As this year is coming to a close, seeing what everyone’s top meal for 2023 was.
Mine was [Ayat](https://www.ayatnyc.com/) (Palestinian restaurant in Bay Ridge) consisting of Mansaf and a mixed platter (beef and chicken). Words don’t do justice on how good the food was.
by donutcronut
28 Comments
Best Meal: Gramercy Tavern tasting menu
Best Entree: Her Name Is Han Rice cakes
Best Bite: Butterfield Oreo Cruller
Jungsik- the kimbap was utterly sublime
Sure as heck wasn’t at Ci Siamo—boy, what a disappointment.
Some of my tops: odo, Anto, Atomix, Essential, Atera
The tasting menu at Dirt Candy. Best meal of my life.
We weren’t impressed by Ayat. But, Au Za’atar was mind-blowing. Had the hummus and the lamb shank. Out of this world. All the dips and the pickles were excellent as well.
Had a number of good ones including Rezdora (fantastic), and Gramercy (a perpetual favorite), Oxalis (excited to see what they do with a new space) but the best and maybe most surprising for me was Le French Diner. The food and overall experience were just perfection. No bells and whistles, nothing fancy or trendy, just a dining experience that was a perfect fulfillment of what it set out to be.
Kono. Top to bottom an incredible experience.
Brother in law treated us to Bom to celebrate our finally hosting the wedding reception after covid ceremony! I’m usually not into wine tasting but yall don’t sleep on this, the food and experience was exceptional but the wine tasting experience was phenomenal! Highly, highly recommend
Atomix was a high point for sure. But Jua was fucking sublime. Absolutely the best meal I had.
Best Meal: the burger and the mashed potatoes at Monkey Bar
Alsooo…. The secret Burger from Lords!
Le Coucou or a JBF event featuring Grey Sweater and Indienne
Ayat has been on my to go list! Glad you liked it.
Best meal for me this year was Old Homestead’s Prime Rib. Ended up going a second time in one year bc of how much I enjoyed the whole experience.
Meju in LIC.
Best Burger: Red Hook Tavern
Best Meal: Pot Luck Club, Salt and Pepper chicken with scallion biscuits and the Oyster Mushroom Rice Roll noodles
Worst meal: Bad Roman (the burger, the roni cups, the whole meal including drink)
Best desserts: Doughnut Project everything bagel donut and Dominque Ansel caramel apple pie
Tremendously enjoyed vinyl steakhouse. Also liked red hook tavern. It’s hard to ever really live up to the hype of a $32 burger but it was pretty good.
Oxalis just last night. Added the black truffle sup and the NA beverage pairing.
Ayat just opened in the East Village btw.
* Best Experience: Joonak Banjum tasting menu (I got the Duck)
* Best Taste/Value: Cote
* Best Pizza: John’s of Bleecker Street
* Worst Pizza: NY Pizza Suprema by Penn Station. Idk how this thing has such a high Google maps rating.
63 Clinton full menu plus add ons
Torrisi feb 2023 – unreal service, atmosphere, and food. Excellent
Probably at KJUN which is both Korean and Cajun. Hard to top that.
Casual: Roast beef sandwich with cheese and onions at Roll N Roaster. Seriously worth the trip out to Sheepshead Bay.
Fancy: Duck + sides at Francie
Best Overall Meal: Gage & Tollner – she crab soup, clams kimsino, wedge salad, perfect martini; also Jalsa
Best presentation: Colonie – I got the campanelle and it was delicious, but I enjoyed the service the most; also Bricolage, which is by far the coziest restaurant I’ve been to in Brooklyn
Best lunch: White Oak Tavern – their grilled cheese and tomato soup is not to be slept on
Best for ordering in: Lowerline – I dined in once in the summer and have ordered in nearly every week since
Best entree: Tsuru Ton Tan Midtown – the truffle creme with crab and mushroom udon is so damn delicious
Best experience: KPOT – I went with a group of girlfriends and we all took turns being “meat dad.” I ate my weight in meat and came out smelling like a barbecue pit, but it was so damn good
Best: Francie
Honorable mention: Dirt Candy, Her Name Is Han
Best overall: Prado in Lisbon
Best NYC: Torissi
Best takeout: Lenox Thai
Honorable mentions: Claud, Potluck Club, Bad Roman, Koloman, Stretch Pizza
Torrisi
Best: Potluck Club
Why? It felt like childhood, but better than I remember. Ironically I’ve spent more on fine dining than I have ever in 2023, and none of them were particularly memorable, one of which, 3 star, was absolutely terrible.