New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [178]
PIZZA THREE WAYS IN THE WEST VILLAGE
Slice
Flavor reigns at Bleecker Street Pizza (69 7th Ave. S, at Bleecker St. | 212/924–4466), where the thin-crusted Nonna Maria is topped with garlicky marinara, grated mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, and freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano. You may not find a seat inside tiny Joe’s Pizza (7 Carmine St., at 6th Ave. | 212/366–1182), but you will get one of the best versions of a purist’s New York slice.
Classic Coal Oven
Founded in 1957, Arturo’s (106 W. Houston St., at Thompson St. | 212/677–3820) is a double throwback: it’s a jazz bar and friendly neighborhood coal-oven pizza restaurant where crackly-crusted pies are a guarantee. If you can brave the organized chaos and the usual wait, a gooey meatball pie awaits.
Authentic Neapolitan
At the back of the long, narrow Keste Pizza & Vino (271 Bleecker St., between 6th and 7th Aves. | 212/243–1500) sits a beautiful, tiled, wood-fired oven that cooks Manhattan’s most authentic Neapolitan pies at 1,000 degrees. Blistered and chewy around the edges, each pie gives way to a softer center pooled with San Marzano tomato sauce and imported buffalo mozzarella.
AND FOR DESSERT …
Everyone loves beer, wine, and cupcakes, but only Sweet Revenge (62 Carmine St., between Bedford St. and 7th Ave. | 212/242–2240 | www.sweetrevengenyc.com) brings them all together in a cozy neighborhood spot. Vibrantly flavored and delicately rich, the cupcakes are the real draw. Nut-studded peanut butter–buttercream tops a moist, crumbly peanut-butter cake housing a chocolate ganache center you’ll want to measure out in every bite. Pair it with the suggested Argentinean red or German Hefeweizen or combine one of the other 15 wines and beers with a special cupcake of the day, such as the Very Strawberry, with fresh strawberries baked into vanilla cake topped with strawberry cream-cheese frosting. There are also sandwiches and savory cakes, but indulgence is a dish best served sweet. Ten dollars gets you a glass of sangria or wine and a cupcake from 4 to 8 pm Monday through Friday.
SPOTLIGHT ON UNION SQUARE WITH GRAMERCY, MURRAY HILL, AND THE FLATIRON DISTRICT
The blocks around Union Square and its open-air Greenmarket are filled with upscale foodie havens featuring market-driven menus. But fancy seasonal fare isn’t all the area offers: Curry Hill and Koreatown are just blocks away.
Some of the city’s most popular restaurants, including Craft and Union Square Cafe, are in the area northwest of Union Square, called the Flatiron District. The neighborhood is also a hot shopping destination, with plenty of refueling spots like City Bakery, a gourmet deli and sweets spot that’s a standby for many New Yorkers. Heading up from Union Square, Park Avenue South and streets nearby are packed with crowd-pleasers like Blue Smoke and Dos Caminos.
Lexington Avenue between 27th and 29th streets is known as Curry Hill (it borders Murray Hill) for its wall-to-wall Indian restaurants, spice shops, and takeout joints. The area near Koreatown, on West 32nd Street, between 5th and 6th avenues, may look deserted, as eateries often lack visible signage—it’s best to go with a specific spot in mind rather than try your luck window shopping.
BURGER BLISS
This area is prime burger turf. The Stand (24 E. 12th St., near University Pl. | 212/488–5900) offers upscale fast fare in a sleek setting. We recommend the bacon-and-egg cheeseburger, topped with cheddar and hard-boiled-egg mayo. For an Old New York feel, try the classic burgers at the Old Town Bar (45 E. 18th St., near Park Ave. S | 212/529–6732), where they’ve been serving ‘em up for more than 100 years. Or, if the weather is nice, head up to Madison Square Park, where burger lovers are always queued up at the original Shake Shack (23rd St. near Madison Ave. | 212/889–6600). Leave room for frozen custard.
THE GREENMARKET CHEF
The popular upscale restaurant Gramercy Tavern is famous the world over for its seasonal, produce-driven menu. Their top purveyor—the Union Square Greenmarket—is a stone’s throw away, at the northwest