Hell’s Kitchen Local

A lovely restaurant with a romantic lower level lounge — have a seat on the sofa by the fireplace.

Hell’s Kitchen Park is a real neighborhood park, made even more so by the local volunteers who help maintain the plantings, and those who promoted the new mural on the east building facing the park. This is exactly the kind of public space this City needs more of. It became one of my favorite places and a core memory from this campaign: standing in that park surrounded by the labor leaders and rank-and-file members from the unions backing this race, looking out at a crowd of working New Yorkers who built this city and still fight to make it work for everyone. That’s the coalition I’m running with, that’s the neighborhood I’m running for, and Hell’s Kitchen Park is where it all came together.

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.

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!

The food is amazing and the service is always friendly. The vibe is lively and welcoming, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. Whether it’s their pollo adobado, spicy mezcal paloma or their delicious guacamole, I always leave happy!

Perfect place to grab a drink and dinner before going to catch a show.

I always recommend this restaurant to friends and family before a show. It’s a fabulous restaurant, with a great staff and a super nice owner. They often keep the kitchen open late for Natalie and me, so it’s our go-to spot.

It supports notable playwrights, offering residencies to artists from underrepresented ethnic communities and giving them space to develop their work in a secure environment. My favorites are Lynn Nottage and Anna Deavere Smith.

Sometimes a wait, but well worth it!

A great place to hang out on a weekend afternoon. The Bianca Buns made from slow-fermented Roman pizza dough are elite. I always grab a coffee and buy extra to take home. Make sure to catch the neighborhood acoustic jams every second Sunday of the month in the afternoons.