Brooklyn and NYC for the NY marathon
 

Each year I travel to a different city for a marathon, and each year I get wonderful advice from people on this website. yes, I could get a book but I think personal recommendations are sooo much better. So my friends and I are staying in Brooklyn (at a hotel right off the bridge) from November 5 through the 10 but we will be in Manhattan a lot as well. We will see a couple of musicals and are hoping to hit the David Letterman show as well. Does anyone have any recommendations for favorite places to eat that are not outrageously expensive? Also fun things to do or see while there. I haven't explored Brooklyn yet. We are in our late 20's to early 40's and pretty active (hence the marathon). We might just want to order in a pizza following the race so if you could recommend a pizza place near the Brooklyn Bridge that would be great as well. Thanks!

For pizza, Grimaldi's is very close by the Brooklyn Bridge. It may not be the first NYC pizza choice for everyone who posts on this forum, but I like their pie very much. Note that the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is only about a block or two away and also excellent.

As far as restaurants and sights in NYC, there are about a million and a half options. Have you done a search for possibilities, either on this forum or in a listing of attractions and eateries at Fodor's, Frommer's, or some other such entity?

What do you mean by not outrageously expensive? And are you including a drink and/or wine in the price? What types of food do you like/dislike?

NYC has dozens of excellent restaurants and many hundreds of good ones. Give us a LITTLE help.

Are you staying at the Marriott? Knowing more specifically where "near the Brooklyn Bridge" you are staying will help provide suggestions. (If it is the Marriott, for example, there's nothing in the immediate vicinity.)

Grimaldi's is fine if you want to wait in an hour-long line to get in. It's on the edge of DUMBO, where there are a number of other reasonably priced restaurants - and Jacques Torres chocolate! Grab one of his famous "wicked" hot chocolates, or his ice cream in the adjacent shop - and join the crowds walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. At the other end, hop the 6 train uptown to SoHo, the East Village, or the Met Museum...

Accomplicenewyork.com might be a fun thing for your group to do. Make sure to take some sort of cruise while you're here. Seeing the city from the water gives a whole other perspective. Goldstar.com often has great discounts for some of the smaller less well known cruises (and other things).

Here's a list of pizza places in the area of your hotel. If you click on the name it will say whether they deliver or not.
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants...sort/Rating-1/

You'll get better recos for restaurants if you're a bit more specific on kinds of food you like or where you plan to be. Or just have a look through menupages.com With the thousands of restaurant/food options, I could tell you about my favorite hot dog places but maybe you don't eat them. Eataly is the new "hot" Italian complex (restaurants and markets) that's opened and sure to be a hot stop for pasta loading. http://www.yelp.com/biz/eataly-new-york
http://ny.eater.com/places/eataly

The River Cafe is THE famous place near the Brooklyn Bridge for a fancy meal with divine views of Manhattan. But right next to it is Pete's Downtown, a casual Italian with more or less the same views. The food isn't memorable but it's not a bad option for you. http://www.menupages.com/restaurants...wn-restaurant/

Sorry I wasn't more specific guys. Yes, I'm staying at the Brooklyn Bridge mariott. The problem with asking me to limit the food choices is that I love everything. But really yummy Italian, Indian, Mediteranian would be great. Or anything that screams to you "man I have to go eat this when I'm in NY cause I can't get anything like it elsewhere." I guess as far as "reasonable" prices for meals-I'm thinking under $30-not counting alcohol. Also, I'm trying to find a good place to meet up with my other runner friends after the race is over. So close to the finish line (near Columbus Circle) that will accept a sweaty, stinky group for inexpensive food and drink. Playing with the idea of Coppersmiths but not sure if that is going to be too far to walk after running 26 miles.

Ah, good! The BB Marriott is on a main thoroughfare for getting onto the Brooklyn Bridge, right on top of 3 subway lines. And it's one subway stop / short walk to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO. It's also near the open air Fulton Mall if you need a fast food fix. :P

DUMBO is a hip, artsy neighborhood with a number of good restaurants (I like SuperFine local food; Rice pan-Asian; Rebar for drinks and great bar food), the aforementioned Jacques Torres, and pretty Empire State/Fulton Ferry Park with views of the bridges and lower Manhattan. Also decent bagels at La Bagel Delight and a couple of upscale grocery stores and delis.
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants.../all-cuisines/

For Indian, if you're interested in trying southern Indian food (dosas, uttapam, etc), go to "Curry Hill" - Lexington Avenue between roughly 23rd and 34th Streets in Manhattan. Saravana Bhavan and Madras Mahal (vegetarian) are both good, or try Indian Chinese food at Chinese Mirch. And keep in mind, southern Indian is generally spicier than most northern Indian cuisine! (Northern Indian being what we generally call "Indian food" in the US.)

And my rec for your post-marathon get together would be The Coliseum Bar & Grill, right across 58th St from the Time Warner Center. I have no idea, it might be really crowded post-marathon. But I can tell you that my sweaty, stinky softball team frequents the place in the summer, no questions asked! Food is typical Irish pub stuff...
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/the-coliseum/

You're in the Brooklyn Heights area. The Supreme Court of New York is across the street from your hotel. Look for Montague Street and Court Street. You will find plenty of ethics dinning such as;Asian, India, Mediterranean, Pasta and Salad, Sushi, and 5 guys hamburgers that will not break your pockets. There is also be a supermarket. The street is about 6 blocks long and will end at the Brooklyn Promenade. You can view Lower Manhattan, South Seaport and a beautiful view of the Lady in the Harbor-The Staute of Liberty.

Once a month I meet a friend on Montague for lunch and try places to eat. Today, we at at Armando's Restuarant and Bar 143 Montague Street.
We also like The Lantern (Thai) one block away from the promenade... 101 Montague Street Brooklyn New York

I also volunteer for the race next month. Good Luck!!