Forget Thanksgiving. Forget the Super Bowl. If there’s one day when you have a pass to let it rip, as an American, European, Canadian or citizen of the world, it’s Election Day in the US. Order the pizza. Order the cheese fries. Order the burger. Heck, order it all — Postmates, Caviar, DoorDash can all take turns delivering to you on November 3. If you’re in NYC, these are our top spots to order comfort food.
The Spot: Shake Shack
The Dish: ’Shroom Burger and Cheese Fries
We all have our vices. There’s a reason that, on any given day, the line to get into Shake Shack wraps around the corner — quite simply, they have the best quality “fast food.” We’re not saying this is healthy. A burger and cheese fries are only relatively filling and essentially get you to a full day’s worth of recommended calorie consumption, but totally worth it as a splurge meal. We especially love the ’shroom burger, which is a deep-fried portobello mushroom stuffed with melted cheddar and muenster. A burger can’t be eaten without fries, so order their crinkle-cut fries topped with American cheese, which we know the rest of the world doesn’t consider real cheese, but it’s Election Day and it’s so darned good. Portions are rich though modest enough, so order one of the frozen custards for dessert, just in case.
The Spot: Nobu
The Dish: King Crab Tempura
We know these are fighting words, but the rock shrimp tempura, for all its fame and glory in the Nobu chain, is not the best tempura on the menu. It’s the king crab that is the sleeper. And in Nobu style, it’s decadent but actually not that bad for you, as the tempura is light, like Japanese tempura is meant to be, and unlike its cousin the rock shrimp, you don’t have that caloric mayo-based spicy sauce. Instead, the king crab tempura is in a ponzu sauce and finished with cilantro and jalapeño.
The Spot: Quality Eats
The Dish: Corn Crème Brûlée
This is one of those menu items you know is going to be good, far before you crack the brûlée crust and find yourself in a beautiful sea of rich corn creaminess. Quality Eats is synonymous with everyday comfort food, and they get extra creative points for this unique dish that we haven’t found anywhere else in the city. It’s sweet, it’s savory, it comforting and it’s the gateway to the rest of the homey menu.
The Spot: Ed’s Lobster Bar
The Dish: Lobster Poutine
You have to love a place that is not shy about using cream. Then, they combine it with cheese, potatoes and lobster, creating lobster poutine, which is like cheesy fries covered in rich lobster bisque. You know, for when you want fancy cheese fries, which they’ve clearly made a thing at Ed’s Lobster Bar. This should be on your go-to for cold winter nights this season, beyond election evening.
The Spot: Celeste
The Dish: Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci in Burro e Salvia
This spot is off the beaten path from your trendy restaurant list, as those not in the neighborhood may have forgotten how good the Italian is at Celeste. But no matter how many Italian restaurants we frequent, we can’t find anything to match Celeste’s melt-in-your-mouth house-made spinach and cheese ravioli. Maybe it’s that pasta dough or that perfect ratio of sage, but there’s something about the dish that makes it OK that it’s served in a pure butter sauce. Order two, as portions are small.
The Spot: Cafe Fiorello
The Dish: Margherita Pizza
Anyone claiming another place has better pizza has not been to family-owned Fiorello’s, which has been around for 45 years at Lincoln Center. The dough is the thinnest and crispiest you will find around, and the toppings are perfection, all the way from the barely there slightly sweet and tangy tomato sauce to the mozzarella and burrata cheeses. This is a pie, no matter where you live, that is worth dining in for. Or if you take it out, pop it in the oven at home for a few minutes to crisp that crust right back up.Forget Thanksgiving. Forget the Super Bowl. If there’s one day when you have a pass to let it rip, as an American, European, Canadian or citizen of the world, it’s the US election day. Order the pizza. Order the cheese fries. Order the burger. Heck, order it all — Postmates, Caviar, DoorDash can all take turns delivering to you on November 3. If you’re in NYC, these are our top spots to order comfort food.
