my favorite places to eat & drink in NYC, part 1.
and a scallop crudo with horseradish
i love NYC with all my heart.
we often entertain the idea of moving there. my husband's job is based in manhattan, and while he enjoys the flexibility of working remotely from los angeles, the prospect of relocating is a constant topic of conversation. his quarterly trips to NYC provide the perfect excuse for me to tag along whenever I can.
however, the thought of leaving los angeles for good feels impossible—it's the place where i have felt the most at home in my adult life. this, coupled with my reluctance to embrace the intense pace of a city like NYC again, keeps us anchored here. i experienced enough of that in London. don’t get me wrong—i adore london and cherish my visits, but i don't miss the relentless hustle and the pure exhaustion that comes with living there.
while i am undeniably a city dweller, LA offers a more laid-back vibe compared to london or NYC. i love the freedom of driving and basking in the constant sunshine. plus, LA's food scene can certainly hold its own against NYC and London.
i'll gladly stick to my slow mornings and sun-soaked garden; thank you very much.
still, i have a love affair with NYC whenever i return. i love to get lost in the city. the moment i land, a rush of excitement washes over me. the city is electric!
so, here are my current favorite places to eat and drink in NYC. this isn’t an exhaustive list, but rather the spots i keep coming back to, like the creature of habit that i am.
despite the fact that this is going to be in a few parts (maybe two or three, tbh), this is still going to be a long one. here is part one of my NYC.
cervos—dimes sq, LES
this is my favorite place to eat in NYC. period.
without a shadow of doubt, this is the first place we come as soon as we land. as soon as we have dropped our bags off at our hotel (usually the ludlow), we run to cervos.
it is exactly how i like to eat. seafood forward—simple, delicious, and casual, but well executed. also, they serve wine AND cocktails, which is a HUGE plus in my books.
as i said, the food is seafood-forward and mostly small plates. so if you are four or more people, you will most likely fire the menu. sometimes my husband and i (just a mere two people) will almost fire the entire menu; it’s that good.
the menu has some fan favorites, that are staples on the menu like the crispy shrimp heads, the mussels escabeche and the manilla clams with vinho verde. and for good reason: they are magnificent. and of course, you must always get oysters too.
but recently, we had one of their specials—some outrageous scallops with horseradish and loads of olive oil, which i could not stop thinking about. so much so, that when my friend emily asked if i wanted to come up with some horseradish recipes for a collaborative substack post, i was more than happy to oblige. recreating this dish from cervos was high-up on the list. and so please see my take on this dish, in the recipe section at the end.
four horsemen—williamsburg, brooklyn
this spot has been a favorite of mine for years. the wine list is impeccable, and the food is some of the best and most inventive in the city. and true to my ideal way of eating, each plate is perfect in it’s simplicity. it’s all about small plates and natural wine—which, as we all know, is my bread and butter (so to speak).
if we can find a reservation online before we go, we’ll snag one—no matter what the time. but we have also walked in a few times now, and the staff are always so nice and accommodating. they usually have been able to find us a little space to enjoy a few plates and a glass of wine in the bar area.
the menu changes often, depending what is fresh and in season. but no matter what, it is always exceptional. the way they pair flavors, is truly an art.
four horseman would not be a miss if it were somewhere like paris or london, but at the same time, it still feels very new york. it’s pure magic, every single time.
this is a firm favorite for a little solo lunch, whenever i am in town and my husband is working. we also took his parents when they were in town once, and they loved it too.
famous for it’s smoked fish, caviar, bagels, bialys, babka and more. this place opened a few years ago, and is the cafe version of the much older russ & daughters appetizers store on e houston st. even though it is newer, it still feels notstalgic and i love the stark white walls and then all of their CPG goods displayed everywhere as a contrast.
mainly i love this place, because the food is always just so damn good. a new york jewish delicatessen at it’s finest. their bloody’s (on a hangover) are top-notch, but also so are their seasonal shrubs. and the drip coffee is actually really good too!
and their latkas are absolutely impeccable. They are thick, heavy disks of grated, fried potato piled high with sour cream and fish roe. to me, there is nothing better and more comforting than this.
le dive—dimes sq, LES
imagine rolling out of cervos and still needing a cocktail. le dive is the place. they call themselves a ‘french tabac-inspired natural wine bar’ which is perfect, because i feel like i am transported back to le marais whenever i am there. indeed, their wine list is great, and so are their snacks if you need a little sustenance, but do not skip on their cocktails. their dill pickle martini is a personal fave.
l’industrie—williamsburg, brooklyn
it's my favorite NYC slice, hands down.
the toppings are always well-sourced and phenomenal tasting. and the crust is literally perfect, in my eyes. the ideal amount of ‘droop-age’ (i like to fold), but never soggy. the slices are a generous size, but i always get two slices regardless. i need to taste at least a few things every time i am there.
their daily sandwiches are absolutely amazing, too. oh, and do not skip adding hot honey to your order. drizzled all over the burrata slice, is something of a religious experience.
super taste restaurant—chinatown
their chili oil is sublime—truly unparalleled!
i always stop by here if i am a little hungry and in need of a quick lunch after a morning of exploring. or for a relaxed bite in the evening, but you don’t specifically need a fancy sit-down dinner (even though you can sit inside); the seating is small and simple.
everything is good here! the pork buns are great, and so are their boiled dumplings. my friend clare and i also shared their spicy lamb noodle soup, and it was just what we needed on a blisteringly cold, march afternoon.
more NYC soon!
recipe : scallop crudo with horseradish, my version (à la cervos)
this was so simple to make! i can’t believe i put it off for so long. horseradish is one of my biggest loves in life, and only now—because of this dish, am i considering all the different ways i can incorporate it into more foods, more often.
in the uk we consume vast amounts of horseradish with beef, on a sunday. that might be my favorite way to eat it.
here is my take on the cervos dish that i had back in april. the cervos dish didn’t actually include any acid, from my memory anyway. it was just dressed in fresh horseradish, loads of flaky salt and really delicious, pungent olive oil.
serves 1-2 people as a share plate
2-3 fresh u-10 scallops (or the biggest you can find)
zest of half a lemon
juice of 1/2 a lemon
peppery, good quality extra virgin olive oil
a few big pinches of flaky salt
a few big cracks of fresh black pepper
2-3 tbsp of fresh, finely grated horseradish
begin by slicing the fresh scallops, lengthwise, into rounds. follow the natural round of the scallop to make thinner slices. about 1/2cm thick. we want them to be thin but still have some bite.
lay onto a plate accordingly, and dress with the rest of the ingredients.
i like to start with the lemon zest first and then a flurry of freshly grated horseradish. grate it over like it is cheese.
next, douse everything with the olive oil until well coasted and the olive oil forms a pool around each scallop.
next the black pepper, then salt and finally the lemon juice.
i personally like this served on it’s own, as is. but it’s always nice to have some crusty baguette to nibble on alongside too.
talk soon
xo
Great list
folks behind cervos (and the fly, harts, etc) just opened eel bar this week — supposed to be the “mountain home” version of cervos!