For those of you who work in Midtown/Times Square area, this is the perfect afterwork lounge located on 8th Avenue between 47th and 48th Street, 5 minutes away from Blockheads. Latitude has 3 stories as well as a roof deck, perfect for the summer time. They don’t have the longest happy hour (3:00-8:00pm); however, there’s a great ambiance and other than Blockheads you can’t beat Margarita’s for $3.50, Beer for $3.75, and Cosmos and Martini’s for $4.50 .
Oh the dreaded word, Cafeteria! When we hear it we all cringe at the thought of stale pizza and silver pans with questionable steamy substances. Well, no need to worry here. While in Chelsea, stop by Cafeteria, you can revisit memory lane in style. Cafeteria offers the perfect mélange of simple comfort food and fine dining all under the price of $20. Oh, how can I forget they’re open 24/7. Stay fab!
If you’ve just come from a workout or you’re plain hungry it’s hard to resist Shake Shack’s burgers with their special shack sauce or any of their frozen custards! I ordered the Black and White hand spun shake and I passed out on the ride home… But I digress, Shake Shack embodies the quotidian American experience in the beautiful setting of Madison Square Park with a Go Green attitude (promising to lessen our ecological footprint). Along with their Eco-friendly attitude, they remember that the customer always comes first, which is why they have a Shack Cam on their website that allows you to check the line before you make the journey down or uptown. Last but not least, for you animal lovers, they also have a special treat for pets, the Pooch-Ini (Vanilla Custard, Peanut Butter, and Dog Biscuit). I’m a little confused about this option on the menu but you can check it out yourself. Now, I just want you all to know that the burgers/hotdogs are not served with fries you have to order them separately. Nonetheless, for about $8-$10 I definitely recommend that you make that trip! Stay fab!
Pipa is one of many great Tapas Bars in the city located in the Flatiron District. However, this bar is unique in that it doubles as a furniture store…ABC Carpet & Home. Enjoy their Crispy Calamari and Mini Chorizo in a dining room adorned with chandeliers, tapestries, and tables all price tagged and ready for sale. Plates range from $14 to $23 and tapas are between $5 to $15. They also make delicious Sangria’s, a glass is $10 and a pitcher is $32.
I know Sushi is an icky subject with a lot of us; however, Iron Sushi boasts great raw and cooked entrees. They have two locations in Midtown and the Upper East Side. Most plates here range from $10-$15, there are only a few entrees that will hit that $20 cut off. The food is safe and fresh, trust me, I know no one wants to deal with food poisoning. I highly recommend the rock shrimp. Try them out, let me know whether it’s a thumbs up or down. Stay fabulous!
Mama Mexico is another great Mexican restaurant with not only locations uptown, downtown, and jersey but also delivery service! Here’s the catch it’s a little bit more pricey than some of the locations I’ve listed thus far. I would say around $15-$20 a plate depending on the time of day. However, its a very animated atmosphere with a live Mariachi band! Also, they’ve recently started a happy hour Monday-Friday 4-7pm, Thursdays only 7pm-9pm, and ladies drinks are 1/2 price at the bar.
Looking for some good ol’ southern food to feed the soul, The Pink Tea Cup is nice cozy little spot in the heart of the Village. Not only are you guaranteed a hearty meal under $10-$15 but also possible celebrity sitings for anyone who cares. The last time I dined there I “bumped” into Eva Pigford! Might I add, there slice of Apple Pie for $3 is excellent! Like my girl Eva Diva, stay fab!
If I’m looking for a nice after work location or it’s just a regular Saturday afternoon, Blockheads is the place for me! They offer some of healthiest and tastiest Mexican food and here’s the kicker…$3 margaritas. They have locations all over Manhattan but my absolute favorite has to be 50th and 8th with their great outdoor dining area. Stop by and let me know what you think! Until then stay fabulous!
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