Madison Square Market

Grabbed a Truffle-​Cheddar pretzel from Sigmund Pretzels & wasn’t very impressed. Zero truffle flavor & very minimal cheese… looking nothing like what you see in review pics (we didn’t take one) maybe we were given something different from what we ordered?
Shame since this was our only indulgence at this Market… had we not been on our way back from a huge breakfast, we could have gone totally overboard with all the super-​looking food booths along this narrow corridor of scrumptiousness
This isn’t your typical Farmers market — it’s more like a food truck gathering but without the food trucks. Local eateries are stationed in booths, offering everything form pizzas to empanadas to Indian & a whole range of stuff in between.
Right outside Madison Sq Park, makes it really easy to grab some local, freshly made deliciousness & then head inside the park to enjoy the outdoor sculptures, the abundance of adorable squirrels or maybe a doggie training class. It’s a win-​win & for the yummy-​potential of the place, have to say an overall A-​OK

Stopped in here today to meetup with a friend. What a surprise. I didnt’ even know this place is here. La Sonrisa empanadas, Asiadog, Roberta’s Pizza, Eataly & Mexicue to name just a few.
Cool little break in the day, a sort of kick off of the summer.

Sigmund has been on my list as I have wanted to try their bagels. I finally did at this market. Yummy!
Even when the market shuts for the winter I will visit Sigmund (well if I am in that hood & hungry).

The mini shops here were okay.
I had a parsley pretzel and that reminded me of garlic knots. It had a soft texture and was a tad too salty.

I was SO excited to go to the Madison Square Market, hoping it would be like the Union Sq. Holiday Market, but… I was nothing like it. It was more featured around food trucks and restaurants from Brooklyn and NYC than selling stuff or desserts. It was tiny, very tiny. You would be able to walk through it in 10 minutes –because it’s crowded. But the food places are quite interesting. Pizza, hot dogs, Mexican foods, ice cream, popsicles, and gelato. EVERYWHERE! Not to mention pretzels, drinks, cookies and pastries. Yum. There is so much to choose from, but so little room in your tummy.
I had to choose wisely which foods I wanted to fill my stomach with. It was difficult. I was torn between a pretzel or a hot dog. I heard so much about Asia Dog that I just HAD to try it. It was $ 4.50 for one hot dog. You can choose your meat: veggie, beef or organic beef. Then you choose from an array of specialty toppings. I got the SIDNEY topping which included: relish with mango, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, crushed peanuts and fish sauce. Sounds crazy, but it was amazing. I got the veggie dog it tasted like meat! I’m not a vegetarian, but I cut back on a lot of meats. Anyway, ASIA DOG is famous for their toppings and hot dogs. It was a fantastic choice for me. I’m happy I chose them.
I also tried the gelato there as well. It was about $ 3 for two flavors. I got coffee with vanilla bean. It wasn’t the best gelato I ever had, but it was decent and cheap. Most gelato ranges from $ 4 – 6. I was content. I had to eat it fast though. It was a hot day. The Mexican and Pizza stands looked very busy and popular. And the «popsicle stand» was as well. I would come back next year to see what have to offer. They never really disappoint on the food vendors.

This pop up market of food vendors tries to replicate charm of the food stalls that line the streets of Southeast Asian cities without much success. In Thailand or Hong Kong, there is a hustle and bustle and ambience that makes you not feel claustrophobic. The only thing that stood out for me at this market was the feeling of being walled in with not much room to eat or even to look at what was for sale. it reminded me of the wretched Malaysian Night that was set up by the Meatpacking district last year. I actually came here three times at different times and lost my appetite weaving through the crowds and looking at the lines. I’d rather trek over to Wiliamsburg and get my Asia Dog there. Even with the crowds and the lines, there seems to be more breathing space there.

Having a half an hour for lunch is cruel when you work right off of Madison Square Park!
The lines for Eataly, Shake Shack, Hill Country Chicken, and even the damn food trucks are astrononomical. Side Note: If a food truck constantly moves to serve people in different areas, wouldn’t it be great if the line had to move to. The truck is just on neutral and slowly rolls down the street serving one taco/​falafel/​french fry/​lobster roll/​burger/​korean taco/​bbq at a time.
Luckily, working on a weekend means less lines for such places like Calexico. Asia Dog, Eataly, and my choice today: ROBERTA’s. For a restaurant in Brooklyn to be considered a top 38 restaurant by eater and other food critics is a nice treat. For that restaurant to be located all the way in Bushwick is unheard of. Think of this, how many Staten Island restaurants make the Zagat top 20? The odds of finding a body off a Staten Island beach are much greater (sad but true). I had the speckenwolf pizza: $ 9 I think of just overall goodness. Onions, mozzarella, speck (a wacky type of meat) and all baked in 5 minutes on a delightful crust that left my fingertips black with crust dust was amazing, though the ridiculously long lines in the week might have me think about the practicality of waiting an hour for something I could devour in one minute.
The overall concept of shoving a ton of small tents in a block radius, putting picnic tables in the middle and filling stands with alcohol and food from a selection of the city’s most unique and respected restaurants sounds crazy. But it’s New York. It’s amazing there is even an open space anymore and that it hasn’t been converted to a pop up Starbucks or Chipotle.

There are a lot of really great vendors here, but the market is just way too small for the amount of vendors. Maybe if there were a couple less booths, there’d be more breathing room and space to enjoy the delicious food from the wonderful vendors they’ve showcased here.

What an awesome little set up! It is great having so many options for a meal in such close quarters. Once you pick up your meal you can also just take a seat in the park and enjoy the warm weather. Wonderful!

How did I only just learn about the market today, as it nears the end? Being me, I only made it to the food part due to all the temptations. I opted for Ilili and got the bekka marsook and fried cauliflower. I didn’t know what the bekka was and thought it’d be more gyro like. Tasty but not very filling. The fried cauliflower was really good and worth the $ 4.
Since I was still peckish, I got a mini pretzel from Samuel’s and chose bacon scallion. Wow it’s good — it’s like a scallion pancake in pretzel form plus BACON!
Dangerously close to work and I forsee another lunch excersion.

I’ve been here several times since the stalls made their magical appearance. (Luckily there is a NYSC just around the corner).
— Piccolo: the #3 Truffle Egg sandwich is just as good here as it is a few blocks down. Addictive.
— Pies n’ Thighs: it was 8 in the evening, so the chicken in the biscuit sandwich was a little sad in appearance, but it was still pretty tasty. Oh, and before they layer the fried chicken between the biscuit, they butter the biscuit generously. :Droooool:
— The apple place (do they have a name?) — Always good to have a cider option!
The only big drawback: it’s over 10/​23, and I still have to make it while Almond has a sandwich they describe as «lamby deliciousness.»

A sunny, crisp Autumn Saturday in New York contributes highly to a four star review for the Madison Square Market. I’m sure if it had been rainy or too hot or too cold, I wouldn’t have been so enthusiastic. As it was, the weather was perfect and for the most part, the food was too.
Two guys with insatiable appetites each headed into the fray and here is what we ate:
Falafel wrap at the Ilili stand. Delicious. Perhaps the best tasting falafel I’ve had, but the price of $ 7 would discourage future trips. We shared this sandwich, but even if I had eaten the whole thing, I still would have been hungry. 3 ½ stars.
Brisket sandwich from Fatty Crew. I love me some Fatty Crab and after one visit to Fatty Cue, I was a convert. This sandwich was close to perfect. The meat was tender and plentiful. The spicy mayo/​aoli was a great accompaniment. It was a little messy eating this contraption while walking around, as we had not found a table yet. 4 ½ stars.
Samosa and spring water from unnamed Indian restaurant. Samosa was cold and not crispy at all. We needed the water, though. 2 stars.
Moroccan meatball sandwich from Almond. Tender lamb meatballs in a tomato sauce with Moroccan, not Italian spices served on a baguette style roll. This was unique because your eyes tell you it’s Italian, but your taste buds get a surprise. Delicious, not too spicy. The roll was excellent, too. Crispy on the outside, just like the baguettes I recently devoured in Paris. 4 stars.
Finally, in the «Winner Winner Chicken Dinner» category, a visit to Pies’n’thighs for the best treat of the day: chicken biscuits. We ordered a chicken biscuit and chicken pot pie along with a side of black eyed peas.
The chicken biscuit was TDF (To Die For). A deep-​fried, juicy chicken patty served between a crumbly, flaky biscuit. Add to that a dose of honey (I’m guessing) which made it sweet and a splash of Tabasco which made it spicy/​hot. When I took my first bite, I lost sensation in all the other parts of my body. My focus was on my taste buds and the total joy I had just experienced. The pot pie was good, but there was a surprising lack of chicken in it. The crust was great. I’ll write about the black eyed peas later, because they are on my short list of favorite sides I’ve ever had. Perfect. 5 stars!
You would think this would have been enough to sate our hunger. Think again! I waited in line for another 15 minutes to order a second chicken biscuit to finish my day. It was that good!

We stumbled out of Eataly to find this refuge in a concrete city. The market is a well curated selection of good eats in the city. There is something for everyone, whether you just want a sweet bite, are a vegetarian, etc.
I finally tried Wafels and Dinges (must get it freshly made w/​speculoos). My friend got a nice pesto sandwich on focaccia from Piccolo and some pretzels from Sigmund.
There aren’t many tables, so getting a table and enough chairs can be a challenge.

MUST HAVE: the chicken biscuit at PIES N THIGHS’ tent
The only thing we really had to eat (and our full intent for going in the first place), was the chicken biscuit from Pies N Thighs. It’s one of those «so bad it’s good» food items. As an anti-​Mayo advocate, E. Lee semi-​freaked out when she saw a thick slather of white spread between the biscuit and chicken. Upon further inspection, there was nothing to be found but the taste of honey butter, a perfectly fried chicken cutlet, and hot sauce in between buttery biscuits. Each bite ended in a smile from H. Ngo, which probably made her look high. In a sense, this was definitely an indulgent high caused by straight up goodness. And by the third bite, E. Lee thought she might have a heartattack, but she continued to finish the chicken biscuit. After all, it could not be wasted.
We also had the Molasses cookie from Pies N Thighs, only $ 2 (cheaper than other cookies at the park) and very worth it.
Next to try: Sigmunds Pretzels and chorizo tacos from Fatty Cue
–Butcher and Porkchop (E.Lee and H. Ngo)

The food isn’t to-​die-​for, but the variety of establishments present and the atmosphere (dining with the view of the empire state and flatiron buildings) makes the market worthy of revisits. Also, unlike other special markets, Madison Square Market runs 7 days a week, 11am to 8pm, for practically an entire month. It is a great end to the summer.
Do NOT get Resto’s Pig Head Sandwich to go. By the time I got home, the oil had soaked through the paper bag, and, for me, oil-​soaked bread is only good in the form of garlic bread. I also wasn’t expecting the sour taste of goat cheese. Though I should have inquired beforehand, some description on the blackboard menu would have been appreciated.
Tanjore’s non-​veg combo was a good deal. Chicken tikka masala with a choice of vegetable side over basmati rice. I opted for the chickpeas, and everything was wonderfully spiced and generously portioned.

I am really enjoying this year’s Madison Square Market. They have an excellent set of food vendors and the crafts vendors are pretty good too. I’m seeing more things that I’d actually buy rather than the usual «um, is that mass produced in China?» stuff.
I’m happiest about Pies ‘N Thighs in the food vendor area. Chicken Biscuit? YES PLEASE! I’m actually a little embarrassed to be the Foursquare mayor of the Mad Sq location… Heh… You can’t keep me away from good fried chicken and biscuits!
Also, try the chocolate truffles that are in the crafts area — they are DELICIOUS. Trust me, you won’t regret trying them.

TANJORE:
Solid, as far as Indian food sold from a booth at an outdoor market is concerned. Good basmati with chicken tikka masala. Could have been more strongly flavored and mixed dark + white meat instead of just white, but hey it was still an awesome fall weather dinner in front of the Flatiron Building so who’s complaining?
FATTY CREW:
Nice mingling of flavors in the Brisket Sandwich, though a little on the small side, that «chili jam» and avalanche of cilantro really did it justice.
SIGMUND’S PRETZEL SHOP:
Delicious Salt Pretzel… that’s all I can say so far because the coveted Mini Truffle Cheddar always sells out by the time evening rolls around.

How will anyone find my review with the official abbreviated name like this?
This is like a scaled down version of the Holiday village they do here and at Union square every year, but I think better. Mainly for the «food square» they have that includes Sigmunds pretzels, some brick oven Pizza, Pies & Thighs, Illia restaurant, mini cannoli places, annnnnnd. the list goes on.
This market is open until 8pm most nights until the later part of this month, and in my opinion is better than Eatly., which is right across the street. Lots of shopping, tables, and you have the park, if the weather cooperates. This is a great place to get your Unilocal on, without having to traverse the city. Knock out a few bookmarks in one felled swoop. (see my pictures)

I love the fact this market brings together some great restaurants so you can sample them all without hiking all over New York. To name a few that are there this year — Roberta’s Pizza, Pies and Thighs, Fatty Cue, Waffles and Dinges, etc.

Mad. Sq. Mark’t returns for the second year to showcase local artists and restaurants vending their wares about Madison Square Park. Food Square starts on 24^th Street and Fifth and goes for the block expanse of Bloomberg’s recently minted public seating about Broadway. Wafels & Dinges begins the row which extends to Hill Country, Fatty Crab and Cabrito on he park side.
Advert describes opening from 11am until 8pm all week. We arrived at 7:45pm and Cabrito had already closed up shop, so get there earlier if you’re hankering for a chorizo taco. We ended up at Tanjore, and filled out bellies a bit overmuch. Food was fair to middling, I found myself eating more to see if I could satisfy my tastebuds better which just didn’t happen. Chicken in the Tiki Masala were large but dry chunks amidst the creamy mild sauce– eh. Again, get their earlier in the day for fresher food. Next time I’ll have a glass of wine at Resto and dessert for dinner at Piccolo Café and Stuffed Artisan Cannolis.
The Harvest Market along the park was a better bet, stocked with unique and artisanal home furnishings, jewelry, pottery, beauty products, handmade items– a good place to shop for the upcoming gift giving season. Strolling about in the cool air and dining autumn al fresco is the big winner here, mrk’t goes on until October 23^rd-​check it out.