S♦P♦E♦C♦T♦A♦C♦U♦L♦A♦R C♦O♦N♦E♦Y I♦S♦L♦A♦N♦D
BEACH EATS
HOT DOG!: Everyone loves a Nathan’s frankfurter! Photo by Georgine Benvenuto
The best food spots in Coney Island
BY ROSE ADAMS
Call it the Snack-bar by the Sea!
No trip to Coney Island is complete without a little
nosh. Whether you want a quick bite before hopping
on the Cyclone, or you are looking for a quiet
dinner date, the People’s Playground has it all, from
your classic corn dog to prosciutto-watermelon appetizers.
Here are a couple of spots you should be
sure to stop by on your next visit!
Al Cavallino
This pizza shop by the B&B carousel opened just
two months ago, and it is already drawing praise
from locals. The restaurant serves high-end personal
pizzas as well as “panni-pizzas,” sandwiches
made from oven-baked pizza dough stuffed with
cheese, veggies, and more. The shop is dedicated
to keeping all the details just right, said the restaurant’s
manager and ‘za rockstar.
“We use top notch mozzarella cheese,” said Jimmy
Hendricks. “Our oven is straight from Italy.”
Al Cavallino (on the Boardwalk at 16th Street,
www.lunaparknyc.com/dining/al-cavallino/.
Kitchen 21
Kitchen 21 is the restaurant equivalent of a triple
treat: it’s authentic, delicious, and ’gram-worthy.
The spot opened in 2017 after a painstaking restoration
of the former Childs Restaurant, a castle-like
structure from 1923 that was covered with nautical
mosaics. Like any classic Coney Island joint,
Kitchen 21 serves burgers and seafood, but it all
comes with a modern twist — its lobster roll, for example,
includes vanilla aioli and black caviar. And
do not miss the rooftop wine bar, which has amazing
views and cooling breezes.
Kitchen 21 3052 W. 21st St. at the Boardwalk, (718)
996–0502, www.kitchen-21.com. Open Wed–Fri, 2–8
p.m.; Sat, noon–10 p.m.; Sun, noon–7 p.m.
38 COURIER LIFE, JUNE 21-27, 2019
Nathan’s Famous
Nathan’s Famous is famous for a reason: it’s the
home of the fi nest hot dog in the land. The frankfurter
stand started in 1916, and Nathan’s popularity
has remained constant, even as it expanded its
menu to include chicken and shrimp. Stop by anytime
for a walking-around snack, or gather with
the crowds outside for Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog
Eating Contest on July 4 — last year’s champion
wolfed down 74 hotdogs in 10 minutes!
Nathan’s Famous 1310 Surf Ave. between Stillwell
Avenue and Schweikerts Walk, (718) 333–2202,
nathansfamous.com. Open Mon–Thu; 10 a.m.–11
p.m. Fri, Sat; 10 a.m.–midnight
Ruby’s Bar and Grill
Ruby’s is your beer-and-a-snack go-to while on
the beach. Since 1972, the spot has been churning
out hot dogs, mozzarella sticks, and waffl e fries like
nobody’s business. Its central location and full bar
(named “one of the top 21 sexiest beach bars,” its
poster alleges) also make it a popular destination,
as do the reasonable prices.
Ruby’s Bar and Grill 1213 Riegelmann Boardwalk
between W. 12 and the Coney Island Boardwalk
Garden, (718) 975–7829, www.rubysbar.com.
Open daily, 10 a.m.–2 a.m.
William’s Candy Shop
This old-fashioned candy store is a treat. One
peek in the window reveals rows of marshmallows
and candy apples, as well as cotton candy dangling
from a clothes line. If you crave a little sweetness
at the end of the day, pop by for a cone, candy, or a
shake.
William’s Candy Shop 1318 Surf Ave. between
W. 15th Street and Stillwell Avenue, (718) 372-0302,
www.candytreats.com. Open Mon–Thu, 9 a.m.–11
p.m. Fri, Sat, 9 a.m.–midnight.
SWEET STUFF: William’s Candy Store features plenty of
marshmallows and candy apples, and you can fi nd ice cream
as well for a cooling snack. Rose Adams
GET A PIZZA THIS: Jimmy Hendricks, manager of Coney’s
new pizza spot Al Cavallino, invented the “panni-pizza,” a
panini sandwich made with pizza dough. Rose Adams
BOARDWALK CLASSIC: Since 1934, Ruby’s has been the
spot for beer and beach food, including corn dogs, mozzarella
sticks, and waffl e fries. Rose Adams
INNER CHILD: Kitchen 21 renovated the old Childs Restaurant
into a foodie hotspot, where you can get a sit-down
meal, grab a carry-out dish for the beach, or kick back on its
rooftop wine bar. File photo by Sean Murphy
/
/www.kitchen-21.com
/www.rubysbar.com
/www.candytreats.com
/
/www.kitchen-21.com
/nathansfamous.com
/www.rubysbar.com
/www.candytreats.com