The Lower East Side of Manhattan is a nostalgic area for me, I spent quite some time there in the 90’s, and made lifelong friends. The neighborhood has changed quite a bit, it went from its earlier punk rock and graffiti flair to the newer modern, almost avant garde version. I love all the new restaurants popping up everywhere, now that no-one is afraid to walk around the area anymore. Yes, believe it or not, it used to be a little rough! Of course I have visited plenty of restaurants down in that area, and below you’ll find a few I can recommend!
Blue Ribbon Sushi Izakaya
The Blue Ribbon restaurant chain is well known for its delicious fried chicken, and has numerous restaurants that have withstood the test of time for decades. Their versatility allows them to combine their chicken with other cuisines and traditions. So when I was in the mood for Sushi, I didn’t scoff at the idea of also having some fried chicken with it. The choice was made: Blue Ribbon Sushi Izakaya was it! Of course we ordered our sushi, a spicy tuna roll, and a spicy lobster roll, which came on pretty wooden platters, and were unbelievably fresh and delicious. We had some Chicken Katsu Buns made of their famous fried chicken with pickled onion, cabbage and Tonkatsu sauce, and you already know they were amazing. We followed with Pork Shumai dumplings, some of the finest I’ve had, I promise you. I had to have the Confit Duck Fried Rice, I love Duck Confit, and it was delightful. We closed out our dinner with a Tempura Brownie with vanilla ice cream that was to die for. I had such a great time there, and I absolutely loved the food!
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Sweet Chick
I found Sweet Chick when I was on a quest for the perfect Chicken and Waffle dish, and this place is extremely popular when it comes to this classic dish. The relaxed atmosphere in this Lower East Side restaurant is refreshing, the assortment of Chicken and Waffle dishes is astounding. The combinations thought up here are one of a kind. Of course I was with Sasha in tow, and she picked the traditional version, while I chose the Cordon Bleu Chicken and Thyme Waffles with fried chicken topped with ham and Gruyere sauce, it was amazingly different, the chicken super crispy and delicious. We also ordered the cornbread with honey butter and the Crawfish Hush Puppies with Remoulade Sauce and Jalapeño Jam, such tasty reminders of southern cuisine. This place is quite a treat!
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Black Tap
Ohhhh, you know I love a good burger! And Black Tap delivers in that department. On a Saturday night out, I landed just there, Black Tap on Ludlow Street, trying to choose a burger while being distracted by the young lady that was constructing their enormous and outrageous milk shakes. I didn’t indulge that day, but if you ever find yourself at one of the Black Tap locations, please come hungry and be sure to have one of them, they’re amazing. However, we stuck to burgers that night, and we chose the Texan Burger with aged cheddar, bacon, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and a crispy onion ring, and the Steak Au Poivre Burger with crumbled blue cheese and a green peppercorn sauce. Their fries were on point, the whole meal was beyond satisfying. Their selection of craft burgers with different toppings and styles is just awesome, and I recommend a visit!
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