Posts Tagged With: Z-List

Z-List Update – December 2022

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Ziggy

First post pandemic update, and a complete overhaul really. I reduced the number from 50 to 30, and now sorting by neighborhood. 30 is just easier for me to update and keep tabs on. Still sticking to Brooklyn and Manhattan as these are the two boroughs tourists and I mostly frequent. Only rule as usual is $10-100 per person. Meaning nothing should cost over $100 or under $10 per person. That eliminates cheap eats like pizza, and pretty much covers 99% of sit downs in NYC. An affordable list for the people, by the people (Ok, by one person, but you get the idea).

Additions: Dell’anima, Milu, Anton’s, Nish Nush

Removed: Too many to mention. Some closed, some lost their mojo, including sadly Momofuku Ssam. Yep, for the first time no Momofukus on the list. From three to zero.

The complete list

Categories: New York City | Tags: food, NYC dining, NYC restaurants, restaurants, Z-List | 4 Comments

Z-List Update – Fall 2019

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Ziggy

tone cafe - ajaruli khachapuri Its been 8 months since the last update. 5 in, 5 out this time. The Z-List is essentially my favorite 50 restaurants in NYC today. I try to conduct surprise inspections as frequently as I can. I show up wearing a hat and fake mustache. Even though they dont know what I look like, you can never be too careful these days. Rumors out there that I look like Tom Branson from Downton Abbey are unfounded. I know because I founded them. Anyway here are the changes…

In: Wayan, Rezdora, 19 Cleveland, Kawi, Tone Cafe

Out:

Pasquale Jones – Just getting a sense that its getting a little too touristy these days. The group keeps opening restaurants and sometimes they lose focus. Besides I needed to sacrifice one Italian as I have too many

Totto Ramen – Too many Tottos out there lost in the shuffle of too many great Ramen joints these days.

Oiji – Just not strong enough for me to keep coming back. All sorts of great Korean on this list

Bombay Bread Bar, Timna – Closed

The full list with map

Congrats to the new members. Happy eating!

Tom

Categories: New York City | Tags: food, Travel, Z-List | Leave a comment

Z-List – 2019 Winter Update

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Ziggy

Hunan Slurp

After a recent mediocre meal at one of the more trusted Z-listers, I’ve decided to update the list more frequently. If you are familiar with NY dining, or currently researching, you may be surprised by these changes. But this is not a popularity contest. The difficult table is not necessarily the better choice today. Four out, four in.

In: Hometown BBQ, Scampi, Jeju Noodle Bar, Hunan Slurp

Out:

Estela – One of the most trusted names on the list, but quite the mediocre meal last time. Some of the menu staples we loved before, missing some of that oomph. And some of the “large” dishes are wildly overpriced. Estela just doesnt feel as relevant today.

Rubirosa – Another shocking exclusion. Its very popular with tourists these days, and that is one of the problems. But the main issue is the ever changing, over saturated pizza scene in that area with the openings of La Rossa and Sorbillo from Italian pizza legends and many more. And you can now get similar pizza at Joe and Pat’s in East Village without the hoopla.

Bar Bolonat – Is no more. Well, kind of. Balaboosta closed, Bar Bolonat then rebranded as Balaboosta and the menu and to some degree the concept changed. Once I visit the new place a few times, I may reconsider.

Mighty Quinn’s – The original location in East Village is still good. But its tough to keep a name on the list that now has 12 locations. For proper que, you can still go to the original east village location, or better yet go to Ducks Eatery on Tuesday for the brisket, or Hometown in Red Hook

The complete list can be found here

Scampi Mafaldini

Categories: New York City | Tags: food, Hometown BBQ, Hunan Slurp, Jeju Noodle Bar, Scampi, Travel, Z-List | Leave a comment

Z-List Update – 2018

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Ziggy

2nd ave Deli Pastrami

This is it. The most important update to date to the legendary, ultra exclusive (according to Harvard) Z-List. This is a list of 50 of my favorite restaurants in New York City. If it looks rather random to some, good. That’s the point. Its simply my way of answering “what should we eat while in NYC” to 99% of those asking. All under $100 per person (hence 99%). The 2018 update features more Italian, Asian, Jewish, and Jews doing Asian:

In:

Pig and Khao, Fiaschetteria “Pistoia”, Ugly Baby, Werkstatt, Faro, Cote, Bombay Bread Bar, Ducks Eatery, 2nd Ave Deli. Congratulations to the winners!

Out:

Bruno pizza – Not much has changed here as far as I know. Just like other options more.

Blue Ribbon Sushi – I still like to bring large groups here, but prefer other options overall.

Root and Bone – During a recent meal the signature chicken paled in comparison to its former glory.

Pok Pok – Just cant bring myself to go these days especially since Ugly Baby opened not too far. A plethora of negative reviews as of late dont help

Distilled – A meh meal last time. Go to Ducks Eatery for the American stuff

Roberta’s – This (along with pok Pok and Root and Bone) might be the shocker here. Still love the pizza. But after a recent meal, you get the sense the pizza is the only reason for the schlep. Faro is the better choice in the hood

Malai marke – Replacing this Indian with Bombay Bread Bar.

Gotham West Market – Many of the vendors changed over the past year. It may be even better today. But its a food court and shouldnt really be on the list

Click here for the complete list

Pistoia

Categories: New York City | Tags: Best restaurants in NYC, Bombay Bread Bar, Fiaschetteria Pistoia, food, Pig and Khao, Travel, Werkstatt, Z-List | Leave a comment

Z-List Update

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Ziggy

FOB Chicken Adobo

Its that time of the year. Game of Thrones season. I got my GOT beer and i’m ready to rock and roll through what seems like a terrible winter. Or just winter! I’m not quite sure what “terrible” means in GOT standards but it sounds like pretty bad-ass. As in more than two months of 10 inches of snow total.

Its also time to update the legendary, ultra exclusive (according to Harvard) Z-List. That is 50 of my favorite restaurants in the city. If it looks rather random to some, good. Thats the point. Eater’s Essential List doesnt seem very Essential either. Its simply my way of answering “what should we eat while in NYC” to 99% of those questioning. None of these costs more than $100 or less than $10 so that eliminates a good chunk. The changes:

In – Pinch Chinese, Gloria, FOB, Via Carota, Hearth, Timna

Out:

Biang! – Closed (miss it terribly)

Annisa – Closed

Empellon Taqueria – Just dont care for it as much as I used to.

Mission Chinese food – A little too hit or miss for me these days

Nargis Cafe – Still great, but out of reach for most of my audience

Zizi Limona – Stopped going pretty much since Mesika left

Congratulations to the winners and the entire 2017 class. You did it!

Click here for the complete list

Pinch Chinese Crab in Chinese Restaurant

Pinch Crab in Chinese Restaurant

Categories: New York City | Tags: FOB Brooklyn, food, Gloria Hell's Kitchen, Hearth, Pinch Chinese, Timna, Travel, Via Carota, Z-List | Leave a comment

Introducing the Z-List Map

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Ziggy

danji-big-korean-breakfast Since so many of you are paying attention to this Z-List for some reason, I figured I might as well help you out with a little map. The same map appears at the bottom of the Z-List page.

Happy Thanksgiving!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1D349Rvw-nDSZ2D13p0c_7gkL9rA&usp=sharing

Categories: New York City | Tags: best food in NYC, food, NYC dining, NYC Top 50, Travel, Z-List | Leave a comment

Z-List Changes Explained

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Ziggy

The NoMad

Hey, even Michelin will not give an explanation when they take away your star. I’m better than that. So lets stop the hate mail, and threats, and allow me to explain the absentees

The NoMad – Last meal including the shaky service was simply not up to par. The place feels a lot more touristy these days perhaps due to the fame and/or location becoming a major hotel zone. When you eat there, there’s no denying that you are eating inside a hotel no matter what room you choose. And higher prices making it more challenging to stay under the $100 mark unless you are a vegetarian. I do like what they do at the NoMad Bar however and I prefer to go there

Ma Peche – A slow, steady decline for me since chef Paul got shipped to Sydney. It gotten too hit or miss while my favorite dishes were getting erased one at a time. The last straw was the inexcusable disappearance of the Cajun wings. I miss that Carribean element chef Paul introduced. Much prefer Nishi, but Ma Peche in that area is still a decent choice

Le Philosophe – Closed. Coincidentally ate the new tenant Fish Cheeks last night. Review to come

Babbo – My reasoning for excluding this one is not as solid as the other ones. Babbo is like the grandaddy, the Peter Luger of NYC Italian scene, and in some ways it has something to do with it. I just find places like Pasquale Jones, Lilia and even something like Osteria Morini a little bit more interesting today. The menu is way too big, the place is very touristy, but for the most part they do everything well

Golden Unicorn – I still think this is a good option for weekend dim sum but there are other places I rather go for Chinese. Like Biang!

Pam Real Thai – Still love Pam, nothing changed. In fact nothing seemed to change in the past 15 years. They have the same specials on the board for as long as I remember, and on their menu they simply cross out stuff they dont have anymore with a pen. But with the addition of Uncle Boons I felt like I needed to remove one of the many Thai and this was a no brainer. In Hell’s Kitchen I do prefer Pure Thai Cookhouse these days, and as much as I love Pam, I never felt entirely comfortable recommending the space

The Z-List