One Hit Wonders: Specialty Restaurants of NYC

New York

One Hit Wonders: Specialty Restaurants of NYC

Apparently, the "Do one thing, and do it well" maxim is in the water at New York restaurants, as can be seen from all the outcroppings of focused, sometimes gimmicky venues, such as S'mac (mac & cheese!), Totally Baked (baked potatoes!), and Rice to Riches (rice pudding!). These and other places hone in on one food concept and run wild with it. Maybe it's the feasibility of having a more streamlined menu, or a desire to diversify in a sea of cookie cutter restaurants, but underneath it all lies simple food: macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and pommes frites, to name a few. But since this is New York, why not kick it up a notch? One Hazelnut Chocolate Bear Hug Rice Pudding with Toasted Buttery Pound Cake coming right up! After the jump, your guide to some one hit wonders worth visiting more than once.

Bar Fry

50 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014

Barf, I mean, Bar Fry, has been on deathwatch over at Eater for a few months, but it continues to serve its mostly fried menu to willing-and-able… patrons. Although the concept sounds gross, the results can be tasty: crab cake po' boys, crispy sweet shrimp, and tempura galore. [link]

N 40° 43.47819 W 74° 0.12936

Dumpling Man

100 St. Marks Place, New York, NY 10009

I'm well aware that numerous dumpling joints exist, but I'm particularly partial to the apt name, as well as the logo's anthropomorphized dumpling (it's adorable!). The menu is simple and cheap, with a choice between… pork, chicken, veggie, and shrimp, and the take-out only service is fairly quick. [link]

N 40° 43.38824 W 73° 59.5974

Peanut Butter and Co.

240 Sullivan Street, New York, NY 10184

With a Peanut Butter & Jelly of the Week, and concoctions like The Elvis (grilled PB sandwich with banana and honey) and The Heat Is On (spicy PB with grilled chicken and pineapple jam), how can you not love… this place? Sorry, peanut allergy peeps, I don't know what to tell you! [link]

N 40° 43.47421 W 73° 59.58461

Rice to Riches

37 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012

Rice pudding is one of those love-it-or-hate-it food items, and for most of my life, I was reluctant to partake. Then I bought my dad a gift card here to satisfy his rice pudding love, and I was taken along for… the ride. The result? Better late than never. [link]

N 40° 43.18417 W 73° 59.44921

S'mac

345 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003

Am I wrong for thinking the mac & cheeses here are a wee bit too greasy? In general, I like the grub and the experience of eating comfort food out of a small skillet, but the claustrophobic atmosphere can be… a bit much. [link]

N 40° 43.50099 W 73° 59.5397

Supermac

348 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10001

Can two mac & cheese places survive on the same island? Time will tell, but for now, if you're stuck in the hell known as Herald Square and/or the Fashion District, cheesy gluttonous food is right around the… corner. [link]

N 40° 44.53092 W 73° 59.34017

Totally Baked

8 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011

Baked potato bar day always held so much promise in my matriculation years, but Cheslea's brand-spankin'-new Totally Baked will probably outshine any processed-cheddar and spoiled sour cream-covered spud I've ever… tasted. Rumor has it that there's also Sweet Potato Heath Bar Crunch Gelato here. Mmm. [link]

N 40° 44.18897 W 73° 59.31353

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