Eating your ABCs
Miss Lily's
If you have the sudden urge for jerk chicken and sinful rum cocktails, then you have to go try Miss Lily’s. Situated on the corner of 6th and A, this Caribbean-inspired BBQ is perfect for any occasion. While you sip your Lily’s Punch and dive into the ribs and spinach artichoke dip, save room for at least a bite of the tantalizing jerk chicken. You can’t go wrong with this small menu, they seem to do everything right. Defiantly a place where you get your fingers dirty, but it’s worth every lick. Miss Lily’s will become a favorite of yours (if it isn’t already!)
Root & Bone
If you consider yourself a fried chicken expert, or you really like your biscuits extra buttery, then you have to try Root & Bone. Grandma Daisy’s angel biscuits are worth every hour of Soulcycle you may have to do the next day. They are little clouds of buttery goodness, smothered in honey, and dipped in thyme and sea salt. These are the perfect side to the “crispy free-range bucket of bird”, that truly tastes like it was sweet tea brined, and dusted with the hint of lemon and fried to perfection. I decided if I was going in, I was going all in, so Dana and I shared the roasted broccoli covered in cheese and the burrata salad to start, pretending that these were a healthy serving of greens. But don’t worry you can walk off the calories, taking the trip to and from the depths of Alphabet City, Root & Bone is on B and 3rd.
Timna
This is by far my favorite brunch place of tall time. Each of their dishes is worth every penny, and luckily for $25 you can have it. Every meal comes with endless Mediterranean side dishes, to dip and basically clean the plates with fresh pita. I can’t say enough about the shakshuka, it's basically two eggs in anything makes my heart jump, but poached in tomato sauce and covered in herbs and cheese may be my favorite. And if that’s not enough for you, they have a skirt steak addition, the cow’shuka that they heftily sprinkle on top to truly make your heart and your cholesterol spike. You also can’t go wrong with the polenta and eggs or the alphabet city benedict each is mouth-wateringly good. I would advise you to get there early, the secret seems to be out about this cute little place, and I often find myself waiting outside for extended periods of time. But is worth it, I promise!
Westville
If you don’t often find yourself venturing into the ABCs, don’t worry; Westville has a few locations throughout Manhattan. I would advise the minute you see their sign you should stop because you literally can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I’m probably going on my 15th time in Westville and I still try something new each time. The entire menu is melt in your mouth good, and for the most part healthy. If you are a veggie lover, try any and all of their sides. If you prefer sandwiches or burgers go for it, they are incredible. They have salads of all kinds; my favorite is the grilled salmon salad. They have a great beer and wine selection and are the perfect place to bring mom or dad for lunch/dinner.
Yuca Bar
Directly across the street from Miss Lily’s, this Latin fusion restaurant has delicious food and great vibes. Tapas Tuesdays is personally my favorite, since the entire tapas menu is half off, and their sangria/cocktails are worth every sip. But any night is good, especially in the summer, when you can sit outside or by the opened doors. I can’t get enough of their grilled octopus (pulpo ala plancha) or any of their ceviches. I want to bathe in their Columbian espresso coffee BBQ sauce, that they smother over their pork back ribs.