Jessica’s new dessert cookbook Not Too Sweet is for every kind of dessert lover.
You will find all kinds of treats that will satisfy every (not too) sweet tooth: chocolatey, fruity, flaky, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, too.
John David Becker
Sara Quessenberry
New York City
She not only picks the perfect restaurant for the right occasion, Sara also wins “best order” every single time.
Sara and I have been working together since 2011. Sara is a foodstylist by trade but she is the engine behind the recipes on JessicaSeinfeld.com and my last two books. She also takes our photos. I would not still be doing this without her. We share a similar food and life sensibility, which is why I trust her list to death. She and I eat together almost every day, but her NYC list is almost all brand new to me, which shocked me. She seems to have a whole other life without me. I am all over it.
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I think this taco stand makes the best taco in the city. They make the tortillas to order. The marinated pork is divine, along with their salsas.
Chelsea Market | 75 9th Ave (at W 15th St), NYC
Times Square | 229 W 43rd St (nr. 7th Ave), NYC
TriBeCa | 136 Church St (nr. Warren St), NYC
NoHo | 340 Lafayette St (btw. Bleecker and Bond St), NYC
Near Grand Central Station | 125 Park Ave (at E 41 St), NYC
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This is my go-to restaurant for Mexican comfort food and has never let me down in 15 years. The jalapeño margarita and enchiladas (verde or mole) provide much happiness. So do the chips.
Lower East Side | 253 Broome St (nr. Orchard St), NYC
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Refined but casual. Perfect Mexican food.
LIC | 5-48 49th Ave, Queens
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This modern Mexican corner spot is hip, friendly and transportive. The food is high-minded but simple. I love the chilaquiles with a poached egg and their overproof margarita.
NoHo | 372 Lafayette St (at Great Jones St), NYC
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I like going to this convivial spot in the summer when the doors are open with lots of outside seating. It’s great for large groups. The food is straightforward and high quality. Happy hour is a plus.
East Village | 29 E 2nd St (at 2nd Ave), NYC
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I love this hard working hole-in-the-wall of a “factory”. I pick up the handmade, fluffy tamales with extra green sauce to take home.
Lower East Side | 34 Ludlow St (nr. Hester St), NYC
East Village | 63 E 4th St (nr. Bowery), NYC
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I often go here for happy hour for the delicious guacamole and smoky margaritas, but they do so much more in this friendly and vibrant spot.
West Village | 113 7th Ave (nr. Christpoher St), NYC
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I haven't been to it's new location yet. But if the food is the same, then it's worth it. Drop out and have pita made to order with amazing mezze, kebabs and a glass of Lebanese wine.
West Village | 29 7th Ave S (nr. Morton St), NYC
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Rice rolls (cheong fun) are a Cantonese-style street food. At Joe’s, he grinds the rice for the rolls on premises daily. The noodles are made to order, filled, rolled and then doused with chili oil, if you like (which I highly recommend), yielding a silky, bouncy and satisfying eating experience. It’s addictive. And absolutely the best value in town at $4 a roll (which is a plateful).
Flushing | 136-21 Roosevelt Ave, Queens
SoHo | 265 Canal St (nr. Lafayette St; Canal Street Market) NYC
Upper West Side | 422 Amsterdam Ave (nr. W 80th St), NYC
East Village | 36 St Marks Pl (nr. 2nd Ave), NYC
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Stop into this old-school Italian meat store for an Italian hero or chicken cutlet sandwich. And take some sausages home with you.
Greenwich Village | 260 Bleecker St (nr. Cornelia St), NYC 10014
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Manousheh is a cozy spot where Lebanese flatbreads are baked to order with sweet or savory toppings. My favorite is the avocado, za’atar, cherry tomato, mint, olives, cucumber, and labneh - think Middle Eastern burrito.
Lower East Side | 403 Grand St (nr. Clinton St), NYC
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These are intense and very satisfying ramens. The restaurant downtown has many more options than ramen and is a sit down restaurant (they take reservations). The Gotham Market location is more of a quick-service counter.
Lower East Side | 25 Clinton St (nr. Stanton St), NYC
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Hospitable and cool, I like to go to their East Village location. They serve delicious Moroccan-inspired food – tagines, couscous. But I love it for breakfast.
East Village | 101 St. Marks Place (nr. 1st Ave), NYC
Williamsburg | 133 Wythe Ave (nr. N 8th St), Brooklyn
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The chicken Milanese sandwich here is delicious. So is the chocolate chunk caramel cookie. But so are their breakfast sandwiches and crullers. They do everything well here.
Gramercy | 103 E 19th St (nr. E 19th St), NYC
Upper West Side | 375 Amsterdam Ave (at W 78th St), NYC
West Village | 29 Bedford St (at Downing), NYC
Manhattan West | 440 W 33rd St, NYC
Cobble Hill | 151 Court St, Brooklyn
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A lot of love went into creating this neighborhood cafe, from the handcrafted furniture and locally sourced food to the handmade (and for sale) ceramics. The coffee is delicious, too.
West Village | 482 6th Ave (nr. W 12th St), New York
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This bakery/café is a constant for me. I usually go for the canotto (brioche stuffed with mascarpone and prosciutto) or the bomboloni. The breads are some of the best in NYC. The Roman-style pizzas and sandwiches are great to grab and go, but it’s better to sit and enjoy with a cappuccino.
Hell’s Kitchen | 533 W 47th St (nr. 11th Ave), NYC
Chelsea | 236 9th Ave (nr. W 25th St), NYC
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Go here for fantastic coffee, a slice of olive oil cake or an “eggie” sandwich, and an artsy vibe. Or go in the evening for wine, mixed drinks, and small savory plates. Best of all, there’s a “no laptop” rule.
East Village | 81 E 7th St (nr. 1st Ave), NYC
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Trust me and go for the best grilled cheese sandwich there is (with tomato, red onion, cilantro). The chocolate cake is really good, too.
Hell’s Kitchen | 672 9th Ave (nr. W 47th St), NYC
Chelsea Market | 75 9th Ave (at W 15th St), NYC
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A very casual café with excellent dumplings made with the freshest organic ingredients. Don’t miss the scallion pancake and the street-cart greens.
Upper West Side | 309 Amsterdam Ave (btw. 74th and 75th St), NYC
East Village | 179 2nd Ave (nr. E 11th St), NYC
Cobble Hill | 224 Atlantic (nr. Court St) Ave, Brooklyn
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Drop in and drop out at this transcendent indoor/outdoor Japanese cafe/boutique, where you can get a delicious bento box for lunch or a pastry with a matcha or cappuccino to start your day.
Greenpoint | 64 Meserole Ave (nr. Guernsey St), Brooklyn
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My new favorite bagel.
Greenwich Village | 169 Thompson St (btw. Houston and Bleecker), NYC
Williamsburg | 128 Bedford Ave (at N 10th St), Brooklyn
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I love to sit outside here in the summer months with a Negroni and a plate of arancini. But stay longer and order everything.
West Village | 51 Grove St (nr. 7th Ave), NYC
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I've been going to the East Village spot since it opened. The buns, small plates and noodles are consistently excellent.
East Village | 171 1st Ave (nr. E 11th St), NYC
Columbus Circle | 10 Columbus Cir (Time Warner Center), NYC
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Located on the quaintest corner in NYC, this early American tavern serves up straightforward, excellent fare. Don't miss the perfectly crafted cocktails.
West Village | 50 Commerce St St, NYC
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Satisfying Basque-leaning food with an easy European feel, Ernesto's is a nice place to be. Don't miss the pintxo matrimonio al ajillo.
Lower East Side | 259 E Broadway (at Montgomery St), NYC
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I always tell friends to go here. I like the one in the West Village best. The Katz egg roll is an absolute must.
West Village (temporarily closed) | 529 Hudson St (nr. Charles St), NYC
Upper West Side | 2170 Broadway (nr. W 77th St), NYC
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It isn’t the easiest place to get to, unless you live in Red Hook. But this authentic barbecue joint is worth the hassle. Go for lunch or dinner. Make it fun and take a ferry!
Red Hook | 454 Van Brunt St (at Reed St), Brooklyn
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Ilili serves authentic Lebanese-Mediterranean food in a very grand and lively setting. This place is not shy. It’s fun to go with a larger group so you can sample all of the amazing mezze.
Flatiron | 236 5th Ave (nr. E 27th St), NYC
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Squeeze into this charming spot for high-end seafood that is unfussy but exacting. The fish and chips are exceptional but don't limit yourself - a table of four could share the entire menu. Be sure to make a reservation.
Greenwich Village | 87 MacDougal St, NYC
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Morning can quickly turn into night at this all day classic Italian bar. Start off with an espresso and a bomboloni, then let the day slide into cocktails and wine with panini and snacks.
West Village | 52 Grove St (at 7th Ave), NY
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This a cozy all day neighborhood spot where you can get a poached egg in the morning, a burger for lunch, and branzino for dinner. And a glass of wine or a cocktail anytime.
West Village | 234 W 4th St (at W 10th St), NYC
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Go any time of day or night to this European inspired gem. Everything is perfect here.
West Village | 42 Grove St (nr. Bleecker St), NYC
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This delightful and upscale French café is a complete escape from the noisy outside world.
SoHo | 53 Howard St (at Mercer St), NYC
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Café Cluny is a quaint bistro that is friendly and breezy. I always end up getting the frisee salad aux lardons (salad with blue cheese, croutons, bacon and poached egg).
West Village | 284 W 12 St (at W 4th St), NYC
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This Italian dream is both a dining experience and market. Go for baked eggs and a cappuccino in the morning. Stay through lunch for pizza and wine. Dinner is exceptional as well – crispy artichokes, pasta, roasted short ribs. For home, stock up on housemade salumi, breads and gelato.
NoHo | 53 Great Jones St (nr. Bowery), NYC
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See Jessica’s page for pizza. My only addition is Roberta’s (even though it’s a schlep). The pizza crust is perfectly bubbly and charred with delicious topping combos. The kitchen turns out amazing food, but I never veer from the pizza and the romaine salad with candied walnuts and mint. Open lunch, dinner and brunch on weekends. Go when you can.
Bushwick | 261 Moore St (nr. Bogart St), Brooklyn
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The Mercado Little Spain is bustling with food stalls that serve Spanish specialties like empanadas, paella, tortillas, patatas bravas, and churros. It’s a mostly stand and eat kind of situation unless you can snag a table. There are sit down restaurants, wine bars, and cocktail bars as well, and a coffee shop with pastries. Go! It’s fun!
Hudson Yards | 10 Hudson Yards (on W 30th St), NY
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I think this is the best cookie I’ve ever had.
Upper West Side (temporarily closed) | 167 W 74th St (nr. Amsterdam Ave), NYC
Upper West Side | 351 Amsterdam Ave (nr. W 77th St), NYC
Harlem | 2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd (nr. W 117th St), NYC
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I love dropping into the “Cacao Bar” in the back of this charming chocolate shop for a quiet hot chocolate in winter.
SoHo | 484 Broome St (nr. Wooster St), NYC
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My desert island ice cream is Davey’s mint chip. Most of the flavors here are classic and made in small batches of the highest quality. They also serve sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream sandwiches.
East Village | 309 E 9th St (nr. 2nd Ave), NYC
Midtown | Moynihan Train Hall (Concourse Level), NY
Greenpoint | 74 Meserole Ave (at Guernsey St), Brooklyn
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This old-fashioned parlor serves high quality ice cream, sundaes, floats, sorbets, and vegan soft serve. They have new wave as well as old-school flavors - the caramel ice cream with salted pretzel is my favorite.
Greenwich Village | 88 W Houston St (nr. La Guardia Pl), NYC
Lower East Side | 2 Rivington St (nr. Bowery), NYC
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This Italian bakery and cafe has been around since 1894. If you’re visiting New York City, it’s a must. So are the cannoli and pine nut cookies among a sea of cookies and cakes. I always take some anise toasts home to go with my morning coffee.
East Village | 342 E 11th St (nr. 1st Ave), NYC
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Ferrara Italian bakery dates back to 1892 and is in the heart of Little Italy. Go for the cannoli, sfogliatella or gelato and take some Torrone home with you.
Little Italy | 195 Grand St (nr. Mulberry St), NYC
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Go for the DKA. That’s all I have to say.
SoHo | 189 Spring St (nr. Thompson St), NYC
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This place, established in the early 1960’s, comforts me. It’s not fancy or gourmet, though they do offer trendy flavors. Sit down at a stool along the counter and have a humble but perfect glazed or chocolate donut with a cup of black coffee. Don’t be put off by the muffins in the window.
West Village | 203 W 14th St (nr. 7th Ave), NYC
Greenwich Village | 740 Broadway (nr. Astor Pl), NYC
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The pastries at this small cafe are sublime. The buttermilk doughnuts and the pastry cream filled, vanilla bean and sugar dusted brioche doughnuts are beyond words. I’m also a sucker for the shortbread cookies. Good news for those not living in NYC…you can order them online.
West Village | 28 Greenwich Ave (nr. W 10th St), NYC
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Family owned and operated since the 1950's, it's everything you could want in a donut shop.
Greenpoint | 727 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY
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Available From Amazon B&N iBooks Indiebound
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