Here is an updated list of mostly cheaper restaurants, most of which are in the East Village:

Indian-Brick Lane-Banjara, Mitali, Brick Lane

Inexpensive Italian- La Marca (3rd Ave. and 22 Street, only opened noon-10 PM, Mon-Fri) Great Value

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches (limited seating)

Burgers-Black Iron ( also have wonderful onion rings and veggie fries), Paul’s (local divey spot), Corner Bistro (on everyone’s list, zoo on weekends)

Pork sandwiches-Porchetta (that is all they offer and limited seating)

Medium priced Italian- Cacio e Pepe, Gnocco, Supper (cash only), Luzzos (Wood burning pizza oven), Inoteca, Perbeco, La Lavanga, Le Zie

Expensive Italian- I Coppi (For dinner and great brunch)

Inexpensive Eastern European- Veselka, Ukranian National

French Bistro- Casimir, Lucien

Greek-Pylos (little more expensive)

Tapas- Tia Pol, Bar Carrera, Café Mono (more expensive)

Dessert-Veniero's, DeRobertis for the frozen lemon thing and tortonis.

Bagels- Ess-a-Bagel

Brunches-Five Points, Blue Ribbon Bakery, City Bakery (18th off 5th), Cafecito (Ave C), Clinton Street Bakery (our favorite but must go during the week, weekend is a zoo)

Pizza-Motorino Lombardi's, Totonno's, Pizza Fresca.

Pizza by the slice-Artichoke (14th Between First and Second) Bizarre service with a line because the pizza is good and the management is goofy

Hole in the wall-Stage (next to Stomp) great cheap home made soups

French fires-Pomme Frites

Seafood-Mary’s Fish Camp (cramped, no reservations, worth the effort) Mermaid Inn. Luke’s Lobster (just lobster rolls, limited seating)

Ice Cream-Cones on Bleecker, Il Laboratorio de Gelato, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Cones and Sundaes (East 10th), Grom (Italian chain)

Chinatown-Big Wong. Joe’s Ginger, NY Noodletown

Dim Sum-Jing Fung, Golden Unicorn

Jewish Delis-2nd Ave Deli, Katz’s (These are expensive for sandwiches but worth every bite)

Turkish-Turkish Kitchen (Very good values are the daily prix fixe lunch and Sunday buffet)

Expensive but great prix fixe lunches-Gotham, Toqqueville, Nougatine

I finally saved this to Evernote -- now I can find it when needed!

Thanks...heading back to NYC later this month and will bring this list along.
Have eaten at Banjara and Le Zie and both were excellent.
Any recommendations for Korean BBQ?

Bookmarking

NYC is full of neighborhood places that are inexpensive and serve food way fresher, better and more authentic than most people are used to.

Was in CA recently working late at the office and they ordered from PF Chang's - made a big deal as if this were something special. Well - the food is awful - and expensive (everything was salty, many dishes had no discernible taste). there are a ton of Chinese place sin my area (NOY china town with way better food - more authentic to a variety of cuisines - and cost less.)

have you eaten at these places in the past few months or is this a googled list?

Kealalani

We have never been to any of the places listed above. We simply pass by, look into the window and see if anyone is cluthcing their throat. If not, it makes the list.

I omitted DeFonte's on Third Avenue. After 75 years in Red Hook they opened a Manhattan branch. They make sandwiches that taste like old Brooklyn. The sandwiches can feed six but you will want to eat it yourself. They have old favorites like potato and egg, meatball parm, sausage and peppers and the roast beef is fabulous. Few places to sit, enter through the back and get on line.

"We have never been to any of the places listed above. We simply pass by, look into the window and see if anyone is cluthcing their throat. If not, it makes the list."

You hereby and owe me a new keyboard!!!

Hear Hear , You hereby and henceforth. . . . . blah blah blah. . . ..

@2sweets - for Korean BBQ, try Madangsui, Kum Gang San or Don's Bogam. All in K-town.

Crayon

Does any those have the white piano?

Have you been to Woo Lae Oak recently?

I think Kum Gang San is the one with the piano.

I haven't been to Woo Lae Oak but my Korean friends aren't big fans of the place. We usually stick to places in K-town for BBQ.

Thanks

Great list, and evidence that one can eat well and cheaply, and still avoid chains.

I will link this thread which, while concentrating mostly on more expensive places, has some good tips on eating cheaply for those willing to venture out of Manhattan. (Note that the restaurant Little Pepper, which is currently the best Sichuan Chinese venue in the city, has moved and is now located in College Point, Queens and therefore off limits to all but the most die-hard car-less persons)

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...estaurants.cfm

Absolutely love, love, LOVE Banjara. Some of the best Indian in Manhattan.

Bookmarking.

Thanks for the Korean BBQ recommendations.

Thanks all.

EKS-College Point is quite the schlep without a car, though you make it sound worth the trip.

I would like to set up a dinner there sometime....there is the Q20A bus that seems to run north on Main Street and then along Union, Parsons, and 20th Avenue. It does look like a bit of a long slog. The old one was much easier to reach but it was really a bit down-at-the-heels..

I wonder about a car service from the #7 Main Street stop (???)

Maybe if leave for College Point tomorrow, we can be there for July 4th.