Famous Fat Dave Shares His Food Faves

Lots of folks claim to know where to get the best food in New York City. It's a point of pride for many locals to bring friends over to their neighborhood falafel stand, which is, of course, the best on the entire East Coast. But very few people have actually scoured the whole city for the finest places to eat. Truth be told, they probably couldn't even tell Ray's Deli from Famous Original Ray's Pizza.

They are not Famous Fat Dave. Born David Freedenberg in Silver Spring, Maryland, Famous Fat Dave, age 29, is a taxi driver who has parlayed years of recommendations from passengers into a full-fledged five-borough eating tour. The culinary expedition, in which Dave takes his passengers to his favorite restaurants all over the city, takes place in a pimped-out Checker Cab. Passengers have the option of doing a themed tour—like his Italian food "Boot of the Bronx"—or the standard "Famous Fat Dave's Faves." Despite their steep price-tag—four-hour, five-person tours in the taxi run $700, though Dave picks up all the restaurant tabs—Dave's tours have attracted locals and tourists alike.