By: Linda Seigelman
Broadway has had a fabulous fall/winter season, and it is still going strong. Deciding to see a show is usually followed by the question of where to eat pre- or post-theater. I wrote about Gotham West market after it first opened about 4 years ago. It is worth revisiting because it has only gotten better over time.
In major cities around the U.S. and across the globe, food halls are all the rage these days. They are exciting places in which to try a variety of foods new and old. Some food halls showcase the depth and breadth of a given cuisine or culture, while others offer multi-ethnic experiences. Gotham West Market is a great example of the latter.
Located on the far west side of Midtown on the outer edge of the area known as Hell’s Kitchen, Gotham West brings together a little Brooklyn, some Manhattan, a little Spain, a bit of Asia and a touch of Mexico to an area of the city previously lacking food choices worth talking about. Gotham West spans the entire block of 11th Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets. It is an attractive setting: floor to ceiling windows, industrial chic décor, seating choices from beautiful stainless steel bars to communal picnic tables, cool lighting and indoor/outdoor options. The place is perfect for singles, couples and groups of all sizes.
Gotham West Market opens early and stays open late, so you can drop by for a morning coffee and pastry at Corner Slice, grab a quick taco for lunch at Choza Taqueria, stop in for the raw bar happy hour at Seamore’s, enjoy tapas and a drink at El Colmado, and slurp some soup and noodles late at night at Ivan Ramen. If you have a group or a family, it is the ideal spot for everyone to order whatever they want and then meet at a table to enjoy the results.
Check out Gotham West Market. It is a dining destination well worth a visit –with or without theater tickets.
THE LINE-UP
Ample Hills Creamery – the Brooklyn ice cream vendor, hand-crafted flavors change daily, salted crack caramel is legendary, perfect treats for a summer day, so hard to choose, sampling encouraged
Choza Taqueria – Mexican street food for all, tacos, tamales, burritos, tortas, ceviche, good for breakfast, lunch, dinner or an anytime snack
Corner Slice – top notch pastry, pizza and coffee, excellent breakfast options too, try the peppers and egg sandwich, all baking done on premise
El Colmado – Seamus Mullen’s tapas bar, Spanish classics like Serrano ham, garlic shrimp and patatas bravas, stuffed dates wrapped in bacon are a favorite choice, excellent wines, fresh oysters
Genuine Roadside – the best of America’s roadside eateries with a twist (the fried green tomato BLT is a winner) burgers, shakes, tacos, and their famous fried chicken sandwich
Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop – always a line for the food of ramen expert Ivan Orkin, soups and rice bowls are legendary, the garden salad (Asian style with crispy onions on top) is a favorite – with a side of pork belly
Jianbing Company – Shanghai street food in NYC, tasty custom-made wraps, scallion pancake sandwiches and bowls, you pick the ingredients, try the steamed dumplings
Seamore’s – shellfish heaven, lobster mac and cheese, lobster rolls, salads, shrimp tacos, excellent drinks menu, daily raw bar and happy hour Waffle De Lys – Belgian/French waffles and crepes, sweet and savory options, try a house combo or create your own, charcuterie and pastries too
Whirlybird + greens – Seamus Mullen again, juicy rotisserie chicken and seasonal ingredients in fun bowl combos, “the frenchie” has nicoise elements, the “Paul Simon (mother and child)” has chicken and eggs plus fixin’s, all natural, gluten- and sugar-free