BETHPAGE BEST OF THE CITY 2021 WINNERS GUIDE BESTOFTHECITY.COM 33
BEST CHEF
ALEX GUARNASCHELLI,
BUTTER MIDTOWN
70 W 45th St (646) 719-1364
www.butterrestaurant.com
Alex Guarnaschelli is a Food Network star,
award winning chef and executive chef at
Butter Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. At
Butter, Guarnaschelli uses local farmers market
offerings to create a seasonal menu that will
leave you wanting more and never getting bored.
Manhattan’s favorite cook believes that the
closer food is cultivated, the more flavor it has,
which is why she prefers to source locally grown
ingredients. In the early years of her career, this
famous chef worked at a number of restaurants
in France, New York and Los Angeles.
Guarnaschelli became the executive chef at
Butter in 2003, since then she has starred on
Food Network Star and been a regular judge on
the popular show Chopped.
BEST CHINESE
RESTAURANT
WO HOP
17 Mott St (212) 962-8617
www.wohop17.com
It’s a place where everyone has dined from locals
to tourists, late night party goers and students,
calling it their preferred Chinese spot to have
boneless spare ribs, veggie-filled General Tso
Chicken accompanied with a House special
fried rice for two. This Cantonese diner has a
dedicated following both inside and outside
the city, serving up authentic Chinese comfort
food that is worth the trek, wherever you’re
coming from. Everything is made fresh to order
at Wo Hop, including the quality meat that
reviewers say is incomparable. If there’s a line
outside, be prepared to order takeout; Wo Hop’s
two-floor dining area is frequently overflowing
with customers. Frequent customers always
have their preference of dining upstairs or
downstairs, but either way, you won’t be
dissapointed!
BEST COFFEE SHOP
PORTO RICO IMPORTING CO.
201 Bleeker St (212) 477-5421
www.portorico.com
To some coffee may just be a beverage, but to
others it is a way of life. Finding a local coffee
shop that makes your morning coffee just the
way you like it is like finding a diamond in the
rough. Porto Rico Importing Co. understands
the importance of coffee in many people’s
lives, which is why the company works hard
to provide a variety of blends to its customers.
This shop carries light roast, espresso roast and
everything in between. The family owned and
operated business offers roasts from Africa, Asia
& the Pacific, Central America & Caribbean and
South America. It even sells rare and special
roasts on a weekly basis, so be sure to visit the
website or stop in.
BEST COFFEE SHOP
FOR GETTING
WORK DONE
STUMPTOWN COFFEE ROASTERS
18 W 29th St (855) 711-3385
www.stumptowncoffee.com
With the number of coffee shops in New York
City, figuring out which one is best is no easy
task. Thankfully, you probably won’t have to
go very far to find yourself a cup of this year’s
best bean juice, because Stumptown Coffee
can be found bottled at your local bodega or
grocery, on tap and brewing up in cafes and
coffee shops, and even at your grocery store in
the form of whole or ground beans! Stumptown
coffee sources its brew from the US, Asia,
Latin America and Africa, and its blends are as
delicious as they are invigorating. Along with its
few brick and mortar shops, Stumptown Coffee
Roasters ships coffee to distributors and even
straight to consumers online!
BEST CUSTOMER
SERVICE
GRAMERCY TAVERN
42 E 20th St (212) 477-0777
www.gramercytavern.com
At Gramercy Tavern, the excellent customer
service is just as much a part of the overall fine
dining experience as the food. As its owner,
Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group,
points out at its website, the restaurant has
“welcomed guests to enjoy its contemporary
American cuisine, warm hospitality, and
unparalleled service” since opening in 1994.
Online reviews are as likely to point to the
excellence of the service as the excellence of the
food, with both topping diners’ expectations and
some pointing out the helpful staff always helps
diners make the right choices and goes out of
its way to provide the best customer experience.
Give Gramercy Tavern a call or go online to
make reservations so you too can enjoy the
unique experience!
BEST DELICATESSEN/
JEWISH DELI
KATZ’S DELICATESSEN
205 E Houston St (212) 254-2246
www.katzsdelicatessen.com
Katz’s Delicatessen is known for its worldfamous
pastrami sandwiches, piled high with
mountains of meat, soft, pillow knishes and
delicious all-beef hot dogs. Since 1888, Katz’s
has been serving hungry customers in the Lower
East Side and beyond. The Iceland brothers
established the shop over 130 years ago and
later partnered with Willy Katz in 1903. They
changed the official store name to Iceland &
Katz before Willy’s cousin Benny joined the
company in 1910. The cousins bought out the
business and Katz’s was born. Week after week,
thousands flock to Katz’s to get a taste of their
legendary food including sandwiches, platters
and a wide selection of meat. The restaurant
built its reputation on choosing only the bestquality
beef for its beef, pastrami, brisket and
other dishes.
BEST DINER
BROADWAY DINER
2664 Broadway (917) 775-0725
www.broadwayrestaurantnewyork.com
This classic diner that serves up traditional fare
with perfection is a New York institution. Every
burger that leaves the kitchen is a testament to
the form. Juicy. Meaty. Piled high and designed
to inspire, a burger from the Broadway diner will
satisfy. Any of the breakfast specials will become
an instant favorite. The expertly trained staff
which caters to hungry patrons is excellent in its
service, making each person seated at a table feel
like they are home. A cozy atmosphere, food you
love and service with a smile are the hallmarks
of this iconic diner. If you’re hungry for
breakfast or in the mood for a New York dinner
by the theater, come on over to the Broadway
Diner and slide into a booth.
BEST DINNER DEAL
WESTVILLE EAST
173 Avenue A (212) 677-2033
www.westvillenyc.com
Dinner deals at Westville East are changed each
and every day at this East Village outpost of
Westville, and have included a wide variety of
gourmet specials including baked marinated
pork chops, an Argentinian skirt steak rice bowl,
a spring salad with grilled salmon and Baja fish
tacos. Grilled chicken, breaded chicken cutlets,
grilled salmon, grilled marinated skirt steak,
grilled shrimp, marinated seared tofu or crispy
vegan quinoa and artichoke patties can be added
to any dinner special for an affordable price.
Mouth-watering burgers and other sandwiches
and salads are available and affordable, along
with, for dinner, multiple market plates that
each come with two side dishes. So head on
down to Westville East and try to make up your
mind from the many choices!
BEST EUROPEAN
RESTAURANT
VESELKA
144 2nd Ave (212) 228-9682
www.veselka.com
Veselka has been serving up delicious Ukrainian
food from the same location in Manhattan’s East
Village since 1954. To help celebrate its many
years in business, a good place to start would
be to try the 67th Anniversary Bowl that comes
with two meat, two potato and two sauerkraut
mushroom pierogies topped with caramelized
onion, grilled kielbasa and a slab of bacon. That
combination offers a perfect way to sample
multiple specialties. Other great options include
beef stroganoff, blintzes, potato pancakes,
stuffed cabbage and Ola’s Famous Veal Goulash.
So order breakfast, lunch or dinner online
today or head on down to the restaurant or its
recently-opened outpost at the Market Line
below Essex Market at 88 Essex St.
BEST FAMILY STYLE
RESTAURANT
CARMINE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
200 W 44th St (212) 221-3800
www.carminesnyc.com
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant has been bringing
the “wow factor” to its customers since it first
opened its first location in 1990. When you
step into Carmine’s, you feel as though you’ve
stepped into your Italian grandmother’s home
(even if you don’t have an Italian grandmother),
and she’s been cooking up a storm all day.
Carmine’s has a variety of shareable dishes to
enjoy, including appetizers, meat and fish, plus
a huge list of pasta that will have you going back
for seconds (and maybe thirds!). If you have
allergies, don’t worry – the team at Carmine’s is
very accommodating and will do its best to meet
your specific needs. Be sure to try one of their
homemade desserts to round out your meal!
BEST FRENCH
RESTAURANT
AMELIE
22 W 8th St (212) 533-2962
www.ameliewinebar.com
Amelie started as an idea amongst two
friends. Since then, it has grown to two of
locations, including a West Village location.
The restaurants have a modern design that
fuses American Urban with Parisian Chic. Here
customers can enjoy quality wine at low prices
paired with food with an international flair. The
menu contains a variety of French classics, they
even have the ever popular charcuterie boards
which are a perfect pairing for a bottle of wine.
If you are looking for something a little more
filling, they also have entrees like mussels served
with a white wine sauce and steak served with
french fries. Whether planning a romantic date
or a fun night out with friends Amelie has you
covered.
BEST FUSION
PIG AND KHAO
68 Clinton St (212) 920-4485
www.pigandkhao.com
Street food has become a major trend in the
dining world both for foodies and traditionalists
alike. And there is no larger, more diverse or
more delicious street food scene in the world
than in Southeast Asia. At Pig and Khao, owner
and chef Leah Cohen fuses her Philippino
upbringing with western techniques to offer up
a fantastically delectable array of fusion foods,
like her Thai-Lote, which riffs on the traditional
Mexican street dish elote, a corn on the cob
smothered with cheese and Mexican Crema with
Thai ingredients like sambal and kaffir. Savor
other small plates like Grilled Pork Jowl, pad
cheong and baby octopus while sharing the love
with large plates like bbq baby back ribs or half
hainanese duck!
BEST GERMAN
RESTAURANT
LORELEY BEER GARDEN
7 Rivington St (212) 253-7077
www.loreleynyc.com
For a truly unique New York experience, visit
Loreley Beer Garden on the Lower East Side.
The weather is warming up and the outdoor
beer garden is beautifully adorned with German
décor and has 12 different German beers on tap.
Stop by for its weekend brunch and enjoy eggs
benedict atop perfectly crisp potato pancakes.
Enjoy happy hour or private parties inside the
beer hall or outside in the heated garden. Enjoy
a wide selection of sausages, from traditional
bratwurst to Currywurst and weisswurst, among
others. Sample authentic German offerings such
as Gulasch mit Spätzle, Hühner-Paprikasch or
a sauerbraten sandwich. Beers include Gaffel
Kölsch, Radeberger Pilsner and Weihenstephan
Hefeweizen to name a few. When you’re craving
German food, Loreley’s wurst is best!
BEST GLUTEN FREE
THE LITTLE BEET TABLE
333 Park Ave S (212) 466-3330
www.thelittlebeettable.com
The Little Beet Table on Park Avenue in New
York City is a vegetable-forward restaurant
that has plenty of options for those who prefer
to have a gluten-free meal. Every dish is
thoughtfully prepared with the freshest, locallysourced
ingredients that leave diners feeling
good long after they have headed home for the
night. The seasonal dishes here include a baked
beef falafel appetizer that you will be talking
about long after. Don’t miss the mushroom
Rueben with sauerkraut, swiss cheese and
caramelized onions on gluten-free bread or a
lettuce wrap. Crispy salmon and the delectable
burrata and heirloom tomato offerings will
knock your socks off as well. For a special night
out, a celebration or a brunch or dinner to savor,
try the Little Beet Table.
BEST GREEK
RESTAURANT
THE GREEK KITCHEN
889 10th Ave (212) 581-4300
www.greekkitchennyc.com
The Greek Kitchen is the best place to go in
New York City to get traditional Greek dishes.
If you have a hankering for moussaka or a
gyro or souvlaki, look no further than this cozy
spot in Midtown West and let the professional
staff treat you like family. You will never leave
hungry! Choose to eat either inside or outside
or pull a seat up to the full bar, stocked to the
brim with Greek wines and spirits. Check out
The Greek Kitchen’s whole fish specials or drop
in for a long, lazy brunch. We recommend the
taramoslata or the stuffed grape leaves to start,
and don’t you dare leave without sampling its
superior rice pudding with a cup of strong Greek
coffee!
BEST HEALTHY
EATERY
SWEETGREEN
413 Greenwich St (646) 922-8572
www.sweetgreen.com
Enjoy a fresh organic salad from the garden of
sweetgreen, which prepares simple, seasonal,
healthy salads and grain bowls made in-house
from scratch using whole produce delivered
in the morning. Try its fall menu servings of
chicken and brussels, winter squash and bleu
cheese salad, curry cauliflower, spiced cider
fresca, and spindrift cranberry and raspberry.
Create your own salad choosing a gluten-free
base, locally sourced veggies, local cheeses
(including vegan-friendly options) and glutenfree
salad dressings. sweetgreen strives to create
accessibility simple, seasonal, healthy food for
more people.
/BESTOFTHECITY.COM
/www.wohop17.com
/www.portorico.com
/www.stumptowncoffee.com
/www.gramercytavern.com
/www.katzsdelicatessen.com
/www.broadwayrestaurantnewyork.com
/www.westvillenyc.com
/www.veselka.com
/www.carminesnyc.com
/www.ameliewinebar.com
/www.pigandkhao.com
/www.loreleynyc.com
/www.thelittlebeettable.com
/www.greekkitchennyc.com
/www.sweetgreen.com
/www.butterrestaurant.com
/www.butterrestaurant.com
/www.wohop17.com
/www.portorico.com
/www.stumptowncoffee.com
/www.gramercytavern.com
/www.katzsdelicatessen.com
/www.broadwayrestaurantnewyork.com
/www.westvillenyc.com
/www.veselka.com
/www.carminesnyc.com
/www.ameliewinebar.com
/www.pigandkhao.com
/www.loreleynyc.com
/www.thelittlebeettable.com
/www.greekkitchennyc.com
/www.sweetgreen.com
