Picks by Jon Barr in New York

17 places Jon Barr went to in New York — what they said, and what to watch out for.

• Katz's Delicatessen — Jon Barr
  The whole experience—getting a ticket, waiting in line, watching the pastrami get sliced at the counter—is a uniquely New York experience unlike anywhere else.
  Heads up: Sandwiches are very pricey at $27, the line is long, the rye bread can't hold up under the weight of the meat, and the quality varies from visit to visit.
• Joe's Pizza — Jon Barr
  The original Village location on Carmine Street is always busy but the line moves fast, and it's not a bad choice if you can only get one slice in the city.
  Heads up: The ingredients are fine but nothing special, and ten better slice spots come to mind immediately.
• Eileen's Special Cheesecake — Jon Barr
  Named as a favorite cheesecake in New York, and they also sell small sizes that are easy for tourists to carry around.
• Russ & Daughters — Jon Barr
  The best nova salmon and lox he's had in New York — the whole experience of pulling a ticket and ordering at the counter is enjoyable, and the quality has stayed consistent over the years. There's also a separate sit-down café on the corner.
  Heads up: The lox cream cheese bagel is pricey at $17 and the line can be long; the bagels themselves aren't baked in-house and are a bit weak — since the cured fish is the real star, some people get their bagels elsewhere.
• Molly's Cupcakes — Jon Barr
  Said to have better cupcakes than Magnolia.
• Junior's — Jon Barr
  Convenient location in Midtown near 49th and 45th Streets, and open until midnight on weekdays and 1am on weekends, which is handy for late nights.
  Heads up: The Midtown location is pricey—a slice of cheesecake runs $9.25, and the egg platters are also on the expensive side.
• Juliana’s — Jon Barr
  The original coal-oven pizza famously made by Patsy Grimaldi is excellent, and the classic Margherita is so good you don't even need to add toppings. A great choice for a group lunch or dinner.
  Heads up: There's usually a line, and you can only order whole pies, not slices—pies start at $26, which is a lot if you're not that hungry.
• Bleecker Street Pizza — Jon Barr
  Recommended over Joe's for a slice in Greenwich Village.
• David's Brisket House — Jon Barr
  A budget-friendly pastrami option, and unusual for New York, you can choose your portion size.
• Peter Luger Steak House — Jon Barr
  The lunch burger special made with prime chuck is truly excellent — he prefers it to the steak — and the gruff but funny waiters give it an old-school, throwback feel.
  Heads up: Expect a 15-30 minute wait regardless of reservation time, service is brusque, and prices are high.
• Ping — Jon Barr
  More local, with better food quality and prices than Nom Wah.
• Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner — Jon Barr
  Said to be more local and taste better than Katz's, at similar prices.
• Magnolia Bakery — Jon Barr
  The classic banana pudding, small size, is still a great deal at $4.95 and hasn't disappointed in years. Bleecker Street is a pretty neighborhood, great for a stroll with it in hand.
  Heads up: Pre-ordering online lets you skip the line; otherwise the wait can be long depending on the time. The cupcakes are unremarkable.
• Nom Wah Tea Parlor — Jon Barr
  The oldest dim sum spot in Chinatown, in business for over 100 years, with a retro diner interior that feels like a movie set—called the most photogenic place on the list.
  Heads up: The atmosphere is great, but the dim sum itself is just average—other spots in Chinatown are better.
• Joe's Shanghai — Jon Barr
  Moved to the Bowery in 2019, giving it a bigger space and shorter waits; the broth is flavorful, and the pork and crab dumplings are especially good. Prices are reasonable.
  Heads up: Cash only (though there's an ATM inside), there's still a wait despite more seating, and 80-90% of customers are tourists. Some say the non-soup dumpling dishes are unremarkable.
• Gray's Papaya — Jon Barr
  Wildly cheap prices — one hot dog for $3.25, two plus a tropical drink for $6.95 — and it's a New York institution over 50 years old. Coffee plus a breakfast sandwich for $3 might be the cheapest breakfast in Manhattan.
  Heads up: There's no seating whatsoever and the setup is very bare-bones; while the breakfast menu is cheap, a neighborhood bodega might be better for a dollar or two more.
• Ess-a-Bagel — Jon Barr
  Nearly 50 years old, known for thick, chewy bagels generously slathered with cream cheese, with three Midtown locations for easy access.
  Heads up: The Midtown flagship had the longest bagel line he's ever waited in, and it doesn't quite reach the top tier of crispy-outside, chewy-inside bagels.

All places in New York