NYC — Maryam Shehzad

MARYAM SHEHZAD

I am an artist and designer based in New York City and Karachi. My design practice is an attempt to merge distinct realities to find a calming center.

At Work & Co, I worked with incredible clients like Gatorate, Mayo Clinic, and Audacy. Before that I was at Daily Harvest.

At Pratt, I combined my interests in sensors, wearables, and health tech with my experience as a cancer survivor to build an early cancer detection system.

I studied Economics at UIUC and bring a practical, cost-conscious, and sustainable solution for my clients -- I recently created the brand identity for a new Toronto restaurant, Chick Bites.

I am an avid reader and have built websites for authors and book clubs.

I’m a photographer (Setting up shop in Karachi) and a painter.

Pakistani design heritage is a passion of mine and for my fellowship at Third Eye, I designed a photo-book to highlight Urdu calligraphy and traditional South Asian titles and patterns.

I’m always keen to chat about new projects and collaborations, please do reach out and say hello!

After living in NYC for five years, I thought it was time to make a rec list of my fav restaurants. There are many other but these are the ones that hold a special place in my heart!

If you live in NYC or plan to visit, here are my top 14 restaurants recommendations and what to order!

01. BK Jani

This is my #1 top rec! If you know me, I’ve told you about BK Jani -- and if I like you, we’ve already eaten here together.

This place holds a lot of happy memories of me and my friends sharing stories over lamb chops and burgers.

www.bkjani.com

679 Grand St,
Brooklyn, NY 11211

My usual order

01. ✨Lamb Chops✨

02. Masala Fries

03. The Jani or Lahori

04. Mango Jani

02. Abuqir

This place is a seafood lover’s (🙋‍♀️) dream! They get fresh seafood from a local Queen’s market daily and cook/grill it only after you’ve handpicked it. The vibe is laidback and my favorite server, Sohail, is always dancing to Egyptian music with a contagious smile and one can’t help but be in a good mood!

24-19 Steinway St, Queens, NY 11103

Recommendation

01. Baba Ghanouj

02. Eggplant with Garlic

03. Grilled Branzino

04. Grilled Shrimp

05. Fried Calamari

06. Fried Shrimp

03. Leo

My favorite pizza in NYC. I’ve had many long dinners here -- the pizza is delicous and the conversation flows easily but the food takes over 40 mins to come so it’s best to go with fun company.

www.leo-nyc.com

123 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Recommendation

01. Margherita

02. Clam Pie

03. The Hill

04. Tiramisu

04. Thai Diner

Get a spot at the bar here. This is my favorite thai spot in the city, and it will soon be yours too!

www.thaidiner.com

186 Mott St, New York, NY 10012

Brunch Recommendation

01. Thai Tea Babka French Toast

02. George’s Egg Sandwich

03. Thai Ice Tea

Dinner Recommendation

01. Khao Soi Kaa Kai (Veg)🙌

02. Mieng Kum Betal Wraps

03. Uncle Boon’s Khao Pat Puu

04. Sparkling Limeade

05. Punjabi Deli

This place is a NYC landmark. It also featured as a cover for Riz Ahmed’s Swet Shop Boys. Get the chai here and get some biscuits to dip in it.

@punjabidelinyc

114 E 1st St, New York, NY 10009

My usual order

01. Chai

02. Sooper Biscuits

06. Screamer’s Pizzeria

This place changed my mind when it comes to vegan pizza! The tip is to eat it HOT. I usually pick it up and then re-heat it again at home.

www.screamerspizzeria.com

620 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Recommendation

01. Cauliflower Buffalo

02. Screamers (Cremini & Oyster Mushroom)

07. Qahwah House

They cook/brew the tea in individual batches to your preference here. The chai/coffee is very hot so be careful. You can walk to McCarren Park and sip it there. If it’s a few of you, get pots of different kinds of teas/coffees and share.

www.qahwahhouse.com

162 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Recommendation

01. Adeni Chai

02. Khaliat Alnahl

08. Frankel’s

If you like meat, go here. If you like bagels, go here. The sandwich and bagels come loaded and are best shared with a friend sitting on the grass in McCarren Park.

www.frankelsdelicatessen.com

631 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Recommendation

01. Pastrami, Egg & Cheese Sandwich

02. Frankel's #1 Bagel (Salmon)

03. Coffee

09. Lite Bites

This is a small family owned business and the Aunty behind the counter is the sweetest. When I walk in she recognizes me immediately and asks if I want my usual. I nod and she yells my order to the kitchen.

@litebitesbrooklyn

700 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

My usual order for 2

01. Boneless Chicken

02. Channa Potatoes

03. Roti

10. Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather is the most consistant with its food and flavor. When I think of my comfort food, this is it!

www.birdsofafeatherny.com

191 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

My order

01. Shrimp Dumplings

02. Spicy Fish Fillet❤️

03. Spicy Cumin Lamb

04. Beef with Chilies

04. Fried Rice with Mustard Green Shoots

11. Win Son Bakery

There is Win Son Restaurant and Win Son Bakery. It gets confusing once you arrive at the intersection of Montrose Ave and Ave of Puerto Rico. Both are on the same intersection, opposite each other. Even though I’ve been to the restaurant many time, it’s the bakery thati makes it to this list. It’s the place that introduced me to shrimp patties.

www.winsonbrooklyn.com

164 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Order for 2

01. Millet Mochi Dount

02. Shrimp Milk Bun

03. Fried Chicken

12. Hanon

While I was watching Terrace House, everytime they showed Tsubasa’s dad preparing soba noodles in his restaurant, I wanted them too -- and so I came across Hanon! It has the best udon noodles I’ve ever had. Everything from this place is amazing, you can’t go wrong.

@hanonbrooklyn

436 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

My usual order for 2

01. Karaage

02. Tori & Kinoko Udon

03. Washu-Gyu Curry Udon

04. Chikuwa Tempura

13. Saravanaa Bhavan

The dosas here are delicious. But the filter coffee, even more so. There have been times when I had one before my meal and one after 🙈

www.saravanabhavan.com

81 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

My order

01. Onion Rava Masala Dosa

02. Madras Filter Coffee🤎

14. Bakeri

Bakeri is only a few blocks from my apartment so I go here almost daily. They don’t have wifi so it’s perfect for sketching, reading or catching up with friends. Sometimes I take my coffee+pastry and walk over to the Newtown Barge Park (or maybe its called Blue Slip park?) and the park is never crowded and has wonderful views of the Manhattan skyline 🏙

@bakeribrooklyn

105 Freeman St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Recommendation

01. Banana Date Nut Bread

02. Biscuit & Eggs

03. Oatmilk Latte

04. Focaccia

Photos of BK Jani, Birds of a Feather, Win Son and Hanon by restaurant. All other photos by me.

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