Ali's Roti Shop

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 🇹🇹

Somehow it seems like most Trini rotis in New York are made by men named Ali? Or are they all somehow related? My guess is no, as while very tasty, Bronx's rendition is just not on the same level as Crown Heights and Bedstuy Alis.

The food is good, don't get me wrong. Solid Trini bakery. They were out of fish on my visit, so no bakes for me, but the thing that blew me away was the homemade pepper sauce (below in last picture) that will completely envelope you. It goes well with everything.

The doubles ($1.50 each, above) could have benefitted from a tamarind sauce on the side, but the pepper sauce livened them up enough. The shortbread was on par with the best of them, but the curry sauce was unfortunately weak. The doughy goodness of the aloo pie ($1.50, below) was best with the sauce though, which is perfect for the potato interior.

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WAKEFIELD Bronx

4220 White Plains Road

Map of Eat the World NYC:

Artichoke Basille's

PIZZA 🍕

10th Avenue location pictured.

There is no better slice to start with here than the artichoke slice ($5, below), as the name of the place might hint towards. Even though the slice is firm and does not bend, many bites taste as if you were sinking your teeth into a cheesy cream of artichoke soup. While that might not seem like a positive thing, I assure you I mean it in the finest way possible.

While I have cringed at a $5 slice before, I happily lay the bill down adorned by Abraham Lincoln here, knowing I will be thoroughly stuffed by the end of it.

The original location on East 14th Street is still a nice experience, queue up at most times, cramp into the tiny box and order, wait a moment, then dig in while others are doing the same in close proximity. The new 10th Avenue location avoids the crowds so far, but unfortunately does not allow you to eat inside. [UPDATE: There is now a take out section at the back of the restaurant that has some seating but still avoids table service for those on the fly.] This is a cold-weather problem only, as I will be taking my slices straight up to the High Line on warm days.

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EAST VILLAGE Manhattan
328 East 14th Street

Vanessa's Dumpling House

CHINA 🇨🇳

So it's not a hidden stall anymore, and all the cool kids of the Lower East Side are there... but it's still fantastic. So there. The new renovation does make it accessible to everyone now, especially those squeamish about how it used to take "hole-in-the-wall" literally.

It is truly a blessing from the food gods to be so full on less than $5.

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CHINATOWN Manhattan

118A Eldridge Street

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