A selection of New York's eateries that may not feature on international "hot tables" lists but sure are popular with the locals.
Thanks to its melting pot of cultures, one of New York’s great pleasures is its diverse range of cuisines. While the average guide-book toting tourist will head off to the likes of Per Se (website) and The Russian Tea Room (website), gourmets in the know sniff out the neighbourhood joints where the food is consistently good and the prices more friendly.
The springy ramen at Ippudo (website) are otherworldly, especially when paired with braised pork wrapped in a doughy pancake. Before dinner, drop into the famed Magnolia Bakery (website) where the luscious cupcakes are like biting into a cloud. Meanwhile, the nondescript entrance at El Pote Espanol (718 2nd Avenue between 38 and 39th Streets, +1 212 889 6680) opens into a cozy room filled with the wonderful smells of roast pork, stuffed peppers and the melodic burr of its loyal Spanish clientele. Across town in the Lower East Side, The Grand Sichuan (4/125 Canal Street, +1 212 625 9212) serves up hot-pots filled with all manner of meats and vegetables simmering in aromatic, chilli laced broth. A few blocks away, Jewish stalwart Sammy’s Roumanian Steak House (157 Chrystie Street, +1 212 475 9131) features, literally, pure schmaltz (chicken fat), herring, massive steaks and a fabulous retro vibe. Oy vey!