B&H Dairy

There are approximately 140,000 restaurants across Manhattan. The city is awash with some of the greatest eateries and bars in the world, so where would one begin to find one particular spot to profile?

The best way to eat your way around a new city is to follow recommendation by the locals. We here at Staganddove were introduced to vegetarian Polish joint B&H Dairy eight years ago, and it has become a firm favourite ever since.

Sitting quietly on Second Avenue in the East Village you could drift past the doorway without even noticing it was there. Narrow and uncomfortable with staff that wouldn't dare crack a smile, B&H Dairy is always bustling, full of people eating solo.

Let's make it clear - it's a place to grab a bite, not take a date. Handwritten steam-stained menus peel off the wall, offering tantalizing classic Polish dishes such as Borscht and Blintzes -but their knock out dish the split pea soup and Challah bread white fish salad sandwich which you can score for a meagre $8.

If you want a genuine New York dining experience then this is the place to come to, no question, as long as you can cope with the elbow-to-elbow seating and grimy interior. But if you just can't face watching the grandma out the back chopping potatoes in a very unhygienic manner (don't ask) then get your grub to go and nip across to Tompkins Square Park.

B&H Dairy
127 Second Ave
New York
NY 10003
+1(212) 505-8065