new york city | food guide
I've visited New York once. I've also lived in New York once. While my time there was short, I had found a few great places that became part of my daily routine. Grocery shopping was pretty hard for me because the closet market to me was a few bus stops away. Sometimes after church on Sunday evening, my roommates and I would go to Trader Joes (why don't we have these in Savannah?!) but would have massive and heavy bags to carry back home. That wasn't easy because the commute to church was about an hour away. Yikes. (FYI, most of these places are in Soho because that's where I worked.)
1. Dean & DeLuca
Probably the most expensive grocery store you'll go to but works if you just need a bite to eat for a quick lunch.
2. Whole Foods
I feel like this is pretty explanatory. I would get my usual California rolls, Blue Bottle cold brew and a container of their pre-cut fruit. I went to the one in SoHo and their eating space was nice and large and looked over a neighborhood park.
3. La Colombe Coffee Roasters
Because who doesn't need coffee? Yeah, I'd say I was a usual (partially because this was right under the office I worked in).
4. SoHo Park
Every Friday after a long week, I would treat myself to a nice dinner here and would enjoy people watching. I'm sure people had fun watching me eat by myself! Honestly, I loved doing and was way too excited for the food.
5. Ruby's Cafe
This tiny tiny place is perfect for brunch with friends!
6. Sweetgreen
Y'all know I'm not a salad person but oh my! These salads were so yummy. Thankful for them because they stuffed me during the busy times when I forgot to eat all of the healthy foods my body needed.
7. Jack's Wife Freda
There isn't much to say except that everything is delicious! Their food is an American-Mediterranean mix. You should follow their insta. AND if you're into quirky fashion, the owner's wife, Maya is, in my opinion, the style queen!
8. Shake Shack
I don't know why the heck this is so far down the list, but ummm YES. See, I'm from the West Coast and am spoiled with In-N-Out but felt like the east coast didn't have their own place until I went to this place and pretty died...and ate a lot of it (maybe a slight exaggeration but who knows)!
9. Toby's Estate Coffee
Need I say more? COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE
10. Pret-A-Manger
There is one at least every other block. Convenient and also so yummy. I would get their pesto chicken and tomato baguettes and their vanilla iced latte. GUYS, I remember I chugged three of their largest lattes the day of Ulla's lookbook. That was absolutely insane. I also remember falling asleep in the Uber that was taking me to the shoot...
11. Taim
Taim is a vegetarian Israeli restaurant that serves the BEST falafel and pita I have EVER tasted. I kid you not, I must've eaten the majority of it even while sharing between an office of 10 ladies. Oops!
12. Momofuku
If you like ramen, which I do, this is a great place for ya. The location was out of the way for me and the wait was usually long, but what New York restaurant isn't?
13. DOUGHNUTTERY (beginning photo)
How could I say no to baby doughnuts?