The Cheap Chick Report

After over a decade of living in NYC, I’ve developed my own favorites list: restaurants, parks, bars, and other fun spots to enjoy in this beautiful global city, without lighting your wallet on fire.

Below is an easy to read LISTICLE of my faves in Brooklyn and Manhattan, separated by Neighborhood.

(PSSST: You won’t find any copy & pasted recommendations from other publications here... just my honest and simple opinions)

NO SLEEP ‘TIL BROOKLYN

PARK SLOPE & GOWANUs

Four and Twenty Blackbirds - go for PIE and coffee

Nitehawk Cinema - they serve MEALS & COCKTAILS directly to your theater seats

Double Windsor - 3 words: “Field Pea Salad”

JJ Byrne Park and The Old Stone House - Great for Kids, FT. a 1776 Historic Site

Winner Bakery - NEW! Great sour dough breads, amazing sandwiches

Greenwood Park - massive indoor/outdoor beer garden. Try the FROZE’ in summer

Brooklyn Boulders Gowanus- indoor rock climbing & bouldering facility. Offering Memberships as well as Day Passes*

*FUN FACT: I had one of my first dates here with my wife, Kaitlyn*

CARROLL GARDENS

Buttermilk Channel - A Weekend BRUNCH fav: check out their Classic Bloody Mary (careful, it’s nice and spicy) with a homemade Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich

Pig Beach - Massive outdoor beer garden known for BBQ: yummy ribs and brisket

Black Mountain Wine House - My wife and I would walk here when we lived in Gowanus. They have a lovely small food menu (mostly apps and cheese plates) with a HUGE selection of wine and beers. The corner fireplace in winter makes you feel as if you’ve been transported to a cabin upstate.

Avlee Greek Kitchen - homemade Falafel & grilled meats. Try the “Gyro Bites”

BED-STUY

Golda - my wife has a background in coffee and she swears by this place. Try a Kougin-Amann (‘kween-ah-maan’) pastry with your morning brew

Pilar Cuban Eatery - vibrant indoor/outdoor Cuban restaurant. Go with friends ad try their pressed sandwiches: chicken mojo & the Cuban of course!; delish empanadas and salads

Fanfan Donuts - small batch, homemade artisanal creations (& Woman-Owned)

Home Frite - when I’m too lazy to cook and craving a burger I order a cheeseburger or buffalo chicken sandwich w/ fries; occasionally I’ll upgrade to oily truffle fries

Beds Thai - Consistently good Thai food with great curry options (not to mention a killer Dad joke of a restaurant name). The curry puffs are heavenly

Dynaco - cozy dive bar with a funky fireplace

CLINTON HILL & FORT GREENE

Sisters - incredible menus with both sweet and savory options, great drinks/bartenders, my mother-in-law loves it here (we both dig the Spicy Mezcal Marg). Chill & Hip atmosphere, but not loud. Great for all meals!

Mekelburgs - a deli meets an outdoor restaurant, with just a handful of picnic tables in the garden out back. Go here for craft beers, farmers market type vibes, and good sammies

Emily - IT’S AH MEEE! Ok no I’m not affiliated, but this is a fun for groups pizza place. I like the Big Ang & Emily pies

Ample Hills Creamery - incredible ice cream (vegan options too) also now open next to Nitehawk Cinema in Park Slope

Miss Ada - Get some sweet potato hummus in a shwarma bowl, grab a refreshing drink to-go and enjoy your meal in Fort Greene Park

Olea - Mediterranean bites, pita and dips - good for ANY meal

BUSHWICK

Little Skip’s & Little Mo: My wife used to Barista here, great coffee spot with incredible Pho from their restaurant next door

Bunna Cafe - Ethiopian restaurant with great vegetarian options, lentil dishes and good breads. Great for date night

Maria Hernandez Park - very underrated public park, weekend Farmers Market with local produce in summer (starting mid May)

Father Knows Best - brunch fav alert! Try not to drool over your cheddar scallion biscuits and short rib omelette

COBBLE HILL & BOERUM HILL

Cafe LULUc - Go for brunch, try the pancakes and/or their hotdog. FYI it’s CASH only

Paisano’s Butcher - family owned since 1960, this is a great place to buy your steaks and cheeses for entertaining friends

Bar Tabac - $10 or less Brunch cocktails, including Mimosa’s, Bloody Marys and Margs

Rucola - Italian restaurant with great risotto

WILLIAMSBURG

Domino Park - I love to bike and skateboard here, and then grab tacos at Tacocina (located inside the park)

Simple Cafe - French Algerian cuisine that surprisingly reminded me of my 2019 trip to Israel: try the Shakshuka

Bozu - Super hip sushi spot, home of “sushi bombs”

Nitehawk Cinema - I’m a movie freak so yes, you aren’t seeing double, this is their 2nd location outside of the Slope. Great seasonal menu items, delivered right to your seat. Yep, alcoholic drinks too. If kiddos are joining, I’d recommend their weekend brunch flicks. They also have “nostalgia” screenings like 80/90s RomComs, Holiday films and fun throwbacks

RIDGEWOOD & EAST WILLIAMSBURG

Brooklyn Steel - Amazing concert venue; lots of up and coming bands/new artists play here. Not squishy/packed in like some of the better known concert go-to’s in Manhattan

Evil Twin Brewing - beautiful interior, huge skylight and oh yea…tons of beer. I love that they make Sour beers/ales too!

The Ridgewood Ale House - a solid beer garden that’s more like a tavern, offering bottomless brunch on weekends

The Deep End - Brunch - sometimes offering Drag Brunch - and good tacos, tasty burgers

The Meat Hook - is a Butcher Shop! with a sweet little farmers market vibe

3 Dollar Bill - is a night club: the largest queer venue in BK to be precise, where all are welcome. Their parties tend to get wild

Manhattan, N.Y.C., aka THE City

HELL’S KITCHEN

The Meatball Shop - great sammies, obvi meatballs, and chill vibes (not good for vegetarians/vegans)

Yum Yum Too - Great and well priced Thai. I’m a curry girl and love this spot for their lunch specials and dinner entrees

Empanada Mama - the title says it all; delish handheld food that’s a great treat before seeing a show. Try a Spicy Chicken

Briciola - lovely Italian wine bar with $8-$16 pastas and apps

Tulcingo Del Valle - they claim to be the best authentic Mexican food in the city; I agree.

EAST VILLAGE

Brick Lane Curry House - My Dad gave me my love of Indian food, and introduced me to their sister location in my hometown of Montclair

Momofuku Noodle Bar - my bestie’s sister Megan introduced me to this spot years ago: Ramen and noodle dishes that warm the soul, and most entrees are under $20

Economy Candy - A candy shop focusing on old school treats, and British Cadbury chocolates

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - eat the obvious here :)

Mimi Cheng’s - INCREDIBLE dumplings, & a Women-owned Biz

WEST VILLAGE

Cubbyhole - one of the longest standing Lesbian Bars in the country let alone the city. I have many fond memories here; the decor is as delightfully queer as the crowd

Stonewall - The heart & home of the NYC LGBTQIA community, Obama made this bar a National Landmark as it is the birthplace of the Stonewall Riots of ‘69 - when the Gay Liberation Movement truly took off. History aside, it’s a killer 2 floor bar and dance floor with performances, pool, and themed events.

Big Gay Ice Cream - self explanatory, frozen treats for all!

Marie’s Crisis - a gay spot known for their piano bar. Let out your inner Mimi or Fantine with pretty theatre boys by your side

Buvette - Ok this one isn’t for only the Girls, Gays & Theys. Quaint indoor/outdoor French brunch spot

TRIBECA

Regal Battery Park Cinema - large cushy reclining seats, big screens, and across from Brookfield Place

Square Diner - used to be less expensive but I think folks took advantage and sat around all day just drinking coffee, so now they have minimums BUT it’s an amazing diner that feels like you’re inside a train car. It’s way less crowded than the midtown diners…there aren’t many of these old school gems left in the city

Brookfield Place - It’s like a mall, but I don’t go here for shopping at the designer stores often. I come here for FOOD before a film at Regal. They have an extensive food court upstairs with local favs like Chop’t, Dos Toros, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Dig, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, and Parm

American Cut - Ok this is fancy but deserves a shout out: it’s my FAV steak house in all of NYC. Smith and Wollensky is great too, Peter Luger is over-rated, Keen & STK try too hard.. This is THE best overall value. If you love filet mignon and sides, amazing wait staff and delish drinks - have a date here.

stay tuned for more …

STAY TUNED for these hoods too:

Upper East Side

Upper West Side

Murray Hill

Wall St & Seaport