once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.” As Steinbeck describes, this vibrant and culturally diverse city is expensive, dirty and loud, yet still a home, and no place else can compare.
If its residents accept all of the city’s faults, it is important to remember from time to time to soak in the “New York things.” For example, the city is home to some of the world’s most unique and sophisticated restaurants. As native New Yorkers themselves, students at Fieldston shared some of their favorite restaurants near or in their respective neighborhoods of residence and what they love about them.
#1: Lure Fishbar
Located in Soho
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Form IV student Ella Eisenberg, who has resided in Soho all her life, shared that her favorite restaurant in this lively neighborhood is Lure Fishbar. This restaurant is known for its upscale seafood, but more specifically, its unique interior design, which “feels like you are about to enter into a subterranean secret society like the famous clubs from the 70s in the subway tunnels…[it] just signals New York City energy at the height of its power! The vibe is a cross between ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ and the restaurant scene from Woody Allen’s ‘Manhattan Murder Mystery.’ ” Eisenberg values this restaurant for its high-quality seafood, with her favorite appetizer being the crispy rice: “It is a sublime, tangy, crispy delight in two bites–crispy rice with spicy tuna dipped in a savory soy with the slightest hint of jalapeño spice.”
#2 Ippudo
https://ippudony.com/location/
Located in the East Village, Hell’s Kitchen and 5th Avenue
Price rank: $
Form IV student Helena Stark’s favorite place to eat is a Japanese ramen restaurant named Ippudo. Stark shared that she has been going to this restaurant with her family for years, saying, “Both the soup and the appetizers are great, and it feels so comforting…[Ippudo] never fails to deliver delicious soups and appetizers.” Stark argues that the best dishes at Ippudo are the classic tonkatsu and the pork buns which “burst with flavor” and are “warm and rich.”
#3 Felice
https://www.felicerestaurants.com/
Located on the Upper East Side, South Street Seaport, Midtown East, Upper West Side and West Village
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Alex Goldberg (Form IV), who lives on the Upper East Side, expressed that her favorite place to dine is Felice, an Italian restaurant with locations all over Manhattan. Felice is unique for its Tuscan-inspired food that transports its customers to the Italian countryside. Goldberg shared that her favorite item to order is the Crostone Ricotta served with bread for its freshness and appetizing combination of Italian linden spicy honey, figs, and sliced almonds.
#4 Malaparte
Located in the West Village
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Stella Brothers (Form IV) shared that Malaparte is her favorite restaurant in the West Village. Malaparte is distinguished not only for its incredible food or grandiloquent ambiance but also because it is a small and charming restaurant that not many people know about, only the locals. Brothers stated that her favorite dish is the Pappardelle, for its, “good ratio of pasta to meat…the bread is also really good. It’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.”
#5 Tempura Matsui
https://www.tempuramatsui.com/
Located in Midtown East
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Sarah Damon (Form IV) stated that her all-time favorite restaurant in the city is Tempura Matsui. As someone who has traveled to Japan for months at a time all her life, Damon has been exposed to authentic Japanese food for years, which Tempura Matsui truly masters. “Nestled in the heart of the city, the tempura restaurant delights patrons with its crispy and golden-brown tempura dishes, showcasing a perfect harmony of light batter and fresh, succulent ingredients,” said Damon. “It is authentic and the staff speak Japanese.” So, when in the mood for authentic, upscale Japanese food in Manhattan, Tempura Matsui is the place to go.
#6 Buddakan
https://buddakannyc.com/?utm_source=GoogleBusinessProfile&utm_medium=Website&utm_campaign=MapLabs
Located in the Meatpacking District
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My favorite NYC restaurant is Buddakan, for its unique dining with architectural flair. The setting can be described as a grand traditional Chinese restaurant when the Renaissance arrived in 1500s Paris. I went there for a friend’s birthday party at 9 pm when the vibe was more loungey and a dinner at 6 pm when the atmosphere was more family-oriented. Carnivores and vegetarians will love the food, which is American Chinese cuisine meant to be shared family-style. The Tai Shan Cauliflower and Crispy Tofu are some of their best dishes, in my opinion, because they mix sweet and savory with a little bit of heat. Surrounded by a long communal dining table that seats 24 with giant Botticelli-inspired paintings interspersed among dramatic Asian art, the place elevates a delicious dining experience. The restaurant is a visual expression of how I feel when I eat great American Chinese food.
