I bet many people who came to or came of age in NYC during the 1980s and 90s can track their lives through restaurants. Though our stories are probably not as well told and written as this resonant essay. If you don’t mind, here’s my low-budget early 80s version. https://medium.com/new-york-voice/cheap-eats-in-pre-foodie-nyc-ab15248e1af5
Thank you for reminding me of the nourishing, mouth-pleasing, wallet-friendly dining at Republic. A New Yorker who ended up on the West Coast for most of my adult life, Republic was a must-visit throughout the '90s and early aughts.
Delightfully nostalgic. You make me long for a life in New York that I have never lived and could only dream about. Thank you for a fantastical journey to a technicolor past I could almost taste, smell, and thrum about.
Ah, my New York. Thanks for bringing me back. I especially remember the resistance-turned-freedom of my 90s migration to Brooklyn where I could see sky (and Steve Buscemi) and eat at Patios once a year after having waitressed in the chef’s restaurant (Nosmo King) in Tribecca.
Yup. The year before the ashram. Sometimes would take the R downtown, eat at Dojo for lunch and mosey over to my shift, browsing stores with the cool expensive Willi Wear garb. That chef was such a dick.
So much nostalgia that brought back many flavors. It brought me back to years in college living in the East Village and south Williamsburg during your first years in Carroll Gardens.
Oh man, I miss Dojo's! Probably ate there 3 times a week as well my first time in the city when I was broke and worked down the street at Astor Wine. Generally very healthy food too. My memory can still call up the taste of those soy burger dinners.
Love this! It brought back so many memories! My friends and I would share one glass of wine at Fanelli’s, tarragon chicken salad at The Cupoing Room…best cheap dinners: Indian on Sixth Street.
Similar experience in Chicago where a celebrity sighting is a bit rarer but our sights are lower. My sister and I could get in anywhere when, dressed the part, you brought the right attitude. Oh the stories I could tell... We rarely bought our own drinks and saved the eating for 4 am in the diner.
I loved this and now I'm hungry for my fave NYC goodies. Hot and sour soup and Peking Duck in Chinatown, manicotti and canneloni in Little Italy, etc etc. I don't think any places I frequented in the 1980s are still open though. Except Sarabeth's Kitchen.
I bet many people who came to or came of age in NYC during the 1980s and 90s can track their lives through restaurants. Though our stories are probably not as well told and written as this resonant essay. If you don’t mind, here’s my low-budget early 80s version. https://medium.com/new-york-voice/cheap-eats-in-pre-foodie-nyc-ab15248e1af5
Thanks so much for sharing—great piece and list! So glad it resonated!
Thank you for reminding me of the nourishing, mouth-pleasing, wallet-friendly dining at Republic. A New Yorker who ended up on the West Coast for most of my adult life, Republic was a must-visit throughout the '90s and early aughts.
I still miss that damn soup! They should bring it back!
Delightfully nostalgic. You make me long for a life in New York that I have never lived and could only dream about. Thank you for a fantastical journey to a technicolor past I could almost taste, smell, and thrum about.
Thanks so very much!
Ah, my New York. Thanks for bringing me back. I especially remember the resistance-turned-freedom of my 90s migration to Brooklyn where I could see sky (and Steve Buscemi) and eat at Patios once a year after having waitressed in the chef’s restaurant (Nosmo King) in Tribecca.
I didn’t know you worked at Nosmo King.
Yup. The year before the ashram. Sometimes would take the R downtown, eat at Dojo for lunch and mosey over to my shift, browsing stores with the cool expensive Willi Wear garb. That chef was such a dick.
OMG. Were you there in the spring of 1993? I went on a terrible date there then.
indeed I was. Perhaps I served you and your shitty date a watermelon margarita? 🤪
Ha ha. I’ll tell you the story next time we speak.
So much nostalgia that brought back many flavors. It brought me back to years in college living in the East Village and south Williamsburg during your first years in Carroll Gardens.
Oh man, I miss Dojo's! Probably ate there 3 times a week as well my first time in the city when I was broke and worked down the street at Astor Wine. Generally very healthy food too. My memory can still call up the taste of those soy burger dinners.
Thanks so very much! They live forever!
Love this! It brought back so many memories! My friends and I would share one glass of wine at Fanelli’s, tarragon chicken salad at The Cupoing Room…best cheap dinners: Indian on Sixth Street.
Thanks so very much! I'm so glad!
Similar experience in Chicago where a celebrity sighting is a bit rarer but our sights are lower. My sister and I could get in anywhere when, dressed the part, you brought the right attitude. Oh the stories I could tell... We rarely bought our own drinks and saved the eating for 4 am in the diner.
The food in Chicago is amazing!
I felt transported into your world of city eating and living, and thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
I loved this and now I'm hungry for my fave NYC goodies. Hot and sour soup and Peking Duck in Chinatown, manicotti and canneloni in Little Italy, etc etc. I don't think any places I frequented in the 1980s are still open though. Except Sarabeth's Kitchen.
Good! I’m so glad it resonated!
Love this! Thank you and I couldn't agree with you more!
Thanks so very much!