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Only a couple of weeks ago, as reported in Gothamist among others, the 2006 Zagat guide to New York City restaurants hit bookstores. As usual, Manhattan restaurants topped the list - but there are 20 more outer borough restaurants featured this year over last - 256 out of 2,003 total.
Now, we're all fairly familiar with the Brooklyn eateries like The Grocery and Peter Luger that squeezed their way into the upper heights of the popularity and food rankings. And, we've heard the buzz about hot Thai (literally and figuratively) spots in Queens like Sripraphai that also made the grade.
But, what is Zagat missing? The Bronx and Staten Island are just starting to gain culinary traction within its pages and other media as well - but is it enough? And, heck, what incredible gourmet adventures are Gothamist and the rest of New York missing? We have a Metrocard in hand, can afford a ferry ride, and are ready to travel!
So, please share your Bronx and SI outer borough dining secrets...
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There's a great Cajun restaurant called Bayou on Bay St. in Staten Island.
The secret is Staten Island has zero good restaurants. We do, however, have the most AMAZING pizza in the entire world! (Before I get yelled at, I'm not counting pizza joints as restaurants.)
Nunzio's Pizza on Hylan Boulevard near Midland Avenue is the best slice joint in NYC. They even bake the parmesan cheese into the pies..
Jade Island in the K-Mart shopping center near the Mall is a 1950s-vintage tiki bar with super strong drinks and old school-style Chinese-American food.
Killmeyers on Arthur Kill Road near the Outer Bridge has killer German food and is in a converted barn.
Nearly all the Italian restaurants there are amazing as well.
I second the emotion about Nunzio's. However, even Nunzio's takes second place to Di Fara's in Midwood (Brooklyn).
Just tried Sunshine, the Sri Lankan restaurant on Corson Ave. in SI and was quite pleased (URL of NY Times review attached.
Interested in outer borough restaurants? Just go to chowhound.com, click on NYC, then click on outerborough restaurants. Hundreds of testimonials from dedicated chowhounds will keep your metrocard busy for years.
I am one of the 4000 or so Zagat's reviewers for NYC. I pay $20 a year for the "privilege" of reviewing and in return, get copies of the guides I contribute to. It's actually a pretty good deal considering that the guides themselves can range from $10-15 each.
I live out in the suburbs of Great Neck, NY, right on the Queens border. I am in the city often, in all 5 boroughs, however my dining is pretty much limted to Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan with a rare jaunt to the Bronx. I never eat in Staten Island since I visit there the least.
I have tried to push for a number of restaurants in Eastern Queens to be included by voting for them as write-in candidates, however, I can tell you, if there aren't enough votes, they get cut.
Zagat's is in no way democratic, however, it does reflect where dining dollars are being spent and it is a popularity contest amongst reviewers. I'm sure you all fall into habits of visiting certain restaurants, but I try to add at least 5-10 new ones to my reviews each year, some are already listed, and some are not.
I would encourage people to join online (the restaurant only section I think is $10 or 15 per year and gives you access to restaurant reviews and directions worldwide; the one including shopping guides, hotels, nightlife, etc. is $20/year).
I was using them well before they went to a pay format, but I do think it is a fair value.
I read Gothamist regularly so I can find new restaurants all over NYC as well as keep in touch with the city where I was born!
Michael
"MT" has obviously never been to Da Noi or Trattoria Romano on S.I. Both are killer Italian restaurants and both make you feel like the long lost cousin from Sicily.
Yes, Da Noi is a trek -- at the far end of Victory Boulevard, with a picturesque view of the Con Ed plant, no less -- but that makes the deliriously great food all the more incredible.
The woodburning aroma from Trattoria Romano (Hylan Boulevard) gets you salivating before you step inside. The spinach ravioli in walnut sauce are worth two weeks of Weight Watchers.
In the Morris Park section of the Bronx: Coals pizzeria. Not your traditional pizza, it's cooked on a grill instead of in an oven. It was reviewed in the Times: http://events.nytimes.com/mem/nycreview.html?id=1122454488178. And for something non-Italian, my family loves Rambling House in the Woodlawn section. Great Irish restaurant.
Trattoria Romana, as noted above. I was there yesterday and it was packed at 3:30 in the afternoon. Best Italian food in all of New York. The head-chef/owner goes all around Italy a few times a year looking for new ingrediants and recipes. Amazing place and great atmosphere.
And i've had the ravioli in walnut sauce...mmmm...getting hungry just thinking about it.
Bella Vita in the Best Buy shopping center in SI: best Italian food on the island.
Trattoria Romano! That walnut sauce is to die for!
I also reccomend Brothers Pizzaria over on Forest Ave.. their Grandma pizza is amazing.
I think that Denino's Pizzeria Tavern at 524 Port Richmond Ave is the best place to go for some pizza, wings and a few beers. I think the food is great if you are looking for a place to go with family and friends on a Friday or Saturday night and just relax.
Ralph's Ices, which is across the street from Denino’s Pizza, is the original Ralph's Ices and the best ices in the city. They have been there since 1928. The address is 501 Port Richmond Ave.
There is a great place for All American Food (Steaks, Seafood & Chops) in Staten Island too. It's called the ELM PARK INN. They are located at 238 Morningstar Road. They have great steaks and join the boys at the bar to watch a football game on Monday night
A few Bronx suggestions:
There are some great little Mexican dinners in the BX, my favorite being Speedy Gonzalez on the corner of Fordham and Jerome, right under the 4 train Fordham stop. It has standard dinner food (burgers, chef salad and the such), but I'd skip those meals and go for the huraches, tortas, tamales and tacos. I'd also take advantage of the jukebox in the corner and play some of the cheesiest banda and tejano music you can find while drinking a negra modelo or a Tamarind flavored Jarrito.
El Malecon on Bway near 231 (close to the 1 train's 231st St stop) is also good. It's a branch of the popular Manhattan restaurants and serves equally good chicken with large servings to boot.
Vida on Van Duzer St is INCREDIBLE. Bayou on Bay St is very, very good. Nurnberger Bierhaus on Castleton Ave is neck and neck with Kilmeyere - bot are very, very good. Pizza? Denino's on Port richmond Ave.
I forgot - Abobe Blues on Lafayette St for southwestern and killer blues and The Burrito Bar for funky Mexican.
The BEST Mexican I've had outside of Mexico itself has to go to Las Mariachis on Coney Island ave and Dorchester Road