Bodegas are the new ‘It’ restaurants as dining out costs spiral: ‘It’s not just mozzarella sticks anymore’
NY Post
NYC’s corner markets are cornering the market — on haute cuisine.
As the cost of dining out in the Big Apple spirals higher, eating well without breaking the bank could be as simple as visiting your nearest bodega.
The city’s humble bazaars are increasingly perceived as epicurean pioneers — with gourmands and social media influencers clamoring for a bite.
The craze comes as the price of eating out in the five boroughs has been said to soar by nearly 30%, according to a 2024 City Comptroller’s Office report — with even a sad Midtown desk lunch of salad or fast food often costing a minimum of $15 nowadays.
By contrast, determined diners willing to look past the toilet paper rolls and bricks of Cafe Bustelo can fill their belly at a wave of unlikely grocery gastro-hubs for a fraction of the price — without degrading their palate.
“I go to my bodega every day, and the halal food is better than the food truck next door and cheaper — and they can do it all,” Karissa Dumbacher, an NYC foodfluencer with over 5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, told The Post. “I mean, it’s not just mozzarella sticks anymore.”
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