Best of Little Italy
Oct 26th, 2011, 08:24 AM
#41
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Adu: I like Monterey Park also, but the best Chinese restaurants on the West Coast are in Vancouver, BC. Not their Chinatown, but out in the 'burbs, in the Richmond area.
Second best is the Bay Area.
Third is Monterey Park, although Seattle is coming out with some good Chinese restaurants, so I've heard.
Second best is the Bay Area.
Third is Monterey Park, although Seattle is coming out with some good Chinese restaurants, so I've heard.
Oct 26th, 2011, 08:30 AM
#42
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Call me corny, I live in NYC, but do go down to Little Italy every now and then. I am also part Italian, make my own "gravy", and grew up with great home cooked Italian meals. My grandmother was born on Mott St.
My son, a "red sauce" Italian fan, always enjoyed the liveliness of the area, especially in the summer when Mulberry St is closed to traffic. The being said, our "regular" joint is Il Fornaio, and we tried several before this became the standby.
It's not fine dining, service is spotty, and the ambiance is old-school drab, but the food is decent, and it's very reasonable.
Our other red sauce regular, in our neighborhood (Greenwich Village) is Gene's. It been around forever (and looks it), a true throwback. The food is better than Little Italy, and their prix fixe dinner is a good deal. The profiteroles for dessert are the best.
My son, a "red sauce" Italian fan, always enjoyed the liveliness of the area, especially in the summer when Mulberry St is closed to traffic. The being said, our "regular" joint is Il Fornaio, and we tried several before this became the standby.
It's not fine dining, service is spotty, and the ambiance is old-school drab, but the food is decent, and it's very reasonable.
Our other red sauce regular, in our neighborhood (Greenwich Village) is Gene's. It been around forever (and looks it), a true throwback. The food is better than Little Italy, and their prix fixe dinner is a good deal. The profiteroles for dessert are the best.
Oct 26th, 2011, 08:37 AM
#43
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Re NYC's Chinatown, I can only speak to the places I have been which were good, those being New York Noodletown, Big Wong King, and Chinatown Ice Cream. I liked the food at all three very much and would recommend them without hesitation. And all reports suggest the soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai are excellent -- sorry to say, I haven't been here.
I'm sure there are Chinatown restaurants that are mediocre or lousy, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to go to them.
starr's you said: "I also don't see the problem with a visitor to the city wanting to eat in Little Italy." Sure, there are people who come to Boston and are determined to eat at lousy places listed in guidebooks such as the Union Oyster House, Summer Shack, or Barking Crab. And if they're hell-bent on it, I certainly can't stop them. But I see no reason not to share my knowledge with them. If they're going to go, they shouldn't do so uninformed.
I'm sure there are Chinatown restaurants that are mediocre or lousy, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to go to them.
starr's you said: "I also don't see the problem with a visitor to the city wanting to eat in Little Italy." Sure, there are people who come to Boston and are determined to eat at lousy places listed in guidebooks such as the Union Oyster House, Summer Shack, or Barking Crab. And if they're hell-bent on it, I certainly can't stop them. But I see no reason not to share my knowledge with them. If they're going to go, they shouldn't do so uninformed.
Oct 26th, 2011, 08:43 AM
#44
bachslunch, I do not disagree. If you read my comment earlier -
"If you have a better recommendation elsewhere, nothing wrong with providing that information. I maintain that it's more helpful to add that to a helpful response to an OP's question - but I realize (from years of experience) that many NYC locals don't agree with that approach. Telling someone to go elsewhere seems to be the favored response."
"If you have a better recommendation elsewhere, nothing wrong with providing that information. I maintain that it's more helpful to add that to a helpful response to an OP's question - but I realize (from years of experience) that many NYC locals don't agree with that approach. Telling someone to go elsewhere seems to be the favored response."
Oct 26th, 2011, 08:58 AM
#45
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Well, I have to differ on the Barking Crab in Boston.
The kids had so much fun smashing those cooked crabs with the rocks provided! They loved splattering everyone at the long table with crab juice! Smash! Bang!
The prices weren't exactly cheap and the taste of the crabs was just OK, but we're more used to Dungeness crabs anyhow.
I have to disagree, if you're tourists in Boston and have kids who love crabs - take 'em to the Barking Crab!
We're getting a bit carried away from restaurants in Little Italy NY.
The kids had so much fun smashing those cooked crabs with the rocks provided! They loved splattering everyone at the long table with crab juice! Smash! Bang!
The prices weren't exactly cheap and the taste of the crabs was just OK, but we're more used to Dungeness crabs anyhow.
I have to disagree, if you're tourists in Boston and have kids who love crabs - take 'em to the Barking Crab!
We're getting a bit carried away from restaurants in Little Italy NY.
Oct 26th, 2011, 09:22 AM
#46
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easytraveler, re Barking Crab in Boston. I absolutely, positively cannot recommend this place. Consider these two issues:
--They have a history of problems with the Health Department for improper seafood handling, including an incident cited on this Chowhound thread by arguably Boston's best food critic, who uses the pseudonym MC Slim JB, as follows:
"The incident where their own restrooms' sewage was getting sucked into their lobster tanks always encapsulated the place perfectly for me."
Source:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/711792
--I have eaten there twice, and both times I got sick afterwards. Not once, but twice. It's the only restaurant in Boston I can say that about.
--They have a history of problems with the Health Department for improper seafood handling, including an incident cited on this Chowhound thread by arguably Boston's best food critic, who uses the pseudonym MC Slim JB, as follows:
"The incident where their own restrooms' sewage was getting sucked into their lobster tanks always encapsulated the place perfectly for me."
Source:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/711792
--I have eaten there twice, and both times I got sick afterwards. Not once, but twice. It's the only restaurant in Boston I can say that about.
Oct 26th, 2011, 03:26 PM
#51
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Love all the conversation here! Maybe I should apologize for starting a post that got so passionate - sounds just like an Italian! 
lol
I can't wait to see where we end up!
I'm noting every place anyone mentioned and if we go to Little Italy we will take all into consideration and see where we end up! I love an adventure!
lolI can't wait to see where we end up!
I'm noting every place anyone mentioned and if we go to Little Italy we will take all into consideration and see where we end up! I love an adventure!
Oct 27th, 2011, 02:58 AM
#53
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Thanks! I will pass by there next time I am in the area (at DiPalo, most likely, which is just down the street). I try to stay away from Italian sweets, but when I do buy them I have been buying on Arthur Avenue (Madonia for "double chocolate"biscotti; I think these are $14 a pound) and at Royal Crown in Brooklyn. Both are quite amazing! To me, Royal Crown and Sullivan Street have the best breads in the NYC area.
http://www.royalcrownny.com/
http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/b...kery/index.htm
http://www.royalcrownny.com/
http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/b...kery/index.htm
Oct 27th, 2011, 10:57 AM
#54
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Michelle - I am glad this post provoked lots of information for you...As you can see, the word "Best" is kind of useless in a city like NY - Everyone loves different places and things for different reasons -- that includes plays and musicals -- NY is ultimately about you and your willingness to explore places and things and foods and events and theatre that don't necessarily occur back home. The opinions of this random group of visitors and NY residents are just that - opinions.
BTW - I mostly eat in Little Italy with large bus groups from out of town. They enjoy it. I wouldn't enjoy having a quiet dinner in places that mostly cater to large groups.
Have a great time here whatever you do.
thestarryeye.typepad.com/explorenyc
BTW - I mostly eat in Little Italy with large bus groups from out of town. They enjoy it. I wouldn't enjoy having a quiet dinner in places that mostly cater to large groups.
Have a great time here whatever you do.
thestarryeye.typepad.com/explorenyc
Oct 27th, 2011, 11:29 AM
#55
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Thanks SueNYC
I guess I didn't really mean 'Best' as much as I meant exactly what you said...and should have posted it like that... "Eveyone loves different places in (fill in the blank i.e. Little Italy) what do you love and why?"
I wanted opinions - that's exactly what I expected to get.
We are so excited to explore places and things and foods and events and theatre in NYC! We will make it fun no matter where we end up!
I guess I didn't really mean 'Best' as much as I meant exactly what you said...and should have posted it like that... "Eveyone loves different places in (fill in the blank i.e. Little Italy) what do you love and why?"
I wanted opinions - that's exactly what I expected to get.
We are so excited to explore places and things and foods and events and theatre in NYC! We will make it fun no matter where we end up!
