I am very partial to Cha Pa's Noodle and Grill on 52nd. I love their whole menu, but particularly their pho, and the service is always incredibly fast. You can get in and out between shows with plenty of time to take a nap or wander the streets of Midtown before your evening call time.
New York City is a place known for its theatricality. Broadway aside, every corner has its own whimsical personality, and much of that character happens at restaurant tables - or rather, just to the side of the table, rolled up on a cart. Tableside dishes and drinks display decadence beautifully, and whether it's a classic martini, a prime rib, or comforting udon noodles, this city brims with tableside theater. While tableside food preparation may seem a bit over the top and kitschy, that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
New York City's cultural institutions have been amping up dining by partnering with known chefs and restaurants to attract New Yorkers, particularly those with deep pockets. Just this month, cult-favorite film production company A24 (behind Oscar-winning picture Everything Everywhere All At Once) reopened West Village neighborhood theater Cherry Lane with Wild Cherry, a new French restaurant run by chefs Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, the duo behind Frenchette and Le Veau d'Or.
The best hole-in-the-wall restaurants act as a delicious secret in your city. They're also a great way to learn how locals really eat whenever you're traveling. They're often cheap with no frills, instead offering a unique ambiance and irresistible food. This is especially key in a food destination like New York where you can get distracted by over-hyped and pricey spots or by tourist-trap eateries.
The Neapolitan-style pizza restaurant, owned by chef Anthony Mangieri, beat out two Italy pizzerias that tied for second place, as well as a Tokyo pizzeria that was crowned third. Mangieri, who previously sat down with Chowhound to talk about the biggest pizza-making mistakes, has been in the business for decades. He opened the original Una Pizza Napoletana in New Jersey in 1996, later moving it to Manhattan in 2004, then to San Francisco in 2010, and ultimately back to the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 2018.
