Burgers, Diners, Pizza and cocktails!
 

Hi guys - any suggestions for the above - within walking distance preferably of the Penn station area.

Want a really nice bar to have a cocktail, real diner (what is Ellen's stardust diner like), decent burger and pizza

Thank you in advance!!n

The area around Penn station is somewhat of a culinary wasteland with a few exceptions. For a cocktail on a nice day, Local West has a rooftop bar. http://nymag.com/listings/bar/local-west/ There's also a rooftop bar at the La Quinta hotel and the Metro hotel, both nearby. Here's a list of rooftop bars including those 2. http://nymag.com/nightlife/articles/04/rooftops/

Ellen's Stardust is anything but a "real" diner in that it caters mostly to tourists or families with kids. The singing waitstaff can be fun but food is mediocre and prices inflated. In your thread on breakfast, I gave you a list of diners and coffee shops nearby.

There are dozens of online lists for best burger, pizza etc. There will never be one definitive anything in NYC. Here's a list done recently by NY Magazine. Artisanal and Bar Breton are both not far from your hotel and quite nice French restaurants. http://nymag.com/restaurants/cheapeats/2009/57878/
Keen's is a historic, well known steakhouse not far from the hotel. They have a pub menu served in the bar area and their burgers are pretty tasty.

There are lots of decent pizza places in that area if you look on menupages (west 30's). The nearest famous pizza would probably be John's on west 44th st. in Times Square but they only serve pies, not slices.

PS, Koreatown Town is on 32 st. and there are a number of very good places there to eat (Mandoo Bar)_ and even a modern cocktail lounge called Maru http://www.yelp.com/biz/maru-new-york. But you really need to explore outside that area. The Burger Joint at the Parker Meridien hotel is considered by many to be the best in the city.

Niles, in your hotel gets decent reviews. I've never tried it. http://www.nilesnyc.com/index.htm

Hi mclaurie - thanks for all your suggestions - started to have a look at menu pages - spoilt for choice! Like the idea of a Korean restaurant - we will eat anything (well I will other half doesn't do sushi!) Yes heard that about Ellens....will have a look for somewhere more authentic.

I'm not a real fan of Pizza but my other half loves it - and I don't think you can come here without giving it a try!

Off to look at restaurants! - and thanks for the guidance on where to look on menupages....i was a little lost!

If you are willing to walk a bit for excellent pizza, salads and gelato, walk down to Co at 24th St. and 9th Avenue - really not that far from Penn Station. Consistently rated one of the best Pizza places in NYC

Pizza Fresca, a sit down restaurant 15 minute walk from Penn. A highly ignored pizza spot

Skylight Diner on 34th Street and 9th Avenue. As close as you will get to Brookyn/Queens style Greek diner in Manhattan.

Hamburger-I just checked Keen's does not have burgers.
Five Napkin Burger 44th And 9th Avenue Sit down restaurant, not cheap for a burger.

Does it have to be near Penn. Station? I had 2 of the best burgers ever while in NYC last spring. For an old school experience try PJ Clarke's up on 50th something and 3rd. It was the best simple burger I've ever had and the martini was great too.
A little closer to Penn. is Rare at Lexington and 37th. It's a more modern type of place with some very good gourmet burgers, although I just got their basic burgers and it was wonderful. Their fries were great too. It has a very popular bar too for cocktails.

There's an Andrews Coffee Shop next to the movie theater on 34th Street just west of 8th Avenue. That would also be within easy striking distance of the Penn Station area, though not in the direction of anything else. I've eaten at Skylight before, and it's not too bad. Though I have to tell you that most of the so-called Greek diners in Manhattan really aren't that good and are overpriced to boot. You can get much better comfort food from other places at better prices. We New Yorkers tend to choose diners because they are close to our homes, not because they are necessarily so great (though there are some exceptions).

For example, I like Joe Junior's on 3rd Avenue at about 17th Street (near Union Square, not Penn Station). It's tiny and a true greasy spoon (just don't think about the floor), but the food is good.

Doug

Aren't they closing Joe Junior's?

I've been to Niles, and it's fine, nothing to write home about.

The Joe Junior's in the West Village closed (the one on 6th Avenue). I believe that was a lease issue that affected only that one diner. The others are all still open as far as I know.

Adu - you think 5 napkin burger is expensive for a burger but think La Pizza Fresca isn't expensive for pizza? I always felt ripped off at LPF - thought it was really overpriced, stopped going there a few years ago.
Haven't been to Keste yet, have you?

Have not been to Keste.

Pizza Fesca is more than most pizza restaurants but it is also calmer and pleasant. Someone complained about the price of wine. Since I do not drink, I did not factor that into the cost.

The best hamburger in the city (for me) is Shacke Shack,in Madison Square Park,not too far from your area (ok maybe take a cab or mta)!It is en plein air so keep an eye to the weather!

Keen's certainly does have a burger on their pub menu. http://www.keens.com/OurMenus/Pub/

Agree that Penn station has nothing, but you can easily get from thier to the west village which has John's for Pizza. As for burgers, my favorite in the city is likley Irving Mill, which has a great burger special on Mondays. As for cocktails, again its not close to Penn station. But the bar on the top of the met is unbeatable for the overall experience.
My wife and I We moved here a few years ago and still approach the city from a tourist perspective. We have posted on the above on our blog: www.hitherandthither.net
I’ve posted the specific links below
http://www.hitherandthither.net/2009...bor-day-i.html
http://www.hitherandthither.net/2009...-gluttony.html
If you see something you like, let us know you visited and leave us a comment, and definitely let me know if you end up planning something or doing something inspired by what you see!
Have fun!
alovesa
www.hitherandthither.net

Tons of options but you're going to need to get away from the Penn Station area.

hi guys thanks for your suggestions - made a few choices none are near Penn - just need to decide where to go! some of them are:

Little owl in west village
The House
Metrazur
Ruby Foos (looks like fun)
Angus Mcindoe
Just strugging on bars!

Alovesa will have a look at your link!!

Clarex

Ruby Foo's is fun, but expect pretty high prices for pretty average Chinese food. It's a better choice if you have kids.

I'm of two minds on Metrazur as a restaurant. I've eaten there on a Saturday night (only two other customers in the entire restaurant, though the food was pretty good but not great yet a bargain because of the prix-fixe). Not sure whether I can recommend it. It's usually dead except right after work. I'd have to say the same for Michael Jordan's Steakhouse ... really expensive mediocre steaks and teeny sides (all a la carte, of course, for the same price you'd pay for triple the portion at any other steakhouse). The bar at Metrazur is actually quite nice, though, and that's a bar I'd recommend.