Eating out in
New York City is just as much an adventure as it is living in the major metropolis itself. This is a renowned food capital, after all, and dining out is practically a way of life here! Even with the city's notoriously high living costs, most New Yorkers usually eat out for their meals. And the most seasoned of them do it wisely! With how busy and crowded the Big Apple is, eating out tends to be a challenge, so it's worth following these helpful tips to ensure success!
Have a Hearty Breakfast
If you're the type to get confused once hunger strikes, you'll have an easier time finding a place to eat when you're full. Hence, it's much easier to decide where to dine out for lunch and dinner when you're not starving from a lack of a good breakfast. Fortunately, it's easier to get breakfast in New York City, what with the many cafes and awesome brunch spots all over, not to mention the more affordable bodegas that sell the most scrumptious and, more importantly, huge sandwiches, rolls, and the like.
List Down Where You Want to Eat
Half the battle of eating out in New York City is deciding on the restaurant. They don't call the city a food capital for nothing! The Big Apple is known for its myriad of culinary hotspots, ranging from affordable diners to the most expensive
Michelin-starred restaurants in the country. With an overwhelming multitude of options, something as simple as choosing a place to eat may take up too much of your time. So why not prepare a list beforehand? This will also help you avoid repeating spots, unless there are standouts that will have you coming back for more.
Download Helpful Apps
Do you know what will help in listing down the places to eat in New York City? Downloading apps like Time Out, OpenTable, ChefsFeed, and Eater New York, among many others. These platforms list down the best hotspots in any
New York neighborhood, serving any cuisine, and featuring any price point. You can also bookmark places that pique your interest, allowing you to make up your list of must-try restaurants in the city. Moreover, some of these apps also let you reserve right then and there, ensuring you get a table for dinner despite the crowds and whatnot.
Always Book Beforehand
Speaking of reserving a table, you'd do well to do it every time you decide to eat out in New York City. Don't underestimate how crowded the city is, especially with its 8.258 million population. And those are just the locals and new residents who've moved to New York City! When you add in the tourists, you're facing at least a million more for competition to get into the city's hottest spots. So to ensure you'll get to eat for dinner tonight, specifically at the place you wanted, call in (or book online/ through an app) and reserve a table in advance.
Prepare to Wait for a Table
Despite what was mentioned previously, it's still possible to get a table at a restaurant without booking in advance. The city still has countless hotspots that don't get too crowded even during the busiest lunch and dinner rushes. You should, however, expect to wait to get a table. You might get lucky to get an instant slot the moment you go to the restaurant, but in a city like the Big Apple, it's always a one-in-a-million chance. More often than not, you'll need to be patient before getting seated at a popular New York restaurant.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Look, the world knows that
New Yorkers are infamous for their not-so-pleasant attitudes, but you don't have to add to all that craziness. Maintaining a positive demeanor will get you far in the city, even when it's something as simple as eating out. For one thing, countless New York restaurants have hosts and hostesses who decide who gets a table and who doesn't. So, at the risk of getting thrown out because your impatience got the best of you, keeping a pleasant face will increase your chances of getting dinner on Saturday night.
Get Used to Small Tables
The hottest New York restaurants aren't just notorious for their small portions; they're infamous for their small tables, too. Even with all that real estate, complete with empty luxury apartments to rent that are too expensive for more than half of the city's population, New York eateries—and the foodies that patronize them—still have to contend with small spaces. You'll need to keep this in mind if you're planning to dine at the trendiest spots tonight. Even more so if you're eating with many other people. Some members of your party might not even fit in the restaurant altogether!
Have Some Cash Handy for Tips
Even when most of New York now exclusively accepts credit cards, you'd do well to still have some cash on you. They'll come in handy when it's time to tip your server, which is a must in this city! Tipping isn't just common in New York City, it's practically a requirement. There's a social understanding that servers in New York restaurants live off the tips they get from diners. It's even come to the point that some places already include the 20% tip in your bill. Either way, it won't hurt to leave more on the table if you have extra cash on hand.
Consider Getting Takeout
New York City's restaurants may serve some of the best food in the world, but they don't always have the best spaces. As mentioned previously, the city's hottest spots are notorious for their small locations and hectic energy, making them too uncomfortable for dining in. But you still want to indulge in their food, so what do you do? Get takeout, instead! You'd be surprised at how often people go to restaurants to get takeout and simply eat it at a nearby park. Many New Yorkers would even argue that this is a more popular way to eat out in the city these days.
Eating out in New York City doesn’t have to be the Herculean task it usually is. These tips will help you manage the Big Apple’s hectic culinary scene, guaranteeing you’ll get to eat at your chosen restaurant in peace.
