3 min read

Text & Design: The Girl Next Door is Black
Though I only lived in New York the first decade of my life, going back to visit always feels like returning home in a way that I can’t explain. It’s as though everything is the way it’s supposed to be. My parents are from New York as are my uncles, aunts, grandparents and fifty-eleven cousins. The New York runs deep in my clan and I try to visit as often as I can.
One of my favorite things to do in New York is eat. The food in New York is like none other. While I appreciate a fancy multi-course meal like the next fine dining fan or food snob-in-training, those meals often come at a snooty price and I’m on a tighter budget these days. Luckily, there is plenty to eat in New York at non-frightening, down-to-earth prices and I took advantage during my latest trip to New York.
- I never leave New York without having a slice of pizza. Our first night in the city, my sister C__ and I headed to the West Village to chow down at John’s Pizzeria.
- When I ordered one scoop of dolce de leche and one of peanut butter caramel at Cones and pronounced caramel as “care-a-mel” and no one looked at me sideways, nor were their objections of “it’s “car-muhl!” It was like New York opened its arms to me and said, “You’re home.”

Scoop 2: Peanut Butter Caramel
Both delicious, creamy ,and rich.
- I love diners, especially if the food is good. We stumbled on a quaint one in Tribeca called The Kitchenette and their menu full of comfort foods. The food wasn’t mind-blowing, but it was good and I dig the decor and ambiance.
- My parents are big fans of Junior’s Cheesecake and passed the love down to me. While the Times Square location isn’t a replacement for the original Brooklyn spot, it’s a good substitute. It’s situated smack in the center of the Broadway district and they’re open late, so it’s a great place to catch a post-show meal.
- I first visited Luke’s Lobster a few years ago after finding out about it from the show Food Feuds. It won the challenge against another Manhattan restaurant famous for it’s lobster rolls, Ed’s Lobster Bar. While I’m no lobster roll expert, Luke’s Lobster roll is the best I’ve had, so the small restaurant required a return visit!

Side note: I randomly met the owner of Luke’s a few summers ago in The Hamptons.

- I love a tasty, juicy burger and Shake Shack’s burger is one of my faves. The crinkle-fries are a bonus. I never have enough room for the shakes or the frozen custard they are also known for. I’ve had a taste of both though and they are equally delectable.

- As a giant Golden Girls fan, when I saw the “Bea Arthur” on the menu at the Big Gay Ice Cream shop, all the other options fell away. It was about me and Dorothy Zbornak. Me and Maude.
In a little less than five days, my sister and I walked nearly 15 miles all over New York City. This is a good thing considering how much we ate. Still, I didn’t get to hit every spot I wanted to. We did have to leave room for non-pigging out activities! I guess I’ll have to go back to New York soon!
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Linda Manns Linneman
July 17, 2015All of this food looks so good. I am really into comfort food. I wish I wasn’t. I have never been to New York but I would love to go. Thank you for sharing
The Girl Next Door is Black
July 20, 2015If you can, I recommend a visit to New York City at least once. It’s a unique city.
Home Jobs by MOM (@HomeJobsbyMOM)
January 31, 2015I’d love to go to New York. I always heard such go things about the pizza. And boy those lobster rolls sound amazing. Making me hungry!
The Girl Next Door is Black
January 31, 2015Yes, New York is a must! The city isn’t for everyone, but I think if you can visit at least once, it’s worth it for the experience (and the food)!
Talia
January 7, 2015Ah! My sister in law is over in NY at the moment, so I will have to send her this blog post so she can have some more awesome eats!!
Thanks so much for linking up with #wanderlust last month. Sorry for the delay in stopping by to read your post – I had surgery in December, and I needed to take a little break from it all. The January linkup is live as of today, and we would love to have you again if you haven’t linked up already! xo
The Girl Next Door is Black
January 7, 2015Awesome, I hope your sister finds this useful.
Thanks for the heads up! I hope that you are recovering well from surgery, Talia!
Akaleistar
December 7, 2014Everything looks so good!
robin avidor (@robinavidor)
November 22, 2014I could never leave NY because of pizza and bagels done right!
The Girl Next Door is Black
November 23, 2014Bagels were the one thing I didn’t get around to eating in NY this time. 🙁
Jennifer Roe
November 15, 2014Yummy! We are hoping to visit NYC in 2015. I am pinning this so I can remember all of these wonderful places.
The Girl Next Door is Black
November 15, 2014Awesome! Will it be your first visit?
Anitra Elmore (@anitra)
November 15, 2014Eating is one of our favorite things to do when we visit New York so I totally love this list. As a Chicago native, I can’t be a fan of New York pizza though ;-). I love the name of your blog!! I’ll have to visit again soon. #SITSBlogging
The Girl Next Door is Black
November 15, 2014Lol! It took me years to finally try a Chicago pizza. I’ll refrain from comment. :p
Thank you for dropping in! 🙂
Cat
November 15, 2014I loved NYC so much when I visited 2 months ago! It was very much my foodie paradise 😉 I never went to Juniors but I had my eye on their cheesecake each time I walked by the concession in Grand Central!
The Girl Next Door is Black
November 15, 2014I loved your gravatar and your blog is super cute. Looking forward to reading some of your posts. I definitely recommend Junior’s Cheescake – even better if you can get to the original BK location. Mmm.
Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Kennedy DeSousa Photography
November 14, 2014Nice photos and beautifully written! I was in New York around the time you were there! I wish I knew! I hope all is well !
The Girl Next Door is Black
November 15, 2014Thanks, Kennedy!
Aw man, just missed you! Were you there for fun or work?
Melissa
November 13, 2014Great food pics! It all looks so yummy!!
The Girl Next Door is Black
November 14, 2014Thanks! It was all delicious. I hope the memories will be enough to tide me over until my next trip!
LifestyleswithLia
November 16, 2014Hope you can come back to NYC soon! I love all the places you mentioned here! Yumm!
The Girl Next Door is Black
November 19, 2014That means a lot coming from someone who lives there. 🙂 Thanks for your comment!