Hell’s Kitchen Local

Every Sunday morning, I go for my walk down the Hudson and pick up breakfast from Sullivan Street Bakery. During the early days of COVID they kept us well fed. Our apartment building was going through a renovation and we were without cooking gas for about a year. Sullivan Street Bakery was open once a week and we stocked up on their community loaf, chocolate croissants and other goodies.

The staff here are incredibly knowledgeable about wine and spirits. They have great prices, offer delivery, and occasionally host wine tastings. Javi is one of the main reasons I enjoy shopping there. He’s always ready to help and does it with a smile. They also keep treats on hand for dogs, which is perfect if you’re like me and take your dog everywhere.

In 1978, a group of neighbors on W48th Street looked at a lot that had been a garbage heap for 28 years and decided to build something better. When the city moved to auction the land out from under them in the early 1980s, they fought back. They formed the Committee to Save Clinton Community Garden, ran a “Square Inch Campaign” selling pieces of the garden for five dollars apiece, and in 1984 made it the first community garden in New York City protected as permanent parkland.

Homemade Taqueria has been my lunch go-to for the past five Saturdays in a row. Sometimes twice a day. The food is amazing — taco al pastor and aqua fresca watermelon. The background music is hip. The staff are super sweet. And the vibe is both modern and old school. I am already a regular — and plan to continue!

For over 100 years the women in my family came together to make a recipe which required suet (yes — raw beef fat). As the years passed, Esposito became one of the only places in the city to get it. Thankfully, we have moved on to the vegetarian version of the same dish!

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

I am a beer-on-tap drinker. Rudy’s is wallet-friendly, unpretentious and welcoming to everyone. No attitude, no judgement. Easy to strike up a conversation. Rumored to have been a speakeasy. One of New York’s first liquor licenses. And the pig in front is iconic!

Small businesses keep Hell’s Kitchen and our city great. The Little Pie Company boasts incredible pies, made from scratch with fantastic ingredients! What’s not to love?!

I’m always happy walking into Frisson. The staff are incredibly friendly and somehow manage to create a unique latte art experience every time. The ambiance, the vibes are just uplifting and it feels like you’re home. Having some of my artwork and sculptures on display there certainly doesn’t hurt, but what really inspires me is that it’s run by young Dominican brothers who do an outstanding job.

This pizzeria is anything but ordinary. Claudio’s and its staff feel like family to me. They know exactly how I like my Sicilians and have catered many pizza parties for us over the years. They’ve gone above and beyond for us time and time again, which is why I’ll always be grateful for their friendship and support.