Jalen Brunson became the talk of the 2022 offseason when the Dallas Mavericks let him walk away to the New York Knicks for nothing. For the Knicks, Brunson became an instant fan favorite as he led the Knicks to the postseason.
Since Brunson landed in New York, he has had to ask himself one important question: what are the best restaurants to eat at in New York City? This isn’t as easy of a question as one might think.
Like how New York is the mecca of basketball, it is also the mecca of fine dining, as there’s no shortage of food spots in The Big Apple. Brunson has found his favorite spots, and without further ado, we’ll dive into which restaurants in NYC are Brunson’s favorites to eat at.
5. Sugarfish
We’ll start this list off with an incredible sushi restaurant named Sugarfish. This place has it all, great sushi and great drinks like beer, wine, and sake. This is a favorite place for Brunson, as he mentioned in the past.
“This one’s easy! Sushi is one of my favorites, and after a long game, going to Sugarfish requires less figuring out what to get than an opposing team’s defense,” Brunson said. “The ‘Don’t Think. Just Eat. Trust Me’ is the easy choice!”
Brunson loves how Sugarfish has an easy choice of food for him, and this is one of his go-to restaurants after battling in an NBA game. If you live in the New York area and love sushi, then you should definitely listen to Brunson and check out Sugarfish.
4. Carbone
The next go-to dining spot of the Knicks’ star guard is Carbone. This is an Italian-American restaurant that, according to the restaurant, “pays homage to the essence of the great Italian-American restaurants of mid-20th century in New York.”
Carbone is a restaurant that out-of-towners enjoy dining in, and it’s great for NBA stars like Brunson. He spoke about what he likes about eating at Carbone, especially after netting a win at Madison Square Garden.
“After a big win in the Garden, there’s nothing better than a big family meal at Carbone,” Brunson explained. “Yellowtail special to start, scratch that: bread basket to start. The classic spicy rigatoni is a must and then throw some lobster ravioli in and you have a potent one-two punch. Can never choose between the dover piccata or bass Allison, but they’re both winners in my book.”
Who doesn’t like some fine Italian food? And Carbone is also great for large parties to come enjoy their food, as they can accommodate groups of up to 80 guests seated or even up to 100 guests for a cocktail-style reception, which is where guests can try multiple appetizers and food stations throughout the time they are there.
This is perfect for Brunson, who undoubtedly travels with his own large entourage. If this place works for an NBA star, then you have to ask yourself, ‘What am I waiting for?’
3. Quality Italian
If you live in or visit New York City, then you know you can’t have just one Italian restaurant as your favorite. Brunson is no different, as he also enjoys dining at the famed New York restaurant Quality Italian.
“Little known fact: I went here after my first home game in New York, so of course it has to stay in the rotation,” Brunson said. “The housemade ricotta and yellow tail crudo to start are easy choices. The world-famous chicken parm pizza is a must and enough for the whole table. Can’t miss the corn crème brûlée which doubles as a dessert for me! If you’re going uptown then Quality Italian is a must.”
Brunson’s dishes of choice sound awfully good. There’s no wonder why he added Quality Italian to his list of favorite restaurants in New York.
The restaurant also has a rustic, industrial look to it, which brings people in, and they can hold private events. This includes holding up to 69 guests at once in their Trophy Room.
So, if you’re looking for good quality food, a great scenery, and a spot to hold large groups, look no further. Quality Italian is the place for you, and who knows, maybe you’ll see Jalen Brunson there enjoying his dinner.
2. Beauty And Essex
The name Beauty and Essex might not sound like a restaurant you’d want to eat at, or even like a restaurant name at all. It might sound more like a hair studio, but don’t let the name fool you.
Beauty and Essex is one of the best spots to find quality New American cuisine. This restaurant has it all, from seafood to Thai food, to Italian food. Oh, and it has a gift shop, too. So, yes, it really does have it all and Beauty and Essex certainly impressed Brunson.
“You can never judge a player based on their physical makeup, and the same can be said about when you arrive to Beauty and Essex after the game. After you enter through a thrift shop, every item on the menu is shareable for a true team effort,” Brunson explained. “Start with the Korean-style fish tacos and the Thai-style deep-fried shrimp to get the meal off to a great first quarter! Then comes the game-winner: the grilled cheese soup dumplings. I’m telling you not one, not two, maybe three orders of these are necessary. Finally, make sure you save some room for the doughnut Ferris wheel to win this meal!”
Beauty and Essex has a doughnut Ferris wheel. What’s more to say? If you’re ever in New York, or if you live here and somehow have never stopped in Beauty and Essex, do yourself a favor and stop on it.
Even if you just want to browse the gift store. You’ll find everything you want at Beauty and Essex. This includes the possibility of seeing the Knicks star guard.
1. Catch
If you think a restaurant named Catch might catch Brunson’s attention, then you’d be correct. Catch is a seafood and steak restaurant with a view that you won’t want to miss.
On top of its beautiful interior design, the restaurant also has roof seating to enjoy the view of The Big Apple. Roof seating is by request only, just a tip if you chose to dine here.
For Brunson, Catch is a restaurant he started to visit as a rookie in the league when he was a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Of course, now as a member of the Knicks, this is a favorite spot for Brunson.
“Ever since my rookie year, a trip to NY or LA required a trip to Catch and now it’s become a staple ever since I moved to New York,” Brunson said. “Rushing out of MSG after a win to get to Catch is always worth it. Sushi is my favorite food and orders of the Catch roll and Hellfire rolls are both ordered immediately. Cannot miss the truffle sashimi which always requires multiple orders throughout the meal. The crispy shrimp and chicken bao buns round out the opening course hit list.”
Obviously, Brunson loves to eat at Catch, and if you’re in NYC, you should definitely check it out. Maybe you’d get a chance to meet the Knicks player while dining on some delicious food.
So, there you have it, Jalen Brunson’s top 5 favorite restaurants to eat in New York City. What’s your opinion on Brunson’s picks? Were there any restaurants that you have already eaten at?
If you haven’t, did any sound so good that you’d want to take a trip there, even if you don’t live in New York? Either way, if you live in New York and haven’t tried one of these restaurants, or if you’re planning on visiting The Big Apple, you now have a list of five restaurants you can choose to eat at.
And as a consolation prize, you might have the chance to meet Jalen Brunson. This sounds like a win-win situation to me.
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