I apologize ahead of time for I will not be able to write about every city at every competition.  These will be my thoughts on restaurants that I have visited or have heard about. I also welcome your feedback.

• Mark Brock Mark Brock
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We start with the greatest city in the world for food- New York. The New York Dance Festival is at the end of February. There are so many restaurants here, but I will focus on the ones near the Roosevelt Hotel where the competition is being held.

Lets start with a place that is less than a block from the hotel, Urban Space (www. urbanspacenyc.com/urbanspace-vanderbilt/). It is great casual place that is very popular and filled with many food vendors. If you want Lobster rolls, Thai, Chicken, Mideast, just about anything!

• Urban Space Urban Space
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If you want to eat great food in a more upscale restaurant try these 2 places, Marea (www.marea-nyc.com) at 240 Central Park South and Felidia (www.felidia-nyc.com) at 243 E. 58th St. Both are Italian based. Eating at Felidia is like being in a scene from the Godfather. Old school Italian in an “Old World” atmosphere. Marea is more formal but just as brilliant for food especially seafood (try the octopus appetizer)

• Marea Marea
• Marea Marea
• Marea Marea
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At Grand Central Station, 2 blocks from the hotel, there are many restaurants, but one of the best and oldest is the Oyster Bar and Restaurant (www.oysterbarny.com), a classic with the best Manhattan Clam Chowder I have ever had! They also have a food market which has everything for takeout.

• Oyster Bar Oyster Bar
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If you get a chance, take the subway to 200 5th Avenue and have a great day at Eataly, (www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/nyc-flatiron) which has everything Italian especially the cheese and salami cafe.

• Eataly Eataly
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Another great restaurant with a fantastic atmosphere is TAO Uptown at 42 E. 58th St. Great food and high energy.

There are so many places in New York, I can’t possibly cover them all. There will be more reviews as we get closer to Manhattan DanceSport and Empire Championships.