100 BLOCKS, 100 BITES: A MUST-TRY DISH ON EVERY STREET
We all know that Manhattan’s chock-a-block with restaurants, but with such an array of options, how do you choose? To help you narrow it down a bit, we pounded the pavement to find our favorite bite on each of the numbered streets, from First to 100th (and good thing we walked, ’cause that was a lot of eating). The slide show below reveals our top picks, from high-end sushi to dumplings and pizza, so you’re bound to find something that strikes your fancy and fits your price range.
Before you get clicking, a quick note on how we made our selections. We tried to stick to restaurants that had their street address on the numbered block. This worked for the most part, but we had to sneak around the corner a few times, especially as we got further north. Don’t worry, those choices are just as delicious.
16th Street: Ricotta Gnocchi at Union Square Cafe
This luscious pasta at Danny Meyer’s stalwart is served with tomato-basil passata and pecorino Romano cheese. The flavors are comforting – it will only take a few bites to see why this restaurant has so many regulars.
21 E. 16th St.; 212-243-4020
20th Street: Smoked Trout at Gramercy Tavern
The Danny Meyer dining staple is going on two decades, so it’s telling that this pared-down appetizer has graced the frequently changing tasting menu for years. It’s chef Michael Anthony’s handiwork at its finest: trout smoked over wood and served warm, with a jolt from two varieties of onion complementing the fish’s plump perfection.
42 E. 20th St.; 212-477-0777
27th Street: Salt and Pepper Beef Ribs at Blue Smoke
If there’s one must-order at Danny Meyer’s BBQ joint, it’s these ribs – beef rather than the typical pork, rubbed in salt and pepper and smoked until meltingly soft. Since this preparation is “Texas-style,” no sauce is offered, but you won’t need any anyway.
116 E. 27th St.; 212-447-7733
53rd Street: Sturgeon and Sauerkraut Tart at The Modern
This light tart is the closest thing to a signature dish that the restaurant in the Museum of Modern Art has, and it’s indeed the pièce de résistance. There’s a bit of salt courtesy of the American caviar mousseline, a touch of applewood smoke, a bite of pickle from the sauerkraut, and a whole lot of wow from the combo of all of these seemingly disparate flavors.
9 W. 53rd St.; 212-333-1220
86th Street: ShackBurger at Shake Shack
Does this dish need any introduction? Didn’t think so. Danny Meyer’s patty redefined fast food in New York, and it wasn’t a matter of whether it would land on the list, it was a question of which location. There are plenty of higher-end burgers in the city, but there’s no denying that in the fast-casual world, the Pat LaFrieda patty with lettuce, tomato, cheese and ShackSauce is the perfect bite. Oh, and this branch was the first to serve hand-cut fries, which we’re hoping to see soon at the other Shacks around town.
154 E. 86th St.; 646-237-5035
(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
100 BLOCKS, 100 BITES
