One of my favorite things about living in New York City is stumbling upon something I wasn’t looking to find.
Feel free to read into that.
But back to talking about food.
When searching for a good place to eat in New York City, there’s plenty to choose from. But for me, there’s nothing more satisfying than finding that perfect local food truck or hole-in-the-wall, serving some of New York’s best-kept secrets.
But this week’s adventure wasn’t quite a hole-in-the-wall.
Instead, it was an open-air food market, with all the perks of local food. I found the new favorite spot when walking past The Bowery Market. I got a delightful whiff of Taco Tuesday’s offerings in the NoHo section of New York City.
I actually had never heard of the Bowery Market before, but was nearby at the BUILD Series NYC studios, watching CNN’s Van Jones talk about the premiere of “The Redemption Project” and I was in the adventurous, exploring kind of mood.
Where you can eat
I ordered from Pinks Cantina, but in the courtyard, Cheska’s Pizza and Sushi on Jones Omakase was also serving up dishes!
Pinks Cantina
The deal I spotted, three tacos for $10, which is an absolute steal for New York City!
The meal came with a water bottle AND the delight of sitting outside in the courtyard. And as the flowers begin to bloom in full force and the weather warms up to sundress season, sitting outside is what I want.
It’s a simple menu, but honestly, by the taste of the tacos, you won’t need much more than the offerings.
What I love about smaller restaurants and smaller kitchens is, it’s prepared fresh, and the service is always approachable and friendly.
I go for the three taco deal, although I’m debating if I should just order six tacos and really, really have at it.
The three for $10 taco tuesday offerings:
- Beer Braised Chicken
- Carnitas
- Butternut Squash
- Skirt Steak
- Shrimp
All tacos are served in a soft corn tortilla topped with pico de gallo, cilantro and cotija cheese. Please specify which sauce on the side you prefer: red chili, chipotle aioli, salsa verde or 3-pepper sauce.
You can also go for the Torta, Mexican Pizza, Quesadilla, and the Cantina dog, and you can get it all for under $10.
So my tastebuds and my wallet are both happy.
Sushi on Jones
Sushi on Jones is New York’s first al fresco omakase bar.
For those unfamiliar with the jargon, “al fresco” dining simply means eating outside! “Omakase” is similar to a prix fixe menu of Chef’s choices. So, Omakase is a Japanese meal consisting of dishes selected by the chef.
And there are DEALS at Sushi on Jones.
For 30 minutes, you can try the traditional 12-piece sushi tasting. It’s $58 and includes the traditional uni to toro to botan shrimp to wagyu and beyond. A giant plate of sushi for 30 minutes sounds like heaven, especially in good weather.
Cheska’s Signature Pizza
Cheska’s Signature Pizza boasts of entirely gluten-free and vegan crust. You can choose from options such as cauliflower and sweet potato crust pizza!
With 40% fewer carbs than traditional pizza, Cheska’s pizza is a very LOW-carb option, and an affordable one. Pizzas range from $7.80 to $11.80, and you can also build your own, with unlimited toppings!
Now that’s a way to eat pizza without feeling too much guilt.
Cheska’s claims their pizza has 1.5 servings of veggies and is packed with fiber and protein! So, hold the lettuce.
But, here’s a surprise. What you won’t find here that’s pretty traditional of other pizza joints? There’s no salad option. And frankly, I’m not complaining.
They’re part of Gluten-Free Globetrotter’s list of 100% Gluten Free NYC Restaurants!
If none of these are up your alley (punny), you can also grab a bite from the various fruit stands, gelato ice cream bars, crepe and coffee stands. The food vendors swap, so there’s always something new to check out, which will make me a returning customer for sure.
The Bowery market seems to have it all, and for the affordable prices, it was a sweet find.
How to get to the Bowery Market
348 Bowery, at the Northwest Corner of Bowery & Great Jones. Take the MTA subway to the Broadway-Lafayette St Station stop, which is the orange line, letters B, D, F or M. You can also get off at the Bleecker St / Lafayette St stop off the green line via the 4 & 6 trains.
