If you’ve already spent $1400 or so for your World Series ticket at Yankee Stadium, perhaps your pride will prevent you from being bilked further for a Fuku O.G. Spicy Chicken Sando ($16.29) or a single Sabrett hot dog ($6.29), or a double-patty burger without fries ($19.99). Or maybe you don’t want to track through dense crowds to find yawn-worthy celebrity chef creations in other parts of the stadium.
Within a block or two of the stadium you’ll find some remarkable options at a dozen or more restaurants. And better yet, it seems that you can bring in your own food into the stadium, according to the Yankee Stadium Information Guide. So whether you eat at the restaurant or take it to go, why not detour for potentially better (and cheaper) eats?
Half pastrami sandwich and bowl of matzoh ball soup at Court Deli
Court Deli, like Junior’s in downtown Brooklyn, is a hybrid diner and Jewish deli, and its pastrami, corned beef, and brisket sandwiches are the equal of any in the five boroughs (well, maybe not Katz’s). An everyday special ($16.95) is a half sandwich of any deli meat plus a full bowl of matzoh ball soup. The half sandwich is really just a smaller size of the more-overstuffed full sandwich, and this is a deal worth traveling to Court Deli for even in the absence of a baseball game. 96 East 161st Street, at Walton Avenue
Classic burger at Billy’s Sports Bar
The menu is spare and the beer flows freely, before, during, and after the Yankee Games at Billy’s Sports Bar, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s a bit of glitz, and TV screens so big it’s a good place to watch the World Series. The classic burger ($14.95) is one of only three, with a quarter-pound Angus patty char-grilled and topped with fresh lettuce, red tomatoes, and sauteed onions. A nest of good fries is included. 856 River Avenue, near East 161st Street
Goat curry at Flavas International Grill
One look through the window at the steamtable of Flavas International Grill will draw you inside, with its pristine selection of two dozen side dishes like stewed okra with chiles, gigantic lima beans, candied yams, callaloo, cheddar mac and cheese, and coleslaw, in addition to a choice of eight main courses. The goat curry combo ($14.66) is furnished abundantly, and yams and okra make for nourishing sides. The jerk chicken, baked salmon, and oxtails are also worth contemplating. 854 Gerard Avenue, near 161st Street