#ny6days

SPOT DESSERT BAR

Ii’s not easy to find good dessert spots in NYC. This is one. Litterally and culinarily. Japanese inspiration does magic in this 100% dessert restaurant with (very) limited seating. St Marks Place, between 2nd and 3rd Ave.

BLACK IRON BURGER

Voted Best burger in NYC or in the Top 3 multiple times over the past 5 years, this dark place offers a creative and tasty take on the traditional American meal. You probably won’t go there for the quality of the service but the incredible taste of the organic meat. And these delicious slim fries... Three locations: two around 7th Ave (28 or 38th St level) and one on 5th St and Ave B.

TASCA CHINO

Fusion food is still around. Sometimes for the worst, but not always. In this case, Spanish and Chinese dishes make a happily married couple. Some sort of Tapas-Dim Sum if you will. The decor, retro 50s, has the elegant atmosphere of an old-fashioned Chinese club, with the colors of the South of Spain. Park, between 19th and 20th St.

BATHTUB GIN

Everyone probably knows what’s really hiding behind the secret door of that Dunkin Donut-looking coffee place. Especially because it is not very common to see bouncers checking your ID to get a donut. The dark room offers magnificent cocktails prepared with taste and creativity by a picky team. And yes, there is a tub. 9th St, between 18th and 19th St.

LUZZO’S

In a city known as the world’s pizza capital, it’s very ambitious to claim that one restaurant is the best. Even though, Luzzo’s is probably that restaurant and I can’t explain why. Tested several times, never deceived. The menu is wide, the products are Italian and fresh, the oven is wood fired, the talent is present. 1st Ave, between 12th and 13th St.

BLACK SEED BAGELS

At first sight, you’re not quite sure why a Swiss chalet would be so good at baking bagels. But the hand rolled, wood fired oven baked bread pieces will make any doubt of yours vanish in an instant. Very fish oriented, the ingredients list also offers the more traditional ham, cream cheese and bacon. Get crazy, make your own, and add eggs. Elizabeth, between Spring and Kenmare St.

LADUREE RESTAURANT

Chic a la Française, amazing teas, fresh tasteful macarons, open patio, chocolates, beautiful people, elegant service... Hard to find something unpleasant at Laduree. Except maybe having to wait for a table, precisely because everyone knows how great it is. I recommend the Soho location, W Broadway, between Spring and Broome St.

LE DISTRICT

NY with a French attitude. Presented as the French Eataly, Le District delivers indeed everything France has to offer: from great cheeses to all sorts of sausage, home made bread and bakeries, wines in isolated stations all trying to seduce your appetite. It also has a traditional restaurants with French recipes and funny American waiters trying to pronounce French. Last but certainly not least, Le District also offers a Chocolate Mousse Bar that almost killed me (literally) the first time I found its ten different varieties of one of my favorite desserts. Hard to find the first time you go, the easiest way to locate it is to go to the tiny portion of Liberty St after West St (aka the FDR) and then walk towards the river heading North.