New York City offers some of the greatest destinations to dine during the holiday season, from places near Madison Square Garden to Brooklyn and more.
Dine at Casa Nonna, an Italian restaurant at 310 West 38th St., and park in the garage next door for three hours for just $10 or for six hours for only $15. The restaurant menu includes pastas like the Cavatelli al Ragu di Maiale ($18), ricotta dumplings with pork ragu and ricotta salata – or a variety of wood-fired pizza.
LuLu & Me, located at 235 Fifth Ave., serves plates that include roasted pear, Walnuts and Greens ($16.50) with gorgonzola dolce toast, Proscuitto Wrapped Chicken with Roasted Autumn Squash and Kale ($18.50) and Sunday meat platter ($24) that boasts pork bracciola, sausage and meatballs with grilled polenta. LuLu & Me also provides a wine and beer list, along with signature cocktails like a martini.
China Latina, Hotel Indigo, 127 West 28th St., in Manhattan's Flower District combines Asian and Latin American flavors with dishes like Mole Poblano Lo Mein ($18), Peking Duck Wonton Tacos ($16) and a variety of Sushi Burritos.
Standout dishes at Neely's Barbecue Parlor, 1125 First Ave., in the Upper East Side, include Cedar Planked Salmon ($19.95) with soft corn pudding, tiny green beans and parsley butter and the famous Fried Green Tomato Cobb Salad ($16.50).
Hospoad, 321 East 73rd St., a modern Prague-style restaurant, is located next door to the Bohemian National Hall. The restaurant's food is farm-to-table and is the only place in the country whose unique bar system can pour the Pilsner Urquell in four different ways from the same keg, each providing a different flavor and style.
Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, Carmine's, 200 West 44th St., is another Italian restaurant famous for its country style rigatoni ($27.50), and meat and fish dishes like shrimp fra diavolo ($32.50) and veal scallopine ($28.50). One of New York’s first authentic ‘cue joints, Virgil’s Real Barbecue, 152 West 44th St., also located in the heart of Manhattan’s Theater District, serve up platters of Texas beef brisket ($22.95), Carolina pulled pork ($21.25) Memphis style pork ribs ($24.95) and more.
The Russian Tea Room, 150 West 57th St., is known for its history of catering to celebrities and one of the best vodka programs in the city. There are also dishes like Boeuf à la Stroganoff ($39) - red wine braised beef short ribs with house-made thick noodles tossed in creamy mushroom and black truffle cream sauce – along with a selection of caviar.
One of the most exciting and comfortable places to dine near the Barclays Center is Piquant, 259 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, a Latin American-inspired French restaurant only three blocks away. It features a full, wood-paneled bar, an elevated dining area, a downstairs dining room and a 30-seat backyard. Chef Patrick Allouache, creates modern French dishes that incorporate the ingredients and flavors profiles of Latin America. Stand out dishes include ethereal duck confit enchiladas, foie gras quesadillas, Roasted Halibut with langoustine “con carne” and Catalan Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with zucchini blossom, huitlacoche, and tapenade. Also blocks away from the arena is Ganso, 25 Bond St., Brooklyn, a new izakaya-style restaurant that specializes in Ramen and modern versions of Japanese comfort and bar foods like braised short rib ramen, crispy pork and garlic gyoza pot-stickers, kari kari buns and a Japanese-style fried chicken.