Gotham West Market is on trend for so many different reasons, the primary one being the elevated food court in which they have become known for. This concept is popping up all over Manhattan, yet the ones that I have tried in the past (see here), tend to be a bit crowded and congested upon arrival. Gotham West Market on the other hand is spacious and presents a fun and colorful environment where even the pickiest of eaters will find something that they will love to eat and come back for time and time again.
The location has been around for a couple of years now, and is giving a reason for people to want to go beyond Times Square and head to 11th Avenue as it is a part of the city that tends to be a lot quieter than the area that surrounds it. I only became aware of Gotham West Market as a friend of mine asked me to meet him there, so I took the 6 train down to 42nd street and then the M42 crosstown and was quite delighted by what I saw.
This spot has been open for a couple of years now, yet has seemed to draw in a decent following as it was quite busy both times that I went. It’s all on the ground level, with different areas to sit in after you purchase an assortment of food from the vendor(s) of your choosing. There is even a separate room located towards the back where you can have a private party or gathering of sorts. And they have gender-neutral bathrooms, which showcase how far we are going with this issue and I think them doing this is simply awesome.
Now, let’s get down to the meat of all of this… the food! They set me and my friend up with a wonderful tasting where I got to try options from several of their vendors and was quite pleased by what each brought to the table (pun intended).
Whatever you are in the mood for, they have it and then some. We started with some delicious sushi burritos from Uma Temakeria, which prides itself on being responsibly sourced sushi that is just flat out tasty. Chef Chris Jaeckle really knows what he is doing in this case, and the sushi burrito was one of the many highlights we tried that day.
El Comado is all things tapas (one of my favorite words to say as of late), and the assortment of what they gave us was diverse yet entirely flavorful. My favorite was the Datiles con Bacon, which translates to dates wrapped in bacon. You have the sweetness from the dates with the savory and pungent taste of the bacon that makes for an amazing bite.
If American is the name of your game, then Genuine Roadside will transport you from the concrete jungle of Manhattan to a food stand on the side of the road off some highway where you can experience their amazing burgers, sandwiches and more. My recommendation? Their Buttermilk Battered Chicken Sandwich. YUMMY! Finger licking good. (FYI- at this point, I was still hungry but was struggling. I wasn’t giving up as I knew there was so much more amazing food to come!)
Pizza is as classic as “I Love Lucy” or “All in the Family”, just with no yelling/whining and more happy faces after the first bite. Corner Slice is a great example of that, as their pizza is some of the best I have tried in NYC but they also have a focus on pastries and coffee, all of which are made on premise. A simple plain slice with a refreshing root beer is a great way to end your busy workday.
The one that I was probably most impressed by that day (although all were great), was the Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop. Owner Ivan Orkin takes the concept of ramen to a different level with his unique ways on how to prepare this dish with very interesting ingredients that you haven’t really thought of before. The Chilled Spicy Sesame Noodles were cold yet spicy and brought a ton of flavor in this bowl that would make for a great lunch item, however my favorite dish that I had the entire day was their Pastrami Bun with creamy mustard and pickled relish. The mustard and relish compliment the pastrami so well and I couldn’t get enough of this amazing dish.
We rounded out the experience with Choza Taqueria, who expertly takes Mexican roadside cuisine and brings it to Manhattan with their line of amazing tacos. The Steak Barbacoa and Chorizo were easily my favorite of the three-bite wonders. For the beer type lovers, The Cannibal is a fantastic stop inside Gotham West Market – pick a craft beer or draft cocktail from their extensive collection and pair it with one of their delicious market-driven sandwiches. The Sean Kelly (a sandwich), was my favorite, as it came chock full of pastrami, gruyere, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing on the side. Happy emoji signs everywhere for both.
No matter how full you are, you have to finish your meal with something sweet. Ample Hills Creamery is a great way to end what was a filling and satisfying tasting, as the Brooklyn-based shop is rated number one on Zagat in NYC and for good reason! The flavors in the ice creams are so diverse and interesting, you will definitely want to have more than just one scoop. Try the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. I don’t need to say anymore, just do it!
Overall, Gotham West Market provided a fabulous experience for myself and my friend, and I hope you feel the same way the next time you stop by.
For more information on Gotham West Market, please check out their official website.