Restaurants like Masa and Peter Luger Steakhouse can offer once in a lifetime experiences but these iconic New York City restaurants are often pricey and have long wait times. It may be hard to replicate these unique dining experiences but here are our alternatives to the most popular restaurants in New York City. You can’t go wrong with any of these alternatives and you will certainly have a delicious, memorable meal without the wait and for a fraction of the cost! Instead of Peter Luger Steakhouse try Smith & Wollensky Peter Luger Steakhouse (178 Broadway, Brooklyn) is often the first place that comes to mind when it comes to New York steakhouses. It is incredibly popular so there are very long wait times and it can also be difficult to get a reservation. Plus their steaks can be expensive. Smith…

There are only a few more days for Chinatown Restaurant Week 2014. It should be on your foodie to do list unless of course you’ve already visited some of the great participating restaurants! It is a perfect opportunity to explore the rich, vibrant foodie ecosystem in Chinatown. There is truly everything from Chinese to Vietnamese…

Some of our go to places for a good, quick meal are actually chain restaurants. From Chipotle to Xi’an Famous Foods, here is Ahoy New York’s list of the best chain restaurants in New York City. Xi’an Famous Foods – 67 Bayard St & Other Locations Xi’an Famous Foods started as a small hole in the wall place located by the Manhattan Bridge. Xi’an has quickly built a loyal following for their pulled noodles and spicy cumin lamb burgers which in turn has led them to quickly expand throughout the city. Simply put, we just love their noodles and burgers. They are full of flavor and they have a nice little spice to them. Five Guys – 56 W 14th St & Other Locations Whether you want mushrooms, bacon, mayo or the classic lettuce & tomatoes at Five Guys, you…

If you are a foodie, New York City is truly an exciting place to live in and certainly to visit. There are new restaurant openings every day and they can range from Chinese hotpot spots to the latest Bobby Flay establishment. Here are the six most recent buzz-worthy restaurant openings in New York City that…

In New York City, there are a number of restaurants on every city block yet it still can be difficult to find a good kid friendly restaurant for the entire family to enjoy. Don’t worry! We have narrowed it down and here is Ahoy New York’s list of the best kid friendly restaurants in New York City. Carmine’s – 200 W 44th St & 2450 Broadway Carmine’s is the ultimate family friendly restaurant in New York City. They have delicious Italian dishes ranging from fried calamari to chicken marsala. Their dishes are served in large portions and are designed to be passed around and shared. Carmine’s is also known for their outstanding service. Katz’s Delicatessen – 205 E Houston St If enormous pastrami sandwiches and juicy hot dogs sound like a good time, then look no further than Katz’s Delicatessen….

New York City is truly blessed in that you can find foods from around the world including some unusual items. With that in mind, here are the most exotic foods that you can find in New York City. Be advised these exotic foods aren’t necessarily the popular foodie trends that you are used to having us suggest! Haggis Haggis is a Scottish savory pudding made with heart, liver and lungs. It is seasoned with spices and encased in the animal’s stomach. It is traditionally consumed during the Burns Supper which celebrates the life of poet Robert Burns and it is held on or around January 25. If you are looking to try some haggis, be on the lookout for it in Scottish pubs like St. Andrews (140 W 46th St). Blood Sausage Along the same lines as haggis, there is…

Fun fact: throughout NYC there are several high profile restaurants, bars, coffee shops, etc. owned by celebrities. The list ranges from A- list actors like Hugh Jackson to world class athletes like Michael Jordan. Here is a list of our favorite celeb owned restaurants. Laughing Man Coffee & Tea – 184 Duane St Laughing Man Coffee and Tea in Tribeca was envisioned by Hugh Jackman, who has starred in a ton of movies but he is probably best known for playing Wolverine in the X-Men movie series. It is a neighborhood favorite and it is a great spot to pick up an excellent cup of coffee (or tea) along with a quick snack. Best of all, profits from Laughing Man Coffee and Tea are donated to help small businesses and community projects worldwide. You can’t beat that! Nobu – 105…

Restaurant Week (February 17 to March 7) is a great time to be adventurous and try new cuisines. What are the best restaurants and the best dishes for this years’ Restaurant Week? With so little time and so many options, here are some of our picks for New York City Restaurant Week, winter 2014. Bread & Tulips – 365 Park Ave S One Italian restaurant that we have kept an eye out for this year is Bread & Tulips. We are especially eying their roasted beet & goat cheese ravioli for a starter, and either their sea scallops and black Angus sirloin steak for an entree and their vanilla bean panna cotta to complete their Restaurant Week menu. Yum! The Russian Tea Room – 150 W 57th St With the Sochi Olympics, Russian culture has been on the forefront as…

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so if you are looking for fun, romantic foodie ideas, Ahoy New York has your back! Here are the most romantic restaurants in New York City. It is sure to be the start of a memorable night! The River Cafe – 1 Water St, Brooklyn The River Cafe…

It is a very fun and exciting time to be in the New York and New Jersey area. The NFL season just flew by and the Super Bowl is only a few days away! To help you prepare, here are some Super Bowl food ideas in New York City. Forty Ate Steakhouse – 714 Seventh Ave at West 48th St Forty Ate (in celebration of Super Bowl XLVIII) is a Super Bowl theme pop up steakhouse. We are not sure what to expect but it is located just off the Super Bowl Boulevard in Times Square. Danny Meyer is running Forty Ate Steakhouse so the burgers, steaks and more are sure to be top notch. There will also be football memorabilia curated by the Pro Football Hall of Fame on display. The 50 Yard Lounge – One Penn Plaza The…

Street food is an integral part of local cuisine in many cultures. New York City is often described as a melting pot of cultures so it is no surprise that NYC has a very bright, vibrant street food scene. All in all it is a great opportunity to pick up cheap, scrumptious lunches. To start,…

It only takes a quick walk around Chinatown to see that there are a number of good dumplings shops. They are great places for quick, scrumptious lunches. One of the downsides of your typical Chinatown dumpling shop is that many are very tiny and have a “hole in the wall” atmosphere, which can be a…

This past month at Ahoy New York we were looking for exciting new places to eat for the New Year. Good news, our mission has been accomplished! Thank you to all who helped us with our Reader’s Choice Contest! Here are the reader’s choices for the best pizza, food trucks and local favorites in New York City along with some of our picks. The Best Pizza in New York City – Cecilia Prince Street Pizza – 27 Prince St Ray’s Pizza at 27 Prince St (now known as Prince Street Pizza) is a personal favorite. I usually order the regular pizza if I’m in a hurry. When I do have the time though, I order the appetizers such as garlic bread or garlic knots (absolutely delicious and hot). My all time favorite is the “Lasagna Pizza” which contains ricotta sauce,…

The new year is right around the corner and there is truly a lot to do in the city! We are very excited about Chinese New Year and other 2014 food & cultural events in New York City. So without further ado, here is our list of things to do and things you have to…

Looking to splurge a little? Here are the most outrageous, extravagant and expensive foods in New York City. Many of these are record breaking and truly are a once in a lifetime experience. The Golden Opulence Sundae – Serendipity 3 (225 E 60th St) Serendipity 3 is probably best known for their world records including the most expensive sundae in the world. The Golden Opulence is priced at $1,000 and it is only available by special order as it uses ingredients that have to be flown into NYC from around the world. So what do you get in this sundae? Well you start with three scoops of ice cream made from vanilla beans from Tahiti and then it is topped with chocolate syrup made from one of the most expensive chocolates in the world, candied fruits, gold covered almonds, chocolate…

Ferrara Bakery & Café (195 Grand St) is America’s first espresso bar and they have been serving scrumptious Italian pastries and desserts since 1892. Hungry visitors from all around the world visit Ferrara’s every year. In fact, they are probably one of the most renowned and popular food spots in Little Italy. It will only…

Ahoy New York is always on the lookout for new, fun places to eat in New York City and we would love for YOU to share YOUR recommendations with us. We need your help and we also wanted a way to thank you as our devoted readers. Starting today, 12/2/13 we are running a contest called Prime NYC Foodie Picks! We ask that in the comment section of this blog post you share with us your recommendations. The contest will conclude on December 23, 2013. We will be looking for recommendations in the following categories: The Best Pizza in New York City The Best Food Trucks in New York City The Best Local Favorites and Neighborhood Hotspots in New York City Specifically to enter the contest, select one of the three categories listed above and share a blurb in the…

When you think of American comfort foods, mac and cheese has to be one of the first things that comes to mind. It is certainly on our minds at the moment, so here is Ahoy New York’s list of the best mac and cheese in New York City. Trust us there aren’t any versions made…

Chinatown and Little Italy are great foodie neighborhoods in New York City, if you know where to look. So here is our list of the best places in eat in Chinatown and Little Italy. There are some popular hotspots, hidden gems and neighborhood favorites. Chinatown: Tasty Dumpling – 54 Mulberry St There are a lot…

Brace yourselves, winter is coming. If you are looking to warm up during the coming months, here is our guide to the best coffee, hot chocolate, soups and more in New York City. The Best Coffee: Abraço – 86 East 7th Street You can find coffee on almost every block of the city and to be honest there are a lot of good ones. But one place for a truly outstanding cup of coffee is Abraço. It is a tiny coffee shop in the East Village and their espresso in particular is truly divine. It is intense and rich and yet smooth. What more can you ask for? The Best Tea: Ten Ren – 75 Mott Street For any tea enthusiasts, Ten Ren in Chinatown is a must. They are truly tea experts and they have an extensive collection of…