Come for the Mets, stay for the food. Citi Field – known for its trendy culinary offerings – has added several vendors for the 2019 season. And existing fan favorites, including Dō and Nicoletta, have beefed up their menus.
The Mets have unveiled the season’s new options at Citi Field. Smorgasburg favorites Pizza Cupcake and Dulcinea are set to make their debuts, while a sweet Dō and Big Mozz mash-up is in the works. Celeb chef Michael White’s Nicoletta pizzeria also returns with a new hero sandwich.
Here are the stadium’s edible highlights, starting off with the new vendors for the new season.
THE NEW
Pizza Cupcake
The popular Smorgasburg vendor debuts at the stadium this season, serving up snacks that pack pizza flavors in cupcake-size bites. Try the margherita pizza cupcake (mozzarella, tomato, oregano) or the classic pepperoni (mozzarella, tomato, pepperoni, oregano).
Where: Jim Beam Highball Club on the Promenade
Dulcinea
Dulcinea makes its Citi Field debut, after previously selling sweets at Smorgasburg and Dekalb in Brooklyn. The churro stand is serving a cinnamon sugar churro ice cream sandwich (with rainbow sprinkles or Oreo crumbs) and cinnamon sugar churros with dipping sauces.
Where: Jim Beam Highball Club on the Promenade
Destination Dumplings
Two chefs from Queens (Tristan Chin-Fatt and Deon Whiskey) are behind this trendy spot with new stadium offerings. Try the classic pork and chive, edamame, Korean beef or jerk chicken dumplings. Your sauce options include soy, citrus, sesame and salsa.
Where: Jim Beam Highball Club on the Promenade
Sliders and Sinkers
Citi Field will service Sliders and Sinkers, a rendition of Aramark Senior Executive Chef Patrick Schaeffer’s award-winning burger. Putting a ballpark-twist on the classic, Schaeffer has created the Champ Sliders (bacon, cheddar cheese and roasted tomatoes), Plain Jane Sliders (dill pickles, mustard, ketchup) and Mini Nathan’s Hot Dog Sliders.
Where: Section 413, in the Promenade
Emmy Squared
Emmy Squared, which features Detroit-style square pizza, debuts at Citi Field with its Colony, which features, mozzarella, ezzo pepperoni, pickled jalapenos and honey, as well as the Emmy, with, mozzarella, banana peppers, red onion, ranch and side sauce. It’s also selling the popular Le Big Matt, a hamburger with two Pat LaFrieda beef patties, American cheese, sammay sauce, greens and pickles on a pretzel bun (and served with Zapp’s Chips).
Where: TBD
THE RETURNING
Nicoletta
Celeb chef Michael White’s Nicoletta pizzeria set up its Citi Field outpost in 2017, but it brings a sizable new sandwich to the stadium this year. Joining its already extensive list of Italian-style eats (pizzas, gelato and fried mozzarella balls) is a meatball hero. Nicoletta’s fresh meatballs sit inside a sesame roll topped with classic marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and parmesan gremolata.
Where: Field Level Concourse, behind section 135
Catch of the Day
Catch of the Day, with a menu from James Beard-winning chef Dave Pasternack of Esca, isn’t new to Citi Field, but 2019 sees one additional item: lobster nachos. The snackable dish features Maine lobster, pepper Jack fondue, cilantro-lime creme, cotija cheese and jalapenos. The nachos join last season’s new snack, the Loaded Bayside Fries, which tempt with cracker crumb-dredged Cherrystone clam strips and clam chowder fondue.
Where: Section 102, Field Level Concourse, behind section 102
Fuku
David Chang’s Fuku is a destination for its spicy fried chicken sandwich and Milk Bar cookies. Several new items join the menu for 2019, including loaded chicken bites, loaded Fuku fries, Fuku (chicken) fingers and a spicy fried chicken, bacon and ranch sandwich.
Where: Section 102, Field Level Concourse
Big Mozz
Big Mozz’s giant, hand-breaded mozzarella sticks are becoming a ballpark must. Joining the menu this season are the Mozz Pockets, bite-size pizza rolls filled with mozzarella, red sauce, Romano and “magic.”
Where: Field Level Concourse, behind section 132
DŌ x Big Mozz
This sweet collab you didn’t know you wanted will test your taste buds. This season offers up new fried cookie Do bites. Think: that crispy mozzarella stick exterior, meshed with gooey cookie dough on the inside. The bites are available in chocolate chip, rainbow cake batter and brownie batter flavors.
Where: Field Level Concourse, behind section 105
Dan and John’s Wings
Skip the wings and try the new Buffalo chicken sandwich at Dan and John’s Wings. It’s topped with iceberg lettuce, tomato, white onion and blue cheese dressing.
Where: Bud Light Landing, behind section 335
Stuf’d
The food-truck company adds two new sandwiches to Citi Field’s 2019 offerings — the Stuf’d BBQ pulled pork sandwich and Stuf’d Reuben. S’mores Nutella bites are also new.
Where: Jim Beam Highball Club on the Promenade
Wowfulls
Wowfulls, which has a cozy, counter-service spot on the Lower East Side, offers 1950s-style Hong Kong egg waffles. The popular street snack, known as gai dàn jai, has a crispy texture on the outside and a fluffy one on the inside. Wowfulls presents its waffles as ice cream cones, filling them up with scoops and sweet toppings. At the Mets’ stadium, you’ll find its Strawberry Fields combo, strawberry cheesecake ice cream covered with French Toast Crunch cereal, caramel sprinkles, whipped cream and Pocky, or stick-shaped Japanese cookies.
Where: Section 121
Lil’ Sweet Chick
This spin-off of Sweet Chick, a hip Southern comfort food chain, is serving up the brunch classic, fried chicken and waffles, alongside the more portable chicken sandwiches. Options at the counter include the “OG Fried Chicken Sandwich,” topped with heirloom tomato, lettuce and a spread of herb mayo, and the “Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich,” seasoned with a special spice blend and covered in bread and butter pickles.
Where: Jim Bean Highball Club
Baked Cheese Haus
The Wisconsin specialty and artisanal cheese company has had a presence at the Bryant Park, Union Square and Columbus Circle holiday markets, but, hey, baseball season is longer. At Citi Field, Baked Cheese Haus serves its Alpine Brat sandwich, which comes with a foot-long brat smothered in melted raclette cheese on an artisanal baguette.
Where: Jim Bean Highball Club
Josh Capon’s Bash Burger
Grab a Bash Burger, complete with a Pat LaFrieda patty and onion and bacon jam, from Josh Capon’s ballpark branch. Feeling ambitious? Make it a Double Barrel burger with two patties, American cheese, fried onions, pickles and secret sauce. Capon is the chef behind city restaurants Lure Fishbar, B&B Winepub and El Toro Blanco.
Where: Field Level concourse behind Section 135
Dō
Edible raw cookie dough cafe Dō, which opened to huge lines in Greenwich Village in January 2017, offers its safe-to-eat treats to sports fans.
Where: Jim Bean Highball Club
Porsche Grille
If you’re looking for plated dishes — like a pan-seared cod, perhaps? — head to Porsche Grille. It’s from Myriad Restaurant Group, home to restaurateur (and James Beard winner) Drew Nieporent (Nobu, Tribeca Grill).
Where: Left field corner of the Excelsior Level
Tribeca Grill
Also from Nieporent and MRG, Tribeca Grill serves up bites including a red wine-braised short rib sandwich. Caraway potato roll? Check. Horseradish sauce? Oh yeah.
Where: DeltaSky360 Club Market
Mama’s of Corona
Head to Mama’s of Corona – yep, as in Queens – for Italian sub sandwiches like the house-made mozzarella hero sandwich with salami and peppered ham. And when have you gone wrong with cannoli, as seen above?
Where: Sections 105, 415
Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors
Options from famous meat purveyor Pat LaFrieda include the Original Filet Mignon Steak Sandwich, with sautéed Vidalia onions, Vermont Monterey Jack cheese and beef au jus.
Where: Section 139 and in Promenade Level Food Court (behind home plate)
Daruma of Tokyo
Based in Great Neck, Daruma of Tokyo is your spot for rolls — California, spicy tuna — and sushi.
Where: Section 105
Shake Shack
A dominant force behind the NYC dining scene and Citi Field is Union Square Hospitality Group, perhaps better known by its James Beard winner and CEO Danny Meyer. And if you remember the excitement when Shake Shack first hit Citi Field in 2009, you can feel the fever during baseball season, too. Grab a classic ShackBurger (cheese, beef and ShackSauce) or, for the veggie-minded, the ‘Shroom Burger, a fried portobello mushroom stuffed with Muenster and Cheddar cheeses. Wash it all down with the Shack’s frozen custard concrete.
Where: Section 140, Field Level Concourse
Papa Rosso
This pizza counter from Union Square Hospitality Group, which made its Citi Field debut in 2016, serves freshly made pies like the margherita, made with tomatoes, mozzarella, local Gotham Greens basil and olive oil. Other pies include pepperoni and mushroom with cheese.
Where: Section 141, Field Level Concourse
Blue Smoke on the Road
USGH’s Blue Smoke serves up mac and cheese topped with either brisket or chopped pork and jalapeños, as well as beer-braised chicken po’boys and other kinds of sandwiches. Southern sides include slow-cooked beans, cornbread and a creamy coleslaw.
Where: Section 140, Field Level Concourse
El Verano Taqueria
Also from USHG, El Verano Taqueria offers tacos, nachos and elotes (Mexican-style corn with queso, lime, cayenne and mayo or sometimes crema). This year, it’s adding a vegetable taco salad loaded with corn and cilantro and dressed with smoked tomato vinaigrette.
Where: Section 139, Field Level Concourse
Box Frites
Chicken poppers, French fries and hot dogs are available at this USHG stand devoted to Belgian-style frites. Among the wide selection of sauces, you’ll find cheddar cheese, smokey bacon, chipotle barbecue and garden basil pesto.
Where: Section 140, Field Level Concourse
Hain Celestial Gluten Free & Organic Stand
The health-minded can head to Hain Celestial for items such as a Plainville Farms turkey burger served on a gluten-free bun. Or if hot dogs are more your game for the game, grab a veggie dog.
Where: Section 105
With Lisa L. Colangelo