Shopping and Snacking Breaks in Manhattan

It’s the season for super pre-spring, get-rid-of-the-winter-blues sales!  Need a quick energy break in-between stores?  Here are some ideas for “quick bites” no matter where you are in NYC…

Downtown – The only real shopping downtown is at South Street Seaport but you definitely don’t want to eat there.  Go, instead, for a fun taste of the Kiwi experience at nearby Nelson Blue and order their wonderful crab cakes. (233-235 Front Street, at Peck Slip, South Street Seaport)

SoHo/NoLita – The wood-fired pizza at lovely Peasant on Elizabeth Street is worth a detour from the boutiques, and it’s thin-crust so you can still try on those slinky duds (Thank you, Frank Bruni, for this reco). (194 Elizabeth Street between Spring Street and Prince Street)

Lower East Side – You can nosh your way throughout this entire area while you shop for bargains of all sorts. But you’d miss something special if you didn’t set a spell at Katz’s for one of their famous pastrami sandwiches. Think Meg Ryan! (205 Houston Street, at Ludlow Street)

East Village– It can be crazy here, especially around St. Marks.  So head just a bit east to one of the finest of David Chang’s Momofuku outposts, Momofuku Ssam Bar, for a fabulous pork bun. You may never get a reservation at Momofuku Ko, but at least you’ll have had a tiny bit of Momo heaven. (207 Second Avenue, at 13^th Street)

[sniplet google]

West Village – You can’t leave Manhattan without having a hot dog topped with sauerkraut, and Gray’s Papaya on Sixth Avenue has the works. Best of all, it’s only $1.25, the bargain of the century. (402 Sixth Avenue, at 8^th Street)

Union Square/Flatiron– There are no seats at Rainbow Falafel and Shawarma on 17^th Street so you’ll have to take your sandwich to the park at Union Square – it’s a quick snack so you won’t freeze for very long. (26 E. 17^th Street. between Broadway and 5^th Avenue)

Chelsea – The 6^th Avenue stores are massive and exhausting. Tiny Tebaya’s Japanese-spiced chicken wings will ease the pain at an easy price. (144 W. 19^th Street. between 6^th and 7^th avenues)

Herald Square – 34^thStreet can make even the most committed shopper go nuts. A skirt steak, chicken or fish taco in the beachy setting of Lucy’s Cantina Royale will give you a brief vacation respite. (1 Penn Plaza, Corner of 34^th Street and 8^th Avenue)

Midtown/Fifth Avenue – A Greek salad at Kellari Taverna on 44^th Street is perfect on every level, and the setting is a cozy oasis amidst the shopping madness in this part of the city. (19 W. 44^th Street. between 5^th 6^th avenues)

Theater District —  I’ll confess I’m addicted to any of the burgers here:  the signature 5 Napkin burgerwith its signature 5N sauce is to die for, but, then again, so are the inside-out burgers and the turkey burgers.  You’ll soon understand why this is a pre-theater and post-theater favorite, too. (630 9th Avenue at 45th Street)

Lincoln Center – The all-day Chowder Bar at Ed’s Chowder House has a variety of chowders to warm you up. Try the rich shellfish version, accompanied by some oysters and clams on the half-shell. (Empire Hotel, 44 W. 63^rd Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue)

Upper West Side — The line at Shake Shack on Columbus Avenue looks more daunting than it really is: join in and order one of the best burgers in the city. (366 Columbus Avenue at 77^th Street)

Upper East Side – 86^th Street is a zoo but Lili’s on 3^rdAvenue will add a calming Zen vibe with a big bowl of udon, meat and veggies. (1500 3^rd Avenue between 84th and 85^th streets)

Harlem — 125^th Street is where the action is, but I suggest you walk the 9 quick blocks to Amy Ruth’s for some authentic Southern fried chicken, with or without waffles. There’s a reason there’s usually a line to get in here. (113 W. 116^th Street, between Lenox and 7^th avenues)