Except from a ridiculous amount of Christmas tree decorations from Macy’s, two books and two magnets, I didn’t spend much money. Additional exception – food and beverage.

When we arrived Saturday evening, I let the Mr decide where to eat. What a huge mistake that was. OK, we were tired and needed something fast, so we went to… Bubba Gump’s. We went there when we visited 12 year ago – so, why not? Compared to where we ate after this first evening, I think there is always a good reason to think twice when thinking of eating at major chain restaurant.

Thanks to the higher costs fueled by inflation, we have almost stopped eating out in Sweden . I just don’t think the food served is worth the price I have to pay. And we have great restaurants in our little home town. But I don’t experience I get the value.

Going on vacation, staying at a hotel, you don’t have a choice than to dine out. Not only is it expensive, due to the current situation described above, we need to add a shitty currency. So for us, eating out when abroad, becomes even more expensive.

So, we spent much of our budget on food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner and a couple of afternoon drinks. NYC was warm.

So, even if Bubba Gump wasn’t the best place I must say that all the other were fantastic. Maybe I had low expectations after Bubba Gump, but both food and ambiance was amazing.

Top Three Lunch Places

(I’m sure they serve dinner to, but we didn’t have that)

3. WALKERS

3. Walkers, Tribeca. The best fries I’ve ever eaten. In the best part of NYC (you have the Ghostbuster fire station on the other side of the street).

2. GRAND STREET SOCIAL

Grand Street Social, 155 Grand St. An Irish dude, serving well served dishes to a fair (considering the inflation and currency). But what stood out was him. Best words coming to mind is genuine. I can’t really say it was great customer service, because it was beyond. One felt at home.

1. CECCONI’S

The absolute best, run into (although the Mr. claimed he had found it while researching at home) was… Cecconi’s, 55 Water St, Brooklyn. What a fabulous place. The food great, the service great, the location double great and ambiance – out of this world fantastic.

So to summarize the best lunch places – I would go back to: The Grand Old Station for the people, Cecconi’s for the ambiance and Walkers for the fries. The food was equally good.

Sam was responsible for the dinners, except the reservation I already done. He did awesome. He was wise (or smart) to not look at the price level or that was exactly what he did. Great food in great places. He would not take us far, from the hotel.

Four Places To Dine

To be fair we only had five evenings to eat out on and one we gave away to Bubba Gump’s. But all these were very good so I will rate all four of them.

4. TRIBECA GRILL

Tribeca Grill, 375 Greenwich St. This I reserved as I was afraid that we wouldn’t get a table at any good restaurants if we didn’t. And I wanted us to at least get one good food experience. And it was. However, my mood that evening was not at it’s finest. I’m working on a post to explain what I went through my mind during this vacation. But the food there was good and the service excellent. The waiter felt the tension among us. Poor lad. Even if I was grumpy, we still had a few laughs and we will never forget Tribeca Grill. Extra plus for helping people to charge their phones.

3. QUALITY BISTRO

Quality Bistro, 120 W 55th St. Looking at the images on their web page and google, I must have been drunk because I don’t remember seeing half of it. I was skeptical hearing its name, I got Buddy Gump vibes. But boy, was I wrong. I understand that it’s part of a concept/chain but the interior was high and the service excellent. Fabian was very happy with his steak.

2. LA GRAND BOUCHERIE

La Grand Boucherie, 145 W 53rd St. This was the Mr favorite place. The steak he got here was apparently unforgettable. Also part of a chain, but really good food. The service was less refined compared to Quality Bistro, but OK. But I enjoyed my dinner more here than I did at Quality Bistro. Amazing location and interior.

1. LA OSTERIA BAIA

1. My favorite restaurant visited. I could go back to NYC just to eat at more locations. Was La Osteria Baia, 129 W 52nd St. Speaking Italian (yes, buona sera, grazie, por favore and limoncello), with such belief the head waiter started to speak Italian to us. Of course he knew we weren’t. But just like the Irish dude at The Grand Street Social it’s their way of meeting people that wins me over. It seems just a tad more genuine and that is nice. The food was well cooked, and portions in perfect sizes. That we need to do another post about the economy and food waste.

Hidden Gem

By coincidence we ran in to a FABULOUS bar Library of Distilled Spirits at 80 E 13th St. Calm, quiet (which the bartender, when we returned the second time, mention could be too calm and quiet) somber, classy and knowledgeable staff who brought the Mr surprise drinks, while I enjoyed my Riesling. I was afraid that the boys, as they have not met the legal age to drink in this country,,,, so wired, but they were always welcome to sit down and have a virgin drink wherever we went.

Well, that was all we had time for. This will be my mission going to foreign cities in the future. Finding fab establishments for food and drink.