If you’re looking for a new neighborhood to explore and you’re tired of the city, head to Brooklyn and go to Park Slope! Pretty much every train will take you there, the F, B, Q, M, and the R. Once you’re there, just walk up 5th or 7th Avenue and every restaurant, cafe, or bar you walk into will be amazing. My favorite restaurant is Al Di La, but besides Italian, you’ll find Spanish, Asian, American and everything else that you’re craving. Admire all of the brownstones and enjoy the warm weather in the meantime. Happy Summer!

Google Map Park Slope

Head to Burgers & Cupcakes on 9th avenue and get everything you’re craving. While the burgers are good, the cupcakes are even better. Go for the large sized cupcake, you might have to share it though because these are hefty cupcakes. My favorite is the chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, it’s so moist, rich and perfect. You’ll make the trip to the west side just for this cupcake. Other flavors include your traditional buttercream, peanut butter and chocolate ganache, red velvet, berry, mint chocolate chip, and carrot with coconut. Go to Burgers & Cupcakes and see the combination that you have been living without.

Burgers & Cupcakes

Google Map Burgers & Cupcakes

In the Theater District of New York, it’s hard to find a place that isn’t flooded by tourists and isn’t overpriced. Head to Ichimasa and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you’ll find. Located on 50th street, this Japanese restaurant is the real deal with Japanese sushi chefs making your sushi and you’ll be eating amongst other Japanese as this is a popular place. The sushi is super fresh and is better than most sushi places you’ll stumble upon in the city. Their spicy salmon isn’t a roll of mush, but rather a real piece of salmon paired with a spicy sauce that is both tangy and packed with flavor, something they must have created with their own spices. Ichimasa has a cozy environment and is very intimate, just like a real Japanese restaurant should be. So before or after your show, go to Ichimasa and taste what sushi should taste like.

Ichimasa

Google Map Ichimasa

Barking Dog welcomes both people and dogs, the perfect place to enjoy a brunch on this snowy day. Equipped with watering fountains outside for your dog and filled with pictures of dogs inside, Barking Dog brings you comfort food that makes you feel good. Barking Dog serves up classic American food and has everything that you want. For brunch, get an omelet, waffles, a sandwich, or whatever else you’re craving all at a great price. With a full bar, you can thoroughly enjoy yourself, but be warned, this place does get crowded and there might be a wait for a table. In the summer, sit outside and bask in the sun with your dog by your side. Even order some treats for your dog and it will become both of your favorite places to go. Barking Dog does do lunch and dinner as well if you’re in the mood for some dog loving during the week. With a few places located all around the city, you’re never far from a Barking Dog.

Google Map Barking Dog Upper East Side

Google Map Barking Dog Murray Hill

Sanctuary T is where you want to go to enjoy a nice, full lunch with a couple of your friends. The Prix Fixe Lunch special is a steal and you’ll feel like you’re taking advantage of the place. It’ll cost you $19 and it includes a soup or mixed greens salad (I recommend the soup as it can be something wonderful like Turkey Chili with toasted bread on the side), a entree salad or sandwich, then it ends with a dessert and tea. It’s a great deal, and it’ll make you’re day, top it off with a stroll around SoHo where you can browse all the shops. For your main entree, I recommend the Steak Salad that comes with roasted tomatoes, feta cheese, and two huge onion rings on top of mixed baby greens. It’s very filling and it turns an ordinary lunch into a very satisfying one. Sanctuary T saves the best for last, tea and dessert. Choose from one of many of their dessert options from a pomegranate cheesecake to a chocolate cake with ice cream to a crepe, all paired with tea that accentuates the flavors of your dessert. They also do a Prix Fixe for both brunch and dinner if you choose to go at a different time. Otherwise, the tea itself that they have is worth the trip!

Sanctuary Tea

Google Map Sanctuary Tea