Even though September was a big travel month for me, I got to sample what I anticipated to be some pretty iconic dishes in NYC right now. Some were good, some were great, some were so-so, but all are documented right here. Read on for the good, the bag, and the ugly (delicious) of the food I sampled in NYC this September!

Noglu – The pre-eminent gluten-free bakery in NYC, this Parisian import was billed as the best, so I had to give it a try. And I was pleasantly surprised. Normally I find GF bakeries to be mediocre and overpriced, but this one made a delicious cannelle, and mini chocolate chips brioches that were absolutely delightful.

Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop – The brand new offshoot of the infamous Paulie Gee’s in Greenpoint, the slice shop offers slices and whole pies at all hours. I tried their classic cheese slice and their Hellboy slice (pepperoni plus Mike’s Hot Honey), and both were good slices of pizza, but neither blew my mind. I preferred the classic cheese, the Hellboy was drowning in a bit too much honey and I couldn’t taste anything else, unfortunately.

World’s Best Cookie Dough – Instagram-fodder, check. Gratuitously cookie dough-y, check. I would call this place straight up #cookieporn. Any chocolate chip cookie that’s new on the scene warrants a try, so I headed to this Bleecker Street “bakery” to give it a shot. I found it to be a bit too sweet, too big, and too gooey for my liking. I’d rather bake the cookies myself and just have a bite of the cookie dough 🙂

Westbourne – This vegetarian, west coast-centric cafe was one of my favorite new places from the past month. It’s simple and no-frills – order at the counter, nestle into the cushiony window seat, and enjoy veggie-centric fare. The “mushreuben” is out of this world.

Chez Ma Tante – When a place is repeatedly called out as having the best pancakes in NYC, I feel compelled to give them a try. In all honesty, I’m not really a pancake girl. I’d choose the savory eggs over the pancakes any day, and usually just opt for a bite or two of this brunch treat. What makes these special is how simple they are – two small pancakes, a pat of butter, and some maple syrup. But there is this burnt, sugar-y crust from the cast iron pan that is just divine. Still, I would say split these with the table and don’t order them for yourself (I couldn’t finish them).

Pause Cafe – This little Moroccan all-day cafe on Clinton Street is my ideal spot for grabbin a good coffee, perhaps a green juice, and settling in at a colorful mosaic table with a good book. They also have a pretty robust menu, offering everything from acai bowls to big juicy sandwiches.