Eating In Translation

What's Eating In Translation?

This website began as a collection of field notes on interesting food I'd tried, or planned to try, in and around New York. Since its launch, in January 2005, I've visited thousands of venues, from white-linen restaurants to elbows-on-the-table eateries, as well as street vendors, fairs, festivals, grocers, and greenmarkets — and my "to eat" list is longer than ever.

Santa Fe

"For service: Please ring door bell with your knee. Thanks!" A recent hands-free protocol at one of many Upper West Side venues "now delivering food & booze," albeit during limited hours.

Santa Fe
73 West 71st St. (Columbus Ave.-Central Park West), Manhattan
212-724-0822
www.SantaFe71.com

Sweet Mama's Soul Food Restaurant and Salad Bar

Candied yams, cabbage, and string beans, enjoyed on a recent sunny day at one of the (many unoccupied) chess tables in Col. Charles Young Playground, across the avenue.

Sweet Mama's Soul Food Restaurant and Salad Bar
689 Lenox Ave. (144th-145th Sts.), Manhattan
212-939-9383
www.Facebook.com/SweetMamaSoulFood

The Hungarian Pastry Shop

An apricot hamentash from the Hungarian, longtime oasis of bottomless coffee just south of Columbia and Barnard. Since mid-March the cafe has operated only for takeout, with limited hours (and limited pastries); it goes on hiatus sometime this weekend.

The Hungarian Pastry Shop
1030 Amsterdam Ave. (110th-111th Sts.), Manhattan
212-866-4230
www.Facebook.com/HungarianPastryShopNYC

Lee Lee's Baked Goods

One is a rugele, two or more are rugelach, and a half-dozen might only leave you hungrier for more. A recent walk to Lee Lee's turned up three varieties (on the bottom shelf, left to right): raspberry, chocolate, and — my choice, also shown in biteaway view — apricot.

Lee Lee's Baked Goods
283 West 118th St. (near Frederick Douglass Blvd.), Manhattan
917-493-6633
www.LeeLeesRugelach.com

There is always more space for coffee ...

... our coffee is out of this world
Hand-drawn signboard (Athena Michaelides, 2020)
Double Dutch Espresso
2194 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (West 118th-West 119th Sts.), Manhattan
646-429-8834
www.DoubleDutch Espresso.com