20 quick, to-go services in NYC that won't slow you down

Everybody needs a local coffee shop and this is mine. Whenever I was back home from college and needed a place to do some work, this was my spot. It’s been in the neighborhood since 1996 and all the beans are roasted in upstate NY. Irving Place is also just one of the great NYC streets. It’s a New York institution and the people who work there are lovely. — Jack Coyne

One of the best restaurants in NYC happens to be on the same block as my office: USEFUL. It would be insane of me to have sit-down meals here all the time but very hard to resist the takeaway counter. Try the vegetarian sandwich, it's out of this world. They're all out of this world. — JC

Since we moved back to Manhattan from Brooklyn, my wife and I spend way more time at the farmers market than the grocery store. It is the single greatest shopping experience you can have in NYC. Check out the ever-growing Halal Pastures stand, they’ve got the most beautiful and delicious produce around. — JC

I feel like I’m giving away one of the best-kept NYC secrets so please don’t read this and come to Taqueria Gramercy … this is a pure local joint—the spot my wife and I go out to most often because it’s easy, it’s delicious, they have margaritas and it feels like it’s always happy hour. Again, DO NOT COME HERE! — JC

There just aren’t enough places like Paragon in the city anymore and we need to do everything we can to support them. You need skis? Paragon. A tennis permit? Paragon. Fishing rod? Paragon. I spent countless hours of my childhood in this store and cannot wait to one day bring my own kids there before little league kicks off. — JC

This tiny cafe off Astoria’s Ditmars Boulevard is the small, neighborhood coffee shop of my dreams. Big enough to sit and chat but tiny enough to offer a personal experience, OK Cafe is my go-to spot to get my coffee and chai on the go. No matter what time I enter, I can get my drink in a jiffy—even the more complicated ones! Their seasonal lattes and brews (the usual cappuccinos, espressos and mochas), which use Counter Culture beans, are made quickly every time. I don’t think I’ve spent longer than five minutes at OK Cafe and that’s how I like it!

Faster than any grocery store check-out line with better quality to boot, this Upper West Side farmers market is my weekly go-to for fresh veggies. While you can spend time meandering, you can also quickly pop by a vendor or two to grab your ingredients for the week.

I seldom have time to sit down for a 90-minute facial anymore, so finding one that can be done quickly but expertly after work is key. Last year, I stopped by Silver Mirror to give it a try and found a facial service I can rely on to get me in and out in 30 minutes but still give me a relaxing spa experience. The esthetician is always helpful by walking me through exactly what products she’s using, why she’s using them and how to use them if I decide to purchase them in the front shop. Because this is a quick burst of self-care, I’m able to get there regularly for about $95 or so each time.

No, we aren’t in Florence, we are at Please Tell Me. Taking inspiration from the wine windows of the old country, this Williamsburg vinyl bar carved out its very own. Save a trip to Italy and visit this buchette del vino for pours of natty wine during brunch or the weekday Winyl Wednesdays (aka Wine + Vinyl = Winyl). While getting your grapes on the run is always an option, you may be inclined to soak in the vibes with the crowds which often spill out onto the sidewalk. And if you need a little pick me up after the fact, return to the window for pastries and a much-needed coffee.

When I’m in need of a solid breakfast on my way to the office but I’ve got little time to spare, I love stopping in at Blue Park Kitchen, a fast-casual spot that is known for its grain and salad bowls as well as its roasted clean meats and vegetables (a popular lunch spot for office workers, for sure). In the mornings within its vestibule, there’s a little stand where it sells breakfast burritos for just $6. You can choose between a few varieties, some with chorizo and some that are veggie-only. Better yet, it sells coffee too, so you can grab it all right there.

Its second location is in FiDi at 70 Pine Street.

Adria Almonte has a nickname for her restaurant: ‘En La Ventanita,’ meaning the little window. It’s spot on, as Almonte and her husband have run their to-go business out of a window in their basement apartment. Yes, you do need to squat down to place your order. But once you rise, your hands will be full of fried empanadas, pastelitos and quipes. For the summer, Almonte uses an ice cream maker, churning fruit helado, while cold months call for hot chocolate and coffee. Her window is open throughout the day, making it a perfect pitstop for students on their way to class to commuters after a long day at the office.

When I need a little treat (which is daily, let’s be real), Funny Face Bakery is the spot. Their massive, ooey-gooey warm chocolate chip cookie is one of the best in the city and yet there’s never a line when I stop by the Seaport shop.

Many sushi restaurants have lunch specials. Many of those specials hit the main three buckets: soup, salad and a few basic rolls. Not so with Sendo. Opening earlier this summer, this Tokyo-style counter will have you in, out and fed within 30 minutes. But don’t be fooled—just because it’s fast doesn’t mean it skimps quality. No reservations are needed, find the black door on the corner of 31st and 6th (note, it can be a bit tricky to find) and arrive at the second floor for nigiri and hand rolls. But if you really need to get back to work, pick up a premium nigiri takeout box. Just prepare to be the envy of the office

Every neighborhood has a florist but Astoria-Ditmars has one that is ready to go with super cute succulents and gorgeous ready-made bouquets in beautiful vases and pottery that are perfect for gifts on the go. I have never spent more than five minutes in the shop because they always have what I need sitting out for me to grab. My favorite part about the store is how it displays its adorable succulents outside its shop windows in a visually stunning display. You can also build your own bespoke bouquet inside the store. Toward the window, you’ll find various small plants and succulents for sale including lucky bamboo housed in a panda vase. I always stop for a minute when I’m walking by because it’s so tempting. 

Brass Owl is similar in that it’s stocked with such adorable, handy and sassy gifts that I can almost always find something for a birthday, anniversary or a housewarming or a little treat for myself, from city pride mugs and hats to witchy tarot cards and crystals and more. Astoria is definitely known more for its food options but this store puts it on the map for shopping, too.

When I needed a blowout before an event recently, I booked an appointment at Salon Dumbo, and the staff nailed it. Not only did my hair look shiny and sleek (I asked for the Pookie blowout), I also got in and out the door quickly with zero wait time.

While we may not be as reliant as we were during the pandemic days, to-go cocktails are still very much a thing. And to no one’s surprise, Dante is doing it best.

Priced at $36, the award-winning bar has bottled up a number of their classic ‘tails, each bottle set to serve three thirsty souls. A pioneer of the polarized aperitivo, the negroni, Dante has bottled up three variations: the classic Dante Negroni; the Negroni Bianco with the aromatic aperitif, qunquina; and the Chocolate Negroni with creme de cacao and shakes of chocolate bitters. Martini lovers will have to decide between the Dante Martini, With A Twist stirred with an essence of grapefruit or go Dirty with olive oil and olive bitters. Seasonal specials get shaken up as well, including the Fireside Old Fashioned with Johnnie Walker Black and Glenfiddich 14 with a hint of smoked raisins and decanter bitters, priced at $40.

For decades, Fishs Eddy has been the place for a great gift in a flash. Adorable dishware is their area of expertise (think a plate reading “bagel person” or a glass reading “NYC tap”).

If you just need a patty when you’re in Flatbush but you’ve gotta go, you can stop at Immaculee Bakery’s window. The little bakery and Haitian grocery store sells each patty for about $1. You can also grab ingredients for your own Caribbean cooking adventures, and don’t miss out on trying some of the uniquely Haitian homemade bottled drinks, such as AK-100 (a corn-flour drink) and Phoscao (a chocolate syrup drink).

Even though chef Charles Gabriel is in his mid-seventies, you’ll still find him cooking it up the rest of 'em. Dubbed the fried chicken king of Harlem, Gabriel has been a fixture of the scene, pan-frying his birds in massive cast iron skillets that require two hands to handle. Walk up to one of his takeout counters (there are currently three) and secure the fried chicken with a few sides to round it out, like the collard greens and yams. There are a few counter seats if you need to eat immediately, which we recommend you do.