New York City | Your 48- Hour Food Guide to NYC
While the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and the flashing lights of Times Square get most of the attention, New York City is home to some of the most incredible restaurants in the world. However, sorting through it all can be pretty daunting, especially if you are only in town for a short time. To help cull down your options and spare you from the tourist traps, I’ve compiled a list of all my favorite spots I enjoyed during my 48-hour adventure in New York City.
I was in NYC all of two hours before I dropped my bags, unpacked what little I brought with me, and ordered an Uber immediately to Clinton St. Baking Co., located on the Lower East Side. This place does not play when it comes to breakfast/brunch. One look at the menu, and I could feel my pants getting tighter. My dear friend, a native New Yorker, is familiar with my pancake obsession and said that Clinton St. Baking Co. was the absolute best around. Spoiler alert- They will knock your socks off. Period. They were light and fluffy, and each bite melted in your mouth. Diners have three pancake options: Wild Maine Blueberry, Banana Walnut, or Chocolate Chunk. While the Wild Main Blueberry is the most popular, I ordered the Banana Walnut to have a combination of sweetness, saltiness, and a little crunch. To say that I flipped for these flapjacks is an understatement. Of course, I couldn’t have just one dish while I was there, so I also ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich. Yes, I know this may seem like a faux pas, considering I come from a city known for its fried chicken, but this sandwich spoke to me. I blame the pickled green tomatoes. Quite frankly, I loved this dish as well. My only complaint is that I didn’t have more room - I left stuffed!
Add Clinton St. Baking Co. to your list if you are visiting New York City. Not only is it worth standing in line for if you forget to make a reservation, it’s worth every single calorie!
Pro-Tip | If you order the pancakes, ask for extra maple butter. You can never have too much!
Tariff: Entrees range between $14.00-$23.00.
Clinton Street Baking Co. | Banana Walnut Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter
Clinton Street Baking Co. | Fried Chicken Sandwich // Lemon-Pepper Mayo + Shredded Romaine+ Pickled Green Tomatoes served on a Clinton St. Kaiser roll +Fries+ Slaw + LES pickle
Over the past few years, I’ve developed a fondness for Indian food. I blame one of my best friends for introducing me to the cuisine and the fact that our options in Nashville are minimal. When I mentioned that I was planning a trip to NYC, she recommended having dinner at Semma if I could get a reservation. Luckily, I don’t mind dining at the “Golden Girl Hour” and snagged the last reservation on Friday night. Semma focuses on Southern Indian cuisine rarely seen outside local homes and neighborhoods.
This is a restaurant where you don’t want to dine solo, if possible. The menu has many incredible dishes you will want to sample as many as possible. Of all the dishes we ordered, two main standouts were The Gunpowder Dosa and the Valiya Chemmeen Moilee. It was my first time having a dosa, so I considered myself hooked! Not to mention all the flavorful sauces served with it. Just WOW! The Valiya Chemmeen Moilee was a lovely lobster dish with turmeric and coconut milk. Something seemingly so simply evoked a sense of coziness. It was one dish I wish I had all to myself! I know my spice tolerance isn’t on the higher side, but I enjoyed the Attu Kari Sukka, although it was a tad too spicy. I’m getting there- it’s a process, right?
Pro-Tip | Reservations open roughly 30 days in advance. Guests will incur a non-refundable deposit of $50 per person when booking a reservation. This deposit will be a credit towards the final bill for the dining experience at Semma.
Tariff: Smaller dishes range from $11.00 upwards of $27.00, while entrees are between $32.00-$48.00 unless you select Kanyakumari Nandu Masala, which is $125.00/for two guests.
Semma | Gunpowder Dosa | Rice & Lentil Crepe + Potato Masala + Sambar
Semma | Attu Kari Sukka | Lamb + Black Cardamom + Tellicherry Peppers + Mace
Semma | Valiya Chemmeen Moilee | Lobster Tail+ Mustard +Turmeric + Coconut milk
After wandering through Hudson Yards, admiring the Vessel, and catching a quick walk on The High Line, I worked up quite the appetite. But this time, I skipped the pancakes (shocking, I know) as the burger at Pastis is legendary. When my friend said she made reservations here, I was thrilled as Pastis is opening in Nashville later this year. Pastis is the quintessential French brasserie in New York City’s Meatpacking District. As you enter, you feel almost transported back to Paris. The aesthetic that Keith McNally and Stephen Starr have cultivated is outstanding. From the mosaic flooring, the subway tiles, the curved zinc bar, and oversized vintage mirrors, no detail was left undone. Even though I was hell-bent on trying the burger, we started with the Crispy Fried Artichokes, and they did not disappoint. Add a little lemon juice and garlic aioli to have the perfect bite. Let’s get into the most important topic, the Cheeseburger à l’Américaine. If you have followed me for any time, you know I am a burger connoisseur. If it’s on the menu, there’s a high probability that I will order it. That said, this is easily one of the top five burgers I’ve had. While it’s a bougie take on an American classic (the Big Mac), it’s sheer perfection. I ordered it Blonde Voyage Style, all the extra pickles, and I was in heaven.
If a burger isn’t necessarily your thing for brunch, never fear; Pastis has an assortment of French classics on standby.
Tariff | Hors D’oeuvres, Salads, and Entrees on the brunch menu range in price from $12.00-$39.00.
Pastis | Interior Bar
Pastis | Crispy Artichokes + Garlic Aioli
Pastis | Cheeseburger à l’Américaine < Blonde Voyage Style- Extra Pickles>
I thought restaurant reservations in Nashville were challenging, but trying to make reservations in New York City felt like trying to secure tickets to a Taylor Swift concert. Calendars were blocked, and alarms were set, but I failed miserably. Reservations disappeared in seconds for many restaurants I wanted to check out during my trip. However, between Resy’s notify feature and the restaurant Gods smiling upon me, I snagged one of the hottest reservations in New York City at Torrisi, the newest restaurant in the Major Food Group collective. The Major Food Group is known for its creative, over-the-top restaurant concepts like Carbone, Sadelle’s, The Grill, and ZZ’s Club, to name a few. I saw Torrisi pop up a few times on my TikTok algorithm but didn’t think much about it, but once I landed that resy, all bets were off, and I did a deep dive. Here are all the things that you must order while you are there.
Starting with the Specialities, you will want to order the Charred Clam Boule, Cucumbers New Yorkese, and the Italian and American Hams with Zeppole. The Ham and Zeppole dish is perfect for sharing with the table, while the Clam Boule is more of a solo bite. While the cucumbers may seem like a sleeper, I found them refreshing and herbaceous.
Torrisi | Italian and American Hams with Zeppole
Torrisi | Cucumbers New Yorkese
There’s one more bite that is not listed on the dinner menu: the Pork Bun. This bite is typically reserved for the Bar, but our server was more than willing to accommodate my request.
Moving on to the star of the menu, the pasta. If I had it my way, we would have ordered one of every pasta on the menu, but a girl has to exhibit self-restraint from time to time and let’s be honest, the Spanx did not need to work any more overtime than they already were. After the assortment of small plates, we ordered two kinds of pasta: Tortellini Pomodoro and Raviolini with Prawns and Saffron. While both were incredible, I am a purist and couldn’t stop devouring the Tortellini.
Torrisi | Raviolini With Prawns + Saffron
As if we had not ordered enough food, we couldn’t skip dessert. So we ordered two: the Almond Cheesecake and the Affogato. While my photographs are less than stellar< food blogger fail>, these desserts far exceeded my expectations. Typically, when everything else hits, dessert is usually a miss, but not at Torrisi! If you’re looking for something on the lighter side, the Affogato is for you. Otherwise, get your fork ready and savor every bite of the cheesecake.
Pro-Tip | Have a little faith, and the restaurant gods will smile upon you. If that doesn’t work, maximize your notify option on Resy! More importantly, when you do score that reservation, come hungry and order all the things. You won’t want to miss a bite!
Tariff | This is one of the hottest restaurants in NYC, so you know - pay to play. Don’t forget, when you make a reservation, a deposit is taken and applied towards your bill at the end of your meal.
Torrisi
To savor every last minute in New York City, I popped into Bemelmans Bar on my way back to the hotel to grab a cocktail and see what all the fuss was about. Located on the Upper East Side in the Carlyle Hotel, Bemelmans is known for its live music and entertainment but, more importantly, its murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the classic Madeline children’s books. It’s chic and timeless; you never know who you will encounter.
Expect excellent service, people-watching, and pricey cocktails. After all, it’s at the Carlyle Hotel. I am a tequila girlie, but the bartender persuaded me to try their signature cocktail, Jackie O. It was light, refreshing, and the perfect send-off as I returned to Music City.
Tariff | Cocktails start at $25.00
Bemelmans Bar | Jackie O | X-Rated Passion fruit Infused Vodka + Grey Goose + Lime Juice + Champagne Float + Fresh Thyme
I’ll be the first to admit I love a good deli sandwich. The bigger, the better, which is why Faicco’s Italian Specialities was on my list of places for this trip. I was trying to squeeze in as much as possible, so I went to the West Village to check out this one-of-a-kind Italian deli. It has been open since the 1900s and is currently operated by a fourth-generation Faicco. You know it’s good when they keep it in the family. I’m notorious for ordering food on my way out of a city only to stuff it in my Louis Vuitton tote bag to enjoy in transit back to Nashville. Rest assured, I’m a pro, as I’ve brought back many a pizza from Chicago. However, this sandwich was a beast. First of all, I saw photos on Instagram that made my mouth water, but I had no idea how massive this sandwich would be until I arrived at Faicco’s. As recommended, I ordered the Italian, which easily weighed two pounds. I got it to the airport, and did I have a mess on my hand. OMG. Y’all, this sandwich was so large I had to unhinge my jaw to get this thing into my mouth. But damn, was it ever worth it. Piled high with prosciutto, ham, capicola, soppressata, fresh mozzarella, lettuce, tomatoes, and roasted peppers, it was an absolute dream come true. I barely made it halfway before I waived the white flag and put the remainder of the sandwich away. It was a perfect ending to my trip.
Tariff | You’ll find most sandwiches are around the $20.00 pricepoint.
Faicco’s Italian Specialities | The Italian | Prosciutto + Ham + Capicola + Soppressata + Fresh Mozzarella + Lettuce + Tomatoes + Roasted Peppers
Well, friends, I gave it my most valiant effort and literally tried to eat my way through New York City. Sadly, New York City has too many gastronomic pleasures, and I barely scratched the surface. That simply means a return trip is in order.
Until Next Time!