5 Restaurants You Must Visit On Your Culinary Trip to New York

Update on

During the COVID crisis, the world became a very small place indeed. We were, for the best part of two years, consigned to spend our time within a small geographical space due to guidelines and regulations that prevented us from seeing the world.

Though clearly there were good reasons for this, and the intention behind such requirements was understandable, it meant that we put our lives on hold. The coronavirus was a tragedy on many levels, and the fact that it meant we couldn’t travel and see the world, or indeed loved ones who may reside overseas, is something that hit many people very hard indeed.

Now that the world has returned to some level of normality, a great many people are determined to make up for the lost time. People are finally taking that dream holiday they’ve always dreamt of, knowing now that life is too short to put things off.


Culinary Trips On the Rise

Culinary Trips On the Rise

These ambitious getaways may have morphed into entirely more extravagant themed holidays, and one area that is certainly proving increasingly popular with tourists is culinary trips abroad.

Such trips can take many forms and take place just about anywhere in the world where food is celebrated and coveted. For instance, some culinary trips may involve long road trips, taking in the sights in between every mouthful, such as a visit to the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Others may entail studying in classes to help you perfect a particular type of cuisine while trying out as much of the local food as possible. When you think of culinary trips, then you might consider trips to Europe, perhaps to France and aforementioned Italy.

Japan is also very popular in this trend, not least because the fine dining available there is off the charts. Did you know that there are well over 200 Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan? That’s more than double those you’d find in Paris, for instance.

If you wanted to experience a culinary holiday of a lifetime nearer to home, then you’d do well to consider what’s available stateside. One idea might be to combine your love of food with your love of wine, and then a trip across California becomes very enticing indeed.

However, the creme de la creme, when considering a culinary tour in the United States, is in New York. There are no cities in the world like the Big Apple, both in terms of the history and vibe of the place but also because of the incredible restaurants that are crammed into the city.


Reasons to Visit New York On Your Culinary Trip of a Lifetime

The vast number of options in terms of dining is mindblowing, and the variety of styles and types is second to none. In other words, there isn’t a single type of food you can’t get in New York, and what’s more, the quality in each niche is incredibly high.

Additionally, your culinary trip can be geared to any budgetary constraint. You can choose to happily ‘slum’ it and stick to less glamorous locations, which nonetheless serve food that is out of this world. Or you might choose to splash out and select your establishments based on the decor, restaurant furniture as well as level of excellence offered from a gastronomical perspective.

To help you plan your foodie tour of New York, here are five restaurants that must be on your to-do list.


Sylvia’s Restaurant

If you like your food on the ‘soul’ side of the palette, then this New York institution needs to be on your itinerary. Sat on Malcolm X Boulevard, this classic neighborhood restaurant is full of charm and has been a popular location since its doors in 1962.

This is one of the more affordable restaurant experiences and one that we can not recommend highly enough.


Grand Central Oyster Bar

This place is on the other end of the spectrum. It screams opulence and is a great underground spot that’s been in place since 1913. It’s quite a feast for the eyes and the stomach, and if you like oysters, then you’ve come to the right place.

The variety of seafood available is astounding, and it’s a cool location to visit and certainly the type of place to get snapping for the perfect Instagram shot.


Africa Kine

This establishment, which opened in 1996, offers delightful Senegalese dishes and is a great option to consider if you want to branch out and try something new; after all, you may have never tried food from the region, and if you are going to, then there is no better place than this cozy restaurant.

Africa Kine offers a wide range of dishes, each of which is as mouth-watering as the last.


Minetta Tavern

Minetta Tavern

Now, if you want to try a burger or two in New York, then many will point you in the direction of Greenwich Village and the Minetta Tavern. Don’t be put off by the price, upwards of $35 for a burger; believe us when we say it’s worth every cent.

The Black Label Burger is now legendary, and the cost of the item will pale into insignificance from the first bite you take.


Di Fara Pizza

If you asked 100 members of the general public, both within New York or elsewhere, what food is most commonly associated with the city, they are more than likely to say pizza, and therefore, you’ll need to experience the best of its kind within the city limits.

That would mean a trip to Di Fara Pizza. Expect to queue and then expect to have your mind blown by the luscious pizza you will soon consume. They’ve been hand-making pizzas here for over 50 years, and you need to get yourself down to the Midwood area of Brooklyn to see what all the fuss is about. Prepare to be licking your fingers for days to come.

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