Hell’s Kitchen Local

We order pies from The Little Pie Company for every major holiday, especially Thanksgiving. It is at the heart of our family’s celebratory traditions. This last year we lost my mother-in-law and having that tradition of the pies from The Little Pie Company to honor her on her favorite holiday was so key for our family.

I’ve spent many sunny mornings cheering on my son Ben from the sidelines of Dewitt Clinton Park as he played little league. This is a fleeting period in our life as a family and I know I will miss it enormously once it’s passed.

On the other hand, my husband is Italian and has a high standard for Italian food. Norma has it. With a wonderful variety of dishes and pastas, the real hit here is the Neopolitan pizza. My favorite is the Norma, it makes sense that both their Norma pizza and pasta hit hard. Their friendly Italian staff and great outdoor seating make this one of my favorite spots to people-watch, enjoy some great high quality food and relax.

This is our Sunday ritual. My boyfriend and I go almost every Sunday — it’s our favorite way to end the weekend with a movie. Even when family or friends are visiting from out of town, we always bring them here. It’s a must. We feel very lucky to have one so close to where we live. The tacos are incredible and it’s always full of energy. It has definitely become one of our regular neighborhood traditions.

My late father loved Joe Allen and we often went there before or after theater. It’s a tradition I continue with my friends and my family today. If you know me, you know I love hamburgers, and Joe Allen has a stellar burger. The whole vibe is just old-school New York, and I love it.

Hells Kitchen Pilates makes me happy because it’s more than just a place to train — it’s where I’m building a new pilates community. I’m meeting friends who are also my neighbors, and I’ve found the perfect space to focus on my body and practice what I love. I actually discovered it by chance one day while walking through the neighborhood. I decided to take a different street than usual and saw Nadya, one of the owners, with her beautiful dog Lucky, cleaning a new space that said “Pilates.” I asked her about it and told her I would love to work there — and now I get to be part of this amazing community every day.

I love Westville’s vast array of market vegetables, and I get to have my staples — sautéed mushrooms, roasted beets with goat cheese and walnuts, but then I splurge on garlic mashed potatoes and other treats. Veggies are so yummy, but sometimes in NYC, we don’t take the preparation time we need to have delicious veggies. They also have the BEST gluten-free carrot cake I’ve ever had — dense in the batter and fluffy in the frosting. I love how diverse the menu is too. When I took my niece there she had a hot dog and fries and I had the market plate. The staff really cares that you’re happy. The food is affordable, plentiful, and it’s fun. I also like getting credit for each meal. I’m a thriftista.

Peter, my favorite guy, gives the most relaxing foot and leg massages.

I am a beer-on-tap drinker. Rudy’s is wallet-friendly, unpretentious and welcoming to everyone. No attitude, no judgement. Easy to strike up a conversation. Rumored to have been a speakeasy. One of New York’s first liquor licenses. And the pig in front is iconic!

This Korean Vegan restaurant and cafe is my go-to for yummy vegan breakfast, delectable matcha and cocktails with special ingredients like homemade candied ginger, my favorite. Mi-Young Yu, the owner, is an incredibly inspiring woman and entrepreneur who is also quite funny. She makes you feel like you’re a guest in her home and it’s very comfy, yummy and fun.