Uptown Eats - Welcome to Morningside Heights!

Morningside Heights spans the area from 110th to 125th Street, from the east end of Morningside Park to the Hudson River. The 1 train stops on Broadway at 110th, 116th and 125th Streets. The neighborhood is anchored by its schools and institutions. The Columbia campus runs from 114th to 121st Street between Broadway to Amsterdam Avenue; Barnard College sits just to the west across Broadway. Besides Columbia and Barnard, Morningside Heights is home to the Union Theological Seminary, the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Manhattan School of Music.

Once touted as a neighborhood that offered predominantly “student special” cuisine (think $2 pizza and "the spicy special" from 109 Deli) or casual diners (like Tom’s Restaurant, whose facade was used in “Seinfeld” and is still diligently photographed by tourists) the area has changed over the past decade as more and more non-collegiate residents and young families have ventured north in search lower price tags on rentals and sales.

The area is now home to countless wonderful dining options - our top five picks are highlighted on the map below. See more from Thrillist here…. and next weekend, take a trip uptown and try one of these places out for yourself! Afterward, take a stroll in Riverside Park, and enjoy the beginning of fall with a little college town in the city.

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Explore DUMBO & Vinegar Hill

DUMBO, and it's less heavily trafficked neighbor to the east, Vinegar Hill, have become increasingly popular destinations over the past few years. They offer numerous foodie hot spots, boutique shopping, and a hip yet laid back bar scene. Some of my favorites spots and events are below - if you haven't been the neighborhood, recently, stop by and check a few of them out during the final month of summer!

SHOP: Front General Store (147 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn

Open less than two years, Front General Store is still Brooklyn’s best kept secret in vintage fashion – but not for long! Founded by Hideya Sagawa (Formerly of What Goes Around Comes Around), Hiro Yonekawa, and Nishiyama Ikutaka, from the front FGS is a seemingly ordinary and quaint shop situated right under the Manhattan Bridge in Dumbo.

The trio curates a selection of affordable vintage along with new home goods and accessories to an eclectic yet increasingly celebrity studded crowd. Upon entering the store, visitors are immediately greeted by ceramic and metal dishes, plant pots and mason jars filled with succulents, stacks of Pendleton blankets and aromatic candles. Prices are not steep by any means, with the most expensive items being around $3,500 to $4,000 for designer vintage outerwear from the 1920s and ’30s.

DINE: River Cafe (1 Water Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn)

A DUMBO classic, River Café is sometimes overlooked amidst the flurry of new restaurants in the neighborhood, but if you have never been, stop in this summer for a stellar meal and panoramic views of NYC. After taking a hit during Hurricane Sandy, the restaurant, which sits on the East River barge, has been restored to its former glory.

Order the oysters, gnocchi, and branzino - which is crusted with baby shrimp and chorizo, to die for! Then grab a glass of wine and sit back to take in the view on the next warm weekend night this August.

EXPLORE: First Thursday DUMBO Gallery Walk (Varies monthly)

On the first Thursday of each month‚ the galleries of DUMBO stay open late and host special events and receptions. Neighborhood restaurants and bars also offer specials for First Thursday patrons. This coming month, August 3 promises a number of interesting events.

First, there is a pop up show at 68 Jay Street Bar, curated by long-time DUMBO resident and artist Steve West. Next, stop by Usagi to see the sculptural results of two months of on-site work by artist Shu Ohno. Under the Archway, there’s a free concert by Ghost Train Orchestra, and, projected onto the Manhattan Bridge, Light Year will present “Brooklyn Based,” a “best of” selection of videos by Brooklyn-based artists previously exhibited in Light Year. All of the neighborhood galleries will stay open until 8pm – plenty of time to scope out new art. While you’re there, make sure to stop by Blanc and Rouge for their weekly wine tasting too - don't worry, you can stay out a little late on a school night!

DRINK: Gran Electra (5 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn)

One part hip yet laid back bar scene, one part upscale Mexican inspired dining, The Gran Electra in DUMBO is the perfect spot for an after-work drink or late night dinner on hot summer evenings. Well worth the quick trip across the river, The Gran Electra has a playful and old-timey space that includes open backyard seating during the warmer months.

From the team behind Brooklyn Height's Colonie, the restaurant first opened their doors in 2012 and offer a constantly changing lineup of creative cocktails & small plates that will keep you sipping & snacking all night. Try the Margarita de Toronja Picante, which combines habanero-infused tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, and homemade jalapeño syrup, and the Quesadilla de Choizo Con Papas (with house made chorizo!)

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Austin -> Downtown BK: The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Four years after first trying to enter the New York City market, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, an Austin, TX based chain known for dine-in theaters with creative programming has finally opened its first multiplex in Downtown Brooklyn! Alamo offers reserved seating and wait service during the film, with amazing burgers, Oddfellows ice cream, craft beer, and, of course, cocktails. The theater also has a separate cocktail bar called House of Wax.

I am incredibly excited to have the Alamo in the neighborhood – I grew up in Texas and after attending Yale undergrad, I was an Austin resident during my three years at UT Austin School of Law. I have enjoyed many a meal and movie at the Alamo Austin, and highly recommend making the trip to the new BK theater even if you don’t live in our fair borough!

Alamo Drafthouse shows indie films, blockbusters, and even some older films. It has been steadily expanding nationwide since opening its first theater in 1997, and while it has operated in Yonkers for three years, its previous efforts to open in New York City faced setbacks. In 2012, it announced plans to convert a long-dormant theater on the Upper West Side, but those plans were scrapped in 2013. Alamo’s new home in Brooklyn is part of City Point, a 1.8 million square foot mixed use residential-retail complex that is the neighborhood’s largest retail development to date.

City Point represents a huge milestone for Downtown Brooklyn, which has emerged as a major hub for business, creativity, and residential development over the last decade. City Point’s other anchor tenants also include Century 21, Target, and a new Trader Joe’s that is slated to open in Fall 2017.

If you haven’t been in the neighborhood recently, make the time to explore the new Downtown Brooklyn this Spring – my other recommendations include Grand Army Bar which offers an amazing oyster happy hour on weeknights and the DeKalb Market Hall, a 35,000-square-foot foodie heaven that offers a diverse collection local food outposts – including the iconic Katz’s Delicatessen’s first venture beyond its original location!

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