Crazy For Apps! These NYC Restaurants Have The Most Unique Appetizers

Sometimes, a snack is all you need!

Believe it or not, an appetizer can truly make or break a meal. It’s a literal first taste of what you should expect at the restaurant: If the restaurant can’t get a classic basket of mozzarella sticks right, can you even trust them with the rest of your meal? 

Listed below are some of the most unique and impressive appetizers in New York City. We know that sounds overwhelming, so worry not! HungerPass is here to guide you through your many snack cravings, from classic bar favorites like buffalo wings to inventive culinary creations like zucchini pancakes and Lobster Mac and Cheese. At these restaurants, you don’t need a full entree to be satisfied! 

Offside Tavern

137 W. 14th Street New York, NY 10011

Offside Tavern is a can’t-miss dining destination because the entire menu is basically comprised of just appetizers (it is a bar, after all). Plus, each item on the menu is a tried-and-true American favorite: There are Buffalo Wings, Fries, Sliders, and Nachos, to name a few. And can you really go wrong with the classics? 

Fully loaded with cheese, bacon bits, and pulled pork, the Offside Fries are truly something to behold. When matched with 3 crispy breaded chicken fingers and a cup of Ranch dipping sauce, you get a classic meal that fits right in with game night or a casual evening with friends. 

In addition, the Southwest Eggroll is a truly unexpected creation: It’s a crispy egg roll stuffed with spicy southwest-style chicken, corn, and black beans and served with sriracha mayo and sour cream. It may not be your traditional eggroll, but with its creamy blend of sour cream and black beans with the perfectly cooked chicken, we’re certainly not complaining! If you’re looking to compete in a good ol’ American eating contest, look no further than Offside Tavern’s Giant Pretzel. For more “giant” fare, try Offside’s Giant Tavern Tots served with ketchup. 

Of course, the best thing about Offside Tavern is how each appetizer can be perfectly paired with one of their amazing alcoholic drinks! Match the satisfying Pulled Pork Sliders with the refreshing Texas Holding cocktail, brewed with Jack Daniels, Peach Schnapps, Fresh-Pressed Lemon Juice, Cointreau, and Homemade Sugar Cane Reduction. The Full-Court Press, with its citrusy flavors combined with sparkling water, should cut through the crispy-creaminess of the Mac N’ Cheese bites with ease. Eater gave Offside truly high praise by calling it a “roomy and refreshingly unpretentious sports bar” with “excellent pub grub.” When all you need is a TV, a beer, and a good snack, Offside is the place to go! 

Activate your HungerPass for 15% off at Offside Tavern! 

 

Breezes Island Grill

230-06 & 08, S. Conduit Ave Rosedale, NY 11422

Some restaurants tend to phone it in when it comes to themes, but that’s thankfully not the case at Breezes Island Grill! This Caribbean-themed eatery gets its island-vibe across right away thanks to its tropical appetizers. The apps are a great introduction to the story Breezes Island Grill is trying to tell: Expect traditionally tropical flavors like buttery Crab Legs and salty Cod Fish Fritters mixed with the heat of a Curry Shrimp Empanada and the tang of Pineapple Jerk Chicken. With options like the zesty Island Taco Wrap and the cheesy Lobster Mac and Cheese, expect the unexpected when it comes to appetizers!

Perhaps the most unexpected app comes in the form of Breezes Island Grill’s Sticky Jerk Wings/Shrimp Waffles. You don’t see waffles as an appetizer every day, which makes this restaurant one of the only places to satisfy your craving for breakfast food and Caribbean-themed food. There are also Thai Chili Vegetable Potstickers and Soup du Jour for cold days and succulent Twin Lobster Tails and Irie Shrimp for when you’re craving a summery, seafood-y snack. If you’re still not convinced of the beachy feel-good food at this restaurant, maybe this Yelp reviewer’s claim that “the fritters were so good we ordered another batch” will change your tune!

Activate your HungerPass for 15% off at Breezes Island Grill! 

 

Aaheli Indian Cuisine

826 9th Avenue #2 New York, NY 10019

71-51 Yellowstone Blvd. Forest Hills, NY 11375

If you’re in search of a vibrant, unforgettable dining experience, look no further than Aaheli Indian Cuisine! This restaurant has a colorful variety of delicious Indian cuisine from the very first page of the menu. What makes this app menu special are the authentic Indian flavors: Everything is spiced with a fragrant mix of ginger, mint, and tamarind, so your tastebuds will never be bored. From your first bite of Aloo Tikki, (AKA wholesome potato cakes topped with mint and tamarind sauce on a bed of chickpeas,) you know you’re in for a South Asian treat. In lieu of chicken fingers and french fries, Aaheli offers the 9th Avenue Resmi Kebab and a tasty dish of Bhajis. The Resmi Kebab is ground chicken seasoned with enough Indian spices and herbs to make you glad you ordered a cool glass of Mango Juice, and the Bhajis, or “vegetable fritters,” are a colorful blend of zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, and parsnips that results in a salty, flavorful snack. 

There aren’t many places you can find seafood and curry combined on an appetizer menu, so Aaheli has you covered: The Tawa Shrimp is shrimp sauteed with curry leaves, onions, and bell peppers. Just as an added bonus, there’s an entirely separate menu just for bread! There’s obviously Naan and Roti, but you can also order the spiced Cumin Papadum Special and the sweet Kashmiri Naan, which is stuffed with raisins, nuts, and cherries. 

This blogger had only nice things to say about the vegetable samosa, which they said was “tasty for sure with a deliciously flaky shell.” This blogger also found the Mango Lassi to be “a favorite” choice of drink; a smart and sweet choice at Aaheli, given the traditionally hot herbs used in Indian cooking. Take it from this blogger and from us: Aaheli knows what it’s doing when it comes to appetizers you won’t soon forget! 

Activate your HungerPass for 20% off at Aaheli Indian Cuisine! 

 

Sumela Mediterranean Cafe & Grill

1606 1st Avenue New York, NY 10028

Sumela Mediterranean Cafe & Grill really sets the bar high for all other Mediterranean restaurants with its vast appetizer offerings that push the boundaries of everyday food. The classic Middle Eastern-style apps are delicious, such as the Babaganoush (smoked eggplant puree with garlic and taheni), but the app menu really shines with its more unusual additions. For example, you don’t see Haydari, which is strained yogurt, butter, mint, and garlic, on the average dinner table, but you’ll find it at Sumela. Zucchini Pancakes are another unique dish made from freshly grated zucchini, carrots, and herbs. Anyone unfamiliar with Middle Eastern cuisine may not be familiar with Kebbeh, but if you’re a meat-lover, this appetizer is for you! Kebbeh is basically ground lamb, goat, or camel meat mixed with onions and spices and shaped into balls using wheat-based bulgur. It’s also mixed with walnuts, resulting in a wonderfully nutty taste that’s both spicy and wholesome. 

For the crème de la crème of unique appetizers, look no further than Sumela’s Pan-Fried Calf’s Liver! Believe it or not, lightly-fried calf’s liver served with onion-tomato salad is a dish that satisfies every savory, salty craving you could ever have. It may sound weird to any non-adventurous eaters, but calf’s liver is a Middle Eastern staple that even the Food Network wants to make mainstream. Sumela’s guests are also enthusiastic about the cuisine; in fact, one Yelp reviewer repped the restaurant for its “wonderful Turkish food and service,” and another happy customer said that Sumela’s baklava was “A total success. The pastry was flaky, it was pistachio-forward, and it was not overly sweet. Really, it was excellent!”  

Activate your HungerPass for 10% off at Sumela Mediterranean Cafe & Grill!

 

Margarita’s Cafe

1868 Front Street, East Meadow, NY 11554 

139-B Merrick Ave, Merrick, NY 11566

753 Wantagh Ave, Wantagh, NY 11793

392 Woodbury Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801

Margarita’s Cafe “takes pride in bringing you the best in Mexican cuisine,” and they certainly have a reason to be proud, especially when it comes to their appetizers. At Margarita’s, you basically have a full-blown meal as an appetizer, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. For example, the Ceviche De Camarone is a delectable mix of shrimp, celery, cucumbers, green olives, onions, and cilantro, all tossed and served with a side of plantain chips for some added sweetness. The Taquitos De Pollo (AKA crispy rolled tortilla stuffed with chicken and topped with queso fresco, crema, and guacamole sauce) will definitely fill you with Margarita’s signature warm-and-spicy vibe. For a really spicy dish, you obviously can’t skip the Jalapeno Poppers, which are stuffed with cheddar cheese and served with a cooling side of guacamole and sour cream. What makes the appetizers at Margarita’s extra fun is how you can customize your own Mexican Quesadilla by choosing between chicken, steak, and shrimp, as well as veracruzana sauce, guacamole, and sour cream, so you have every chance to make the cheesy, spiced-filled quesadilla of your dreams. 

With locations all across Long Island including in Merrick, East Meadow, Wantagh, and Hicksville, you really don’t have any excuse to skip a night at Margarita’s! One reviewer from LI Restaurant Review said that the restaurant has a “modern and sophisticated” vibe and that the Jalapeno Poppers were “Great! As soon as [the poppers] came to the table, one of the kids swiped one!” At Margarita’s, this reviewer found “a new local favorite” dining destination, so you know it can’t be missed! 

Activate your HungerPass for 15% off at Margarita’s Cafe! 

 

 

Written by Emma Patterson