Trader John is a used marine store that may or may not have items and hardware of interest.
NYC pizza is thought to be the best thin crust pizza in the world and there are a number of pizza shops.By the slice or whole.
If you wish to go downtown there are express buses that depart about 7-8M and return in the PM , so you wont need to take a bus to the electric sewer , the subway.
This is far and away easier than anchoring in NJ behind the Statue if you wish to visit the City.
Good food at many places is mostly in the low to modest price range.
Dockside at Consolidated or Minnifords is very protected although not in the low price range.
A mooring at Barrons Boat yard is inexpensive if you have a dink, or go on a weekend with launch service. Located tween CI and Hart Is.
There is a good sized food market on the island that can be walked to , your drag behind folding cart will be very useful.
Leave CI heading south at high tide (or just before) and enjoy the current push all the way out to sea.There are NO problems from the current (with you) in terms of steering , tho in Hells Gate , I would steer , not have the AP/GPS do it.