Read more about the article Flavorful Vegan Food that Even Carnivores will Love at Rockin’ Raw
Flavorful Vegan Food that Even Carnivores will Love at Rockin’ Raw

Flavorful Vegan Food that Even Carnivores will Love at Rockin’ Raw

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I am no vegan. Really, I’m the farthest thing from it. I am meat obsessed. Pork, lamb, beef, you name it, I love it. But, every now and then I want to eat something that’s actually good for me that’ll leave my body feeling great afterwards.

After moving to Greenwich Village I noticed a vegan sit-down restaurant just two blocks south of my apartment with a rather eye-catching name. With a name like Rockin’ Raw, I wondered how rockin’ raw vegan food could be? You’ll be pleased to hear that I this food was actually some of the most flavorful, vibrant vegan food I’d ever tasted.

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Read more about the article New Zealand Style Meat Pies & More at Dub Pies
New Zealand Style Meat Pies & More at Dub Pies

New Zealand Style Meat Pies & More at Dub Pies

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*Editor’s Note: I’m sad to report that this restaurant is not longer open.

A year and a half ago, I spent a week in Sydney while my younger sister was studying abroad. Each night would involve some heavy drinking before we’d stumble our way into a local meat pie shop to help our bodies process all of the alcohol we had consumed.

This is where I first developed my love for savory Aussie meat pies. Recently, the meat pie has been taking Manhattan by storm with many pie shops popping up all over the city. Fortunately for me, this included the recent opening of Dub Pies, a New Zealand-style meat pie shop in Greenwich Village near my apartment.

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Read more about the article A Real Cheesesteak without the Drive to Philly at Phil’s Steaks in NYC
A Real Cheesesteak without the Drive to Philly at Phil’s Steaks in NYC

A Real Cheesesteak without the Drive to Philly at Phil’s Steaks in NYC

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I’ve spent a good chunk of time in Philly during my four years of college. Over this time, I ate my fair share of cheesesteak. No surprise there. So, when it comes to cheesesteaks, I have really high standards. I’ve eaten most of the big names in Philly and I know what makes a good cheesesteak great.

Now, I get it. Cheesesteaks are not going to be as cheap in New York as they are in Philly. And that’s a shame since it is street food and is supposed to be cheap. It’s a blue collar sandwich for the common man, but I’ve come to terms with it. However, there are still a few aspects of a cheesesteak that are musts and only a few of the cheesesteak shops in NYC have met my requirements. On the many visits I’ve taken to the mobile Phil’s Steaks trucks, they have passed my tests with flying colors.

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Unusual Persian Comfort Food at Cafe Nadery in Greenwich Village

When I first spotted Cafe Nadery on this quickly growing, but still quiet section of 8th street, my interest was piqued. It appeared to have a quiet and leisurely vibe and really seemed more like a cafe for coffee and tea than a restaurant. Functionally, it is a coffee shop in every respect with many of people plugged into their laptops working silently. The biggest difference between it and your usual coffee shop is that their kitchen prepares homestyle Persian comfort food. I don’t know much about Persian food, but I certainly wanted to try this very underrepresented cuisine in NYC.

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Read more about the article Authentic Italian Pizza that’s NOT Neapolitan at Susanna Pizzeria
Authentic Italian Pizza that’s NOT Neapolitan at Susanna Pizzeria

Authentic Italian Pizza that’s NOT Neapolitan at Susanna Pizzeria

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I have a bone to pick with Neapolitan style pizza. New Yorkers go apeshit for that stuff, but I honestly just don’t get it. They are ordinarily small, expensive, under-sauced, and under-topped. That’s why I get so excited when I find authentic Italian pizza that’s NOT Neapolitan style.

At the densely populated intersection of Greenwich Village where MacDougal meets Bleecker Street, Susanna Pizzeria is a relative newcomer. They’ve been open for a few months, but I’ve only now gotten around to checking them out for myself.

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Read more about the article Come for the Hot Dogs, Stay for the Mac & Cheese at Dogmatic
Come for the Hot Dogs, Stay for the Mac & Cheese at Dogmatic

Come for the Hot Dogs, Stay for the Mac & Cheese at Dogmatic

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*Editor’s Note: I’m sad to report that this restaurant is not longer open.

Along the Greenwich Village strip of MacDougal between Bleecker and 3rd Street, there is an extraordinary density of fast, cheap eateries and college-focused sports bars. This probably developed as a direct result of its proximity to the heart of NYU.

Even with so many choices, I still always get excited when new additions arrive. For instance, this week I was treated to the opening of Dogmatic, a diminutive, pristine, bright white, glowing shop with a small and unique menu that recently relocated from the Union Square area. The menu consists mostly of hot dogs and hamburgers and claims to make “naturally good fast food”.

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Read more about the article Upscale Cocktails & Small Plates at the Greenwich Project in NYC
Greenwich Project Review

Upscale Cocktails & Small Plates at the Greenwich Project in NYC

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Let’s talk about the weird strip of 8th Street between 6th Ave and Broadway. It’s pretty easy to access but still doesn’t get the same kind of foot traffic as other areas in the Village like St. Marks and MacDougal. It’s been in a constant state of transition over the past few years and is really turning into a formidable restaurant row. There’s a variety of bars, cafes, massage parlors, health food shops, and upscale date-night spots that run the four block span.

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The Best Artisanal Pickles in NYC are at Horman’s Best Pickles

While walking around my new neighborhood, Greenwich Village, I spotted a place I had to check out. Right at the corner of 6th Ave and Carmine St. next to the farmer’s market stand is a big, bright yellow stall selling pickles called Horman’s Best Pickles. I’m a pickle lover, that’s for sure. But I am also very particular about how they need to be in order to enjoy them. For me, they can’t be soggy and they can’t be sweet. Thin, floppy bread-and-butter pickles just don’t do it for me. I had to stop by to sample the goods to see if they live up to my standards.

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Read more about the article The Taco Shop: Hidden Tacos Down a Stairwell in The West Village
The Taco Shop Review

The Taco Shop: Hidden Tacos Down a Stairwell in The West Village

Let’s talk about the state of Mexican food in New York. I grew up in the Northeast, so I can safely say that for most of my life my understanding of Mexican food was incomplete. I happily enjoyed Mexican food all over the Tristate area for many years unaware of its full potential. Then something happened. My girlfriend brought me to Texas and my eyes were forever opened.

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Mario Batali’s Amazing Greenwich Village Pizza & Pasta Spot

I did it again. For the 9th consecutive year, I moved to a new apartment. Sounds crazy doesn’t it? It is, but this move was a little bit different. My girlfriend and I got an apartment together. We woke at 6:15 in the morning to move out of both of our previous apartments and spent the entire day unpacking, sorting, organizing, arranging, and purging our stuff only to realize at 9 PM that we desperately needed to have dinner.

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