We were already spoiled with how the concierge set up all of our activities in New York. Adding to the fact that they also can set up reservations (and offer suggestions!) for some of the most popular places to eat in New York, you really get an all inclusive package there.

Hilton HHonors was kicking it up a notch and it is nice to know that I can use the loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s 10 hotel brands

Eat, sleep, enjoy. The main ingredients for a great getaway!

So we ate. A lot. And it was glorious. Here is what the Hilton HHonors program set up for our time in New York!

Dopo Teatro

Heading out to eat in Manhattan on a Friday night can be a daunting task. But never fear! Our reservations were taken care of and we were ready to eat.

Now I do find it a bit unfair that we had spent 3 ½ weeks in Italy and then find ourselves in a Italian restaurant. But considering, they did quite well.

The caprese salad had legit mozzarella di bufala. The cheese exploded with flavor in my mouth. LEGIT!

The calamari wasn’t bad. Though it was a bit chewy, the light batter and a sprinkle of lemon made it heavenly.

The pastas were super simple. I had a lobster ravioli and Shaun, the gnocchi. Both had fresh tasting pastas with simple, delicious sauces.

Paired with good wine and even better company, it made for a lovely Friday night.

Ess-A-Bagel

This was a suggestion from the concierge. We arrived to Ess-A-Bagel on a Saturday morning and there was already a line almost out the door.

Known as one of the great bagels to have while in New York, this place has a loyal following. They have signs everywhere stating that they have been recommended by Anthony Bourdain. I’ll go anywhere you go Tony!

We snatched up two everything bagels as quickly as we could. I slathered mine in jalapeno cream cheese, and Shaun went for garden vegetable variety. They stacked it high and full of the creamy stuff and quickly sent us on our way.

Chewy, yummy, and with an inch of delicious cream cheese, this was definitely one of the better bagels I’ve had (but I wouldn’t say the best!).

Brasserie

Perfectly located in the Rockefeller Center, this location put us right next to the skating rink. I was super excited that we had reservations because they looked very busy.

We started with a plate of 6 West Coast oysters (apparently they are creamier and less salty). I hadn’t had them in close to 15 years so I thought I would give them a try. I thought they were disgusting the first time around but since I’ve started eating sushi I knew my palate had changed.

My thoughts? Tastes like the sea. I think I would prefer them the “Texas” way – with Tapatio and pico de gallo instead of the cocktail sauce and a vinegar based liquid.

For the main course I went with Steak Frites – or a hangar steak (medium rare!) with a side of fries and a bearnaise sauce. Shaun went with the Kobe burger. The steak was good (but obviously not the best cut of meat) and Shaun’s burger went so fast I wasn’t sure there was a burger at one point. I think he liked it. 😛

Make sure you schedule lots of time because it does get quite busy and the food takes a while to get to you. We had to ditch out early before our dessert because we were running late for our ice skating reservation!

Restaurant Above

Located in the Hilton Times Square lobby on the 21st floor, this restaurant gives you quite the view of Manhattan! Since we were Diamond members we still had access to our free AT&T wifi. My iPhone was happy since AT&T has been ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among Smartphone users.

One of the first things I noticed on the menu is that they carry one of my favorite beers – Blue Moon. With that in hand I was ready to tackle the menu.

The sweet potato fries that came with pork sliders immediately caught my eye. My stomach demands those fries whenever I see them. I didn’t even LIKE sweet potato for most of my life and then recently it has been taking over my culinary desires. Shaun went the classy route – macaroni and cheese.

My sweet potato fries were excellent but I need to stop ordering BBQ outside of the South because my bar is set too high. They weren’t bad but they definitely weren’t Texas. 😛  Shaun’s mac and cheese went on the “pretty good” scale – which – for mac and cheese, that isn’t bad at all!

Waldorf Astoria Sunday Brunch

I’ve heard about it. The decadence, the extreme, the overwhelming layout of the Sunday brunch at the Waldorf Astoria was laid out in front of me in an artful manner.

I was drooling.

Make sure you have a reservation for this gig or you will be waiting almost 4 hours for a table. During our Diamond for a Day treatment Hilton HHonors made it happen.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Lobster, caviar, sushi, shrimp, great cheeses, cured meat, a massive display of bacon – you bet your pretty behind that I lumped it all onto my plate. When will I ever be able to have all of that again in one convenient location?

I must have looked like those kids in Jurassic Park when they saw the table of food. My eyes opened wide and I just started heaping.

I don’t even know what Shaun ordered, I was too busy putting my fork up to my mouth while thinking about what I was going to get next.

Shaun rolled his eyes as my second plate came rolling past him. Beef Wellington and a chocolate covered strawberry that I drizzled from the lovely chocolate fountain.

Don’t judge.

This was my favorite meal from the trip. My full belly showed it.

So be prepared to eat the next time you head to New York. We barely scratched the surface when it came to the culinary delights you can experience during your weekend getaway.

Although, next time I need to bring bigger pants.

****AT&T is offering the readers of Over Yonderlust discounted offers. CLICK HERE to check them out!****

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Disclosure: Hilton HHonors invited me to New York City and covered my airfare, transportation, and hotel, and I was compensated for my participation. All opinions and comments within my posts about the trip are my own.