the friday feed: new york nibbles

On our walk back to the hotel from Gracie Mansion, we were hungry, actually famished. We made our way to Pastrami Queen, Anthony Bourdain’s favorite spot for a pastrami sandwich. As the celebrated chef once said, “The first thing I get when I am back in New York is a pastrami sandwich. Pastrami Queen is a really good pastrami sandwich, if not the best among the very best. Just a good, nice mix of fat and lean. It's the real deal, served warm on a fresh, soft rye with the right kind of mustard.”

The restaurant is tiny, with two tables for four and a single two-seater near the front window. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon and sat at the small table, watching people walk past and locals step in to pick up takeout orders. There is nothing fancy about Pastrami Queen and that is part of its charm. It feels like one of those neighborhood eating spots that earned its reputation one sandwich at a time.

Cafe d'Angelo in Little Italy was our other favorite restaurant during this trip. The homemade pasta tossed in Alfredo sauce and then swirled inside a Parmesan cheese wheel was Italian comfort food at its finest... fantastico! To top it all off, a chilled glass of limoncello at the end of the meal was the finishing touch to a delicious dinner and a wonderful time in New York.