Hell’s Kitchen Local

Now, this is a chain, but with $3 coffee, and a staff who loves Gumbo almost as much as I do, I had to add it to the list. Gumbo loves it so much because of the pup cups. Every morning, after a pee, he pulls towards Matto knowing if he gives me those puppy dog eyes, I'll cave and get us both a treat. Me a cinnamon scone and him a dollop of whipped cream.

Although they are three separate spots for three different vibes, Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Céntrale are under one ownership. Mary and her team always put out the welcome mat! The food, of course, is excellent; whether you’re a Broadway star or just a guy looking for some excellent pasta and my favorite roast chicken in NYC, it’s always a go-to.

My favorite place to grab a Guinness and some wings, or my current favorite, their braised-beef brisket tacos (formerly sliders) after a long day or week.

This place is like eating a home-cooked meal every time. The food is authentic Italian cooking at its finest. For more than 50 years, this wonderful family has been feeding our community. The people who work there are fantastic, the location is convenient, and the food is both affordable and delicious. If you’re in the area, stop in and enjoy a meal.

I love taking my daughter to neighborhood playgrounds and watching her explore, develop new skills and become more confident with every new challenge. Seeing the world through her eyes reminds me why curiosity, courage and kindness became such an important part of Max's Adventures.

When I’m craving Korean food, I often visit this neighborhood spot instead of traveling down to Koreatown on 32nd Street. Their Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and bibimbap (veggie/meat rice bowl) always hit the spot.

Joe Allen has been my pre-theater or after-show drink go to for my whole life. It’s reliable, stress free and changes little. It celebrates flops and it just turned 60 (like me). I ate there before I saw A Chorus Line for the first (of eight) times. Original cast.

I’ve been coming here since I worked at Waachtell.

Reliable, hearty and consistently excellent. Their pad kee mao, the drunken noodles with tofu and mixed vegetables, is my comfort food of choice. When I am under the weather or just exhausted, this is my go-to spot for delivery.

Rain or shine, late night or early morning, this food truck has been a reliable affordable food option. With incredibly friendly habibis (Issam and Sa’id) and the three brothers (Saleh, Mo and Abdul) whose family have run business for generations, they serve what I think is some of the best halal food in NYC.