Food & Dining

January 5, 2022

Hochul wants to make to-go cocktails legal again in New York

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday plans to introduce legislation permanently allowing the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages. First permitted at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to support the restaurant industry during the lockdown, the state ended takeout cocktails last June, coinciding with the lift of Covid-related restrictions. Legalizing the sale of to-go drinks will help local restaurants and bars recover from the pandemic, according to Hochul's proposal. "Cheers, New York," Hochul said Wednesday during her State of the State address.
Get the details
November 23, 2021

Where to get takeout latkes and treats for Hanukkah in NYC

While many families were unable to gather for Hanukkah in 2020, this year, with vaccination rates high, getting together is possible again. The Festival of Lights arrives early this year, running from November 28 to December 6. If you plan to cook a big meal for Thanksgiving just days before and don't feel like doing it all over again, there are several New York City restaurants, bakeries, and specialty shops offering takeout holiday meals and treats. Leave the latkes and lox to the professionals and place a to-go order with a local business during Hanukkah this year.
Full list ahead
November 10, 2021

19 places to order takeout Thanksgiving dinner (and dessert) in NYC

This Thanksgiving, why not leave the big meal to the experts? If you didn't gather with family and friends in 2020, make the holiday this year even more special, and less stressful, by bringing a chef-curated dinner to your celebration. From traditional turkey and all the fixings from Bubby's to a Lebanese twist on the meal from the restaurant ilili, here are just some takeout Thanksgiving dinner (and dessert!) options from restaurants in New York City.
Full list here
November 4, 2021

New food hall The Hugh opens in Midtown’s Citigroup Center, with 17 restaurants under one roof

The Hugh, Midtown's new food hall at 157 East 53rd Street in the Citigroup Center opened its doors last month, adding a host of delicious new dining options to the neighborhood. Developed by Boston Properties and Local Culture Management, the food hall offers diverse dining options and was inspired by New York City neighborhoods, from Greenpoint to Harlem. The Hugh also has a full calendar of cultural events and live music curated by Seth Abramson of Jazz Standard.
Meet the new Midtown food hall
November 2, 2021

Former Anthony Bourdain food hall team to open Singaporean hawker center in Midtown

Roughly four years since late chef and author Anthony Bourdain canceled his proposal to build a massive Singaporean-inspired food hall in New York City, the plan for the market has been revived. Urbanspace and KF Seetoh, founder of Makansutra, which runs several food courts in Singapore, are teaming up to bring a food market with 18 street-food vendors to 135 West 50th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The market, described as the first authentic Singaporean hawker center in the United States, will open in early 2022.
Get the details
October 22, 2021

NYC Street Vendor Project launches a citywide scavenger hunt to help local vendors rebound

Beginning November 14, street food lovers are invited to join their favorite food carts and treats trucks for the first-ever NYC Street Vendor Scavenger Hunt. Participants will get to compete in fun challenges, meet the vendors and, of course, sample the food, to win prizes and help support the Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center–the city's only street vendor organization.
Gather your squad and start sleuthing
October 8, 2021

New York fans of ‘Ted Lasso’ can get the show’s famous biscuits from Milk Bar (for free!)

Apple TV+'s show "Ted Lasso," about an American football coach who crosses the pond to coach a football team with absolutely no knowledge of the sport, has taken the country by storm. Fans point to its tongue-in-cheek humor and endearing characters as part of the appeal. One of the feel-good aspects of the comedy is the delicious-looking biscuits Ted is always buying for Rebecca. And today only, Milk Bar is offering their take on the treat via their stores in LA and NYC. Along with her team, Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi created a recipe for the "tender, buttery, and delightfully crumbly biscuits," which will come in their signature pink boxes.
READ MORE
October 7, 2021

See Jean-Georges’ new dining destination opening at NYC’s former Fulton Fish Market

Ahead of next year's opening of the huge foodie destination from world-renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten in the South Street Seaport, we're getting a first look at the 53,000-square-foot space. Several restaurants and bars, fast-casual concepts, and a sprawling central market will open at the Tin Building, a restored early 20th-century waterfront structure that once housed the iconic Fulton Fish Market.
Find out more
October 6, 2021

Yelp and Chasing Paper have a new wallpaper highlighting small businesses in NYC

Yelp has teamed up with home decor brand Chasing Paper to create a series of three wallpaper prints featuring beloved small businesses in San Francisco, NYC, and Austin, with 10 percent of proceeds benefitting a select charity in each city. The New York City print highlights spots like Amy Ruth's, Di Fara Pizza, Jim's Shoe Repair, and Books are Magic, and its sales will support Hot Bread Kitchen. The trio of fun wallpapers was designed by Amanda Giuffre of Noun New York.
READ MORE
October 4, 2021

Historic Neir’s Tavern honored with street co-naming in Queens

After a rent increase and the coronavirus pandemic left the fate of Neir's Tavern in question, the history of the nearly 192-year-old Queens establishment will be preserved forever following a street co-naming ceremony Saturday. The intersection of 78th Street and 88th Avenue in Woodhaven is now known as "Neir's Tavern Way," honoring the waterhole that opened on the corner in 1829 and is considered New York City's oldest bar.
Find out more
September 27, 2021

Fun food festivals are coming to the Upper West Side and South Street Seaport this month

This weekend, Taste of the Upper West Side returns, with more than 80 chefs, restaurants, and culinary personalities celebrating the neighborhood and offering up unlimited food, wine, beer, and spirits. And later this month, Taste of the Seaport will take place at Piers 16 and 17, where over 30 Lower Manhattan restaurants will participate, along with live music and art and a special kids' zone.
READ MORE
September 22, 2021

New members-only bar in Flatiron is located inside a 19th-century church

New York City's latest hot spot is in a church. Opening this week, Chapel Bar is a members-only bar located inside a stunning 19th-century chapel in the Flatiron District that has been transformed into a dreamy cocktail spot, decked out with jewel tones and velvet. Tucked away inside the lobby of the Swedish photography museum Fotografiska, the watering hole is only open to members of the museum or NeueHouse, a company that provides workspaces for creatives.
See inside
September 21, 2021

Famed London steakhouse Hawksmoor opens in Gramercy’s historic United Charities Building

"Our job was easy – restore the building to its former glory and use reclaimed building materials and antique lighting to create a restaurant and bar that feel like they really belong in the space," says Huw Gott, co-owner of the NYC outpost of London's popular steakhouse Hawksmoor, referring to its location in Gramercy's historic United Charities Building. The restaurant is located in the landmarked building's grand Assembly Hall, under the original 30-foot vaulted ceiling. It's the perfect place to enjoy one of Hawksmoor's famous dry-aged steaks that are cooked over live charcoal. Ahead, see more of the stunning space and hear about the project firsthand from Gott.
READ MORE
September 17, 2021

12 best spots for beers and brats in NYC this Oktoberfest

While the world's largest folk festival in Germany has been canceled for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus, New Yorkers can still commemorate Oktoberfest. Starting this weekend, breweries, beer gardens, and bars across New York City are celebrating Bavarian culture with big brews, German-inspired grub, live music, and fun contests. Ahead, find 11 spots that recreate the magic of Munich during Oktoberfest. And remember, if you're dining and drinking inside, you'll have to show proof of vaccination.
Full list ahead
September 3, 2021

America’s original hot dog company Feltman’s of Coney Island brings back 9/11 fundraiser

Several years back, 6sqft told the story of the original Coney Island hot dog. Started in 1867 by German immigrant Charles Feltman, who's considered the inventor of the hot dog on a bun, the Coney Island eatery and amusement park Feltman's eventually closed in 1954. But brothers Michael and Joe Quinn brought the brand back in 2015, in part because they themselves love Coney Island red hots but more so to honor the legacy of their late brother Jimmy, who died in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks at just 23. This year, they'll continue to honor Jimmy with a special fundraiser for the 3 Brothers Foundation, which supports veterans and service members, to which they'll donate 100 percent of proceeds from the new Jimmy Quinn 2021 Memorial T-Shirt.
READ MORE
August 30, 2021

The best places in New York City to get challah bread

If you're planning your Rosh Hashanah meal, you'll definitely need challah bread on the table, and luckily for New Yorkers, there are plenty of places baking the braided bread. When eaten traditionally on Shabbat, the eggy bread is in its standard loaf form, but on the Jewish New Year, challah is often made round to symbolize continuity. Ahead, we've rounded up the best spots in New York City for challah, whether you're celebrating the High Holidays or just want some delicious bread.
READ MORE
August 25, 2021

Crown Shy team opens new restaurant SAGA on the 63rd floor of Art Deco landmark 70 Pine

Most dinners don't begin with a welcome drink on a terrace 63 stories above Manhattan, but that's exactly the case at SAGA, a new fine dining restaurant and cocktail bar from James Kent and Jeff Katz, the Michelin-star team behind Crown Shy. Both restaurants are located in the Art Deco landmark 70 Pine, Crown Shy at ground level and SAGA nearly 800 feet in the sky. The new restaurant opens today and 6sqft got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful spaces and three outdoor terraces.
See more here
August 24, 2021

The Grand Central Oyster Bar will reopen after 17-month closure

The subterranean, century-old oyster bar in Grand Central Terminal will finally reopen next month after nearly a year and a half. The historic Grand Central Oyster Bar announced it will open its doors on September 7 at 100 percent capacity, as Gothamist first reported. After a temporary Covid-related closure last March, the Midtown East restaurant and bar resumed indoor dining that September, only to close again less than two weeks later.
Get the details
August 23, 2021

Manhattan’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition is now open

Manhattan's first legal whiskey distillery in over 100 years is now open. Great Jones Distilling Company officially opened on Saturday at a stunning four-level space at 686 Broadway in Noho, overcoming city regulations and construction issues to build the first legitimate whiskey distillery in the city since the Prohibition era. At the space, visitors can enjoy tours and tastings, as well as an underground speakeasy, a private event space, and a restaurant helmed by Chef Adam Raksin, all set to open in the coming weeks.
See inside
August 16, 2021

All the places in NYC requiring proof of vaccination

Starting Tuesday, New Yorkers aged 12 and older must be vaccinated against the coronavirus to partake in indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment. The Key to NYC initiative, which applies to bars, fitness centers, movie theaters, museums, and other indoor venues, requires visitors to show proof of at least one dose of the vaccine. The policy will go into effect on August 17 with enforcement beginning the week of September 13.
Learn more
August 9, 2021

Here are the ‘Alfresco Award’ winners for NYC’s best open streets and outdoor dining spots

Over 11,500 restaurants across New York City currently participate in the city's outdoor dining program, which launched last summer to help businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, seven of them were recognized for being the best examples of outdoor dining setups across the boroughs as part of the first-ever Alfresco Awards. The program, created by a group of local nonprofits, also acknowledged the city's best Open Streets, an initiative that closes streets to cars for pedestrian use.
Get the details
August 9, 2021

First-ever Oreo cookie cafe opens at NJ’s American Dream mall

A sweets shop at New Jersey's American Dream mall just got even sweeter. The first-ever Oreo cafe opened last week on the top floor of the candy department store IT'SUGAR, a candy and gift shop that measures 22,000 square feet across three levels. The store features a menu of Oreo-inspired desserts, including do-it-your-self customizable treats, and limited-edition cookie merchandise.
Find out more
August 6, 2021

The best international grocery stores in NYC

Not only can you eat nearly every type of cuisine in New York City, but you can also cook it. Thanks to the many specialty grocery stores across the five boroughs, no fare is off the table. Whether you hit popular stores like Kalustyan's selling Middle Eastern and Indian spices in Murray Hill or check out the more obscure shops, like Sri Lankan-supermarket Lanka Grocery on Staten Island, there are endless options when planning an international menu.
Get cooking