Great little restaurants in NY
 

We are staying in Murray Hill and are looking for recommendations for GREAT little restaurants in Soho, NoLita, Greenwich Village and Murray Hill. We prefer fusion type food, modern decor, but don't believe in spending $200 every night for 5 nights! Clinton Fresh Food was recommended. Any Help?

We were in new York 3 weeks ago and ate at Po which was an Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village. The tab for two was $100 - that included appetizer, entrees, dessert & a bottle of wine. The food was excellent! I think there are only about 10 tables.

Try the Cinque Terre and Salute in the Murray Hill area. One is on 39th and Madsion and the other is on 38th between Park and Third! <BR> <BR>JOHN

I like The Cupping Room Cafe in Soho. It had good food and good prices. I don't know the exact address but I can look it up if you're interested.

I'll say it again, "Il Mulino." A bit pricey but worth every penny! (For those keeping score at home - I know I recommend it a lot, however, I do not work there or own the place).

One Murray Hill restaurant that is quite good is Bellew on 33rd St. between Third and Lex. It has a piano player in the evenings and for Sunday brunch. The Sunday brunch -- at $20 for a three course meal(of real food as well as breakfast food) coffee, and one drink --is one of the best deals in the city.

I had a great meal at a tiny little place in the West Village called Home, at 20 Cornelia St. between Bleecker & W. 4th St. There is a garden patio out back that is just delightful and less crowded than the miniscule inside space. The food is fantastic -- it's like updated favorites, made with a twist and with fabulously fresh ingredients. They have a nice little wine list too. I thought the prices were pretty moderate by New York standards -- entrees were under $20 each. My salmon was unforgettable and the service was pretty good too. <BR>Hope you post a report after your trip and share your restaurant experiences. Good luck.

Lisa, you've been everywhere I have! After NY, our next biggie is scuba diving in Belize - have I beat you to the punch on that one?

Yes, you're beating me to Belize -- although I have been to Costa Rica (which was absolutely incredible). Just make sure you post a trip report so I can live vicariously! <BR> <BR>Also, re: your original question, if you are willing to step out just a tiny bit from the neighborhoods you specified, there is an excellent restaurant on the Lower East Side called Veselka which is my favorite place in the whole city for breakfast/brunch. It's an eastern European diner and has great challah French toast, cheese blintzes with raspberry sauce, kielbasa, etc. Really inexpensive prices, basic uninspiring decor but the food is to die for and the waitstaff is very good. They have nice pastries and baked goods to go too. It's at the corner of 2nd Ave. & E. 9th St., very popular on Saturday and Sunday mornings so there may be a short wait but it's worth it. They do have some outdoor seating on the sidewalk too. <BR> <BR>Have heard good things about Clinton Fresh Food but have never been there. By the way, a good website for checking out recommended restaurants is newyork.sidewalk.com -- just type in the name of the place in the Search box and it will bring it up, along with a map function and often a Zagat's review and/or other editorial review.

Baby Buddha on Washington Ave - a few block south of Jane Street in the west Village. It's a small Chinese with sudbued atmosphere and fine Chinese cuisine - very fresh and light, not oily and not the typical Chinese that most of us have become so tired of. It appears tobe frequented quite regularly by Village residents and the prices are very reasonable.

Lin, welcome to our neighborhood. I live in Murray Hill and love the area. <BR> <BR>Our fav in the area is Mishima, on 30th and Lex, great Japanese, and the best Sushi in town. It's small so you may have to wait a bit. <BR> <BR>Cheap and good chinese food is Sam's at 29th and 3rd. We also like the Backporch (cafe seating) 33rd and 3rd. <BR> <BR>On the west side our fav is Pomodor's just south of 72nd st on Columbus, trust me here the best bread in the world. Made fresh all night long. <BR> <BR>For fun, try America, 18th between B'way and 5th and lots of shopping in that area too. <BR> <BR>For wonderful and expensive try the Union Square Cafe or the Blue Grill both on the west side of Union Square and just the decour you are looking for. <BR> <BR>Have a fun, and if you see a redhead in the area, it's probably me, so say HI. <BR> <BR>tweedy

Actually, the Blue Water Grill on Union Square, which Tweedy mentioned above, is not expensive; entrees under $20, seafood (though a couple of non-seafood things which my BF, who doesn't eat, thinks are done well), and some fusion-type cooking. It's not "little" at all; it is in a former bank building with deco-ish decor and a downstairs lounge with live jazz. <BR> <BR>I suggest checking out the Manhattan message board of www.chowhound.com. The people who post there live for food and if you search the site by location or post a message asking for suggestions, you'll get plenty. You'll also see what people have to say about 71 Clinton Fresh Food (a very tough reservation because it's tiny, BTW), Po, and other places. Po has a $35 tasting menu.

Two great, inexpensive places: <BR>Delicia Brasil: Tiny, intimate Brazilian place on 11th Street between Hudson and Greenwich Street in West Village. Entrees are $12-$14 but can feed two. Caipirhinas, the national drink of Brazil (like a margarita) are just $4. <BR>Il Bagatto: Inexpensive Italian place on 2nd St. Between Ave. A and Ave. B in the East Village. Ask to sit downstairs in the cool bar-lounge area if upstairs is full---it usually is. The pasta specials are the strengths here, as well as as the bruchetta and grilled calamari. <BR>Call ahead for both places and try to get a reservation. If not, consider showing up and waiting. <BR>Enjoy!