BETHPAGE BEST OF THE CITY 2021 WINNERS GUIDE BESTOFTHECITY.COM 17
BEST HEALTH FOOD
STORE (NATIONAL)
WHOLE FOODS MARKET
1095 6th Ave (917) 728-5700
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Whole Foods Market is no secret around here;
customers line up and down the sidewalks
to shop the market’s assortment of the finest
natural and organic foods available. Whole
Foods is the top health food store because of its
commitment to sustainable agriculture and its
strict quality standards. Shoppers know they
are getting the best possible quality food and
household products when they buy from Whole
Foods. Whether you’re gluten-free, vegan,
paleo or have a different dietary restriction,
Whole Foods has numerous options for those
with strict nutritional protocols. Boost your
health and stock up on all things nutrition, from
kombucha to gluten-free spring rolls, fresh fish,
to essential oils, at your local Whole Foods.
BEST HOT DOG
GRAY’S PAPAYA
2090 Broadway (212) 799-0243
www.grayspapaya.nyc
For New Yorkers, it’s been no secret for decades
that the best hot dogs in Manhattan are the
tasty, inexpensive ones served up at Gray’s
Papaya, including at its original, uptown
location on the corner of 72nd St. They have a
distinct snap and are delicious plain or with any
of the various classic toppings offered, including
sauerkraut, onions, relish, mustard and ketchup,
or, for a few cents extra, chili or cheese. Many
visitors go for the famous “recession special”
that includes two hot dogs and your choice of a
medium tropical drink: either banana, coconut,
pina colada or, of course, papaya. Although
frankfurters and tropical drinks may seem like
an odd combination, they just go together like,
well, hot dogs and sauerkraut!
BEST ICE CREAM
SUGAR HILL CREAMERY
184 Malcolm X Blvd (212) 634-9004
Let’s face it: All ice cream is good. But some
ice creams, like those offered at Sugar Hill
Creamery, just rise above the competitors by
using high-quality ingredients, offering unique
flavors and providing first-rate service. Sugar
Hill is run by the husband-and-wife team of
Petrushka Bazin Larsen and Nick Larsen. Many
of the flavors they offer were inspired by her
Caribbean and his Midwestern cultures, as well
as Harlem, their neighborhood for nearly 15
years. Sugar Hill Creamery offers four flavors all
year-round: Andy Griffith (vanilla); Chairperson
of the Board (blueberry cheesecake); Harlem
Sweeties (salted caramel); and Sweet Socialism
(dark chocolate sorbet). Other exciting flavors
are seasonal and rotate on a daily basis. If you
can’t get to either of its two Harlem locations,
the shop will deliver!
BEST ICED TEA
IPPODO TEA
125 East 39th St (212) 370-0609
www.ippodotea.co.jp/en/shop/ny.html
Ippodo Tea in NYC, which opened in 2013, is
the company’s first store based outside of Japan.
Devoted exclusively to all varieties of green tea,
the store uses staff from Japan to introduce
customers to the allure of fine Japanese green
tea. Ippodo sells some of the highest-quality
green tea around and prides itself on allowing
customers to ask a range of questions about
green tea, from how it’s produced and prepared
to the myriad health benefits. The to-go menu
features a wide variety of iced and hot matcha
green teas and lattes including sweetened
and unsweetened matchas, leaf teas such as
Sencha and Gyokuro in addition to thin and
thick matchas. Get your healthy green tea fix at
Ippodo Tea!
BEST KOMBUCHA
STUMPTOWN COFFEE ROASTERS
18 W 29th St (855) 711-3385
www.stumptowncoffee.com
Kombucha is a magical elixir that is not quite
beer, not quite tea, not quite anything we can
out our finger on except to know that it settles
our stomachs and satisfies our souls. Although
you might consider Stumptown Coffee for its
outrageous coffee selections, you must also
keep it in mind for their kombucha. This lauded
retailer and ecommerce shop understands that
what you are choosing to drink is not simply
a thirst quench, but a mission and a journey.
It truly offers kombucha the likes of which
you have never had the opportunity to taste.
New Yorkers in the know point to Stumptown
for superior kombucha and if you crave this
mysterious potion, now you know too.
BEST LOBSTER ROLL
LUKE’S LOBSTER UNION SQUARE
124 University Pl (646) 692-3468
www.lukeslobster.com
A taste of Maine lobster is close by at Luke’s
Lobster in Union Square, which brings
traceable, sustainable seafood to the masses.
Luke’s famous lobster roll is served with 4oz or
6oz of chilled, wild-caught lobster in a toasted,
buttered bun with mayo, lemon butter, and our
seasoning. The lobster roll is even better when
paired with creamy crab chowder, lobster bisque
or a wild blue salad. Patrons have the option of
visiting the Union Square shack or one of nine
other locations around Manhattan. Those lucky
to live within the vicinity of a Luke’s Lobster
shack can even get the crustacious delight
delovered to their doorstep.
BEST MEATBALL
THE MEATBALL SHOP
200 9th Ave (212) 257-4363
www.themeatballshop.com
While many Italian eateries throughout the city
certainly boast impressive meatball recipes,
New Yorkers’ favorite meatball is made at none
other than The Meatball Shop. The Meatball
Shop doesn’t just have one signature meatball;
its delectable selections include classic, Spice
Heritage pork and chicken as well as several
veggie options for those who want to go meatless
but not meatball-less. If you’re feeling extra
hungry, order the Big Bowl, which includes
six classic meatballs over a double portion
of spaghetti, topped with tomato sauce. The
Meatball Shop works with farm-to-table butcher
Heritage Foods USA to source clean, humanely
sourced meat, which it considers as the key
to a great meatball. Bite into one of its meaty
creations and you’ll definitely be coming back.
BEST PASTRAMI
SANDWICH
KATZ’S DELICATESSEN
205 E Houston St (212) 254-2246
www.katzsdelicatessen.com
For more than a century, people have been
flocking to the iconic Katz’s Delicatessen at 205
E. Houston St. in NYC for a pastrami sandwich
that made the deli a landmark. What makes
Katz’s pastrami so special is that only the best
cuts of meat are selected, and the pastrami
is cured using a slower method, which best
flavors the meat, without using chemicals or
other additives that are present in commercially
prepared pastrami. The result is a finished
product that takes almost a month to fully
prepare, yielding unmatched quality. Other
top sellers include turkey, brisket, corned beef,
hot dogs and famous matzoh ball and chicken
noodle soup that is all available for local and
nationwide delivery. Bring your appetite and
stop by!
BEST PIZZA
JOHN’S OF BLEECKER STREET
278 Bleecker St (212) 243-1680
www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com
Since 1929, the world famous John’s of Bleecker
Street has served brick oven pizza that just
can’t be beat. Often with a line of customers,
both local and first-timers, out the door, the
family-owned and operated business serves
hundreds of coal-fired pies a day — that’s
right, no slices here. This true Neopolitan-
American style pizza perfectly balances its
authentic Italian ingredients like thick tomato
sauce, greasy mozzarella and fresh garlic and
basil on top of a charcoal-kissed crust. Happy
customers feel right at home in the familiar,
old-school ambiance. It’s no mystery why John’s
of Bleecker Street is considered the finest pizza
place in NYC, so head down to Bleecker and get
your very own world famous pie!
BEST SALAD
SWEETGREEN
2937 Broadway (646) 449-8884
www.sweetgreen.com
Founded in 2007, sweetgreen is a destination for
simple, seasonal, healthy food. This eatery cooks
from scratch and has built a transparent supply
network around what’s in your food and where
it came from. sweetgreen’s tasty warm bowls
include selections like Chicken Pesto Parm,
Fish Taco and Shroomami while its city-famous
salads include Guacamole Greens, Kale Caesar
and buffalo chicken. The health conscious
restaurant is committed to supporting small and
mid-size growers who are farming sustainably,
and making a profound impact leaving people
better than they found them. Guests don’t just
go to a sweetgreen, they go to their sweetgreen,
each space a reflection of the community it’s a
part of. sweetgreen is in the business of feeding
people, and it’s out to change what that means.
BEST SOUP
THE ORIGINAL SOUPMAN
259 W 55th St (212) 956-0900
www.originalsoupman.com
Long before the classic Seinfeld episode that
featured a character based on Ali Yeganeh and
his original midtown restaurant Soup Kitchen
International, there were long lines all the time
outside the spot pretty much all the time. Yes,
his soup was that good. That restaurant closed
but he returned with the Original Soupman
chain that serves up the same fresh, delicious
soups he became famous for and that customers
were more than happy to wait in line for.
Standout soups include the chicken gumbo and
lobster bisque but you can’t go wrong with any
choice. Just pick the soup you want, have your
money ready to pay and keep the line moving.
After all, no one wants to hear, “no soup for
you!”.
BEST SPECIALTY
PIZZA
JOHN’S OF BLEECKERS STREET
278 Bleecker St (212) 243-1680
www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com
Do vegetables belong on pizza? John’s of
Bleecker Street will let you decide for yourself!
This top-notch restaurant knows how to do pizza
right, and that includes its specialty pizzas. With
fresh ingredients and willingness to try new
recipes, the family-style joint has some unique
slices to offer. Though every pizza comes with
mozzarella and tomato sauce, half and full pizza
toppings are available for just a few dollars
more. Toppings like ricotta cheese, fresh garlic
or basil, ground sausage and more can be added
to a medium or large pizza, or even one of the
establishment’s famous calzones. Stop by John’s
of Bleecker Street today and give one of its
specialty pizzas a try!
BEST SUSHI
NOMADO 33
165 E 33rd St (212) 889-2833
www.nomado33ny.com
If you are a sushi lover then you know that not
all sushi is created equal. Finding a good sushi
place that uses fresh ingredients but won’t
break the bank is a task within itself, which is
where Nomado 33 comes in. Nomado 33 takes
an entirely different approach to sushi making
then most restaurants, here it is not just about
how fast or how many rolls go out. Instead, the
restaurant takes great pride in the freshness of
the ingredients as well as the presentation of the
rolls. Here, sushi making is truly considered an
art and it shows in every plate that leaves the
kitchen. So, stop by for happy hour where you
will find hand crafted cocktails and an extensive
menu.
BEST TACO
LOS TACOS NO.1
75 9th Ave (212) 246-0343
www.lostacos1.com
This award-winning restaurant was created
when three friends from three different places
decided they wanted to bring authentic Mexican
food to the east coast. Combining the tastes of
Tijuana, Mexico and Brawley, California, the
friends worked to combine family recipes and
bring their customers true Mexican culture
and flavor. This restaurant’s recipes are pretty
simple and the menu is straightforward, which
is actually a nice change for a NYC restaurant.
What it lacks in pizazz it make up for in flavor
and freshness. If you are looking to experience
true Mexican cuisine without leaving New York,
then stop by this restaurant and see what all the
hype is about.
BEST WINGS
DINOSAUR BAR-B-QUE
700 W 125th St (212) 694-1777
www.dinosaurbarbque.com
Chicken wings are common, but great chicken
wings are hard to come by. Stop by Dinosaur
Bar-B-Que for some spice-rubbed, pit-smoked,
grill-finished, “finger-lickin” wings. Whether
you like mild, hot or are willing to try Dinosaur’s
hottest wings, this BBQ joint has got you
covered. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s menu also
offers nationally recognized BBQ, which has
been named the country’s number one BBQ on
Good Morning America and has been featured
on Food Network, Travel Channel, in Men’s
Health, Eating Well and more. From fried green
tomatoes, wings, pork ribs, to fried catfish, grab
your lunch or dinner at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for
fresh and high-quality eats.
/BESTOFTHECITY.COM
/www.grayspapaya.nyc
/ny.html
/www.stumptowncoffee.com
/www.lukeslobster.com
/www.themeatballshop.com
/www.katzsdelicatessen.com
/www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com
/www.sweetgreen.com
/www.originalsoupman.com
/www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com
/www.nomado33ny.com
/www.lostacos1.com
/www.dinosaurbarbque.com
/www.wholefoodsmarket.com
/www.wholefoodsmarket.com
/www.grayspapaya.nyc
/ny.html
/www.stumptowncoffee.com
/www.lukeslobster.com
/www.themeatballshop.com
/www.katzsdelicatessen.com
/www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com
/www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com
/www.sweetgreen.com
/www.originalsoupman.com
/www.nomado33ny.com
/www.lostacos1.com
/www.dinosaurbarbque.com
