If you find yourself in NYC this month, having booked seats for the Alex Eala matches at the US Open in Flushing Meadows, here are some helpful hints on where to head to for great dining, museum time, brunch, desserts, and the Manhattan breakfast institution that are bagels! This follows my Part 1, which was published on Aug. 7, 2026.

And as in Part 1, I’ve loosely categorized this listing under Dining, then Culture and Museums, brunch and casual dining, and desserts. Broadway show recos can be found in Part 1.

Balthazar has been THE institution for SoHo dining since 1997. Located on Spring Street, between Broadway and Crosby, it’s essentially a brasserie from Paris transplanted to SoHo. Still restaurateur Keith McNally’s crowning glory, and people swear by their steak frites. While there are several desserts worth trying, a special mention for the Sticky Toffee Pudding, with caramel sauce and Grand Marnier Fig Leaf ice cream, tops in my books!

Revelie Luncheonette on Prince St., SoHo, sits right across from its sister resto Raoul’s, which is known for its terrific steak au poivre. As Raoul’s is only open for dinner, we hit Revelie one afternoon for what turned out to be the best French dip of this trip. Its Wagyu beef with comté, caramelized onion, horseradish dill, and jus on a baguette. Try this, and tell me it isn’t French dip heaven.

Chada NYC, at 260 6th Avenue, between W. Houston St. and Bleecker, was our foray into Thai cuisine on this trip. Order the Steamed Branzino, butterfly fillet branzino with cabbage, cilantro, garlic, chili in lime broth. The lime broth was to die for, the branzino was expertly deboned, and along with simple steamed rice, was a stupendous light dinner. There’s a cool party vibe to Chada as night descends, but it’s really about the dynamic take on Thai dishes.

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) takes up an entire block on the Upper West Side. If taking a car ride, head to Central Park West and 77th St. The last time I visited this museum would have been in the 1990s, and it was great to see how it had held up, and how there were so many visitors. You still can’t beat the life-size dinosaur fossils on display, the suspended 94-foot blue whale, and the Gallery of Gems.

The Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium opened in 2023, and is a terrific appendage to the museum. There are up to 80 species of live butterflies, homed in a lush 80 degrees Fahrenheit environment. The Vivarium is part of the Gilder Center, found on the Columbus Ave. side of the AMNH.

Brookfield Place on Battery Park, 230 Vesey St., is a waterfront office complex, with shopping and dining. I was attracted to drop by this ‘mall’ as it has a great view of the Hudson River and New Jersey, with the Statue of Liberty in the distance. The Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar Poke Bowl of Spicy Tuna was my early evening dinner choice.

Odd Sister on 45 Mercer St., SoHo, is a quaint American-inspired eating place that’s situated on a cobblestoned street. We had the Spicy Tuna on crispy rice as a starter, but it was the Short Rib Fried Rice, with jasmine rice, egg, soy, sesame, scallions, jalapeño and cilantro, that was the prize selection. It’s a big serving, and we had take-home for breakfast the next morning!

Banter NYC is on 169 Sullivan, just north of W. Houston. It’s a popular brekkie (one of the founders was an Aussie) and brunch joint, with an easy atmosphere, and a menu that aims for elevated, health-conscious fare. The Banter Bowl is carrot, cabbage, watermelon, radish, cucumber, edamame, avocado, quinoa, with a miso ponzu dressing. And we had the Bowl with the Plus Smoked Salmon. Truly a great brunch choice.

How can I come to the last quarter of this report on New York, and not mention my Bagel discovery of the trip. This would be Liberty Bagels (multiple locations in the city), known for the hand rolling and kettle boiling of their bagels, and for the colorful, multi-hued Liberty and Rainbow bagels. Issa had their terrific Reuben bagel, while I indulged in the Novie, smoked salmon with avocado, tomato, and cream cheese, in an Everything bagel. Talk about having a full breakfast to start the day!

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates on Prince St., SoHo, has the most original high-quality chocolates, as they come in animal shapes that are handmade, with no molds involved at all. From elephants, to cats, mice, penguins, rabbits, and rhinos! They have wonderful pastries as well. And ice cream, try the Apricot Elderflower!

Cacao Market by MarieBelle New York is at Broome St., SoHo, and is an artisanal chocolate boutique that boasts of hand-painted ganache truffles, and great chocolate bars. It’s whimsical and old-European in a great way, with a hidden Cacao Bar and Tea Salon within the premises. It’s a great discovery, easy to have overlooked on the street.

Shout out to Naks at 201 First Avenue, and Sanwits at 149 First Avenue, in the East Village, for championing Filipino in the Manhattan food scene. Sanwits was recently featured in the New Yorker for its take on the French dip, but served with lechon instead of beef. Kudos to chef Eric Valdez, who leads the two eateries. For those who’ve traveled to Manhattan, and pine for our native flavors.

And this concludes my New York report. Cheering for Alex, and that she enjoys a deep run in this Slam, and praying she has peaked at the right time.