We arrive at JFK around 6:00 a.m. next Thursday morning. We'll take the Airtrain to Penn Station, check our suitcases nearby, and then spend some time exploring before we pick up our luggage and go up to Stamford.

At this point, we're planning to visit the 9/11 Memorial in the morning, and I'd love to spend some time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Where can we enjoy a cheapish (ideally, $10 and under for the main dish) breakfast near the 9/11 Memorial, and have lunch for about the same amount near the museum?

Thanks for your help!

Lee Ann

Well, I'd eat lunch iN the museum so as to not spend extra time, seeing as how you're going from lower Manhattan all the way up to the upper east side. There's a cafeteria in the lower level that's not bad, and also a place that costs a bit more I think but much nicer ambiance near the American Wing. Sure there are probably cute places on Madison, but if I read this right you'll be in town the one day? So that's why I suggested that. Have fun, the Met is of course great. You'll probably get lots of comments on other things you can do instead though!

In the neighborhood near 9/11, if you walk north or east there will no shortage of cheap Charlie breakfast breakfast places. Look for where the local workers go.

Ok. My favorite (and cheap) breakfasting NYC. Find a deli that makes egg sandwiches - they have to have a flat top griddle.

Get egg and bacon ( and cheese if you want), scrambled or over easy on a "hard roll." A regular coffee (2 sugars and milk) and it should set you back around $6 each. You can do 2 eggs, extra bacon, ham etc.

It's not a breakfast burrito, but it's what sustained me all those years in NY before moving to NM!

Lunch, find another deli, Italian this time and get a "wedge" of your choice - chick parm, eggplant parm, sausage and peppers are all winners. Under $10 a piece.

And of course, there's always a "slice" of the best pizza in the US. They won't have green chiles, but just about anything else you'd want and it really is so good, the worst NYC pizza is better than the best of most others cities in US.

BTw - the delis are all over the place. If you aren't sure if they make egg sandwiches- just pop your head in and look for the flattop or ask.

Same for Italian delis and pizza places. They are everywhere.

Please note they are not called wedges in NYC, they are called heroes.

One NY tradition is to avoid chains although many of the younger people are going to Starbucks, now.

Many breakfast places will either have signs in the window or a sandwich boards outside the door explaining prices. Now to be truthful, each deli has its own lines for ordering and paying. So be sure to ask. It can be stupid and confusing the first time. In some places you got the eggs to be cooked at one place but a buttered bagel somewhere else. And be sure to have your money out when you pay, people are going to work.

Avoiding chains is fine with me; we like to try locally owned restaurants when we travel.

Yes, basically, we have a chunk of Thursday in NYC and, maybe, part of Saturday. It depends on whether or not I'm done taping the show.

As you all know, there is so much to do and see - I'm having difficulty narrowing down my choices.

Lee Ann

There aren't a lot of decent inexpensive restaurants near the Met. You should eat elsewhere.

There is an over rated Shake Shack and the quintessential NY cheap stand up food Grey's Papaya nearby however.

Mr. Pickle asked if Automats still exist.

Lee Ann

Sorry, none that I know of. There was a tiny one on St. Marks that closed. And believe or not we were Amsterdam last month and there is a small chain that has them.

Sorry, in my NY 'hood they were wedges. Hero will work too.

Wedge I think may be CT language. Have ever heard it in NY- here it's definitely hero. As for $10 - often that means eating on the go - not sitting down. Once you sit at a table and order a beverage (soda, iced tea or whatever) you are paying for that, tax and tip and you're over $10.

There is a take out deli in the ground floor of my building and you can get a sandwich (but not real turkey) and a bottled drink - to go - for about $9-$10. And there are a million of these places. But you usually need to go outside and find a bench to sit on.

And Shake Shack and Grey's Papaya are not near the Met - they're on the west - not east side.

Your time is so limited agree to lunch n the museum.

I will admit, that I lived in a border town~

this is funny - I just googled hero wedge grinder and this popped up:

http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitch...s-and-spuckies

And it is pretty spot on, nailed my 'hood.

Near the Met I eat lunch at Le Pain Quotidien on Madison - http://www.lepainquotidien.com

In NY I eat breakfast at the Bus Stop Cafe at 597 Hudson which is handy for my hotel but it's a couple of miles north of the 911 memorial.

I call all those things sandwiches....

And Shake Shack and Grey's Papaya are not near the Met - they're on the west - not east side.


There is a Shake Shack on 86th between 3rd and Lex. And the Papaya King on the corner of 86th and Third.
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A hero is a sandwich on Italian otherwise it is a plain sandwich.

Fodor's summer guide to New York City suggests Hudson Eats, which is close to the 9/11 Memorial. Have any of you eaten at any of the restaurants there? Num Pang sounds delicious, and I see they have locations elsewhere in the city.
http://www.brookfieldplaceny.com/con...ent-27251.html

What about one of the famous delis, like Katz's or...the other one I can't think of right now? We do have to get to Grand Central Station in the afternoon so we can get the train to Stamford.

Thanks, everyone, for all your help.

Lee Ann

The 2nd Avenue Deli is about nine blocks from Grand Central. Many like it better than Katz's.

http://www.2ndavedeli.com

But don't look for it on 2nd Ave! But -

Even an egg salad sandwich exceeds Lee Ann's price range.

Katz' Deli is wonderful but more expensive than your stated budget p/p.