The Just in Time newcomer shares her fave food spots for before or after a show.
Though we understand their circumstances may have been a bit different, like Oliver and his clan of orphan boys, we’ve all fallen into a daze dreaming of “food, glorious food” at one point or another.
After all, it’s been said that food is the great equalizer, connecting us and bringing us together, either with family or friends, colleagues or companions, or any others from all walks of life, to dine often at a communal table or gathering space wherein we share stories and reveal the most authentic parts of ourselves.
In our continued effort, however, to find our way into others’ hearts (and stomachs!), sometimes it helps to venture beyond our tables and into the kitchens of others — especially in a city with such a diversified abundance of eateries as New York.
And of course, you can’t spell “theatre” without “eat.”
So, in our food-based series, we continue to poll some of the Great Bright Way’s best to “dish” (get it?) on where they love to eat, drink, and take in the vibes either pre- or post-show, while also answering why they love to sup there, sharing a favorite dish or two, and more.
Today, we turn to burgeoning starlet Sadie Dickerson, currently lamenting love before falling in it, as Just in Time’s Sandra Dee. A proud graduate of Missouri State University, having previously appeared off-Broadway in Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of Vladimir and in such regional productions as Crazy for You and Xanadu, Dickerson makes her Broadway debut in the Bobby Darin tuner.
But where does Dickerson like to dine?
(350 W. 46th St.)
Opened just before the world shifted in 2020, and serving the Hell’s Kitchen community ever since, “BarDough is our love letter to New York,” friends and owners Murphy Fitzpatrick and Parker Pridgen say in their official mission statement. “[It’s] a neighborhood staple in the making, built on gratitude, good food, and great people.”
Dickerson would agree – “BarDough is one of my go-to’s!” she states, gleefully – unsurprisingly citing those exact elements: “The food is incredible, I love the staff, and the ambiance is so cozy. It’s a really great vibe all around.”
Embracing locals and tourists alike, BarDough serves up a generous selection of specialty pizzas (with all the traditional pies and toppings, too), in addition to classic Italian dishes, American favorites, and expertly crafted cocktails… all in a warm, hospitable environment outfitted with exposed brick walls, a bustling bar, and the alluring glow of the brick oven at its center.
“There’s something for everyone and you truly can’t go wrong with anything,” Dickerson continues, to that end. However, for her part, “I would absolutely recommend the garlic knots,” served with extra virgin olive oil, marinara sauce, and sprinkled with basil and Parmigiano Reggiano, “and the Italian Inferno specialty pizza,” topped with sausage, mozzarella and long hots, and drizzled with hot honey and infused oil. Customers can even get the knots, seconded by several diners, for just a dollar with the purchase of an alcoholic beverage, as part of their daily happy hour, 12pm-6pm.
“As first-time restaurant owners, we set out to build more than just a place to eat,” Fitzpatrick and Pridgen continue, adding that “what could’ve been the end of a dream” at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic “turned into a [story] of community, resilience and connection” owed to the support of neighbors and the surrounding population.
As a result, they reciprocate sincerely: “We want you to feel like part of the family.”
Dickerson certainly does; after all, who wouldn’t fall for this irresistible establishment?
BarDough NYC is open Monday & Tuesday from 4pm-12am, and Wednesday-Sunday from 11:30am-12am.
(53 W. 53rd St., Entrance on 53rd St. between 5th and 6th Ave.)
For a special occasion or a fancier night out, try 53 NYC on for size. “Everything here is truly an experience, and I just love it!” Dickerson gushes.
Artfully designed by firm ICRAVE and located beneath the new wing of the Museum of Modern Art in the heart of Midtown, the establishment, conceived by restaurateur Ahmass Fakahany, Founder & CEO of the Altamarea Group, features three distinct levels, including a bustling bar and hidden cocktail lounge, an expansive dining room – replete with sleek, extensive banquettes against a wall of sweeping curved wooden blades – ideal for a weekday lunch or Sunday dinner, and an intimate private dining space, should that be more to your liking.
Blending contemporary Pan-Asian cuisine in its chic and edgy setting, the menu is curated by renowned chef Akmal Anuar, who started his culinary journey at his parents’ hawker stand in Singapore, and now spearheads establishments across the continent, topping the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
“The flavors are very clean and very simple,” says Anuar, of his menu, which ranges from traditional classics to trendy street foods and even includes some of his childhood favorites. Adding the fare is meant to exude “high-end and modern” while remaining “authentic and recognizable, especially to members of the Asian community,” the chef offers a roster that is ultimately pleasing to any palate.
A frequent visitor, “I’ve loved everything I’ve tried on the menu,” Dickerson says, to that point, noting, with a laugh, that she craves the Beef Carpaccio and Lobster Spring Rolls “more often than I’d like to admit.” The former consists of a generous portion of the titular beef slices, topped with fresh leeks and Szechuan peppercorn, while the latter, served hot atop a blend of chilis and cabbage, is considered an indulgence not to be missed.
Of the mains, popular items include the sambal-covered skate – wrapped (and then unwrapped, almost ceremoniously) in a banana leaf – and the plump, golden-brown cuts of Hainanese Chicken, served with equally mouthwatering Thai chili and ginger scallion sauces on the side.
Clay pots and soup dumplings round out the offerings here, and should you be tempted, a variety of ice creams, sorbets, and their “to die for” homemade mango pudding more than fit the bill for dessert.
Hungry yet? The line forms on the right, babe.
53 NYC is open for lunch Monday-Friday from 11:45am-2:30pm, Sunday brunch from 12pm-3pm, and dinner on Saturday & Sunday from 5pm-10pm. The renowned BA53MENT private dining space is open Tuesday-Thursday from 6pm-11pm, with live music from 7pm-10pm.
We’ll continue to present a new performer with new restaurants and new menus, so keep checking back to see who we poll and what’s on their mind at mealtime! Until next time, as always, bon appétit!
