12 Places to Tantalize Your Taste Buds in the Big Apple

With thousands of options to choose from, deciding where to enjoy a quick bite or leisurely dinner in New York City can be a formidable task. From Italian cannolis to Middle Eastern shawarmas, there is literally a plate for every palate. So if you're on the quest to find the perfect pizza or the quintessential burger bite, here are twelve places where you can truly tantalize your taste buds in the Big Apple!

#1: Cafe R

Cafe R is New York City's largest international food court, located inside a 11,000 square foot facility. This food court truly has something for everyone, from Italian, Mexican, and Greek to Asian, American, and so much more. They are open around the clock, so next time you get a craving, Cafe R likely has whatever your taste buds desire!

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Cafe R:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/cafer.html

#2: Casa Bella Restaurant

Casa Bella Restaurant is one of the best Italian restaurants I have been to, and their lasagna ranks among the top contenders of this classic Italian dish that is my favorite pasta preparation. Ask for a table outside along the sidewalk and you can truly feel as if you have gone on a mini-vacation to Rome!

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Casa Bella:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/casabella.html

#3: Dallas BBQ

Dallas BBQ is THE place for barbecue in New York City. From tender, juicy rotisserie chicken to fall-off-the-bone caramelized ribs, this barbecue restaurant knows their way around the kitchen! From fresh-baked cornbread to scratch-made chicken soup, this barbecue stretches their culinary muscles by going beyond the BBQ pit.

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Dallas BBQ:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/dallasbbq.html

#4: Fulton Hot Dog King

There is one food that will always be American as apple pie, something that is synonymous with the City of New York: the hot dog. Fulton Hot Dog King is serving up hot dogs and sausage dogs faster than you can say frankfurter. Their hot dogs and hamburgers are cooked to perfection, topped with a myriad of delicious items, sure to make your mouth water!

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Fulton Hot Dog King:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/fultonhotdogking.html

#5: Grimaldi's Pizza

Baked in a hand-crafted coal-fired brick oven, the pizza at Grimaldi's has a unique flavor, perfectly crisp crust, and outstanding flavor. If you want a New York style pizza with an Italian twist, check out Grimaldi's. They've made their mark in the pizza industry. It's your turn to make your mark on one of their signature pizzas.

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Grimaldi's:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/grimaldis.html

#6: Junior's Restaurant

It's been said that if you tell a taxi driver to take you to the best cheesecake in town, you'll end up at Junior's Restaurant. Opened in 1950, Junior's Restaurant serves the best baked cheesecake I have ever eaten. Plus, you don't want to miss out on their famous 10-ounce steakburgers, overstuffed deli sandwiches, elaborate salads, and more!

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Junior's:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/juniors.html

#7: Karam Restaurant

Known for their signature Lebanese cuisine, Karam Restaurant delivers big flavor on all sorts of Middle Eastern classics, from house-made Hoummus and Spinach Pies to Falafel Sandwiches and fresh baked pita bread. My personal favorite is one of their most popular offerings, the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich.

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Karam:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/karam.html

#8: Katz's Delicatessen

Katz's. The name speaks for itself. Ask anyone in New York City and they will likely have a story to tell of a trip to Katz's. Since Katz's opened in 1888, countless celebrities have dined there, along with many Presidents. The food is extraordinarily fresh, the meat is skillfully sliced by hand, and your taste buds will be dancing the minute the food enters your mouth.

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Katz's:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/katzsdeli.html

#9: La Bella Ferrara Bakery

From cannolis and cream puffs to cakes and cookies, this bakery will satisfy every sweet tooth with their wide array of freshly prepared sweet treats. One bite of the Oreo layer cake will have you wanting to order another slice! If your sweet tooth needs satisfying, this is the place to go for a special after dinner dessert.

Click here to read more and to see more photos of La Bella Ferrara:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/labellaferrara.html

#10: Lombardi's

If you love pizza, then you have to pay a visit to the home of America's first pizzeria. Their coal-fired oven produces a crispy crust on the bottom with perfectly melted cheese on top. Try their signature offerings like homemade meatballs on top of their original pizza. They've been at this for over 100 years. A century of pizza equals pizza perfection!

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Lombardi's:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/lombardis.html

#11: Uncle Jack's Steakhouse

Known as the best steakhouse in New York City, Uncle Jack's Steakhouse needs no introduction. In all of my travels, this is undoubtedly one of my favorite restaurants. The steaks are cooked to perfection and the service is impeccable. Owner and proprieter William Degel should be known as the "King of Steak."

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Uncle Jack's:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/unclejacks.html

#12: Vincent's

Situated in the heart of New York's Little Italy, this restaurant has scrumptious lasagna, chicken parmigiana, and many other Italian favorites and a few unique offerings as well. Be sure to top your meal off with a delectable dessert, such as their freshly made cannolis! One meal here will have you singing, "That's Amore!"

Click here to read more and to see more photos of Vincent's:
http://jennifersjourneys.net/vincents.html






Have a recommendation for a fabulous restaurant?
Comment below or e-mail suggestions@jennifersjourneys.net!

New York, New York!

From Bronx to Brooklyn and Manhattan to Queens, New York City is an eclectic mix of culture and cuisine.  In this city, there truly is something for everyone.  The moment you step onto the sidewalks of New York, you will find yourself humming Sinatra’s classic tune as you proudly proclaim, “I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!”

The moment I walked up the steps of the subway station, the first building I laid eyes on was Macy’s Department Store right in the heart of Herald Square.  Having grown up faithfully watching “Miracle on 34^th Street” every single Christmas, I must admit that I was a little awestruck to actually be planting my feet on 34^th Street.  For me to be in New York City during the holiday season made it even more magical and it felt as if they must have been right when they told Virginia that there was indeed a Santa Claus.

If you plan your trip to New York during the holidays, you must take a moment to admire the Christmas window displays outside of Macy’s in particular.  This year the windows featured Make-a-Wish children, so they were not only eye-catching, but also pulled on your heartstrings as well.  Unlike your average department store windows, these wondrous windows become striking works of 4D art, complete with an elaborate multimedia experience that will drop your jaw and raise your eyebrows.

After your “window shopping,” make sure you saunter inside to merely marvel at the sheer size of America’s largest department store that spans the length and width of an entire city block and boasts ten and a half levels of eye-catching displays filled a wide array of merchandise to appeal to the entire family.  At Christmastime, a visit with children means a visit to Santa Land and the Puppet Theatre.  You’ll also want to check out the seasonal décor department, as it is a Christmas wonderland in itself!  There are several restaurants inside the store for your convenience as well.  If you’re like me, you may choose to shop the entire time and end up buying a few things, too.  Why not?  You’re at Macy’s Herald Square!  So shop till you drop and then get ready for the next adventure in this concrete jungle!

Has all of this shopping made you hungry?  Head on over to Lombardi’s Pizza, deemed America’s First Pizzeria.  Even at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon, there was an hour wait.  But let me tell you, it was well worth the wait!  Want to taste the competition?  Then head on over to Grimaldi’s Pizza underneath the Brooklyn Bridge!  Both of these pizzerias are among the small number of restaurants who still bake their pizzas in a coal-fired brick oven.  Having been friendly rivals for years, they both fire up a scrumptious slice that makes your mouth water!  But I am sure you are wondering, which one is best?

Grimaldi’s and Lombardi’s both have crust that is perfectly thin and crisp, tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella cheese and basil.  And of course, you can add whatever toppings you like!  At Lombardi’s, we chose to add pepperoni and meatballs to our pie.  Their meatballs are homemade, sliced in half, and laid on top of the pizza before it is briefly tucked inside the 900 degree oven.  The addition of meatballs made the flavor of this already delicious pizza rocket to the moon and back.  At Grimaldi’s, we chose to go simplistic with a classic pepperoni.  Ultimately, though, there was nothing simple about this pizza.  The complex flavor profile they achieved put them over the top on the New York thin crust pizza scale.  Along with their out-of-this-world pizza, Grimaldi’s maintains an intimate family atmosphere paired with the musical talents of Ernie Barry, an accordion player with vocal talents that will make you think that Sinatra’s back in town.  Whichever you choose, Grimaldi’s or Lombardi’s, your thin crust pizza will have you wondering if you have suddenly been transported into the heart of Italy!

Your trip will not be complete without a visit to Rockefeller Center, especially at Christmastime where you can see the towering tree of lights.  From there, feel free to parade down the center of Times Square as you journey to Broadway.  We chose to take in a show on 42^nd Street at the New Amsterdam Theater.  There’s something quite magical about sitting in your very own private box as you sit back, relax, and enjoy a positively perfect production of Mary Poppins!  It truly was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!  From the acting to the dancing and the singing to the orchestra, everything was brilliant.  A must-see performance for young and old alike!

After the show, drop down into the subway and make your way to Katz’s Delicatessen.  Feast your eyes on the mountainous peaks of freshly prepared corned beef, pastrami, and anything else your heart desires!  Their sandwiches have even been featured on the Food Network and rightly so!  The meat is tender, juicy, and has unimaginable flavor oozing out of every bite!  There is a solid crowd even at 3:00 a.m. on a Saturday night, so you know it has to be good!  The perfect place to chow down on some deliciousness morning, noon, or night! 

If you are in the city on a Sunday, drop by the Brooklyn Tabernacle, the home of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  This Grammy Award-winning choir recently had the opportunity to share their talents at the Presidential Inauguration.  Let me tell you, their talent is unsurpassed and hearing them in person is an experience like no other.  I had the privilege of seeing their Christmas program, “Christmas Once Again,” and it was the best Christmas program I have ever seen in my life.  The music reached down into the depths of my soul.  The lyrics spoke to the innermost part of my heart.  Every word spoken, every note sung, and every move made ministered to my heart and soul in such a special way.  It was one of those days I will remember for the rest of my life.

Of course, a visit to New York would still not be complete without a trip to Central Park, the Empire State Building, Trump Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and so much more.  If all of this sightseeing is making you hungry, stop by Joe’s Gourmet for an affordable meal where you can literally get anything your taste buds are begging for from Italian to Sushi and Philly Cheesesteaks to Salad.  A few blocks away, take a moment to wander through the 9/11 Memorial, remembering those who lost their lives on that fateful day in 2011.  The most touching aspect of the memorial is the Survivor Tree, a tree that was scorched but has remained standing as a reminder that Americans will persevere against all odds.

George Washington referred to it as the “Seat of Empire.”  In the 1920’s and 30’s, jazz musicians first used the term “The Big Apple.”  It has been called the city that never sleeps, the Metropolis, and the financial capital of the world.  Boasting the largest number of skyscrapers than any other city in the U.S., it could even be referred to as the City of Skyscrapers.  No matter what you call it, a trip to New York City will exceed your expectations and inspire you to promptly make plans to return!

 

What are some of your favorite things to see or do in New York City and the surrounding areas? Please comment below and share your recommendations! May you always have joyful journeys!

 

Jennifer Campbell

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