Guy calls Black Tree “hard core” because this spot takes its farm-to-table mantra very seriously. He feasts on the Winter Pig, a cheesy pork-belly sandwich that he likens to “an enormous roast-pork dinner … in a sandwich.” Menu items change with the seasons, but all have a reputation for tastiness.
Owner Adam Gold is still serving up waffles and blasting tunes just like he did at his college parties. Guy savored the "sweet and crispy" fried chicken and waffles with hot sauce syrup and devoured the stuffing waffle with smoked turkey, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes.
Triple D meets double D — Donnie D'Alessio, the chef at Queens Comfort. Guy raves about the Down by Law sandwich packed with thin slices of smoked chicken topped with bacon jam, cheddar, chipotle sauce and lettuce. Diners also love snacking on spicy mac-and-cheese balls, aka Atomic Fireballs.
A few years ago, auto shop owner Fred Donnelly took up barbecue as a hobby. Then he started selling it from a trailer outside his Queens shop. Soon he was serving 150 lunches a day at MOgridder's BBQ. Dig into Fred's ribs and the brisket, which Guy said would ''challenge any good Texas brisket.''
When New Yorkers and Italians call it the best pizza they’ve ever had, it has to be legit. Guy digs into the pistachio and sausage pizza fresh out of the wood-fired oven imported from Naples. He also can’t get enough of the Montanara Starita, a fried pizza with a smoky flavor and fluffy crust.
A '50s diner reborn with what Guy called a "scratch cooking gone wild" style, Lake Effect Diner even cures their own ham. Try upscale versions of old classics like blueberry pancakes, or expand your palate with the Italian-style Fish and a side of mac and cheese.
Pastabilities is committed to super sauces, "baller" pizzas and a signature Central New York dish: Wicked Chicken Riggies, a spicy chicken rigatoni. If you go, Guy warns you to never, and he means never, pass up the hot tomato oil appetizer.
At 103 years old, John's of 12th Street is a hidden Italian gem in NYC. According to Guy, the Marsala wine in the tender all-veal meatballs gives them a little sweetness that pairs well with the savory marinara. Guy found the Tuscan Ragu over Homemade Pappardelle to be irresistibly delicious.
This 65-year-old Jewish establishment is one of the last kosher delis left in New York City. Guy loved the fried kreplachs, which he described as "Jewish pot stickers." The boiled chicken soup comes with kreplachs as well. He also recommends the tender and juicy stuffed cabbage rolls.
Former Chopped contestant Jeremy Spector lures locals to his spot with a scratch-made menu. The star is Sebastian’s Steakhouse Burger: a patty-cheddar-onion combo that Guy calls “dynamite.” The duck confit poutine made with hand-cut fries, cheese curds and, of course, duck confit, is also a hit.
The authentic home-style Polish comfort food and family atmosphere found at this cafe causes some to feel that they are actually in Poland. The crispy potato pancakes with gravy solicited an "Mmm" from Guy as he devoured the dish. Locals recommend the delicious pierogis and the savory kielbasa.
Join host, Guy Fieri, of Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, at Pizza Junction in North Tonawanda, NY, a 37-year-old restaurant turning sandwiches into amazing pizzas.
On Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy Fieri visits Mama's Food Shop in New York, NY, for homemade fried chicken and peach cobbler like mom used to make.
The tomatoes are San Marzano, the flour is superfine Italian, the cheese is buffalo mozzarella and the crust is, dare we say it, flawless: puffy, chewy and just a little charred.
The band of cousins who run this diner are always ready with more than 40 different types of homemade cakes, pies and bread. Guy was a fan of the focaccia bread topped with feta, onions, olives and tomatoes, but the short ribs for dinner and the brownie Sunday for dessert were Guy's favorites.
Make restaurant favorites at home with copycat recipes from FN Magazine.
Let Guy take you on a coast-to-coast tour Friday at 9|8c.