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With three locations across Brooklyn and Manhattan, Russo’s has all things Italian American. From freshly sliced cured meats & cheeses to housemade mozzarella, and tons of prepared food items (including rotisserie chicken at the 5th avenue location in Park Slope.)
When we’re hosting friends for dinner, we always stop at Russo’s to pick up aperitivo supplies and get the night started off right.
What is there to say about the legendary grocer whose aisles have graced the screen in classics like You’ve Got Mail? Known for their coffee, babka, and smoked salmon, Zabar’s second floor is stocked with some of the best kitchen supplies money can buy.
While Russo’s has you covered on Italian-American staples, you can fill the void still left in your cupboard with the tight edit of imported Italian products. Our favorites include their perfect butter and a bag of fennel taralli crackers. While you’re here don’t forget to stop and sip on an espresso made from Hausbrandt beans (also available for purchase).
Are you looking for the hottest new brands in food? How about wonderfully curated glassware and hosting needs? Cool stuff favorite Big Night is a reliable pick when you don’t know what you want but need it to be the best – especially with locations uptown, downtown, and in Brooklyn.
This Armenian mecca of spices has been operating on Lexington Avenue since 1944 and is a staple of the city’s gourmands for a reason. Across its sprawling and meandering two floors of product you’ll find hundreds of specialty pantry ingredients you didn’t know existed – from 20 types of popcorn to an entire aisle of dried edible flowers. Given the large Indian population of the neighborhood, Kalyustyan’s is also a great place to shop for harder to find ingredients from South Asia like lime pickle or papadam.
After the building of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, many of those in the former Little Syria neighborhood displaced by the construction ended up just across the East River along Atlantic Avenue. Among them were the Sahadi family who first opened a Lebanese grocer in the city in 1895. The current iteration, which has been in Brooklyn since the 1940s, is still a destination for bulk nuts and candies, middle eastern staples, and their wonderful hot bar in the back. Recently, Sahadi’s opened a second outpost in Sunset Park’s Industry City, complete with a wine shop that carries a handful of Lebanese wines.
While there are a few players shops that stock a similar assortment of Japanese groceries and snacks (shout out to Mitsuki and Sunrise Mart) our favorite to visit is Ten Ichi for always having a great curation and delicious freshly prepared foods.
Across its two Brooklyn stores, Mercado Central offers Spanish goods from every region of the culinarily diverse country. This dedication has been recognized by the country itself and Mercado Central is an official Spanish Colmado. Shop tons of tinned seafood, cured jamon, and even beers and ciders from some of the country’s best breweries.
Our favorite part of cool friend Edy Massih’s eponymous Lebanese grocery (aside from the fun spirit that flows through the place) are the immaculate array of house-made dips and spreads. Stop in to fill your fridge and spice cabinet, and grab a sandwich to go while you’re at it…then thank us later.
For years, this Chinatown grocer has been our relative secret. While it’s located on a particularly busy block of Canal street, the entrance is a little awkward and that’s our theory as to why it isn’t as bustling as nearby Hong Kong Supermarket. If you’re looking for produce, meats, or seafood, New Kam Man is not your place…HOWEVER along three stories you’ll find an abundance of pantry ingredients, porcelain homewares, appliances, and an amazing selection of tea, incense and beauty. If you’re hungry, grab a snack from the food counter near the door on your way out.
Photo by Lukas on Google Maps
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In many ways, the increasingly popular Tashkent empire operates like any other grocery store: among its aisles you’ll find Heinz 57 and familiar brands of oat milk BUT its hot bar is truly like no other. Refilled often and always warm, you can feast on manty dumplings, kebabs, salads, and lots of pastries (both sweet and savory).
