5th Annual “Where-To” Guide to NYC
Where to Eat:
B. Community Favorites
Eat like you live here, even if you don’t; our LGBT-friendly faves.Lola’s Restaurant 15 Watts St (@ Thompson St), lolaissoul.com. We’re “souled” on Lola’s rhythm and blues lounge where many dollars will buy you crabcakes, beignets, and musical entertainment.
Bamboo 52 344 W 52nd St (btwn 8th & 9th Aves), bamboo52nyc.com. Settle in for the night with everything you need; this well-equipped spot boasts a DJ booth, an open sushi kitchen, and a nine-hour happy hour with huge cocktails.
Beast 638 Bergen St, Bklyn (@ Vanderbilt Ave), 718-399-6855. This vaguely gothic tapas tavern serves generous small plates and gets your drink flowing with wine served by the quartino.
Deborah 43 Carmine St (btwn Bleecker & Bedford Sts), deborahlifelovefood.com. Let Deborah cook you dinner, with a bit of hemp and a bevy of farm-fresh ingredients. We assure you, you’ll be begging for more.
East of Eighth 254 W 23rd St (btwn 7th & 8th Aves). Kick off your evening with tasty mini-pizzas and all-American fare with a mostly-queer crowd in this cozy (read: flirty) spot.
Cowgirl 519 Hudson St (@ W 10th St), cowgirlnyc.com. Kitschy, kitschy! Out-of-towners should cruise the tacky-fun “general store” after scooping up Frito pie and sucking down a few fantastic margaritas.
Florent 69 Gansevoort St (btwn Washington & Greenwich Sts), restaurantflorent.com. This decades-old 24-hour bistro will refuel you with a nice 3am plate of escargot after a night of partying.
Rita Mae’s/Rubyfruit 531 Hudson St (@ W 10th St), rubyfruitny.com. Scuttle under Rubyfruit’s stairs to the full-service restaurant, where cute waitresses serve up surf ’n’ turf and vegetarian vittles. Then, follow the music to the inevitable dance party upstairs.
Superfine 126 Front St (@ Pearl St), Bklyn, 718-243-9005. Enjoy a Texas roadhouse meal as hipsters shoot pool in the background at this bar/restaurant/bluegrass venue/family spot hybrid.
Island Café Bar & Lounge 35-15 36th St, Queens, 718-433-0690. Our favorite Top Chef star (and Woman We Love ’07), Josie Smith-Malave, is the executive chef at this brand spanking new Long Island City eatery.
From swanky hotels to hot dogs for a steal, from museums to mega-gyms, we’ve logged it all. Share with your visiting ex from Wisconsin, or refresh your memory by taking a peek yourself (we won’t tell). We present you with GO’s Top 10s of the best of NYC (in no particular order).
Where to Eat:
A. Cheap Eats & Sweets
Indulge in a single-digit dinner or a delicious treat at the end of a great day in NYC.
Crumbs 1371 3rd Ave (@ 78th St), crumbsbakeshop.com. Get these pretty sweets for your sweet delivered to your Manhattan doorstep. The Red Velvet cupcake is a creamy, sprinkle-y fave.
Two Boots 37 Avenue A (@ 3rd St), twoboots.com.
Give your tongue a pleasant surprise with Two Boots’ cajun-inspired pizza, then grab some ahhhrty brain food at 2B’s Pioneer Theater.
Shake Shack Madison Square Park (Madison Ave & 23rd St), shakeshacknyc.com. This retro ‘50s outdoor spot is famous for gloriously grease-laden fare and custard that keeps it cool when the temperature is high.
Sabrett Street corners everywhere, sabrett.com. The inevitable presence of death, taxes, and hot dog stands on every corner in NYC work in your favor all summer; grab a fully loaded dog for food on the fly under $5 for Sabrett or one of the many
comparable umbrellas.
Burgers & Cupcakes 265 W 23rd St (btwn 7th & 8th Aves), burgersandcupcakes.us. Don’t let the neon lights and Neapolitan color scheme distract you; both beef and sweets are tasty death-balls to be reckoned with.
Dylan’s Candy Bar 1011 3rd Ave (@ 60th St), dylanscandybar.com. A whole wall of Pez candies? Find it here, along with all things sweet and sticky under the sun, courtesy of Ralph Lauren’s daughter.
Chocolate Room 86 Fifth Avenue, Bklyn (btwn St. Mark’s & Warren Sts), thechocolateroombrooklyn.com .
Vino and amore replace Wonka gimmicks here, where you and your lady can feed each other
sinful desserts.
Cattyshack’s Sunday BBQ 249 4th Ave (btwn President & Carroll Sts), Bklyn, cattyshackbklyn.com.
$15 gets you all your mouth and hands can handle with the weekly BBQ party at one of Brooklyn’s finest lesbian spots.
‘SNice 45 8th Ave (@ W 4th St), 212-645-0310. How do you take your tempeh? Wooden hideout ‘Snice does veggie right, with its snacky, sandwichy foods, and coffee buzz.
Murray’s Bagels 500 6th Ave (btwn 12th & 13th Sts), murraysbagels.com. Get carby with Murray’s bins of fresh-baked breakfast, slathered in shmear. Beware the occasional line.
