We were staying in Midtown and on the hunt for good bagels. Having seating would be a major plus. After some research, we landed on Liberty Bagel and Best Bagel and Coffee. Though both had excellent reviews, we decided to try Best Bagel and Coffee first, since it had more seating and we would have a shot of actually being able to sit there and each enjoy a bagel sandwich!

At Best Bagels, all bagels are "hand rolled and kettle boiled". Additionally, they make ALL the bagels right on the premises, so you know you are getting a freshly baked one.

There are many options! Just look at the photos of the different bagels hanging from the ceiling. They run an efficient operation. You order and then wait to pick up your sandwich.

Perhaps it's the current NYC trend, but they have some fun colored bagels . . .

and LOTs of different types of cream cheese.

I got a semi-class salmon and lox bagel, but with avocado! It was FANTASTIC. The bagel was perfect, and all the ingredients inside were fresh and high quality. We did have to sort of "hover" in order to grab seating. Thankfully, it's a high throughput kind of place, so seating opens up pretty quickly and pretty frequently.

We came back with a friend, and managed to grab one of the few outdoor seats. Since the weather was warm, we really enjoyed it out there!

Best Bagel and Coffee

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I have always loved New York Bagels. Bryan and I used to bring a dozen H&H bagels back to Boston from New York for YEARS. So of course when I finally had the chance to return to New York after (gasp) 10 years, I had to get some bagels.

Interestingly, the New York bagel landscape has shifted quite a bit since our last visit. H&H closed in 2010 (the founder was jailed) and then re-opened in 2014 under new ownership. At the same time, many new bagel shops have opened, including Liberty Bagels in 2018.

Liberty Bagels has gained a massive following for sticking to the "old-fashioned" way of doing things—hand-rolling their dough and kettle-boiling each batch to ensure that signature chewy exterior. While they are arguably most famous for their viral Rainbow Bagels, they are equally respected for their traditional flavors and massive selection of house-made cream cheeses.

Just look at this cream cheese spread. It's like an ice cream parlour!

The line can be quite long, but it moves pretty fast. Walk past the huge crowd to the cashier to order, and then wait (with the crowd) for your number to be called. You can also order ahead online and pick up right near the entrance.

Smoked whitefish bagel sandwich

The bagels are delicious, and we came back multiple times. The very last day, we bought a dozen to take back with us (to Hong Kong!).

Bryan painstakingly cut each bagel in half with a knife before immediately freezing them. They reheat beautifully (just put it directly in the toaster or under the broiler in a toaster oven).

Liberty Bagels
multiple locations throughout New York City

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There was a time when I went to New York City atleast once a year. Bryan and I started the ritual back in college. My aunt had a small apartment in Manhattan, and she was kind enough to let us (poor college students) stay with her whenever we visited.

After graduation, since we lived in Boston, it was easy to visit regularly. We visited our relatives, sampled exciting food, and just enjoyed the city. For work I would attend the annual black tie Judge's Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria, which was always exciting.

I even went once to attend the Saveur Best Food Blog Awards ceremony, where I won Best Restaurant and Dining Coverage in 2012 (yes, a loooooong time ago).

Fun memories, such as meeting Eric Ripert from Le Bernardin, being introduced to a secret "speakeasy" bar, discovering the best fried chicken Bryan's ever had, and seeking after food trends like Dominique Ansel's CRONUT® (or better yet, the DKA), the best NYC bagel, Thanksgiving turkey at a 3 Michelin star restaurants, and more . . .

So imagine what it was like to suddenly stop going to New York when we moved to Hong Kong. Suddenly New York City was thousands of miles away, not just a quick trip from Boston. So you can see . . . the blog sort of went silent on New York after the Girls Trip I took in 2016.

Never would I have imagined that a global pandemic plus other reasons would prevent me from going back to New York City until almost a decade later.

I had seen Hudson Yards on my IG feed during the pandemic, so I told Bryan I really wanted to see that. It did not disappoint! The High Line has had many updates since 9 years ago, and I really really enjoyed exploring that whole area!

Of course we had to get bagels.

We tried Best Bagels and Liberty Bagels in Midtown, and both were excellent!

Bryan stopped by his favorite camera store, B&H for old times' sake.

After never being able to get a reservation at Brooklyn Fare back in the day, we finally got to taste Chef César Ramirez's food at his eponymous restaurant, César.

The food was exquisite.

I'll be adding to this New York City series to write in more detail about some of the places we visited. Enjoy! So excited to be back after 9 years!

The post Hello New York! It's been WAY Too Long appeared first on Tiny Urban Kitchen.

Our friends who live in Boston (a couple) highly recommended that I try Amar in the Raffles Hotel. The wife is from Singapore, and therefore was quite familiar with the original Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

This Raffles Hotel in Boston is the first one in the US. It includes many signature items from the Raffles Singapore (a historic hotel that has been open since 1887!), including its famous cocktails!

A Bit of Cocktail History

The most famous cocktail at the Raffles is called the “Singapore Sling” , made from gin, Luxardo cherry liqueur, Cointreau, Bénédictine, and pineapple juice. The Singapore sling was originally inveited at the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore by legendary bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. He later invented the “Million Dollar Cocktail”, made from gin, dry French vermouth, orange juice, grenadine, and an egg white.

The Boston location recreates the Long Bar, on the same floor within the Raffles Hotel but on the other side of the hotel from Amar. You can order these famous cocktails at the Long Bar, or at Amar instead, if you so fancy.

Or you can get your favorite classic cocktail, like Bryan's dirty martini.

Amar's space is stunning, with floor to ceiling windows and panoramic views of the Boston skyline. We came during sunset, and I couldn’t help but get up from my seat to take photos out the window.

The Food

The food is "Mediterranean-inspired" but also has quite a decent selection of Boston's famous fresh seafood (think seafood tower, raw oysters, and the like). To me, it leans a bit Spanish, but also feels a lot like a typical New England farm-to-table restaurant.

I came here twice. Once with my friends, and once together with Bryan. Below are some example dishes we enjoyed. As the dishes are seasonally focused, the menu will change regularly, but these photos can at least give you a general sense of the types of food coming out of this innovative kitchen.

Main Course

Dessert

General Thoughts: Amar Raffles Hotel Boston

I mentioned I came here twice. The first time we actually booked the chef's table, which allows you to sit inside the kitchen and enjoy your meal while watching the action. It's interesting, but you lose out on all those amazing views. The second time, we sat in the main dining room. Personally, I recommend trying to dine in the main dining room. It's overall a much more relaxing space. Plus the views are really nice.

The food is good. I found the starters to be more creative an interesting compared to the mains, but overall everything was enjoyable. If you need to conduct a business dinner or celebrate a birthday, the combination of good food, beautiful views, and a central location makes this place a good choice.

Amar Raffles Hotel Boston

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This place is an INSTITUTION in New York City. Known for its ultra thin and crispy crust, Joe’s Pizza’s fame is legendary. As soon as you walk in, you’ll see a wall filled with photos of celebrities who have visited over the years. 

Bryan had tried Joe’s Pizza in New York City. He said he waited in a super long line for about 45 minutes before getting a few slices. 

Guess what? If you’re in Cambridge (MA) you don’t have to wait at all! Yes, Joe’s Pizza opened up a location in Harvard Square not far from where I used to live. I’m sure it’s popular with students, but it’s also super popular with ME! The first time I tried it, I completely fell in love and declared that it is currently my favorite pizza in BOSTON! 

There’s something about that ultra thin & crispy crust + quality toppings that I can't resist. I always just get the simple tomato + basil + cheese pie. Simple is the best. Soooooo good.

They are open until 2AM, and whole pies cost between US$25 - $33. You can also order by the slice. Prepare to spend US$4-6 per slice.

Joe's Pizza Harvard Square
3 Brattle St
Cambridge, MA

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