A Classic New York Eats Food Crawl

Name a cuisine, and chances are you will be able to find it somewhere in New York City. From Tibetan momos in Jackson Heights to classic Eastern European dishes in Brighton Beach, the city is a melting pot of different cultures that have graced the streets with fascinating flavors. However, there are a handful classic New York eats that make up the culinary heartbeat of the city. These are eats that other cities and countries try to replicate, but never quite succeed (As “they” say… there’s something in the water here…)

After 5 months away, I celebrated my return to the big apple with a classic New York eats food crawl to enjoy some of my favorite foods that just taste better in NYC.

Let’s dig in!

Stop One: New York Bagel from Tompkins Square Bagels

Tompkins Square Bagels whips up hand rolled, kettle-boiled New York bagels that are no stranger to “best bagels of NYC” lists. The bagels are tasty with the perfect chew-factor. But what sets Tompkins Square Bagels apart are their cream cheeses and the epic list of sandwiches.

We got the Weezer Blue, which had chorizo, bacon, egg, and scallion cream cheese. The cream cheese was soft and creamy, which soaked up the saltiness of the egg and bacon and complimented the kick from the chorizo. The flavors were devishly good. My only note is that I would have liked more cream cheese

Tip: If you visit on the weekend or prime bagel-eating times, brace yourself of a long line.

To learn about the history of New York bagels check out my blog post below!

The History of New York Bagels

Stop 2: New York Cheesecake from Veniero’s Pasticceria & Cafe

Veniero’s has been serving New Yorkers cakes and pastries since 1894. The bakeshop has old school Italian vibes with dim lighting and antique-y decor. The star is a lengthy pastry display case with everything from cannolis to carrot cake. Copious amounts of treats make my red flags go up– how can everything possibly be fresh?!

We were seated at the cafe, and within 5 minutes a lovely slice of New York cheesecake adorned with fat strawberries was placed before us. One bite, and I was in heaven. The thick texture had a satisfying mouth feel, and the flavor was subtly sweet, edging towards savory. There was no crust, but I didn’t even miss it because the cake itself was so good.

Stop 3: New York Pizza from Scarr’s Pizza

Scarr’s Pizza is a grungy hole-in-the-wall spot that serves up some of the best New York pizza in the city. (To learn about the history of New York pizza click HERE!) The slices have perfectly thin crust, just enough cheese, and a subtle dollop of sauce. What really sets Scarr’s Pizza apart is the option to add a generous drizzle of Mike’s hot honey. The combination of sweet, spice, and salt is legendary. We also got a Sicilian slice and some garlic knots. They were tasty, but the NY slice was the star.

Tip: For a true flavor explosion get the slice that has jalapeños, pepperoni, and hot honey.

Stop 4: A Black and White Cookie from Russ & Daughters

Black and white cookies are an iconic New York treat that grace nearly every bodega and bakery shelf. Between you and me, I’m not a fan. They tend to be try and a bit bland– in a city of epic sweet treats, I’ll always opt for something else.

However, in the theme of classic New York eats, I had to get one. We swung by Russ & Daughters, a famous Jewish deli, to give one a try.

As predicted, it was dry and nearly flavorless. But hey, you can’t win them all!

This New York eats food crawl was the perfect way of saying, “Honey, I’m home!”

Cheers to more NY eats to come.!

Check out a video of the crawl below: