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Ian Hunter's Guide to New York's Best Restaurants, Bars, and Gourmet Markets

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UPPER WEST SIDE (West 60th north)

FairwayMajor Gourmet Market. West Side @ 132nd; 26/19/17/M; Best place for cheaper gourmet items. Cheese, produce, prepared foods, crowded. More like a supermarket but has everything.


Milano Gourmet: Prepared Foods; 2892 B-Way @ 112-13th: 25/21/21/M; Great prepared foods, subs, pastries, breads. Best cold cuts; Italian classics to take home for the family.  Devoted cliental.

 
Absolute Bagels: Bagels. 2788 B-Way @ 107-08; 26/14/20/I; Dirt cheap, highly rated bagels. Hand rolled. Great spreads. Addictive. Crunchy crust loved by Columbia students; Best in area.
 
Silver Moon BakeryBakery. 2740 B-Way @ 105th; 26/21/20/M; Breads, sweets, pastries, cookies, sandwiches. Café. Sit down. Popular with Columbia crowd.


Lenny’s Bagels: Bagels; 2610 B-Way @ 98th; 23/16/19/I; Unexpected combos; Great variety; Has usuals too; Bargain pricing and specials;

Oppenheimer MeatsButcher. 2606 B-Way @ 98th; 26/18/24/E; Highly rated butcher. Great service, poultry, beef, rib roast.  Veal, game, even fish. Service means something here.


Tal Bagels: Bagels. 2446 B-Way @ 90-1st; 23/19/18/M; Amazing quality; Large; Prize quality Lox; Numerous spreads & salads. Chewy and tasty; Fast, courteous service; Just a great mini-chain. 
 
Murray’s SturgeonSmoked Fish/ Deli; 2429 Broadway @ 89th; 27/19/22/E; Incredible smoked fish, lox; Sliced beautifully; Brunch; Deli Items; Sublime Nova – the real deal.

 
Gary Null’s Uptown Whole Foods: Specialty – Health. 2421 B-Way @ 89th; 25/23/21/E; No relation to whole foods; Abundant variety; Endless mixture of diff well-living products. Food oriented.

 

Barney Greengrass: Deli / Smoked Fish; 541 Amsterdam @ 86th; 27/18/19/E; The sturgeon king; Caviar, smoked fish; Old NYC institution. Lox! Highest rated gourmet deli in NYC; Sable like butter; Brunch with in-house seating; Have a Bagel w/ Lox


Best Cellars: Wine / Beer; 2246 Broadway @ 80-1st; 24/24/23/I; Idiot proof wine shopping; Labels like “Juicy”; Staff friendly. Great for newcomers. Insanely cheap for the neighborhood; Frequent tastings.

 

Zabar’s: Major Gourmet Market. 2245 Broadway @ 80th; 27/21/20/M; #1 rated Gourmet Market; The Standard; Lox, cookware, crowded; Cookware dept; Cheese Counter amazing;  


Ottomanelli Brothers: Butcher. 395 Amsterdam @ 79th; 24/18/23/E; Institution; Ultra Friendly family staff; Game; Lamb; Old School; Pork; Great cuts. Old school all the way.

 

Bagels & Co.: Bagels. 393 Amsterdam @ 79th; 22/18/18/I; Kosher delights but closed Saturdays; Huge, delicious bagels at bargain basement prices.

 

Emack & BolioIce Cream. 389 Amsterdam @ 78-9th; 25/18/20/M; Very high quality ice cream & frozen yogurt. Soft ice cream. Addictive flavors; Great array of ice creams; Cute shop.

 
Bruno the King of Ravoli: Italian. 2204 B-Way @ 78-9th; 24/18/20/M;  Maybe not the King (see Borgatti in Bronx) but certainly a Prince; Amazing pastas and a huge variety of the namesake; Stock up!
 
Grom: Ice Cream. 2165 B-Way @ 76-7th; 27/21/19/E;  Long lines are the sure fire signal of goodness; Exquisite ice cream, sorbets, gelati. Imaginative flavors. Top notch ingredients.


CitarellaMajor Gourmet Market. 2135 B-Way @ 75th; 26/23/22/E;  Fish Specialists- Best in City; Have it ALL- Meat, Fruit, Smoked Fish, Cheese, Baked Goods;  Giant Gourmet Supermarket. High end deli.


FairwayMajor Gourmet Market. 2127 B-Way @ 74th; 26/19/17/M; Best place for cheaper gourmet items. Cheese, produce, prepared foods, crowded. More like a supermarket but has everything.

Margot PatisserieBakery. 2109 B-way @ 74th; 27/21/22/M; True French patisserie; small; cookies, croissants, baked goods. Pastries, baguettes.


Levain BakeryBakery. 167 74th @ Amsterdam; 28/18/22/E; Best cookies in NYC; Bread. Muffins. Giant God cookies; Known for Chocolate Chip; Sourdough pizzas. Breads, scones.

 

Jacques Torres Chocolate: Candy / Nuts. 285 Amsterdam @ 73-4th ; 28/26/23/E; Tasty & Decadent;  Chocolate wonderland; Finest truffles; Willy Wonka worthy; Hot chocolate greatness as well; Novelty Shaped candies.  Everything handmade.

 

Acker Merrall:  Wine/ Beer. 160 72nd @ B-Way-Columbus; 27/21/22/E; Huge selection; Hard to find bottles; Large assortment of Scotch. Hard to find bottles and wine of all price ranges; Been around 200 years.

 
Grandaisy Bakery: Bakery. 176 72nd @ Amsterdam; 29/21/20/M; f/k/a Sullivan StBakery; Italian bakery that makes perfect loaves of bread; All types of baked goods; Pizzas; Paninis.

Fischer BrosButcher. 230 72nd @ BWay-West End; 27/19/22/E; Kosher butcher; Tons of prepared foods; Best Kosher meat. Super pricy;  Cash only.


SoutineBakery. 104 W. 70th @ Columbus; 27/19/23/E; Bakery, highly rated. Great cakes, tarts, cookies, baked goods. Traditional Pastries; What a bakery should be… large assortment of all great products.


Sensuous BeanCoffee / Tea. 66 W 70th @ Columbus-CPW; 25/21/23/M; Classic coffee & tea; Neighborhood Jewel; Desserts. 150+ different coffees! 100+ teas!

 
Magnolia Bakery: Bakery. 200 Columbus @ 69th; 23/20/17/M; King of cupcakes with unreal icings; Cakes; Pies; Dessert Destination; Banana Pudding

67 Wines & SpiritsWine/ Beer. 179 Columbus @ 68th; 25/20/21/M;  Fun store; Dazzlingly wide variety; 10,000 labels; Top shelf. Now in 2-story location; Excellent website; Reasonably priced.


Gracious HomeCooking Supplies. 1992 B-Way @ 67th; 25/18/19/E; Well stocked, has it all in terms of Gadgets/ kitchen items; Huge place. Basic to high end supplies.


Balducci’s: Major Gourmet Market; 155 66th @ Amsterdam-B-Way; 25/24/20/E; Produce, cheeses, meat, specialty items; Smaller that Chelsea spot. Megamart of all things gourmet;