Naveen and I built half of the original foursquare prototype here (pre-SXSW 2009). This was before I was drinking coffee, so I was downing like 5 hot a day here (someone's gotta pay for that wifi!)
Arepa Benedict (with the ham!) is one of the best brunch options near Tompkins Park. Not a bad Bloody Mary either.
Some of the best chicken wings to be found downtown IMHO. Skip the hot wings (too hot!) and go all-in on the garlic soy. Get some rice on the side too.
Sweet Baby Jesus, the duck here will blow your mind. Schnitzel is also pretty good. Splitty-split for best results.
Believe the hype about the Brussel Sprout pizza. The fizzy "pizza wine" is good but won't blow your mind (I'd get a beer instead)
Best bet for lobster roll in the East Village (maybe even all of towntown?). The $8 half sandwich will make you cry it's so small so opt for the $14 one. For bonus points go splitty-splitty w/ someo
Chat up the bubble tea barmaid on the 100 different combos and try something diff every time. Thai iced tea w aloe is my fav so far.
One more for the Street Fighter nerds -- SF4 "fight school" every Sunday & Thurs, 7pm, $10 buy in. #BYOController Solid spot to get back up to speed if, say, you plan on entering a tournament soon.
Um, this is ONLY the most amazing store in all of NYC. For the non-gaming nerd, it's like a museum. If you are a gaming nerd, head straight to the NeoGeo & Virtual Boy in the back
Amazing motorcycle shop specializing in vintage English bikes. If you're in the hood during the day, peek your head in and take a look. (& if closed, worth scoping the vintage bikes on the block) Read more.
Best grilled salmon, best scallops, best oysters to be found in the East Village. Killer $12 oysters & beers happy hour too. Nothing on the menu disappoints.
I think this may just be the best pizza in the East Village / Alphabet City. The one with truffle oil is insanely good!
Kielbasa! But all the options on the menu are $14 or $16! Soooo ask for the SECRET "side of Kielbasa" for only $3.95! Boom! (and you're welcome)
I dig this place. Don't leave without trying the apricot & the salmon tapas. Bocadillo & the pantxineta (almond custard dessert) are a great way to start & end too. Ermita wine on tap too = A+
If the Cote De Boeuf (ribeye... with bone marrow bernaise sauce served in a bone!) is on the menu get it get it get it cause it's the most delicious thing ever! (good for 3-way split too)
Ssshhhh but the table up front (near the window, east side) has a secret drawer under it full of love letters and other notes. Grab some wine, read thru em & text people who left their phone #s!
The only place I've ever seen to dare make a cocktail with Bruichladdich scotch (The Penicillin). Pretty good btw.
This was a go-to during my grad school days at NYU, Ace Bar was always used as the "example" for dodgeball.com & foursquare use cases. It's still the first place I think of when testing new features.
If you are not here for brunch, come back for brunch. And then order the poached eggs w/ the pork belly. And then tweet me (@dens) to tell me how much it blew your mind.
Sit upstairs in the corner and look out over 2nd St & Ave A. One of the best seats in NYC to have a drink. Hint: don't try this one weekend.
You know that scene in Crocodile Dundee where he tries to pick up the transvestite ("that's a girl?")... takes place at 7B. (Sadly the "that's not a knife" scene did not)
