lizziea06

The Shake Shack is my favorite place to get hot dogs in NYC. It's a stand in Madison Square Park, and the people watching is fantastic. If you don't mind braving the cold, it's worth a try.

www.shakeshacknyc.com

lucci

Thanks to all. But I have one more word to throw out to you...Value. While I don't mind spending money on a good meal, I feel that finding value..either hi end or low end, leaves me feeling better. At this point I will take a pass at Tavern..., eat lunch,if possible at my hotel if possible and try Picholine. Anyone heard of The Cupping Room and Country?

lizziea06

The Cupping Room is fine, not "interesting", and I would only stop in if I were in the neighborhood. It's not really worth a trip in and of itself. And there are much better restaurants in the surrounding neighborhood (Blue Ribbon, Goblin Market). Also, without knowing your price range, it's kind of hard to know what you think is a good value. I think all the restaurant selections that other posters have provided are good values, or else they wouldn't have posted them.

mclaurie

The Cupping Room is very much of a neighborhood place in Soho that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Agree it's not a destination place but good basic food. Country has gotten raves. It's in a newish hotel called Carlton on Madison.

Do you know about menupages.com ?

There are a number of restaurants that do great prix fixe lunches (and some do dinners). L'Impero is one I love near the UN.

Ryan

So, it's value you want.

For a really nice French meal try La Mangeoire on 2nd and 54th. (Michelin reviewed.) This has been a low-key favorite of mine for at least a decade. I've never had a bad meal here and the prix fixe option is a real bargain.

I might suggest if you're looking for value yet want to dine well, try the higher end places for lunch. Many will have reasonable fixed price lunch menus. You could eat really well by going to the 4 and 5 star for lunch then a more low-key option for dinner.

BTW, it is worth getting a free sign on to the New York Times website. You can access their restaurant reviews which inlcudes both high end and under $25 options.

lucci

Again, my most humble thank you for all of your imput. I feel that I have gathered a great list by NYC insiders that will be most helpful to me. I have eaten at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago, spending over-gasp-
$200 per person and enjoyed every crumb. Value? Absolutely. The Golden Nugget whole wheat pancakes for $4.85 a great value. Super pancakes, clean booths, a caring wait person.

I can't wait to visit New York!

marginal_margiela

Not all the restaurants I listed are expensive. Le Zie 2000 (7th Ave/20th St.) serves Venetian cuisine. They have a $15 prix-fixe lunch menu. Many of the entrees are $10-$15.

Punch, near Fishes Eddy on Broadway, is also inexpensive.

Green Bo in Chinatown is cheap.

Ike

Restaurant Daniel, Jean Georges, Babbo, Il Mulino, Cafe Boulud, Eleven Madison Park, Feledia, Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Gotham Bar and Grill, River Cafe and Shake Shack if you have time..........

williamscb13

Someplace very close to your hotel for lunch that is an excellent restuarant and very New York feeling is Whym. It's relatively new, opened last spring. I've dinner there and just had lunch there last week with my mom and sister. Our meal was excellent, good value, unique, truly American and didn't cost an arm and a leg. I would eat there all the time if I lived around there.

It doesn't get much notice, but if you are looking for someplace good near your hotel, I would very much recommend it. It's at 9th Avenue and 58th street.

Judyrem

We are going to NYC again this December, and I of course have started to peruse all the web sites about NYC food. I love menupages and chowhounds. For Value? I found a great lobster special at the Joshua Tree on restaurant row(near our hotel 14.95$ 1 1/4 Maine lobster with baked potato and corn on the cob...my DH loves lobster and I think we will go there for lunch..it is served all day.....FYI, Judy PS, I LOVE New York!

mdn

If lobster is what you're looking for, try Francisco's Centro Vasco.
A really good new Italian place is "A Voce" (a little expensive but not ridiculous)
And if you're one for VALUE, I'd recommend Lupa over Babbo.
French-Le Bernardin (Exp.! but amazing). I dislike La Grenouille- beautiful room, food's fine too but I've found the service rude & pretentious. Glad to see that the place does have a couple of admirers. Otherwise, it should've shut down years ago.
Milos is really good for seafood (my fav).

lucci

Has anyone ever gone to Lattanzi? And although you don't go to dine..What about Don't Tell Mama? I hear that it's alot of fun!

jodeenyc

Don't Tell Mama is great! There is a piano bar in the front and then in the other room they have performers. We once saw a performer do an absolutely wonderful Judy Garland there once - very good!

lucci

Dear food Gods and Godesses,

Have tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marquis Theature-1535 B'Way @ 46th. The show starts at 2pm so ANY lunch ideas will be welcome. Or early dinner.

Thanks so much.

lizziea06

I just looked on menupages.com, and there's a restaurant called ViceVersa at 51st and 8th that's about 5-10 minute walk from the theater. It gets really good reviews from diners, and the menu looks tasty. They have a prix fixe lunch menu for $25 and prix fixe dinner menu for $35.

mclaurie

ViceVersa is very good. I also like Lattanzi and it's neighbor Orso (Italian). Joe Allen (next to Orso) is good for burgers, salads etc.

Chez Josephine and Le Madeleine are 2 French places Howard likes (and I do too) in the theater district that haven't been mentioned.

mp

If I remember correctly from this past Sunday's NY Times metro section, Le Madeleine is in a dispute with the landlord (a former slumlord of mine . . .) and is in danger of closing very soon - within a month or so . . .

This landlord was bad 30 years ago and he still is!

lucci

Mclaurie, I'm glad that you mentioned Lattanzi
because I just made dinner rez for Thursday nite before we see Jersey Boys. I'll check out Visa Versa on line. That will leave me with Saturday to fill out my dining wishlist. I am thinking of Gramercy Tavern because it consistantly is mentioned. There are so many great places to choose from. I;m also delighted that there is a Whole Foods near my hotel so I can have some fresh fruit, cheese and crackers AND water.

mark99

Babbo for sure
Gothan Grill

PS- Babbo 4 weeks advance res to be sure you get a decent table time

Noa26

if you're looking for something yummy and unique - choose a st. and try each vender on that st. for one of its food offering. i did it once with a friend, we tasted all kind of simple but tasty food, its also a fun and funny experience (like a game), if you need more ideas of what to do in New York city you can try www.tripcart.com
bon appetite