Exploring NYC for Neighborhood Restaurants
 

My wife and I will be in NYC on July 1, 2, and 3, and I'm thinking that one or two of those evenings we might enjoy heading to parts of NYC that we haven't been to before, in search of different neighborhoods (ethnic or otherwise) for dinner. I know that I've seen recommendations of this type before, with posts from Adu1, Doug_S, and others, and I've searched, but could not find it. My son recently moved to Astoria, so we will probably be out that way at least part of the time.

We like most cuisines, though we probably would not spend a lot of time or money on seafood, Korean or Indian, since they are available in abundance where we live. We would consider almost anything else, including greek, italian, french, chinese, middle eastern, japanese, etc.

Most of the time we've spent in NY in the past has been in Manhattan, from Upper West to downtown, with the exception of one trip to Astoria for greek food.

These are all below 23rd Street but mainlt 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)

Medium priced Italian- Cacio e Pepe, Gnocco, Supper (cash only), Luzzos (Wood burning pizza oven)

Expensive Italian- I Coppi (For dinner But great brunch

Inexpensive Eastern European- Veselka

French Bistro-Cafe Deville, Casimir, Flea market (for atmosphere)

Greek-Pylos

Tapas-Xunta. 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 ,Turkish Kitchen , City Bakery (18th off 5th), Cafecito (Ave C), Clinton Street Bakery ,

Pizza-Lombardi'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

Noodles and dumplings-Momofuku,(we were not impressed with dimpling man on St. Marks.)

Seafood-Mermaid Inn

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

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

Dim Sum-Jing Fung, Golden Unicorn

Jewish Delis-2nd Ave Deli, Katz’s

Anyplace you'd recommend that would be worth a trip to the outer boroughs?

I JRoth is around he will have excellent recommendations in Queens.

Mundo Cafe in Astoria is owned by an acquaintance and I highly recommend it (as do the reviews). http://www.yelp.com/biz/mundo-cafe-a...aurant-astoria

Sripraphai Thai in Woodside is considered by many to be the best Thai rest. in NYC. It's a few stops east on the subway from Astoria.

Some good Greek options listed in this thread http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/599744

For Italian in Manhattan, Malatesta.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sripraphai-t...iDZdB1VK5M-Dkg

In Astoria. try to visit Agnanti: http://tinyurl.com/pmospc

How about Chinatown in Flushing, Queens - worth a trip?

I'm not too familiar with Flushing, but get some ideas here:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...ushing_Map.pdf

some great recommendations here

Max Soha - could be considered Morningside Heights I suppose or Harlem. Wonderful homemade Italian - small restaurant with outside seating.

Chinatown in Flushing is not a tourist area but where people shop, eat, and socialize thus the food is excellent. We go to Jade Asian.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/jade-asian-r...terer-flushing

It gets extremely busy on weekends.

In my humble opinion, Flushing absolutely mandatory if you like Chinese food.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...pagewanted=all

One more (and by the way, the NYT is usually late things like this, but at least they eventually get it)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/di...pagewanted=all

thanks, nstevey, love that interactive map.

I highly recommend these two places in Flushing:
Shanghai Tan Restaurant - 135-20 40 Rd.

Spicy and Tasty - 39-07 Prince St. and I have heard raves about Nan Shian Dumpling - 38-12 Prince Street ( a limited menu of dumplings but supposedly the best anywhere and especially the beef wrapped scallion pancake).

These places are within a block or two of the Main Street subway station - we combine dining there with a game at Citi Stadium (Mets) - we walk to (or from) the stadium - about a 10 minute walk on Roosevelt Ave. Despite all the hype about the food stands at the stadium - this is some of the world's best Chinese and Asian eating.

Thanks, jroth - we are definitely going to make the trip.

Don't forget that the Upper East Side is also just a neighborhood with lots of neighborhood places -- e.g. Persepolis on 3rd Ave, Cafe Alsace, Quatorze, Il Forno on 2nd Ave, and lots more.

That's good to know, jroth. I have to admit as many times as I've been to NY, I don't think I've been any farther north on the east side than the 59th St bridge. On the west side I've been to Columbia, but that was just when my son was looking at colleges. Never been to Harlem & I have no idea what goes on farther north than that, except that I've heard the land elevation increases!