First on our list is a personal favorite of mine, La Esquina. Located on the corner of Kenmare Street in the Bowery, La Esquina serves the most authentic Mexican tacos in Manhattan. This discreet corner booth establishment has all of the classics, from carne asada to carnitas, and even stretches to unique combinations such as a vegetarian taco with mushroom, cilantro, tomato and chipotle sauce.
Each taco has a price range of $3.25 to $4.00 and they are served in a classic old-school diner setting. With an amazing price range and delicacies that any Mexican food worshiper can appreciate, La Esquina is a place tailor-made for the foodie inside everyone.
Moving on down to our next restaurant in Brooklyn, we arrive at Zenkichi. Located in Williamsburg, Zenkichi is quite literally a hidden gem. The restaurant is located behind a wooden door with the number 77 above it. Although you may not notice it upon walking by, once you get inside it is impossible to forget. The layout is very intimate, and each booth or table is lined with bamboo strips hanging from the ceiling to offer one of the coziest dining experiences one can find in a big city. With seafood treasures and simple Japanese traditional cuisine, Zenkichi is a one-of-a-kind experience that is worth the subway trip to Brooklyn.
Shifting to the West Village, our next posh place is a brunch spot Hudson Clearwater. Marked by a green door on Morton Street, Hudson Clearwater provides an airy and urban spin on brunch. The main dining room is lined with ivy and lights and sprinkled with tasteful patio furniture to create a relaxing aura. On their brunch menu, the most highly recommended plate is the brioche French toast with apples, pecan and cinnamon. Putting a spin on all different classic brunch plates, Hudson Clearwater redefines an early afternoon dining experience.
Last, and most definitely not least, is one of my favorite restaurants in Brooklyn, Tripoli. Tripoli is an amazing little restaurant located on Atlantic Ave that serves authentic Lebanese food. Any foodie looking for lebni with cucumbers or the best bowl of hummus you’ve ever had has come to the right place. Combining a remarkable Mediterranean atmosphere with servers who care about your experience as much as you do, Tripoli does Lebanese hospitality just right.
Getting a big bowl of hummus and stuffing yourself with pita bread is a rite of passage at this restaurant, and it is all done without draining your checking account.
All of these restaurants have their own specialties and their own atmospheres, but the one thing that these restaurants can agree on is that there is no reason to overcharge a foodie in search of an adventure.
