Help Design Chow Tour of SoHo and West Village

[John Galt]

This weekend, we are visiting NYC, and doing a chow tour beginning at Province Canteen (near Church and Canal) and walking north through SoHo and the West Village to wind up at our favorite bar, Blind Tiger Alehouse (Bleecker and Jones). We would like to stop along the way at any places offering deliciousness (sandwiches, quick bites, whatever).

Current candidates include:

Blaue Gans
Sullivan St. Bakery
Centovini Bar
Jacques Torres
Joe's Dairy
Mooncake Foods
Snack or Snack Taverna
Dosa Cart (or will he be at the Vendys?)
99 Miles to Philly or Wogie's
BLT Burger
Deborah
Dogmatic Dogs
Joe's Pizza (for a slice)
Lassi
A Salt & Battery
Roll & Dough

Please comment on these or any other places to stop for a quick amazing bite.

Most importantly, what to eat where?

[bussy26]

On a particular glutinous day, I would do a mini food tour of the village that includes of this list...
Grilled Salami and Mozzarella sandwich at Murrays or the Proscuitto Bread at Faicco (also known as the Devil's Work), Panner Kati Roll at Kati Roll on Macdougal, Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti at Joe's Coffee, Barbeque Chicken Patty at Jamaican Flavors, Hot Chocolate at Marie's Chocolate.

oh and the crossaints at Claude's are a must for any list.

[yumyum palace]

I'd also like to add the lobster salad at Sable's and bagels from Ess-a-bagel.

[Stuffed Monkey]

In inadditon to the eat-in places I'd swing by Amy's Bread, Murray's Cheese and the Italian Market on Bleecker and in Soho check out Despana.

[Jill Brazil]

Hummus Place!
http://www.hummusplace.com/

Best Hummus in the world! So fresh -- and the pita tastes home made!

www.SouthAmericanEscapes.com/blog

[RCC]

Patisserie Claude for some of NYC's best croissant and French fruit tarts,

[eatman]

Mary's Fish camp on West 4th for a crab salad sandwich or Flor's Kitchen on waverly
for an arepa.

[piccola]

Taim for falafel. Mary's Dairy for ice cream. Red Bamboo for fried mock chicken (in sandwich or platter form).

[claireness]

Cafe Habana for grilled corn (the inevitable wait may be a problem).
arguably the best grilled corn in our fare city.

[Shayna Madel]

In his Brooklyn place, Jacques Torres does a chocolate croissant to die for. Not sure if they do it in Manhatttan and I was told it is only done on either on the weekend or just Sundays. It's a really fabulous, buttery regular croissant with a little pocket of chocolate in the curve of the crescent. I also like the bark they do with mixed nuts and the chocolate with pieces of candied ginger. Yum.

[pronek]

I'd suggest a chocolate chip cookie and a coffee from Jack's Stir Brew on West 10th... those cookies are incredible (and cheap), and the coffee's great too.

Also if you start earlier in the morning, Patisserie Claude.

[financialdistrictresident]

pronek, does that Jack's location have the oreo cookies? Yum. Though they seem smaller then they used to be at the Jack's on Front Street.

[pronek]

They do have the big oreo cookies! I was there yesterday and was admiring them. Never had one at the Seaport location so can't compare the size...

[texasciaohound]

We stopped at Joe's Dairy on our Foods of NY Tour. Our guide says these people take great pride in their mozzerella...mixed by hand (with gloves) in 185 degree water. Some of the workers don't even have fingerprints anymore!! You can definitely taste the difference. Worth the stop.

[jsgjewels]

Centovini isn't much of a destination either, certainly overpriced for the quality, and the focus isn't really on food to begin with.
I would go with some small plates and wine at Alta instead. Aurora Soho is also a good choice, everything I've had there was delicious, so you can't go wrong with a few apps, maybe some gnocchi or ravioli and a glass or two.

[John Galt]

I was thinking of stopping at Centovini to buy a bottle of wine. The whole trek is for my brother's birthday, and I thought I could find a good bottle to throw in there.

What's the most mind-blowing morsel along our trek?

[shisan]

try 'ino for panini,
BarFry for tempura
i think 99 miles in the village closed and im not a big fan of Wogie's. try bb sandwich bar for an interesting take on cheesesteak.
kati roll company for a kati roll

[harrison]

I 2nd BB - i've given up trying to get a great cheesesteak and stick with this version.

Joe's pizza has gone downhill a bit, but if you go, make sure you get the fresh mozz slice.

[yumyum palace]

I haven't been to Joe's in about two years and that makes me so sad to hear. How downhill and in what sense?

[big o]

On a little tour like this, I wouldn't waste any stomach space on Joe's lousy pizza. Share a pie at John's, get a slice at Bleecker, but don't go anywhere near Joe's.

[rvulaj]

i completely disagree.. fresh mozz at 5am is the best slice in ny.. save it for after your drinks

[NAtiveNewYorker]

Plus BB's has those great Tonnie's cupcakes.

[poutinelover]

Love their red velvet and chocolate cupcake! The chocolate frosting is like fudge...so good. Another suggestion would be a burger at the Stoned Crow.

[ilinkeye]

On Layfayette and Spring:
Ed's Lobster Bar
http://www.lobsterbarnyc.com/

and Local
Local, 144 Sullivan St., nr. Houston St.; 212-253-2601.
Amazing artisinal coffee from Craig Walker

-----
Ed's Lobster Bar
222 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

[kathryn]

By Sullivan St. you mean Grandaisy? There used to be two Sullivan St Bakeries, one in Hell's Kitchen and one in Soho. The owners split, and only one of them got to keep the name. The one in Soho is now called Grandaisy.

http://www.sullivanstreetbakery.com/

If you got Grandaisy, the peanut butter/chocolate sandwich cookie is wonderful, as is the pizza bianco. And they're cheap!

Don't forget:
The Yogurt Place
Cupcakes at Dean and Deluca
Frozen yogurt at Bloomie's
Grey Dog coffee or maybe Jack's Stir-brewed
Ceci-Cela for a croissant or a financier or fruit tart...
Maybe Eileen's cheesecake?

Nthing the addition of Kee's. Heavenly chocolates.

[John Galt]

Thanks. What's a good snack at Yogurt Place?

[kathryn]

Greek yogurt! Or, baklava.

[rose water]

greek yogurt, topped with a stewed fruit spread and walnuts. their chicken in phyllo dough is also good, but i don't love their spinach or cheese pies.

whatever you get, share it, so that you leave stomach space for grandaisy's and kee's, which are right around there and well worth going to.

re: blue ribbon market, mentioned above. ask to sample their honeys--they have a range of floral flavor, texture (crystallized v liquid), and are really delicious.

ditto Lucia's rec to skip the dosa cart, and to go to bird bath.

[John Galt]

Thanks.

What's good at Birdbath? Do they have the famous pretzel croissant there?

[rose water]

i haven't noticed the pretzel croissant. i've had delicious muffins there, with interesting ingredient combinations. i like them most because they're not too sweet--i don't remember details, sorry, but i've tried one with sesame and other seeds (which my partner objects is too birdseedy), one with miso and plum, one with big chunks of banana, one super moist one with rum. they also have delicious baked buttery things, and a range of cookies which i've not tried.

[kathryn]

I've seen the pretzel croissant occasion at the EV location, not sure about the West Village one. The selection varies from day to day. Maybe call ahead?

[RCC]

Alidoro, on Sullivan between Spring and Prince, for some very good and filling Italian sandwiches.

[addictedtolunch]

That used to be Melammpo, I think.

[RCC]

Yes, used to be Melampo. Same great sandwiches, though.

[MMRuth]

You are missing Kee's IMHO! Lots of wonderful chocolates - nut truffles, creme brulee, thai chile, blood orange ... the list goes on.

For Joe's Dairy - love their smoked mozzarella and the mozzarella and prosciutto together.

Lucia also has lots of great suggestions on Bleecker Street - some of my favorites.

-----
Kee's Chocolates
80 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

[John Galt]

Kee's is an excellent suggestion, and we will add it to our plan in pen.

[Lucia]

Roll & Dough is closed
Deborah is not worth it. A nice brunch stop, but not worth going to on a tasting tour.
SSB and Jacques Torres are good choices. Also add Kees for chocolate.
I really like Blaue Gans (in Tribeca) and Snack Taverna. Haven't been to Snack, but it might be better suited for a quick bite
BLT Burger probably isn't worth going out of your way for
I don't really like the Dosa Cart
Other possible stops: Upstairs/Bouley Bakery Market (if you decide to go into Tribeca), Rocco's, 'ino, Amy's Bread, Murray's Cheese Shop, Faicco's, L'Arte del Gelato or Cones, Bird Bath, Otto (haven't been to Centovini, but Otto is great for small plates/wine), Blue Ribbon Bakery Market

[John Galt]

Thanks for the very helpful input. I've been to several of your additional suggestions and, while, I loved them all, am trying to avoid repeats. As to the ones I haven't been to, what's good at Rocco, Faicco's, and Bird Bath?

[Lucia]

Rocco is an Italian Pastry shop. Cannoli is great. I also like the Italian ice, baba au rum, lobster tail/sfogliatelle, cookies, and more "rustic" stuff they keep on top of the refrigerator case. I'd stay away from the pies and less Italian stuff.
Faicco's is a great Italian deli. I like their cured sausage and mozarella. Have heard that they make great sandwiches, although I've never tried one.
Bird Bath is an offshoot of City Bakery. Cookies are great as are other items I've tried, esp. the bear claw.

[kathryn]

They have a great blueberry corn muffin, good scones, a good "everything" muffin, croissants, and lemonade. The selection changes a lot.

[Nehna]

Definitely Blue Ribbon Bakery Shop. Yum...get one of the open faced half sandwiches. Esp with pate or fois gras or duck.