New York Food and Drink

If you like pudding, you’re going to love Martha’s Country Bakery but beware for choice overload!

As you step inside, you’ll be greeted with rows and rows of beautifully lit cakes and pies that you can either enjoy sat inside or get boxed up to takeaway.

I went for a classic – the pecan pie ($6.50) – and carted it off to eat on top of the Williamsburg Bridge whilst watching the sunset. What can I say, I’m a true romantic.

Absolutely DELICIOUS!

They have a few locations which you can check out here.

I’m not gonna lie, but I was quite hungover when I finally got around to checking Oasis out but due to this fact, it turned out to be the perfect experience.

On a sunny Saturday lunchtime, Bedford Avenue around me was getting busy and yet there was no queue when I stepped inside. Better yet, was that the falafel sandwiches – which actually are pittas – was delivered, wrapped up in my hands within about 25 seconds.

Costing just $5.50 – without tax – I was expecting simple, cheap and cheerful but as I bit in, I was impressed at how delicious and fresh it tasted too. Just watch out for that sauce as it drips out!

There loads of other options on the menu too, plenty of which come under $10 – though personally, I’d be quite tempted by the ‘tray of baklava’ for $60 next time!

Now, let’s not pretend that 7th Street Burger are setting the culinary world alight with what’s on offer here – it’s burgers and french fries – and yet the ratings, reviews and most probably the queues will vouch for its appeal.

There’s only four things on the menu – cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, impossible burger and fries – so simplicity really is key at this joint. They also serve Mexican coke which many clamour tastes even better than the original thanks to the different type of sugar it uses.

My favourite thing is the price ad that nothing costs over $10.

The original is, unsurprisingly, on 7th Street, but there’s now also another outpost in Greenwich too.

When I spoke to a friend about my mission to try as many New York cheap eats that I could find, his reply was “ah so you’ll be eating a lot of BECs then”.

My reply – “What on earth is a BEC”?

Well, in the same that a BLT is a bacon, lettuce, tomato, a BEC is its New York cousin – the Bacon, Egg and Cheese.

The truth is, you can score these bad boys from food carts and bodegas for under $3 but when I was visiting, I was in search of a top tier BEC that also didn’t cost me a fortune.

After much research, I settled on the ‘2 eggs, bacon & cheese on a roll’ ($8.95) from Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner which also happened to be close to my hotel. You can sit in, but you can often save 10% off by ordering online – check their website for a money off code.

Alas, I ended up being too busy to swing by (sob!) and so it’s now my mission to you to go and check it out – and let me know how it is. I hope it’s everything I dreamed of!

Starting life in a the 1990s as a food cart on the southeast and southwest corners of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, The Halal Guys now have 4 locations in New York and a total of 100 stores all around the globe.

So what’s the hype?

After a busy day of work, I wasn’t quite sure if I could rouse myself for the twenty minute walk to go and check these guys out and so was DELIGHTED to find that they delivered on UberEats.  I ordered myself the Falafel platter ($10.45) and added a topping of hummus ($1). When it arrived, I was blown away by the portion size – it was huge!! And pleasantly surprised to find a pretty healthy meal in front of me. The platter itself was pretty plain (but still tasty) but that’s where the spicy sauce comes in – get that bad boy all over it!! Overall, I was really satisfied and can only imagine it’s even better if you get it fresh.

They also do ‘Sandwiches’ which are more like a wrap for $9.25 so it’s a great shout for an affordable meal that’s going to leave you full and not too bloated!

You can check out your nearest location here.

After authentic tacos, tostadas and quesadillas without having to pay a fortune? Los Tacos No.1 has your back.

I swung by their Chelsea Market location (they’re also in Noho, Times Square, Grand Central and Tribeca too) with a friend who lives local who, whilst stood in the long queue, admitted she’ll often order double so that she can enjoy tacos for her lunch the following day too.

Long lines are well known but it moves quickly as the chefs expertly pack steak, chicken, pork and cactus into their delicious flour tacos. I went for the adobada ($4.85)  – the marinated pork taco – and a pollo asado ($6.05) – the grilled chicken quesadilla – along with a chilled glass bottle of 7UP ($3.50). Including the sales tax, it came to just over $15.

Finally, I’ll end on a controversial thought. As there’s no seats – though there are general seats outside the market that you can use – and you simply stand in line, order your food and then take it away, it could be argued that you don’t have to tip… 

*Awaits the wrath of the hospitality gods*

Though, I’d be more than happy to leave a dollar at the till as these tacos really are top notch!