Fork This City

This week on Fork This City, we're joined by Mike Salzano and Ariel Strizower, the founders and owners of Gnocchi on 9th, one of New York City's most talked-about fast-casual Italian concepts.

What started as a tiny East Village storefront with a bold idea—serving only gnocchi—has quickly grown into a neighborhood phenomenon. Mike and Ariel take us behind the scenes of Gnocchi on 9th's rapid rise, sharing how the concept came to life, the risks they took to get it off the ground, and the lessons they learned from their previous experiences in the food industry.

We also dive into the process behind making their signature fresh gnocchi, discuss the philosophy that drives the brand, and explore what it takes to turn a simple idea into a growing business. Plus, we wrap things up with a fun rapid-fire segment to get to know the founders beyond the kitchen.

Whether you're a food lover, aspiring restaurateur, or just curious about the story behind those famous boxes of gnocchi, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Josh and Gabby head to Chinatown to visit Nom Wah Tea Parlor, NYC’s oldest dim sum restaurant and a century-old institution tucked away on the historic Doyers Street. Along the way, they debate whether Nom Wah’s food lives up to its legendary reputation or if its biggest draw is the story behind it. The episode wraps with another food pet peeve that proves far more divisive than expected.

Josh and Gabby kick things off with a deeper dive into NYC’s most debated food category — tourist trap restaurants. What actually makes a spot a “trap,” and is it about price, quality, location, or just perception?

Then they head to the Upper East Side to fork into Anassa Taverna, a bustling Greek restaurant across from Bloomingdale’s that feels like the neighborhood’s unofficial post-shopping dinner hub. 

The episode wraps with a no-holds-barred round of dining pet peeves — from lemon-in-water debates to wobbly tables and the small things that quietly ruin a meal.

Josh and Gabby kick things off in the East Village at John’s of 12th Street, one of NYC’s most iconic old-school Italian spots where massive chicken parms, bow-tied servers, candlelit chaos, and a surprise vegan menu all coexist under one roof. Then they head to Mimi’s Frozen Yogurt, a minimalist, Apple Store-style dessert shop where tweens line up for surprisingly good froyo, overpriced toppings, and the occasional $22 reality check.

The episode wraps with a ranking of NYC’s best “slop bowl” spots—big, chaotic, no-rules meals that define the city’s food scene.

Josh and Gabby kick off the episode with Gabby’s long-awaited return to The Corner Store to see whether a second visit changes her opinion of one of NYC’s toughest reservations. Then, the two face off in a chaotic chain restaurant guessing game that proves maybe they don’t know America’s finest dining establishments as well as they thought.

After that, the episode turns into the ultimate bagel conversation as Josh and Gabby sit down with Chris, founder of Tompkins Square Bagels — one of the most iconic bagel spots in New York City. From building the brand and surviving the NYC food scene to what actually makes a great bagel, Chris shares the story behind the neighborhood staple that became a citywide phenomenon.

Josh and Gabby head to Williamsburg to review I Cavallini, the buzzy sister restaurant to Four Horsemen, to see if it delivers the same magic—or just rides the reputation. From the menu to the vibe, they break down whether it’s worth the trip across the bridge or just another pretty room in Brooklyn.

Then, we sit down with Anders, co-founder of SLIK, the East Village candy shop bringing a Copenhagen-inspired pick-and-mix experience to NYC. With 70+ rotating Scandinavian sweets, soft-serve, and a constantly evolving lineup, Anders shares how a group of former soccer rivals turned a shared love of candy into a growing brand.

Josh and Gabby head to Flatiron to review Opto , the new Mediterranean hotspot taking over the former Periyali space. With moody booths, three-olive martinis, free bar snacks, and a crowd-pleasing menu built for post-work dinners, they break down whether Opto is a true neighborhood standout—or just the latest trendy reservation with good lighting.

Then, Gabby gives her review of 787 Coffee, the always-busy coffee spot that seems to have a line no matter the hour. Is it actually serving great coffee, or is the hype fueled more by the aesthetic than the espresso?

Josh and Gabby take on one of New York’s most talked-about reservations: Carbone. From the impossible table to the spicy rigatoni vodka, they break down whether the legendary red-sauce institution actually lives up to the hype—or if the exclusivity is doing most of the heavy lifting.

Then, they put themselves on the spot with a blind ranking of restaurants they’ve covered so far, leading to some controversial takes and a few instant regrets. To celebrate 20 episodes of eating, arguing, and overspending on dinner, they also hand out the first-ever Fork This City Awards—including Best Bite, Most Overrated Reservation, Best Dessert, Worst Service, and more.

Josh and Gabby head uptown to the Upper East Side to review Campagnola, a classic, old-school Italian spot that’s been a staple of the neighborhood for over 30 years. Known for its white-tablecloth service, high-energy dining room, and “see and be seen” crowd, they break down whether the experience (and the food) still lives up to the hype in today’s NYC dining scene—or if it’s coasting on reputation.

From there, they dive into one of their hottest debates yet: are pasta samplers actually worth it, or just a dressed-up scam? Expect strong opinions, questionable logic, and a few takes that might divide the group chat.

Josh and Gabby kick things off in the East Village at Danny & Coop’s, the viral Philadelphia-style cheesesteak shop co-owned by Bradley Cooper and Danny DiGiampietro of Angelo’s Pizzeria. With lines wrapping around the block and seeded rolls stacked with high-quality ribeye, they dig into whether this Philly import actually lives up to the hype—or if it’s just another NYC wait-for-the-crowd situation.

Next, they switch gears completely and step into Slik NYC, a Copenhagen-inspired candy and soft-serve shop from the team behind Smør bakery. From self-serve Scandinavian sweets like salty licorice and fruit gummies to specialty soft serve twists, they explore what makes this East Village spot feel like a sugar-fueled trip to Denmark.

To wrap things up, Gabby shares another one of her coffee recommendations before Josh and Gabby play a chaotic round of Blind Ranking NYC Restaurants, putting spots like Lilia, KazuNori, The Smith, La Pecora Bianca, and Chada head-to-head—no context, no mercy, just instant decisions.