Sample a diverse selection of coffees sourced from around the globe, then roasted right here in New York City!
The Episcopal Church of the Mediator is full of splendid treasures that may soon be lost.
New York City is home to a wide array of dining establishments, but not all of these get to occupy the same amount of space. While some flagship restaurants stretch half a block and fill up multiple floors, others wedge into spaces not much larger than an alleyway. This isn’t to say that the experience isn’t as vibrant or the food isn’t as delicious.
Some of the city’s smallest restaurants offers the most delectable and sought-after cuisine and a little adventure along the way. From hidden burger spots to a Taiwanese bomb shelter, these tiny restaurants prove that great things really do come in small packages:
Photo by Michelle Young/Untapped Cities
Hidden behind a velvet curtain inside the swanky Le Parker Meridien Hotel in midtown Manhattan, this intimate burger spot The Burger Joint opened in 2002. The menu is very simple, and features an inexpensive selection of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, shakes, brownies, and beer. The restaurant’s divey interior is comprised of graffiti, and old movie and band posters, which cover its wood paneled walls.
Though well-hidden, the existence of the Burger Joint is far from a secret. It doesn’t take reservation, so be prepared to battle for a seat if you don’t want to take your burger to go. Address: 119 West 56th Street.
Westville’s original location is located on 210 W 10th Street in the West Village, though it has now expanded to five other locations in the East Village, Chelsea, Hudson, Dumbo, and Wall Street. This tiny farm-to-table spot, which focuses on using fresh and local ingredients, opened in 2003 and began to expand its mini empire with its East Village location in 2007.
Fill up one of this locations only 22 seats and enjoy their wide menu of reasonably-priced, casual American menu, which includes salads, sandwiches, plates, burgers, and hot dogs for lunch or dinner. Make sure to also come in for brunch on the weekends. Address: 210 W 10th St.
The Eddy is a romantic, rustic and cozy East Village spot featuring an 11-seat bar and a 32-seat dining room. The restaurant opened in 2014 and is headed by chef Jeremy Salamon, with a menu featuring items like Spanish Mackerel and 50-Day Dry Aged Ribeye.
With low ceilings and a friendly atmosphere, this New York Times Critic’s Pick is a great, but pricey pick for American seasonal fare — just be ready to cozy up to your dining neighbors. Address: 342 E 6th St.
Wallflower, serving French-inspired and seasonal fare, is nestled in the West Village at 232 West 12th Street. With only 45 seats, this cocktail bar is a small, but quaint spot that offers and international wine list and serves original cocktails. Opening in October of 2014, it features a seasonally rotating menu, which allows for different experiences on different visits.
Come for a full meal from it dinner menu, meet up with friends for a chat over a cheese plate, or stop in at the end of the night and order off its “Late Night Snack” menu, which features Grilled Cheese and Roasted Chicken Hand Pie.
Baohaus at 238 East 14th Street on the Lower East Side actually began as a 400-square-foot subterranean bomb shelter with a very limited menu on Rivington Street back in 2009 before relocating in 2011. Though the new locale is not that much bigger, it now is able to accommodate 20 people.
The Taiwanese-Chinese restaurant is not only focused on lifting the gua bao (a small Taiwanese sandwich) to an art form, but also acting as a “mouthpiece for the social, cultural, and political issues” that owners, Eddie and Evan Huang, care about. Baohaus, described as a “futuristic YMCA,” has worked to feed homeless families since its beginning in 2009.
El Sabroso, a freight entrance restaurant at 265 W 37th Street (between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue).
While there used to be a lot more of these spots, it’s still fun to spend a lunch in one of these restaurants tucked into the freight entrances of buildings and warehouses. Nick’s Place, the self-proclaimed “best kept secret in the Garment District” was once one of the most well-known of these nooks before it shuttered in late 2016. However, there’s still El Sabroso and Acuario’s Cafe, which offer unique dining experiences as well.
Both of these hole-in-the-wall eateries serve Latin American food and are located within half a block from each other. Address: El Sabroso (265 W 37th St.); Acuario’s Cafe (306 W 37th St.)
For more on restaurants in NYC, check out 6 Hidden Japanese Restaurants in NYC and 10 of NYC’s Oldest Historic Restaurants, Inns and Taverns.
Subscribe to our newsletter
