My Soho Eats: Restaurants Worth The Hype

I spent this past Memorial Day in NYC with my husband. We flew in on Saturday morning and left on Wednesday. We try to visit the city at least once a year, as it's where we got engaged. Each time we visit, we try to stay in a different neighborhood, but we always come back to Soho. It’s my favorite part of the city, with its charming buildings, great shopping, and amazing food, of course. Below, I put together a list of where we ate and what we ordered. Enjoy!

Brunch

Brunch in Soho is a must. It brings the neighborhood to life, and you definitely notice its absence during the weekdays. My food selections trend towards the healthy side for brunch, as it's usually my first meal of the day while traveling. So, you won't ever see me ordering French toast or pancakes, but I do know good eggs when I see them.

Note: I snapped only a few brunch photos because I was really hungry and forgot to take more.

Felix Bar & Restuarant

This place is a vibe! It was busy all weekend. We got there around 10:30 and were able to walk in without a reservation. I would recommend making a reservation because, a half hour later, there was a line down the block. They open all the doors, so it feels very French, like the food. Again, we were very basic with our orders, except Alex did splurge on the foie gras. I ordered the avocado toast with salmon and poached eggs, and Alex got a salad with poached eggs. Both were very good ,but the energy was even better.

Balthazar

Again, French food! Balthazar is an establishment; it opened in the late '90s and is bustling. I ordered the trout salad, which was perfect. Alex used to brunch here when he lived in Soho, so he got nostalgic and ordered his favorite dish, beef stroganoff. Spritzes and coffee, too, because why not?

Jack's Wife Freda

This place is fantastic when it comes to brunch food. The service was incredibly fast. We had reservations, but even those waiting in line were seated promptly. I ordered the kale Greek salad with a chicken skewer, while Alex chose the chicken kabob. I also ordered a side of fingerling potatoes, but the true star of the show was definitely the zucchini chips. I appreciated that the menu leaned toward healthier options, which made it difficult to choose. I would definitely eat here again.

Dinner

Dinner spots in the city are definitely my favorite. You simply can't find food like this anywhere else. It's the time when I like to indulge, and no dish is off-limits.

Blue Ribbon Sushi

Sushi spots in Soho are plentiful, but this one holds a special place in our hearts. My husband frequented this spot during his time in the city, and we always try to fit it in whenever possible. The Blue Ribbon Roll is a must-order; it's the combination of lobster and caviar that makes this roll unique and delicious. During this particular visit, they were offering a chef's selection special featuring cuts from the belly, which is typically the best part of the fish, so we ordered two. The miso soup and edamame are classics, and we also ordered some sashimi and nigiri pieces.

The Corner Store

We went all out for this dinner, starting with the caviar lobster rolls, which were bite-sized and amazing. We split the Dover sole and Wagyu French dip, both divine. Then we finished with the Samoa Sundae. I don't usually order dessert, as I'm pretty health-conscious, but it's hard for me to pass up ice cream, especially when it comes in the form of my favorite Girl Scout cookie. Let’s just say I have no regrets indulging in this dessert! Alex is really into wine, so we got a bottle of 2016 Futo Vineyards Cabernet. It was my first time trying this vineyard, and I thoroughly enjoyed it; I dare say I would order it again.

Mamo

Good Italian food in Austin is scarce, so when we travel to a place like NYC, we make an effort to satisfy our pasta cravings. Mamo was across the street from our hotel and did not disappoint. We ordered the Branzino, roasted broccoli, pappardelle with brisket, and a salad. Their complimentary bread basket and charcuterie platter held us over, so there was no need for an appetizer. All in all, it was a solid meal.

Torissi

Every bite at Torissi was beyond delicious. A friend secured us a last-minute reservation on the final night of our trip. We had planned to get pizza that night, but we couldn't pass this up. We started with a complimentary bread basket paired with oregano butter; I can only say I will be trying to replicate this butter at home. We ordered the oysters, followed by dressed endives. For our main courses, we split the truffle tortellini and duck à la mulberry. I’ve had many truffle tortellini in my day, and this one takes the cake. The duck breast was similar to Peking duck in terms of the crispness of the skin, but the flavor was very French—so buttery and exquisite. Torissi was my favorite dinner of all the places we visited. We paired our meal with a 2021 Tignanello from Antinori.

New York is filled with amazing food spots, and you really can't go wrong choosing at random. However, if possible, try to add at least one of these to your list—I promise none of them will disappoint.