Enticing Entrees

Hungry? If not, you might be after reading this post. I thought I would share a few of the interesting places we ate while I was visiting the family in New York.

I’m kicking off this blog with an iconic location made famous by Seinfeld: just around the corner from the kids’ apartment sits the very soup kitchen featured in the unforgettable “Soup Nazi” episode.

The rules for proper service were posted in multiple languages, with painted footprints on the ground to guide you toward the most efficient ordering experience. We followed every step to the letter, determined to avoid missing out on the soup—or hearing that dreaded “No soup for you!”

The soup was delicious, and we sampled a little bit of each variety available that day. Naturally, we couldn’t resist quoting Newman’s enthusiastic cry of “Jambalaya!”

After a pleasant walk and a ride on an elevated train, we arrived at the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge—often called the 59th Street Bridge—which spans the East River and rises above Roosevelt Island in New York City. We were on our way to a unique lunch, with a bit of history along the route.

Roosevelt Island was once home to a mental health asylum, made infamous by journalist Nellie Bly, who went undercover by pretending mental illness. Her investigation exposed the institution’s horrific conditions, leading to reforms and showing the powerful impact of investigative journalism.

We also visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park, named after the president’s iconic “Four Freedoms” speech—an address that still resonates today with its call for freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Our time at the park was brief, though, as the weather was quite cold and windy, and we were getting hungry. :)

Although we enjoyed the journey, our true destination was the Himalayan Yak Restaurant—David and Ben were eager to sample authentic yak. This long-haired bovine has roamed the earth for millions of years, adding to the allure of tasting something truly unique. Naturally, we couldn’t resist a little “yackety yak” wordplay while we waited. Unfortunately, the restaurant hadn’t received its shipment of yak that day, and the dish had to be substituted with beef—dashing their high hopes for a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure.

The menu offered a unique selection of Tibetan dishes, allowing us to sample a wide variety of flavors. Even as a vegetarian, I found plenty of appealing options. The sauces had a satisfying level of heat, which I love. Adding to the ambiance, the painting near our table beautifully depicted Tibet with the majestic Himalayas in the background.

The restaurant’s decor featured intricately carved wood planks that were truly beautiful and the cups and cutlery were handcrafted from copper, adding to the unique atmosphere.

A good example of Tibetan art displayed at the restaurant.

A notable Tibetan dish we tried was Gyurma, which is made from spiced intestines. David actually liked it! Ben and I, being good sports and up for trying something new, each managed to eat one piece. I think this picture says it all about how much we enjoyed it—haha!

We spent the afternoon wandering through the East, West, and Greenwich Villages—each with its own charm, but all full of that unmistakable New York character. We made our way to Washington Square Park (cue Village Stompers for those who know!), where the scene was alive with families, street performers, and NYU students turning the plaza into a pop-up dance floor. A student dance competition was in full swing, with each group taking turns to perform for a minute or two—it felt like stumbling into a surprise show.

After soaking in the energy, we made our way to S’Mac, a comfort food haven devoted entirely to mac and cheese. Heaven, basically. In front of me: the sampler, featuring eight different kinds of macaroni and cheese, from classic to creative. Each bite was rich, cheesy perfection—different, delicious, and a total reward to end our walk.

Sundays at the kids’ apartment building come with a serious challenge: the pastry buffet. Management sets it out, and I walk in with good intentions… then completely cave. I ate way more than I should have—mostly because I kept telling myself, “just one more” (about six times). The pastries were dangerously good, and with that stunning view of Central Park? Let’s just say, I regret nothing.

A return visit to Ellen’s Stardust Diner was a real treat. We enjoyed breakfast while listening to the waitstaff sing—such a fun, classic New York experience. This photo is a favorite, thanks to Clara. She had a little bowl of syrup with her pancakes. At first, she dipped her pancakes into it, which quickly turned messy. When told to use her fork instead, she dutifully dipped the fork into the syrup and let it drip over the pancakes—still messy. A few minutes later, I looked over and saw she had skipped the whole process and was just drinking the syrup through a straw. She’s a riot and keeps me laughing.