Categories
Dining Featured Indulgence

Downtown’s Guide to Summer Sweets

With the heat of the sun beating down on Lower Manhattan, I find myself looking for somewhere to cool off and indulge myself. Over the last two weeks, the Downtown team has had an amazing opportunity to visit shops all over Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. Here’s a look at each of our favorite desserts from some of the best spots that we visited; we’ve got something for everyone to enjoy!

Ed’s Ice Cream Sandwich” at Ed’s Lobster Bar

Hear me out when I say that ice cream is extraordinarily tastier on a warm, buttery bun. This sandwich is like no other; it consists of cold vanilla ice cream that is served on what is typically one of Ed’s signature lobster buns (just without the lobster). The dessert is then covered in little bits of shredded chocolate and chocolate sauce and is sure to help you beat the heat. Ed’s has been serving this signature dish since the shop opened, so they definitely have it perfected.

Ed’s Lobster Bar is located at 222 Lafayette St. Be sure to check them out for a unique treat you won’t soon forget!

Egg Shop‘s “Brunchkins”

These fresh little donut balls are the perfect dessert after grabbing brunch at Egg Shop. These warm, delectable pieces of dough are filled with confetti cake and taste unbelievably good. Each individual Brunchkin tastes like a carnival in your mouth! Not to mention they’ll make your wallet feel good since they’re only $6!

Egg Shop is in Chinatown at 151 Elizabeth St. You won’t regret checking out these bite-sized miracles!

Clinton Hall‘s “What the Cruff Waffle”

Photo provided by Clinton Hall

The mastermind behind this beautiful dessert is Darryl Harmon. Harmon is an award-winning celebrity chef and is the executive chef for The Lure Group, which includes NYC’s Clinton Hall, Slate, West End Hall, and RFTP.

Clinton Hall was already known for their WTF Waffles, but this collaboration with Stuffed Ice Cream is surely the most beautiful and Instagrammable dessert-creation of all time. Stacked high with two waffles, four flavors of ice cream and a donut ice cream sandwich, this dessert is a miraculous work of genius. The ice cream flavors include Stuffed Snickerdoodle, Cookie Monster, Red Velvet Cookie Dough, and Ferrero Rocher and are topped with an ice cream cone on top to complete the aesthetic.

Clinton Hall has locations all over NYC. Find out which is closest to you!

“Flex Donuts” at Flex Mussels

Flex Mussels specializes in a variety of amazing seafood entrees and appetizers. What many people don’t know is that they also offer some of New York City’s greatest donuts. Offering a variety of flavors from Smores to Fluffernutter (a combination of marshmallow and peanut butter), Flex Mussels only charges $10 to add four of these gooey, sugary delights to your dinner.

You can find Flex Mussels located at their Downtown or Upper-Eastside location!

Julian’s Sundae at Aunt Jake’s

Covered in everything from fruity pebbles to Oreo crumbles, “Julian’s Sundae,” which was designed by Jake’s 9-year-old nephew, is stand-out dessert on the menu of this amazing Italian restaurant. The waffle is easily pulled-apart and makes for the perfect spoon for scooping the mountain of whipped cream and chocolate ice cream.

Aunt Jake’s has two locations. One on Mulberry Street and one on 8th Street. To make a reservation, be sure to check out their website!

Categories
Dining Featured Restaurants

New Year, Same Eats: Where to Dine on New Year’s Day

Start the year off right with Downtown’s New Year’s Day dining guide. We know you won’t want to cook on New Year’s Day, so we’ve selected some of our favorite places for you to roll out of bed (probably a little later than usual) and chow down at on your day off.

Epistrophy

 

epistrophy new years steak
Photo by Molly Tavoletti

 

This all day cafe is one of the cutest spots in Nolita and if it’s not already in your regular rotation add it quick! Epistrophy will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on New Year’s Day, but make sure to stop by for everything from poached eggs with creamy potenta and pancakes to cacio e pepe and hanger steak. Need some booze to get your through the day? You can’t go wrong with their spicy cucumber margarita or any of their spritzes.

 

886

 

886 new years menu
Photo by Molly Tavoletti

 

Nothing screams day off like dining on fried rice, Taiwanese sausage and chicken wings. If St. Mark’s Place is in your neighborhood, you can make a reservation for dinner at 886 on Resy.

 

Aunt Jake’s

 

aunt jakes new years special
Courtesy of Aunt Jake’s

 

If giving up carbs isn’t one of your resolutions (or if you need one last day of indulgence) head to Aunt Jake’s in Little Italy or Greenwich Village. All diners on New Year’s Day will receive a free brunch cocktail with the purchase or any entrée from 11 AM to 4 PM, so get ready to toast to avocado toast.

 

Egg Shop

 

egg shop new years deal
Photo by David Malosh

 

Is there anything better than an egg sandwich? Egg Shop in Nolita has perfected them, and if you head in on New Year’s Day you’ll get half-off Bloody Marys and Mimosas plus a can’t miss deal: a Bloody Mary and Pepper Boy Sandwich (MAPLE CURED PEPPER BACON) for $20.

 

Clinton Hall

 

clinton hall new years burger
Courtesy of Clinton Hall

 

Thinking burgers and beer are the best ways to start the year? Clinton Hall agrees. All of their locations, including the original FiDi outpost, will be offering their award winning double smashed burger and a Gigawatt beer for only $20.19.

 

Ed’s Lobster Bar

 

eds lobster bar new years
Courtesy of Ed’s Lobster Bar

 

Head to Lafayette Street for some cheesy, lobster filled goodness. Get a free Bloody Mary with an order of Ed’s Lobster Bar’s famous lobster mac and cheese or lobster roll all day.

 

Flex Mussels

 

flex mussels new years special
Courtesy of Flex Mussels

 

Not enough lobster for you? Two words: Lobster Poutine. Pair cheesy, lobster topped fries with a Bloody Mary for only $25. Flex Mussels, whose downtown location is on 13th and 7th, is also offering $1 oysters from 5–7 PM, talk about happy hour!

 

Bagatelle

 

bagatelle new years day
Courtesy of Bagatelle

 

Kick off the New Year in the West Village at Downtown favorite Bagatelle! They will be hosting a banging brunch party from 1:00–6:00 PM with family style dishes and music pumping all day long. For reservations email nyerestervations@bistrotbagatelle.com or call 212.488.2110.