The Seven Delectable Sins of Hell’s Kitchen

If you dread delving into Dante’s Inferno, perhaps a different sort of underworld might better suit your tastes. Hell’s Kitchen, stretching from 34th to 59th Streets west of 8th Ave until the Hudson, offers enough culinary variety to appeal to even the most finicky palates. The gritty reputation of the past has given way to a newfound vibrancy—a food mecca packed with temptations.

A visit to Hell starts with a subway trip to Times Square. Merely one avenue west of the crowds, the lights and massive billboards change to unassuming urban expanse. It takes a moment to realize that the brick and concrete streets are lined with an endless parade of food purveyors. From this, Hell’s Kitchen is the perfect place to satisfy your seven culinary sins.

Feeling greedy, but don’t want to empty your pocket? Directly next to the weekend flea market, starting on 39th St. and 9th Ave, stands HK, a sleek bistro packed with locals. Champagne glasses adorned with strawberries pair perfectly with watching merchants and shoppers haggle over everything from vintage boxes and paintings to crystal and silver wares. If you’re looking to satiate your avarice, HK serves fare such as turkey brie, escargot, roasted fennel soup , and duck confit, all priced from $8-12. Zuni, another restaurant, also offers up reasonably priced dishes with luxurious twists, such as a sweet potato and dried fig ravioli accompanied by a chestnut thyme sauce. In case you feel extra indulgent, Marseille on 44th and 9th offers authentically French food and atmosphere, proudly displaying a who’s-who of the champagne and wine world on the outside walls.

Accommodate your sloth with the famous Restaurant Row, where there’s no need to walk very far to find an incredible variety of eateries. On 46th St. between 8th and 9th Ave, Restaurant Row is a narrow corridor absolutely jam-packed with restaurants. Taverns and steak houses are plentiful, as are various Italian, Asian, and even Brazilian restaurants. Particularly appealing is Blue Point Seafood, with many choices of prix-fixe menus including crab cakes, strawberry sea bass, and jumbo shrimps and scallops as the main features complete with sides such as basil potatoes and pineapple melon salad—including your choice of bread, coffee, and dessert.

If you envy all of the specialty ingredients used to prepare your meals, head on over to Ninth Avenue International Market. The renowned store carries bounties of exotic coffees and spices as well as Mediterranean specialties including fresh cheeses and olives. The namesake avenue is lined with many stores, including a Greek and Amish market as well as fresh fish and meat markets. In case you can’t wait to eat your meal after doing some shopping, Manganaro’s offers both Italian imports and sit-down dining. Complete with a running kitchen sink and rustic furniture, the authentic Italian kitchen grants immediate gratification, where you can put together your own sandwiches and antipasto plates or order up one of the daily pasta specials off of the blackboard.

Unleash your wrath at the meat industry by paying a visit to vegetarian-friendly Kyotofu on 9th Ave and 48th St. This cozy yet modern locale caters to the more adventurous palates. The dishes and sweets are perfect for sharing, transforming soy to its utmost level of chic. The presentation and gourmet ingredients make the soy-bean friendly restaurant’s confections a devilish delight. A line of people stream out the door at Amy’s Bread, the flagship store, on 9th Ave. The organic and rustic breads, cozy café setting, and hearty desserts with gourmet flair prove worthy of the wait.
Indulge your gluttony in dozens of different cuisines—even for New York City, Hell’s Kitchen features an impressive array. A sample of the kinds of food you can find includes Afghan, Argentine, Turkish, Japanese, Thai, and Yemeni. Poseidon Bakery upholds the art of Greek pastries with handmade phyllo dough. Meanwhile, Queen of Sheba prides itself on traditional Ethiopian food. As far as positively gluttonous American cuisine goes, Hero Boy fits the bill with pounds of lasagna and their famous six-foot sandwiches.

Last, but certainly not least, nothing appeases insatiable lust quite like chocolate. The Cocoa Bar on 9th Ave between 44th and 45th St. has a homey salon ambience, curiously combining a Tasti D-Lite machine with old-fashioned hot chocolate. Massive glass containers beckon customers with gourmet milk, dark, and white chocolate powders. Beverages include raspberry nectar and Vienna cinnamon teas as well as wickedly rich and spicy Aztec chocolate drinks. Between 10th and 11th Ave on 42nd Street lurks the renowned Sullivan St. Bakery. Although Sullivan St. mainly sells their goods to restaurants, a small shop sells their freshly-baked treats such as zucchini pizza and decadent chocolate desserts.

There’s no easier and more delicious place than Hell’s Kitchen to ensure that each of these seven deadly vices—and your stomach—are satisfied. The next time you find yourself dragged to the depths of Times Square by your friends, insist on making a detour to Hell’s Kitchen. Although its moniker threatens fire and brimstone, don’t be fooled otherwise—Hell’s Kitchen is a food lover’s paradise.