favorite restuarants NYC under 100 PP
 

Haven't been to NYC in December for a couple of years and looking for new restaurants for a great night out on the town. only there for 4 nights and have 2 evening engagements so more than likely we will have late lunches on those days. Like all kinds of food except Indian. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advance Also anyone know of good afternoon tea places.

Italian: Luna Piena Ristorante

We very, very rarely pay anything close to $100 pp and we eat out fairly often--once a week or so. We go to Babbo a lot; they have a large menu and everything is excellent. With a small carafe of wine (for me; partner does not drink) we usually end up paying about $140 or so with tip.

I am currently very high on Pasquale Jones on Kenmare Street, one of the "new wave" Italian places in Little Italy. Tips included.....fabulous pizza and vegetable antipasti and pastas. Same price in general.

Union Square Cafe is very good...all in with service included never more than about $150 for us. Maialino is EXCELLENT and we also have been going there lately once a month or so....the pastas are sublime, as is the roast pig, and all else we've tried. Also part of Danny Meyer stable, so all included, no tipping.

Upland is lovely.....same price range.

For small, chef-driven places, you will not do better than Estela but it is VERY noisy and cramped. Go early. Creative; small portions....full meal will come closer to your top limit.
Lamb ribs are must haves there, as are razor clams.

I like also Casa Mono and LA Vara, the latter in Brooklyn.

COTE has a great meat deal, The "butcher's feast." If you like Korean flavors and meat, you cannot go wrong. For Chinese we like Mission Chinese but usually go to Queens so no help there from me.

Here is a list I have posted a few times before and almost all are below 14th street. Unless otherwise stated it is inexpensive to moderately expensive.

Bagels-there are about six places that make bagels on First Ave between 12th Street and 20th Street. Our favorite remains Ess-A-Bagel. Tompkins Square is good but chances are 50-50 they will get your order wrong. BBQ-Mighty QuinnBrunches-City Bakery (18th off 5th), Clinton Street Bakery, weekend is a zoo), Esperanto Burgers- Brindle Room, Black Iron (also have wonderful onion rings), Paul’s (local divey spot), Corner Bistro (on everyone’s list, zoo on weekends)
Chinese Bao-The Baohaus-The guy with the TV show and book. A new place is fabulous called Drunken Dumpling. They make soup dumplings among a few other things on their limited menu including an oversized soup dumpling of which they only make 25 a day.

Chinese Dim Sum-Jing Fung, Golden Unicorn, Nom Wah on Doyers.

Chinese-Manhattan Chinatown-Big Wong, Joe’s Ginger, NY Noodletown
Dessert-Veniero's, Chikalicious
Expensive but great prix fixe lunches-Gotham, Tocqueville

Eastern European- Veselka,

French Bistro-Lucien (more expensive), the good cheaper ones have disappeared
Greek-Pylos (little more expensive), Taverna Kyuclaides for fish
Hip American-Brindle RoomHip Filipino both owned by the same people Jeepney and Maharlikan (more expensive) Hot soup- Brodo-Sidewalk opening on First Ave as part of Hearth.Ice Cream-Davey’s (Our current favorite), Cones on Bleecker, Il Laboratorio de Gelato, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Cones and Sundaes (East 10th), Grom (Italian chain), Van Leewen Indian-Haveli, Saravanaa Bhavan, Sahib (on Lex and about 26 St.)

Italian, Inexpensive- La Marca (3rd Ave. and 22 Street, only opened noon-10 PM, Mon-Fri) Great Value Italian, Medium priced-Cacio e Pepe, Gnocco, Supper (cash only), Luzzos (Wood burning pizza oven), Le Zie (7th Ave and about 19th)

Jewish Deli-2nd Ave Deli, the side dishes are superior to Katz’s. Katz’s is a zoo at all times now due to its celebrity. Lebanese-Au Za'atar which very reasonably priced French-Mideastern
Pizza whole pies-Motorino, Lombardi's, Gruppo, Ramen-Ippudo’s is always a zoo, Rai, Rai Ken

Serbian-Kafana on Ave C. Seafood-Mary’s-Fish Camp (cramped, no reservations, moderate), Luke’s Lobster (just lobster rolls, limited seating various locations) Aquagrill (very expensive) Spanish tapas-Tia Pol, La Boqueria, Café Mono (more expensive), Nai reopened and will try it soon.
Turkish-Turkish Kitchen (Very good values are the daily prix fixe lunch and Sunday buffet)

Venezulean- Patacon Pisao-, unbelievable chacapas

Vietnamese-Madame Vo, Sao Mai.

Loved Taboon for Middle Eastern "small plates" - and it's a really pretty place too.