Boy, has 2015 been quite a year for Manhattan Digest! We passed our millionth view mark in November, got to interview some huge stars and of course we reviewed what is the best of the best in Manhattan! This is about digesting Manhattan, isn’t it? So after a stellar year, and some pretty stellar places that we have sampled and enjoyed, we here at Manhattan Digest are giving you the best of the best from what we ate in 2015. Devour, check in, and be amazed by where you should stop into for the 2016 calendar year and beyond.
[Read more…] about Manhattan Digest’s Best of Food For 2016
haru sushi
Manhattan Digest’s 2nd Fundraiser Another Big Success!
Manhattan Digest held its 2nd fundraiser this past Friday night at Gym Sportsbar down in Chelsea. With the fear of Hurricane Joaquin (Phoenix) settling into New York that night, I was worried that a lot of people wouldn’t show up due to how bad the weather was going to be. Regardless, a ton of friends, family and friendly customers stopped by to donate, have some delicious cupcakes and submit their tickets in hopes to win some fantastic prizes.
Overall we raised hundreds of dollars for cancer research with even more donations coming in over the next day or so. That makes me extremely happy to know that doing something as simply as a fundraiser can hopefully save at least one life with the money that we raised.
I would love to thank everyone that showed up, as well as Serge Sterbois, Jerry Reilly and the Gym Sportsbar staff for their amazing job before, during and after the fundraiser. I would also love to give a shoutout to Tim de Iturriaga at Adonis Lounge for finding a host for the event (the handsome and wonderful Jason) who went out of his way to talk to every person who came down into the basement area about the charity. Finally, thank you to Huascar Aquino from H Bake Shop who generously donated a ton of cupcakes for everyone to devour and enjoy. Got so many amazing reviews from the cupcakes so let’s hope it drives in some new customers for him!
Finally, a big thanks to all the companies that donated generously for this event. This includes Krave & Kulture, Crunch Gym, Haru Sushi, Jacob’s Pickles, Best Barber in Hell’s Kitchen, The New York Beer Company, The Jolly Monk, Hotel Belleclaire, Otto’s Tacos, H Bake Shop, BKB Restaurant, Cantina Rooftop, Morton’s Grille and Bear Skn. My gratitude is endless and I really appreciate what each of you did, so thank you again!
Will hopefully have another one in early 2016. In the meantime, thanks to everyone again who participated and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Manhattan Digest Fundraiser October 2nd at Gym Sportsbar
After having an absolutely amazing first fundraiser back in March, we at Manhattan Digest have decided to do a second one in hopes that this will be even more successful than the first. Manhattan Digest is throwing its 2nd annual fundraiser this coming Friday on October 2nd, taking place at my favorite gay bar in the world Gym Sportsbar from 7-9 PM. Similar to last time, it will be held in the basement area of the bar, where you can come and donate money to support breast cancer research in my late mother Lisa’s memory and bid on some incredible prizes that you yourself can actually win!
We are echoing the same format we did back in March, in the form of a silent auction (raffle style) where you can take your raffle tickets and put them in the containers of the prizes that you want to win. $5 gets you 2 tickets, $10 gets you 5 tickets and $20 gets you 10 tickets. You are more than willing to donate more if you would like. A very handsome gentleman from The Adonis Lounge will be at the door to give you your tickets so there is a bonus incentive there as well!
So what are the fabulous and amazing prizes that you are able to potentially win? Take a look at what we have in store!
One free night at The Hotel Belleclaire
$100 Amazon Gift Card
$250 Gift Card to Jacob’s Pickles
Dinner for two at BKB Restaurant ($100 Value)
Dinner for two at Cantina Rooftop ($100 Value)
Haircut and Shave from Best Barber in Hell’s Kitchen ($80 Value)
Gift card from Krave & Kulture
Custom Cake for up to 5 people from H Bake Shop ($150 Value)
$25 gift card from Otto’s Tacos
$50 gift card to The Jolly Monk
$50 gift card to Haru Sushi
$50 gift card to New York Beer Company
$50 gift card to Morton’s Grille
3 Month membership to Crunch Gym ($240 Value)
If you are unable to attend, there are other ways of donating where you can still win one of the amazing prizes. Simply send an email to [email protected] with how you want to donate. We accept Venmo, Paypal and other types of payments. Please also include how you want to allocate the tickets. Other than, that I look forward to seeing everyone at Gym Sportsbar this coming Friday night!
Manhattan Digest’s List Of The Best Places To Eat In NYC
Manhattan is a one of kind experience when it comes to being a melting pot of food you can try when you are here. Any type of cuisine is available to you, and chances are the food fucking rocks as I have yet to experience a bad place to eat here (outside of TGI Fridays, which was not my choice to go to.) In the two and half years of Manhattan Digest being active, we have reviewed and written about tons of different restaurants with different cuisines, backgrounds, areas and so much more. Question is, what is the best of the best? We now give you what we think is the best in each category. Take a look at who won in what and try not to salivate throughout the course of you reading this.
Best Sushi- Haru Sushi (Multiple Locations)
Sushi is at the top when it comes to the type of foods that Manhattanites like to eat. So with all of the sushi places that we have tried at Manhattan Digest, Haru Sushi sticks out the most in terms of originality, texture and flavor that they put into each sushi roll. Moderately priced in a beautiful setting in each location (I recommend the Times Square one the most), Haru provides top notch quality Sushi such as their Rainbow Roll, consisting of Shrimp, Striped Bass, Yellowtail, Tuna and Salmon wrapped around Kani & Avocado or Perfect Fantasy Roll, which is Avocado-Wrapped Shrimp Tempura and Asparagus with Spicy Mayo. They also have bomb appetizers from Lobster Gyozo to Beef Negimaki, which showcase how great they are with flavor in not only their rolls but in their all encompassing menu. For more info check out our review here.
Best Steakhouse: Morton’s Grille (19th Street and Park Avenue South)
The words “Morton” and “Steakhouse” kind of go together like Peanut Butter & Jelly. Morton’s is obviously known for its steak, and I wanted to choose their sister restaurant called Morton’s Grille as it has a really relaxed vibe to eat with some of the best steak I have ever had in my entire life. Options from New York Strip and Bone-In Filet Mignon are available at your disposal and taste out of this world freaking fantastic. If you want Steak in New York City, you have to choose Morton’s. Sometimes its best to stick to the classics. Check out our review here.
Best Bar-Restaurant: Coopers Craft & Kitchen (8th Avenue between 18th and 19th Street)
Just because you are new to the block doesn’t mean you will be overlooked. Coopers Craft & Kitchen is a great example of that. With its flagship restaurant already a big hit in the LES, they opened a brand new one right in the heart of Chelsea on 8th Avenue and 19th Street which has already brought in quite the clientele in such a short period of time. If you are looking for a great bar setting with all of the amazing craft beers you can choose from on top of some pretty hearty and tasty food (POUTINE PEOPLE!) then this is the place to go to. Check out one of our write up’s here.
Best Italian: Bistango (145 East 50th Street)
Authentic Italian food at its best is what you will find at Bistango. As part of The Kimberly Hotel, Bistango prides itself on delicious and heart Italian cuisine to fill your belly and leave you satisfied. Whether its their Meatballs Al Forno, Fettuccine with Lobster, or Rigatoni with Short Rib, they have you covered in all things Italian. Really a treat visually and taste wise as well. Check out the original review here.
Best Burger: Whitman’s NYC (409 East 9th Street)
The first burger joint that I reviewed for Manhattan Digest remains the best one I have done since that cold, December day. I had heard about Whitman’s through an article Thrillist regarding the best burgers in NYC, so I decided to take a stroll to see what all the fuss was about. This tiny, little space on the LES makes up for it in flavor and punch in each of their burgers they make, and that is evident in their world famous Peanut Butter & Bacon burger and Juicy Lucy (beef short rib, pimento cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, spicy pickles and special sauce). Hands down the best burgers I have tried here in Manhattan, and worth the trip downtown to see what all the fuss is about. Check out our original review here.
Best Bake Shop/Bakery: H Bake Shop (West 57th Between 11th & 12th)
You can trust that when someone wins “Cupcake Wars” on Food Network that chances are their cupcakes and other pastries are gonna taste damn good. When those chances are right to the millionth power, you have H Bake Shop, run by winner of “Cupcake Wars” Huascar Aquino. Why is this the best? There are so many reasons. His imagination when it comes to making cakes, cupcakes and more are endless (see what he did for my nephew’s 3rd birthday here. Mind blown). His cookies, especially the Chocotella, are the best cookies I’ve ever had in my life and some of his cupcake creations like his PB&J and Scarlet Velvet are just fantastic. Definitely worth checking out.
Best Lunch Spot: City Kitchen (8th Avenue Between 44th & 45th Street)
City Kitchen, attached to Row Hotel, is a great lunch spot because it has every different type of cuisine inside of it and reads like an upscale food market with great and affordable prices that anyone can enjoy. If you are looking for a quick bite like a delicious pretzel then try out Sigmund’s Truffle Cheddar Pretzel. Want to try a great taco or sushi roll? Asuki and Gabriela’s Taqueria are the places to go. If its a cold and rainy day and you want to warm up with a hot bowl of ramen then try the classic with Pork Belly at Kuro Obi. Really, its whatever floats your boat. Check out our review here.
Best Restaurant In NYC (Overall)- Jacob’s Pickles (509 Amsterdam Avenue)
There is just something that sticks out to me and the team at Manhattan Digest on why Jacob’s Pickles is the best restaurant in NYC (and one we’ve reviewed). The location itself has such a relaxed and friendly feel to it, but it goes beyond that. The food is just extremely stellar. Known for its comfort food (and amazing line of pickles) Jacob’s is a great place to try out some really hearty items like their Mushroom Mac N Cheese or seasonal Turkey Leg Dinner which really are divine. Their biscuits served with a variety of preserves are a great way to start the meal off as well as they taste incredible together. Also, the best dessert I have had at a restaurant in NYC is their Biscuit Bread Pudding with a side of vanilla ice cream. Not for the faint of heart, but overall gets our award for the best restaurant in NYC.
Celebrate National Watermelon Day Everyday with Haru Sushi!
There seems to be a holiday for everything these days, and one of my favorite types of fruit just celebrated one yesterday- the Watermelon! Yes, National Watermelon Day occurs on August 3rd every year, and one of my favorite hotspots for all things sushi and more celebrated in a big way with two great new options for you to try. Haru Sushi, which I have given a stellar review to in the past, just developed a delicious new Watermelon Roll and Watermelon Lemonade to celebrate the occasion and keep it going throughout the summer.
Want to know what goes into both to amp up your taste buds the next time you go to this fabulous joint? The Watermelon Roll consists of Snow Crab, Green Onion, Mint and Watermelon and is topped with Shrimp and served with a Lemon Dressing. Sounds absolutely fantastic! On the flipside of things, the Watermelon Lemonade has Absolut Citron Vodka, Ty Ku Silver Junmai, St. Germain Elderflower Liquer, fresh watermelon, lemon and thyme syrup. Kind of their own take on a spiked lemonade. Sounds refreshing and tasty especially with the humidity that we have been experiencing lately!
Don’t just take my word for it though! Make a reservation for Haru Sushi tonight and experience the watermelon explosion and so much more that they have to offer! With locations on Amsterdam Avenue, Times Square, Wall Street, Third Avenue and Gramercy Park, you leave yourself with no excuse about traveling when you can find one in your own area. Check out their official site for more information on hours, menus and so much more.
Happy Eating and Drinking Everyone!
Manhattan Digest’s First Fundraiser A Big Success at Gymbar!
This past Saturday night, Manhattan Digest held its first fundraiser at the best gay bar in New York City- Gym Sportsbar in Chelsea. The event itself was held from 7-9 PM in the basement part of Gymbar, and included great giveaways like T-Shirts, Dog Tags and Trial Memberships from Scruff App. The room was packed throughout with not only friends of mine and fans of the website but a ton of great people who came down and got in on the bidding action & donating for a great cause. A month of hard work, promotion, donations and all of that paid off and the event was a huge success not only for the website but for raising money for cancer research and patient care.
A big thank you to the following people and organizations as they helped tremendously to make the night a big success. Rick Schmutzler, co-owner of Gym Sportsbar, for letting us have the event at your fabulous establishment and Serge Sturbois for being a fantastic and amicable bartender throughout the night and helping all of our participants out with a smile. Thank you to my best friend in the world Nixon Saget who stepped it up ten fold and worked the front desk, encouraged people to donate and helped collect the donations throughout the two hours. You are an amazing guy and friend and I really do appreciate what you did. Thirdly, my buddy (and amazing photographer) Steve Alb for his amazing photography he took throughout the night. Definitely give him a shout for your next event you are having, worth it!
I would also love to thank the following companies and organizations who generously donated an item(s) for people to bid on. We raised hundreds of dollars for this event with more coming in the next couple of days, and the general response from the people who showed up for the event was gleeful & excitement when they saw what they could bid on for a good cause-
Blue & Black Apothecary in Carroll Gardens
Ugg/Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Upstairs at The Kimberly Hotel
We will be doing another fundraiser hopefully in the next month or two, with more fab prizes you can bid on for another great cause… to be determined! Thanks again to everyone who came and participated!!
Celebrate National Margarita Day Year Round At Haru Sushi
Up until last week I had no idea that there was an actual 24 hour celebration to honor the Margarita. Yes, the margarita, one of tastiest and delectable drinks out there right now. As someone who isn’t the biggest beer person, a margarita is a perfect alternative that blends delicious fruity flavors with quality types of vodka and brim to the rim with sugar or salt (depending on what you like). So with National Margarita Day finishing up yesterday, several places across New York City celebrated in their own unique way with giving their spin on what is the best Margarita out there.
Luckily, Manhattan Digest has got you covered by giving you the inside scoop about one of the best and most delicious margaritas out there- The Patron Green Tea Margarita served at Haru Sushi. I have covered Haru Sushi before for the site to great results in terms of taste, decor and variety of sushi options that they provided. Yet, I did not try out their line of alcoholic beverages that night and was delighted to see this particular item on their menu that is offered year round. The Margarita itself has a great color to it and taste, and is something affordable ($13 per) and a great choice to drink especially with the warm spring & summer months coming soon.
Here is what goes into making the Margarita if you don’t get the chance to visit NYC or want to do this at home-
1.5 oz Patron Reposado tequila
0.5 oz Zen Green Tea Liqueur
0.5 oz Sour mix
0.2 oz Triple Sec
0.1 oz Rose’s Lime Juice
Shaken over ice, strain, and serve straight up in a Cosmo glass, garnish the rim of the glass with salt.
I would encouraged you to pair the Green Tea Margarita with some of Haru’s Meixcan-inspired dishes, such as Trio of Fish Tacos ($13) and Lobster Mango Ceviche ($15), alongside classic Japanese favorites such as Chicken Teriyaki ($21).
Want to know even more about Haru Sushi including locations, menus and more? Check out their official site for more detail.
Haru Sushi Yummifies Taste Buds, Times Square & More
Haru Sushi Breathes New Life Into Times Square
When you are a native New Yorker and have been around so many areas of New York City, you start to become familiar with what each area has to offer, one in particular being food. Seeing as Times Square has turned itself into the number one tourist hot spot with national chains taking over what used to be a really cool and hip area back in the day, it is hard to find anything unique and tasty in a sea of Red Lobster & Olive Garden type establishments. That point was proven to be false when I took myself and my friend to Haru Sushi’s flagship location in the heart of Times Square, located on West 43rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. Times Square itself doesn’t have many locations devoted to all things sushi, so when I got word that this brand new location was opening up, my taste buds and general excitement took itself there on Thursday night to see if the food, decor and service was worth the walk through the battlegrounds of TS.
I have to say that overall I was quite impressed by what Haru Sushi had to offer. Even though it was in the midst of Times Square appropriate, it wasn’t overwhelmingly crowded to the point where you felt claustrophobic while you were downing your third piece of California Roll. Matter of fact, it was quite roomy and spacious allowing it to be a great place to go after work or if you are visiting a nice place to bring your friends and family. Located right when you walk into Haru Sushi you will find a large bar, serving top of the line alcohol and mixed drinks which bodes well for the bar type person who just wants the delectable after work cocktail. I absolutely loved the way the unique blend of greys, yellows and blues really adorn itself throughout the establishment and give Haru Sushi a quite warm environment upon entry. This is quite inviting especially with the cold weather that we have been having lately.
Now onto the food of course! Haru Sushi is known for its sushi of course, but there are other options that I would definitely recommend anyone trying. So let’s hypothetically say that you are going with a friend and want to do the following- two appetizers, two sushi rolls and one dessert per. This is what I would recommend. For appetizers, I would go with the Beef Negimaki, which is grilled slice beef with a scallion roll. The other that I would recommend is their Lobster Gyoza with a side of soy sauce. Both have great flavor and texture and are the perfect bite to start your meal off perfectly. Now onto the rolls. If there were two I would severely recommend in the Special Roll option of Haru Sushi’s menu it would be the Perfect Fantasy Roll, which is Avocado-Wrapped Shrimp Tempura and Asparagus with Spicy Mayo. The other would be their Rainbow Roll, consisting of Shrimp, Striped Bass, Yellowtail, Tuna and Salmon wrapped around Kani & Avocado (Both are pictured in this article). Spectacularly delicious in many different ways for both and have a great price point for what they are serving you (Under $20 for each. Pretty good deal). If I were to recommend a third it would be on their specials menu and called the Shogatsu. The Shogatsu features Tuna, salmon and albacore tuna-wrapped spicy snow crab and asparagus roll, topped with cilantro, mango, strawberry, tobiko and wasabi tobiko sauce. Complex flavors but they blend really together into one really delicious bite. To end things, why not try their Mochi Green Tea Ice Cream, adorned in whipped cream and chocolate sauce? A great way to end a perfect meal.
Overall I would give Haru Sushi a high rating for sophistication, taste and overall appeal of the location itself. Even if you are a Times Square hater, I would highly recommend trying this place during the winter season and beyond as you will leave feeling full and happy. For more information about the Times Square location as well as the others they have plastered throughout the New York City area, log on to their official website.
Haru Sushi: Times Square
229 West 43rd Street
212-398-9810