Monday Nightlife Rundown: February 8, 2010

Posted by Black Oak On February - 8 - 2010

The Monday after the Super Bowl probably isn’t the most productive day of the year, which explains why there aren’t many people planning parties for this evening. However, with Fashion Week in our sights, there are a few things to check out this week, and a couple of places to get “thrown.”

Afterwork Spots in Manhattan

Posted by Black Oak On September - 9 - 2009

Interested in an afterwork spot that can reinsert the soul into your New York City lifestyle after 10 hours of work has sucked the energy right out of you? Well, try anyone of these establishments, as they are sure to comfort your afterwork quest for relaxation and a peaceful mind before you have to get [...]

Summer 2009: Afterwork Party at D’Or

Posted by Black Oak On May - 23 - 2009

This past Thursday I decided to check out the VelvetList New York City afterwork party being held at D’Or at the Dream Hotel (204 West 55th Street, New York, NY). Any of you familiar with D’Or knows that it is a very trendy place with a lot of unusually shaped rooms that combine to offer [...]

Good Times After Work in New York City

Posted by Black Oak On September - 25 - 2007

While everyone else heads home after a long day of work, you, the modern day young black professional, prefer to get rid of your stress by socializing and flirting, not laying down on the couch. And that’s the way a New Yorker is supposed to think. After all, all work and no play makes for [...]

Monday Nightlife Rundown: February 8, 2010

Posted by Black Oak On February - 8 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

The Monday after the Super Bowl probably isn’t the most productive day of the year, which explains why there aren’t many people planning parties for this evening. However, with Fashion Week in our sights, there are a few things to check out this week, and a couple of places to get “thrown.” Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 100% [?]

Afterwork Spots in Manhattan

Posted by Black Oak On September - 9 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

Interested in an afterwork spot that can reinsert the soul into your New York City lifestyle after 10 hours of work has sucked the energy right out of you? Well, try anyone of these establishments, as they are sure to comfort your afterwork quest for relaxation and a peaceful mind before you have to get up and go back to work all over again!

Tillman’s – 165 W. 26th Street, New York, NY
How can someone go to Tillman’s and not like it? It’s one of the best experiences in all of New York City, and there is no doubt that it’s a place where anyone can fit in. The music selection is on point, with both new and old musical choices from the hip-hop, R&B and soul genres. They even have the occasional live performance at Tillman’s. Of course, the weekend DJs (such as Qool Marv) add some true class to the joint, with an onslaught of Neo soul, Afro-beat and underground hip-hop. Tillman’s is also a great place to just chill. With swinging barriers that give each patron or party a since of privacy, it’s wise to come with a partner or a group of people if you’re interested in stirring up conversation. As for the food, it’s first rate—what you might call—gourmet soul food. In fact, “The Mack” (macaroni and cheese), which is made with sage, peas, mascarpone, bacon and bread crumbs, is reason enough to come to Tillman’s.

Billie’s Black – 271 W. 119th Street, New York, NY
Another gourmet soul food spot, Billie’s Black is one of the more interesting hangouts in Harlem. With events that range from poetry readings to charity functions, this place has something different going on every single evening. It’s a quaint spot, and it’s rarely overloaded with patrons, so feel safe about bringing a date or a significant other to Billie’s Black without having to skate around a bunch of people. And even on the occasion that Billie’s Black is full, you can rest assure that his mildly older clientele is not made up of your average ruffscallion. Instead, it consists of a very refined and cultural customer base that goes right along with some of the more artistic events they have throughout the week. Billie’s Black is closed on Mondays, so don’t try starting the week here, but on every other day of the week you can find a poetry reading, comedian, lecture, live musical performance, or a great piece of catfish on the menu at this sexy little spot in the heart of Harlem.

Village Pourhouse – 982 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY
Sticking with the Upper West Side, Village Pourhouse—the Upper West Side edition—very much mirrors its original location in the East Village. Sure, on a night where there is a big game, you are definitely going to find many interested and enthusiastic parties parked in front of one of the 20 HDTVs in the building. However, on your average day, afterwork, this crowd of working class New Yorkers is all about sitting back and enjoying the relatively moderately priced food and drink that is typical of most UWS locations. That being said, there is a bit of a Columbia student contingent at this Village Pourhouse location, however, the students are gone for the summer, and they’re rarely there before 10p.m. And if you’re a “downtowner,” who doesn’t want to make the trip up the highway, come knowing that the bar will reimburse you with drinks! So as far as going here for a relaxing time afterwork, don’t let the students, nor the location, deter you from enjoying the private garden, great nachos, and Ladies Nights on Fridays.

Popularity: 99% [?]

Rooftop Bar Hopping in New York City…Sort of….

Posted by Black Oak On September - 8 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

The best part of the summer is rooftop bar hoping. And in New York City, you only get a window of about 8 weeks to truly enjoy it, so to aid you in your skybar ventures, I’ve laid out a few of Manhattan’s most laudable rooftop locales.

Ava Lounge – 210 W. 55th Street, Penthouse, New York, NY
With one of the most expansive views there is in midtown, Ava Lounge at the Dream Hotel is hard to beat when it comes to rooftop destinations. Located at 55th Street on the corner of Broadway, the view of Times Square, complete with people, lights, and tall buildings, is about as good as it gets. Not to mention, there is an impressive vision of those pyramid-like tops at the Worldwide Plaza. Of course, Ava Lounge itself is just as spectacular. Situated on two floors, the penthouse and the roof, Ava has a very relaxing, luxurious feel complete with welcoming couches, a magnificent bar, and a pristine atmosphere that makes you feel as if you’re anywhere but New York City. The drinks are top notch but pricey; however, the wait staff is so pleasant and accommodating that you’re almost okay with paying a surcharge for their specialty drinks.

230 Fifth – 230 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY
Even with a very meticulous admittance policy, 230 Fifth still remains a go-to location for New Yorkers looking for some late night fun in the sky. With views of both the Jersey shoreline and the Empire State Building, 230 Fifth has a perspective of the city that few rooftop bars/clubs can compete with. The luxuriously set rooftop is filled with loveseats, benches, and designer patio chairs, combining for a homely yet comfortable experience. The atmosphere will certainly remind you of the Roxy, as the owner of both Roxy and the Palladium has also done his best to make 230 Fifth one of the most extravagant places in New York City. Inside, you will find red sofas and shiny black surfaces. And step outside the lounge onto the uncovered roof, where you’ll come across 14,000 square feet of bar-catered space, complete with models, afterwork investment bankers, lawyers and mojito drinkers. Hey, whatever floats your boat.

Me Bar – 17 W. 32nd Street, New York, NY
You’d be hard-pressed to just happen across this unknown specialty, but Me Bar, located a top the less-frequented La Quinta Inn, not only has great views, but also is one of the best rooftop bars in New York City. With a seductive indoor lounge, and a colorful outdoor space, Me Bar suppresses your every urge to talk business, work or hardship. Instead, you will wind up enjoying the precious view of the Empire State Building as you sip drinks during their infamous happy hour, which boast several recession-friendly options. And during those cool summer evenings, grab yourself an acquaintance for the night, take them to Me Bar, and enjoy its lamp heated outdoor patio on the roof, which provides an unassailable starry-eyed ambiance. But always check out the bar’s schedule, as they often change their hours and don’t typically open up before 5:30pm—even on the weekends.

Popularity: 56% [?]

Cheap Eats: Burgers, Burritos & Wings

Posted by Black Oak On September - 7 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

During these difficult times, it can be hard to justify spending more money on a plate of food than you spend on your monthly subway fare, but often, high-price dining is just yet another costly byproduct of living in New York City.

So what can you do?

Revolt!

Fight back! Don’t pay the exorbitantly high prices for a plate of food you can down in 2 minutes. Go to the places in New York City where your money gets you more bite for your buck!

Here are a few places with recession-like prices, all of the time!

Croxley Ales – 28 Avenue B, New York, NY
Can you even imagine paying just 10-cents for every buffalo wing you eat? Well, every Monday and Wednesday, you can do just that by heading over to the Lower East Side for a good, cheap time at Croxley Ales. They have the best wing deal in town, given you choice of buffalo, barbeque, teriyaki and other delectable chicken wing flavors, all for the low-low price of 10-cents a piece. There is a drink minimum of $4, but with their world-class selection of international beers, it would be tough for any beer drinker to voluntarily drink anything less than $4 worth of suds. So head over to Croxley Ales this week and try out this amazing deal, and I’m sure you’ll be headed back time and time again. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Better Burger – 178 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Who says eating cheap can’t be healthy? Well, even in this economy, it’s quite possible to get a delectable and healthy meal for a reasonable price—sort of. Call it the vegan of carnivorous dishes, but the “better burger” is made up free range beef, thus guaranteeing you some of the healthiest red meat available. On top of using grass-fed cows, Better Burger cooks their burgers on charcoal, fat-draining grills (ala George Foreman) to make sure your better burger is as free of fat as possible. To top it all off, your burger is served to you with romaine lettuce and tomatoes on a whole-wheat bun. All of this comes for just $5.99! Yes, it is that cheap, and it’s twice as good. For a little extra, you can get some of the tastiest fries you will have ever had, as they are sprinkled with olive oil and then baked to perfection.

Burrito Box – 885 9th Avenue, New York, NY
Looking for a healthier, cheaper alternative to Chipotle? Well, try Burrito Box, the gourmet, organic choice for Mexican food. Burrito Box has the best select meats, vegetables and beans. Their burrito choices include the Grilled Chicken, Grilled Steak, Chili Con Carne, BBQ Chicken and my favorite, Chicken Ranchero. You also have the option of having your burrito served in a whole-wheat or spinach tortilla. They have plenty of options for vegetarians, including burritos stuffed with spinach-Portobello, spinach tofu, vegan chili or mixed vegetables. And I would be remiss not to mention their offering of nachos, quesadillas and taco salads, all of which I have tried, all of which are unbelievably good, and all of which are listed for less than $7 bucks. Go ahead, you can thank me!

Popularity: 40% [?]

Cheap Eats: Burger Hotspots in NYC

Posted by Black Oak On September - 4 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

Burgers! How can you not love them? They are the common man’s food alternative to steak and filet mignon, and sometimes, they’re even better than the real thing. Besides, unless you work for AIG, who can afford to cough up $35+ for a decent steak in Manhattan these days?

I didn’t think so.

So to help you out, here are some of New York’s best, and cheapest, burgers:

M2M – 2935 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Yes, that’s right! Travel on up to the Upper West Side to get one of the best burgers in Manhattan. Columbia students already know about this diamond in the rough, but allow me to share it with New York City’s masses. I don’t know what they do, or how they do it, but somehow these seemingly amateur short-order cooks serve up one of the best burgers I have ever had in New York City. In a place where they’re selling Tropicana fruit punch and sushi, you can still go to the order station, ask for a cheeseburger deluxe, and be blown out of your mind as to just how tender and flavorful the burgers they make are. Not to mention, any deluxe burger order comes with fries, which just happen to be some of the most addicting fries I’ve ever had, despite the fact that I’m pretty sure they come straight out of wholesale bag. I usually go for the ultimate death nail of a burger, a double-patty with cheese and bacon. Sure, it doesn’t do much for my heart, but my stomach never complains.

Blue 9 – 92 3rd Avenue, New York, NY
Blue 9 doesn’t have the biggest burgers or the most tender burgers either. But what they do have is a piece of meat that is so full of flavor, oils and is prepared with a careful touch right up until they stuff it in the greasy bag they give it to you in. Their burgers are placed in a nice little bun, served with tomato and onions, and you have the option to turn it into a heat-producing firecracker or you can simply get the “Blue 9” burger, a double cheeseburger with more taste in a single bite than just about any other burger in Manhattan.

Shake Shack – Multiple Manhattan Locations
I wasn’t sold on the merits of the Shake Shack burger at first—that is until, of course, I tried it! With several Shake Shack locations now in Manhattan, you really have no excuse not to have tried this L.A.-style burger. Loaded with everything from lettuce, tomato, shake sauce and Portobello mushrooms, the Shake Stack burger is my favorite. Like Blue 9, they aren’t the biggest burgers in the world, but the Shake Stack burger is a double-stuffed. The fries here make the burger, and if you’re feeling extra risqué, you have the option of adding cheese to those fried potatoes. So the next time you see that giant line oozing out of the Shake Shack venue during lunch time, don’t question those patrons’ merits. Just grab a spot in line next to them!

Popularity: 40% [?]

Di Fara Pizza: Is it worth it?

Posted by Black Oak On September - 3 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

What goes up but never comes down?

You said it, my friend!

Pizza prices!

And that very thought is something that patrons of Di Fara Pizza will have to reconcile with, because according to “Slice” (the New York City pizza blog), their favorite pizza slice is going up a whopping 25%, from $4 to $5, and it’s not going down—ever!

So what kind of pizza is worth $4, nevermind $5! Well, according to patrons of Brooklyn’s Di Fara Pizza, located at 1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY, this slice of pizza is made with such Italian authenticity that it is well worth the price…and the wait!

Some people wait upwards of an hour to get a slice of pizza from Di Fara. Combine the long wait with the price increase, and one would think that that business at Di Fara was doomed to slow down. But after a recent visit to this popular pizza haven, it didn’t appear that Di Fara was experiencing any kind of a let down. In my experience, you wouldn’t be hardpressed to find someone shelling out $50 or more on a couple of pizza pies from Di Fara, where a whole pie with nothing but cheese cost $25! Twenty-five bucks for pizza, and you have to wait? You would think this is a 5-star restaurant.

But that it isn’t. Di Fara is in a shabby hole in the wall right next to a 99-cent store. Not to say that it takes away from the quality of its product, but one can safely assume that the high price of pizza here doesn’t have anything to do with excessive overheard.

Perhaps the high price does have something to do with the fact that every pizza made at Di Fara is made by one guy: Domenico DeMarco. Domenico is not your average short-order cook, but instead he is an Italian immigrant chef, who believes in using nothing but the finest of ingredients. But according to Slice, Domenico’s recent splurge on toppings may have something to do with his “overuse” of ingredients. According to the New York Times, “[Domenico] has been more generous with them, part of what [his daughter] called his new heavy hand.” Of course, it doesn’t help that patrons are allowed to choose their own individual toppings for each slice.

What’s really amazing though, is that with the new 25% increase in price, there will be a 16% drop in service. Di Fara will now be closed 2 days a week (Mondays and Tuesday) to help ease the stress of their sole and aging pizza-maker, Domenico.

Despite the price, long lines, and unattractive storefront, don’t count Di Fara out on the account of exterior details. You should venture to Di Fara Pizza and make your own determination, because surely if anyone went by facts, common sense and reviews alone, there’s just about no way anyone would justify buying a $5 slice of pizza. So try it yourself, and then you be the judge.

Popularity: 48% [?]

Best Burgers in New York City

Posted by Black Oak On September - 2 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

If you are wondering how the recession is truly effecting our eating habits, look no further than beef to explain away some of our nation’s recent dietary trends. It’s pretty hard to pay $20 or more for a decent steak in New York City when the town is awash with massive job cuts on Wall Street and as the real estate market folds like Bernie Madoff investments. But that hasn’t stopped New Yorkers from enjoying the very meat that saw this country thru wars, civil and revolutionary, as well as political and social movements—not to mention other recessions. What meat is that?

Beef!

It’s what’s for dinner!

However, during these economic times, beef is not too popular in T-Bone or Filet Mignon form. Heck, the New York Strip isn’t even too popular in New York City these days. Instead, the burger, far more affordable than steak, has seen a major resurgence over the past year and half. In fact, as of this past January, the number of New York City restaurants offering burgers was up 7% compared to two years ago. Perhaps you should take advantage of it.

Sure, you could hit up the usuals; you know, the Blue 9’s, the Shake Shacks and the Five Guys of the world. But now, some places are serving up burgers made from Kobe beef, New York steak, and short-rib patties, causing the “delectability factor” of burgers to reach an all time high.

So where can you find these mouth-watering treats? Here are just a few of the choices out there:

Bar Artisnal – 268 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10013
How can you say no to the burgers of Bar Artisanal? Of course, the burger of choice there is unquestionably the Artisnal Blend. Raved about in New York Magazine, the Artisanal Blend burger combines short rib with chuck beef in a combination so flavorful and juicy that you won’t believe you’re eating a burger. Served with house-made remoulade on brioche, the Artisanal Blend burger is just as classic as it is rare, and that’s a hard combination to come by in the world of hamburgers. So Tribeca’s secret is out. The Artisanal Blend burger is not just for the bankers and lawyers down on Wall Street looking for a lunch prix-fixe. Now you too know about this beef delicacy, which can be yours for the relatively low price of $13.

Five Napkin Burger – 630 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Yes, the name of this burger-joint does coincide with its dietary concerns—or lack thereof. Five Napkin Burger caters to an extremely carnivorous crowd that likes to get dressed up before they scarf down their greasy—yet extremely tasty—treats. Their signature burger, the “Original 5 Napkin Burger,” is their signature burger for a reason. This greasy, juicy, sizzling, 10-ounce, beef monstrosity comes covered in rosemary aioli, Comte cheese and caramelized onions. Made from fresh-ground chuck, the Original 5 Napkin Burger oozes with flavor, which is possibly addictive, because I keep going back to pay the $13.95 just to taste God’s gift to burger-lovers every where.

BRGR
I know BRGR can seem like a pretty trendy place that probably doesn’t have a decent burger in the joint, but that perception couldn’t be further from reality. With a selection of burgers and burger toppings that combine to give you a multitude of personalized options, BRGR is second to none when it comes to “having it your way.” That said, do it my way and try the Rainforest Burger, which is made of grass-fed beef, gruyere, avocado, mayonnaise and L&T. FIT students and Chelsea residents are already familiar with this place, which is why BRGR is making out like bandits with the Rainforest Burger and all of their menu options. So don’t be the last one to check it out. For just $9 you can try my favorite burger from here, and for as little as $7.55, you can choose from an array of signature burgers and toppings and still have enough money left over to pay for the cup of coffee you’ll need just to prevent the itus from hitting you on your way out the door.

Popularity: 40% [?]

Cheap Eats: Real Cheap Edition: September 1, 2009

Posted by Black Oak On September - 1 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

During these difficult times, it can be hard to justify spending more money on a plate of food than you spend on your monthly subway fare, but often, high-price dining is just yet another costly byproduct of living in New York City.

So what can you do?

Stop throwing away your money! Instead, use it to buy some food that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg and still taste good! Here are a few options to consider next time you find yourself wanting something good to eat without the usual New York City surcharge.

Blue 9
Home of the Blue 9 burger, this burger joint keeps the food fresh and the prices down. Blue 9 hails from Indiana, but with this being their only location, they have adopted a Greenwich Village flair that is second-to-none. Offering fresh smoothies and some of the best fries on Earth, Blue 9 finishes you off with the Blue 9 burger, a double-patty, double cheese, fresh ground beef piece of heaven. It’s greasy. It’s juicy. It’s tender. And you can experience the Blue 9 burger for less than $5. That’s hard to beat considering just how popular of a place this is. Located only steps from numerous NYU dorms, Blue 9 hasn’t jacked its prices up to take advantage of its superb location—not yet anyway. So enjoy it while it last!

Koronet’s
Well, I picked a spot near NYU, now I’m bringing you up by Columbia University. Koronet’s is a staple of the CU community. Freshmen unofficially have to be broken into the student body with a giant slice of Koronet’s pizza. The slices are so big and so enormous, that even some of the hungriest of eaters often share their slice with a friend or two. And when I say big, I don’t mean Pizza Hut or Papa John’s XL pizza slice big. I’m talking about slices so big, that most Columbia students don’t have dorm rooms that measure up. You can get them with toppings, but most people just opt for the plain cheese slice, which is promptly transferred from platter to plate in 10 seconds, always piping hot, and always with the option of adding your favorite spices and cheeses to your slice before you walk away. As for the price, no need to pull out your credit card. In fact, you can be a student for the night and pay in nickels and dimes. It won’t take you long to count your pennies, because a slice of Koronet’s pizza will only run you $2.75. If I had a calculation of the price per square inch of Koronet’s pizza, rest assure, it would be the best deal in town.

Tortilleria Nixtamal – 104-05 47th Avenue, Queens, New York, NY
Okay, so there aren’t a lot of you who will find yourself wondering about Queens at 3am in the morning, but maybe you should be. Tortilleria Nixtamal (TN) is definitely worth the subway fare and your time. Honestly, unless you are Mexican or have been to Mexico personally, you have never had a tortilla this good. Their tortillas are made fresh from dried corn (nixtamal) and are ground into mesa (corn dough). So what do they put on their cooked-to-order, steamy, corn-flavorful tortillas? Well you have a range of options, including fish, which is a favorite of regulars at TN. But you also can choose from beef, steak and pork. TN also serves up some mean tamales, which come filled with chicken, rajas or pork. And don’t forget about your more creative tortilla-filling options, such as peppers, Italian sausage and mozzarella. I mean seriously, what’s better than Mexican and Italian food all wrapped up in one tasty tortilla? That’s right! Nothing!

Popularity: 40% [?]

Get Outdoors, NYC!

Posted by Black Oak On August - 31 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

Tired of same old work during the day go to the bar at night routine? Well, here are a couple of alternatives to get you outside this season. These three places are not only unique to the usual New York City experience, but they keep you out in the sun—while you still have it!

Sushi Samba
With two locations to choose from, you don’t want to mess this up! If you’re going to go to Sushi Samba, you could go to the less frequented option in midtown and have a less crowded experience. But if you’re truly looking to embrace this “Sex and the City” hot spot, then you must check out the West Village location, where you can join the company of financial analysts, lawyers actors and rich kids as you sit on top of a roof staring out at the downtown Manhattan skyline. I didn’t even bring up the food, which is a cultural blend of Brazilian, Asian and Latin foods and spices that combine to give your taste buds a run for their money. I’m pretty sure there’s nowhere else in New York City where you can eat sashimi and churrasco on top of a roof. Correct me if I’m wrong!

Water Taxi Beach
Now with 3 New York City locations to choose from Water Taxi Beach is the place to be for fun and cheap food! You could check out the Long Island City location in Queens, where you can play beach volleyball and peer out at the Midtown Manhattan skyline. Then there is the South Street Seaport location, where there is tons of sand and a miniature golf course to take advantage of. And at the new Governors Island location, you can bask in the beauty of the island and go to independent movie screenings, all the while taking in both the Manhattan and Brooklyn waterfronts. Plus, the Governors Island location is boasting a series of musical performances throughout the warm-weather season, so you can enjoy performances from an onslaught of musicians set to perform this year, including Erykah Badu, Mos Def and Turntables on the Hudson.

Brooklyn Promenade
As if there was actually another promenade worth naming? The Brooklyn Promenade rest high above sea level, giving you a fantastic view of Manhattan and its waterfront. Of course, during the night, you can take your significant other out to the promenade, where you can enjoy gazing at the water as the moon and lights reflect off the water, and the glistening boats whiz by the harbor. And you can make an entire date of this location alone. Right alongside the Promenade on Montague Street, you have a plethora of Brooklyn Heights’ finest restaurants, with everything from Indian food to Greek. And after you walk off those tantalizing meals at the promenade, you can stroll over to the nearby Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Shop, where they give you plenty of cream for your cash.

Popularity: 40% [?]

Night Dining Options For Night Owls in New York City

Posted by Black Oak On August - 26 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

Every New Yorker knows the feeling. You’ve been trapped inside of an overcrowded, rambunctious, loud, messy, bar and/or night club for the last 3-4 hours of your Saturday night, and now you just want the right piece of food to settle your nerves, absorb your alcohol, and send you to sleep for the rest of the night. Only problem is, most of your favorite places are closed at 3am in the morning.

Well, in the city that never sleeps, there still are plenty of tasty options, even at a time of night when even you don’t think you should be up!

So, in honor of those who do it up every weekend, here are a few of the most popular late-late-late-night food choices in Manhattan. Warning: be weary of long, long lines.

Rosario Pizza – 173 Orchard Street, New York, NY
Here’s a Lower East Side favorite that I haven’t quite bought the hype on yet. Don’t get me wrong, the pizza at Rosario’s is great, as it is freshly baked, made of fine ingredients, and the crust has just the right amount of oil. However, the line that runs outside the door isn’t worth the wait—at least not to me. Personally, unless we’re talking about gourmet pizza, rarely do I see the need to wait longer than the time it takes to make a pizza to get my slice. That being said, most New Yorkers would kill for a piece of this stuff on a Saturday Night, and as a result, you will have to do your share of waiting if you want to eat Rosario Pizza after midnight. I guess it works out well though, considering it’s located in the Lower East Side, which probably means you’re leaving your typical LES dive bar and you probably need a little time to sober up so can you locate your wallet.

Tick Tock Diner – 481 8th Avenue, New York, NY
Yes, there is a God! We suburban transfers here in New York are used to being able to hit up our local IHOP for a decent pancake after midnight. However, when you’re in Manhattan, you have to choose from your typical diner, only very few of them open that late have the quality of breakfast food you’re looking for at 2am in the morning. So since anybody living south of 42nd Street would be reluctant to hit up Manhattan’s only IHOP on 135th Street, there is an even better late-night, breakfast diner option on the corner of 34th and 8th. Tick Tock Diner is renowned across the city for its fabulous food and the incredible wait you have to put in to get it. But it’s even more popular for its unbelievably good pancakes, which even put the International House to shame. Of course, they have your typical diner options—you know, all the way from chicken wings to broiled sea scallops. However, I’d stick close to their choices of omelettes and pancakes—safe choices, but well worth the wellbeing.

The Mecca – Southeast and Southwest corners of 53rd and 6th
There really is no official name for these guys, other than the Halal Guys, so my peeps just call them “The Mecca.” And indeed, they are The Mecca of chicken and rice, because night crawlers of all walks of life line up at the feet of these pushcart food-stops just to get a taste of their of chicken and lamb Halal platters. I must tell you, I didn’t buy the hype at first. When I initially happened across these guys, I saw a line down 53rd Street that was about 50 yards long, and I thought it was ridiculous that street-meat from a cart vendor could be worth that kind of time. But my friend persuaded me to wait, and sure enough, the chicken and rice platter has had me coming back for more for over 2 years now. The funny thing about this place is that it’s not just twenty-somethings exiting the club coming to this place, but its graveyard shifters, doctors, tourists, parents, actors and night-owls of all fashions lining up at this place at 2 in the morning, and it’s all for a platter of chicken and rice! I tell you, it’s something else, but the food is definitely worth the wait. Word to the wise though, the line tends to get very big on the West side of 6th Avenue, but what many people fail to recognize is that the same guys have a 2nd cart on the East side of the street as well. Some people will tell you the East cart isn’t as good as the West cart, but I’ve had both plenty of times, and they are the exact same things. Trust me!

Popularity: 40% [?]