Guide local pour manger et boire sur Amsterdam Avenue
Publié 08/16/2021
Il y a beaucoup de bars et de restaurants à essayer le long de l’animation de quatre rues d’Amsterdam Avenue à Morningside Heights, entre la 106e et la 110e rue. À seulement trois pâtés de maisons des confins nord de Central Park, ces établissements servent une communauté diversifiée de touristes, de résidents de longue date du Upper West Side, de jeunes professionnels, d’étudiants de Columbia et de familles d’immigrants de facultés et multigénérationnelles du monde entier.
La plupart sont des lieux locaux dont les propriétaires exploitent un ou deux autres lieux locaux, proposant une cuisine de bar et une cuisine internationale dignes d’un marché de rue. Nombreux sont ceux qui continuent à proposer des sièges en plein air dans le cadre de l’initiative Open Streets de New York, alors installez-vous confortablement et faites-vous plaisir.
1
Nobody Told Me
1
951 Amsterdam Ave.
It would be a shame if no one told you about Nobody Told Me. This somewhat-recent addition to the neighborhood (they opened in 2019) offers a variety of comfort food and healthful small plates, including their fried chicken sandwich, avocado toast and crunchy salad of fresh chicory greens. There’s also an excellent selection of wines by the glass, beer and cocktails, all of which are even more tempting during happy hour (3–6pm weekdays).
2
Awash
2
947 Amsterdam Ave.
Two doors down from Nobody Told Me, Awash serves Ethiopian food in a softly lit, open space that has been operating for more than a quarter century. Consistently filling portions are offered here at reasonable prices. Vegetarian options are on the menu alongside kitfo, Ethiopia’s famous version of steak tartare. It all comes served on warm injera bread.
3
Tropical Sensation
3
953 Amsterdam Ave.
Tropical Sensation is a haunt for the neighborhood’s vast Latino population. Here you can expect hearty sancocho (traditional Latin American stew), Latin music and seafood. The service is friendly and the outdoor scene is lively.
4
Lion's Head Tavern
4
995 Amsterdam Ave.
Head one block north to the southeast corner of 109th and Amsterdam for lunch or late-night bites at the Lion’s Head Tavern, a sports bar and dive. Here, classic bar food reigns supreme, with orders of wings practically flying out of the kitchen and onto tables.
5
Dive 106
5
938 Amsterdam Ave.
Head south a few blocks and across Amsterdam, and you’ll probably run into a few fellow bar hoppers at this local joint. Dive 106 may appear slightly more polished than Lion’s Head, but it’s as low key as they come. While the ownership and name of this spot has morphed more than once over the years, its essential character and flowing beer taps remain.
6
Bánh Vietnamese Shop House
6
942 Amsterdam Ave.
This recently opened BYOB pho spot is a culinary standout on the block, and with their addition of outdoor dining, you’re more likely than ever to get a table. Bánh serves the flavorful noodle dish in a handful of varieties, including chicken and vegetarian. The small menu is rich with delicacies not often found north or south of Canal Street, such as banh chung chien rice cake, a sticky, crispy rice cake with mung beans and ground pork. But the best surprises are the weekend specials, which might include a combo of crispy, spicy chicken wings and tender smoked chicken feet.
7
Thai Market
7
960 Amsterdam Ave.
Amble north and step across West 107th Street to Thai Market, which serves exceptional homestyle Thai cuisine that blows its competition out of the water. Standards like pad thai or massaman curry are flawlessly executed, and the daily specials are often knockouts, like Norwegian salmon in a light curry sauce over jasmine rice with fresh sautéed spinach or a fiery green mango salad with strips of crisp-fried salmon skin. Thai beer, wines by the glass and some tangy Asian-inspired cocktails are also available. Thai Market has a spacious, well-lit interior and sidewalk seating.
8
Taqueria y Fonda La Mexicana
8
968 Amsterdam Ave.
Less than half a block north of Thai Market is this bite-sized Mexican diner. The cook is always stationed in the front behind a sizzling grill, whipping up tacos and burritos, steaks and shrimp or hefty Mexican breakfasts. The house-made chips here are not to be missed, and all three accompanying salsas will delight your taste buds, though a couple of them will also make you reach quickly for your water. The service is friendly and the jukebox catalog has decades of Mexican pop music—crooners included.
9
Amity Hall
9
982 Amsterdam Ave.
This rowdy late-night spot has two bars and multiple large-screen TVs for broadcasting sports. The atmosphere is just as lively during brunch on Saturday and Sunday, when “bottomless” mimosa taps are brought out to the tables.
10
Bombay Frankie Roti Roll and Suite
10
992 Amsterdam Ave.
On the northwest corner of 109th and Amsterdam, Suite, a welcoming gay bar, is connected to an Indian roti shop, Bombay Frankie Roti Roll. This fresh, flavorful Bombay street food dish comes filled with lamb or chicken and lots of spices. There are plenty of vegetarian options too, including eggplant and chana or aloo gobi. The chicken lollipop—fried wings lightly dusted with fragrant Indian spices—are very difficult to put down.
Once you’re full on roti, head through the side door into the divey Suite and grab a beer from the friendly bartender. Stick around for karaoke which occurs several nights a week.
11
The Hamilton
11
998 Amsterdam Ave.
A more sedate drinking hangout is just up the block: the Hamilton is a compact, 32-seat whiskey bar with an amazing selection of scotch, bourbon and rye that the amicable bartender will shake or stir into a delicious cocktail. It’s a friendly retreat from the often pumped-up neighborhood scene just outside, and a great place to start or wind down your evening.
12
Silver Moon Bakery
12
2740 Broadway
Satisfy your sweet tooth with an éclair, fresh chocolate croissant, delicate macaron or fruit tart at Silver Moon Bakery. Any of these would pair well with their lattes (iced and hot) and some people-watching outside. Before you leave, buy a fresh loaf of bread—like a fig and pepper baguette.
13
Tartina
13
1034 Amsterdam Ave.
For fine dining, venture just outside of our four-block boundary to the southwest corner of 111th Street and Amsterdam. That’s where you will find Tartina, a sophisticated Italian spot where you can get delicious, even uncommon pastas like tubbettoni with swordfish, paired with great wines.
Finally, if it’s not too late, you need to stretch your legs and you aren’t too full to walk, don’t forget that Central Park is just three blocks to the east and Riverside Park just two blocks west.