1. Mac and Cheese from Murray's Cheese Bar
Fall is mac 'n' cheese season, and Murray's version is one of the best you'll find in the five boroughs. You'll find it on the menu garnished with anything from pastrami to buffalo chicken, and there's even a breakfast version, topped with a poached egg.
2. Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal from Oatmeals
Sticking a spoon into this oatmeal — a sweet blend of pumpkin puree, pecans, brown sugar, pumpkin spice, and milk — is basically eating pie for breakfast.
3. Chicken Parmesan Hero from Parm
With four locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, you're never too far from getting your hands on Parm's dangerously cheesy namesake sandwich.
4. Babka from Breads Bakery
Not that there's ever a bad time to devour some babka, this chocolate-and-cinnamon-braided bread tastes exponentially better paired with sweater weather and hot cocoa.
5. Brussels Sprout and Pancetta Pizza from Motorino
The saddest day of the year is when Motorino takes its famous Brussels sprout pizza off the menu. This white pie — topped with fior di latte, garlic, pecorino, smoked pancetta, and olive oil — is how all pizza should taste during the fall.
6. Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles from Xi'an Famous Foods
With locations in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, you have no excuse not to try Xian's best-selling dish: Hand pulled noodles topped with cumin-spiced lamb and the chain's secret "noodle sauce."
7. Ricotta Ravioli in Brown Butter, Sage, and Truffle Oil from Celeste
Head to this little-known gem on Manhattan's upper west side and order the homemade ravioli, stuffed with light and airy ricotta, and topped with a savory-sweet sauce of brown butter and sage.
8. Chopped Cheese Sandwich from White Gold Butchers
Part butcher shop and part restaurant, this upper west side spot knows a thing or two about meat. Think of the chopped cheese sandwich as New York's version of the Philly cheesesteak. You're gonna want to try it.
9. Pizza Bagel from Black Seed Bagels
Why settle for cream cheese and lox when you can start your day with a bagel topped with fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, and spicy pepperoni?
10. Duck Agnolotti from Fusco
Chilly weather calls for hearty comfort food, just like Fusco's rich pasta squares filled with duck and foie gras.
11. Any raclette from Raclette
Never heard of raclette? It's an Swiss dish that's basically a bunch of food (you know, potatoes, steak, cornichons, and baguette) all smothered with melted Alpine cheese.
12. Stuffed Cabbage from Veselka
This East Village mainstay is open 24/7, so should you find yourself craving a Ukrainian meal of fried potato pierogis and stuffed cabbage at 3 a.m., you're in luck.
13. Cinnamon Bun BEC (Bacon, Egg, and Cheese) from Mile End Deli
Runny yolk + crispy bacon + cinnamon buns = pure bliss.
14. Banana Bread with Espresso Mascarpone from Two Hands Cafe
If this delectable banana bread isn't enough to get you down to Two Hands Cafe on Mott St., it's also a cozy, art-lined space with hot Australian baristas.
15. Peking Duck from Decoy
It's a bit of a splurge, but the $78 Peking duck — which comes with consomme shots, pancakes, and a trio of dipping sauces — can easily nourish a hungry table.
16. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup from Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Grilled cheese and tomato soup go together better than flannel button-downs and pumpkin spice lattes.
17. Lamb Tagine from Claudette
Dinner doesn't get much more comforting than this lamb shank tagine, served over couscous with lots of North African spices.
18. Soup Dumplings from Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
Raise your hand if you could eat sizzling soup dumplings for every meal until springtime?
19. Anton Ego from Speedy Romeo
If you're still holding onto summer while starting to accept fall, this wood-fired pizza topped with smoky eggplant, summer squash, and tomato concentrate should help.
20. The Yam and Cheese from Court St. Grocers
When life hands you extra sweet potato, put 'em in a sandwich with pickled beets, whipped goat cheese, and beets.
21. Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie and Milk from Untitled
Warm cookies and milk tastes better when the leaves are changing colors.
22. Kale and Wild Mushroom Paella from Gato
Seafood season may be coming to an end, but this autumn-inspired paella is the perfect substitute.
23. Emmy Burger from Emily
You might want to unbuckle your belt for this one.
24. Chicken Biscuit from Cheeky Sandwiches
Fall is fried chicken season. Take advantage.
25. Vegan Mac and Cheese from By Chloe
Yes, that's faux mac 'n' cheese with shiitake mushroom bacon. It's totally vegan, but completely indulgent.
26. Matzo Ball Soup From 2nd Ave Deli
Nothing like a bowl of piping matzo ball soup (aka Jewish penicillin), so warm you up on a cozy fall day.
27. Grilled Cheese French Toast from Shopsin's
The golden rule of fall: Everything tastes better with cheese.
28. Dulce de Leche Doughnut from Dough
Pair these babies with a mug of hot cider.
29. Grandma Chicken Mixian from Little Tong Noodle Shop
This East Village noodle shop whips up mixian rice noodles typical of China's Yunnan province. It's a colorful bowl that'll do wonders for your Instagram feed...and your stomach.
30. Disco Tots from Queens Comfort
What happens when tater tots and mac 'n' cheese have a baby? This magic.
31. "The Plank" from Sauce
Make sure you have enough bread on the table to sop up all of this cheesy polenta topped with rich beef ragu and, of course, even more cheese.
32. Karaka-men from Ippudo
Ippudo might be one of the few places on the planet where waiting in line for two hours is always worth it. Topped with thick-cut pork belly, hot spices, and garlic oil, you'll be dreaming about this bowl.
33. Duck Carnitas from Cosme
Cosme's enormous duck carnitas are worth the big-ticket price tag. The bird is cooked overnight to crispy, juicy perfection, then topped with onions, radish, and lime. You're gonna want more tortillas.
34. S'mores Cookie from Chip
Just because campfire season is over doesn't mean it's time to give up s'mores.
35. Garganelli with Mushroom Ragu from l'Artusi
What screams fall more than this perfectly al dente pasta topped with slow-cooked mushroom ragu and pillows of wispy ricotta salata cheese?
36. Hot Chocolate from The City Bakery
'Tis the season for decadent hot chocolate and snowball-sized marshmallows.
37. Fried Pork Belly Buns from 2nd City
They're mini, so you can eat a whole bunch.
38. Banana Walnut Pancakes from Clinton Street Baking Company
This melt-in-your-mouth, carby goodness is the perfect way to start a day of leaf-peeping and apple picking.
39. Crullers from Daily Provisions
Everything you love about fall is probably encompassed by these fancy French doughnuts, which are garnished with maple cinnamon and glaze.
40. Nachos from Taqueria Diana
Order these loaded nachos al pastor with guac, cheese, and crema for good measure.
