hotel and restaurants for May trip
 

I have been to New York once a year for the last three years and have never eaten in a real restaurant.We have reservations to stay at The Beacon hotel but need some feed back on that.The room is 205.00 a night if that will help for other suggestions.Also would love to eat in that area.We like mexican,Italian,seafood,and my friend is vegatarian.
This is also my first time to come in warmer temps.so tell me what to do in central park since we will be in that area.Thanks for your help.

Hi,

I live right near the Beacon Hotel. I don't know much about it... but it looks decent. As for restaurants, here are some suggestions:

Ocean Grill:
Columbus Ave and W. 78th Street-- . Menus can be viewed online at www.brguestrestaurants.com Great seafood. Isabella's is also up there and has a similar menu.. same owners but I prefer Ocean. They both offer excellent brunches too. They also own Ruby Foo's.. a fun Asian place. All of the menus are on the website.

Rain: Great Thai Food - West 82nd Street off of Columbus Ave. www.rainrestaurant.com

Cafe Frida: Great Mexican Food - Columbus Ave between W. 77th & 78th. It's got a nice atmosphere and is delicious.

Pappardella: Italian Restaurant on W. 75th & Columbus. Nice cozy atmosphere.

Patsy's Pizzeria: Italian Restaurant on W. 74th right off of Columbus. Pretty casual... but nice.

Cesca: Italian restaurant -- bit more upscale-- W. 75th/Amsterdam Ave. - www.cescanyc.com

There is also a place called Josies on Amsterdam and 74th. I've never eaten there.. but it's a vegetarian/organic/healthy type of restaurant.

You can also view menus by neighborhood online at www.menupages.com (select West 70's or 80's)

As for Central Park, it should be lovely that time of year. I'd recommend going for cocktails at the Central Park Boathouse. www.thecentralparkboathouse.com It has a great atmosphere. You could also pick up sandwiches and have a picnic in the park. Arte Around the Corner (Columbus/73rd) has great sandwiches, cookies, cakes, salads.

Enjoy!

I don't eat up there often, but the Neptune Room on 84th and Amsterdam has good seafood.

You can search for restaurants by type of food and location, and read user reviews on menupages.com.

Thanks for the help.I also need to know about getting to the Beacon from LGA.It says we can take the M60 bus and get close just checking on what to do.Always come in to Newark.Just want to know what to do.Can you also tell me about a skyline that goes to roosevelt island?Also are there any places that we might be able to see some stars?Thanks.

The Beacon is a good hotel but not fancy. Many of their rooms are like apartments with small kitchens and some extra space (called a suite). I don't know if that's what you'll get, but it would be nice.

You should double check on quikbook.com for your dates and make sure they don't have the hotel priced for less. Also, www.apartments2book.com often has the Beacon for less than the hotel's own website. It is location #11 on that website.
http://www.apartments2book.com/newyork11.htm

jennymary & MFNYC have given you great restaurant advice. Isabella's is another place that's popular in the neighborhood, especially for brunch.

This is the area featured in the movie "You've Got Mail" so you might want to rent the movie and watch before your trip. It's also the neighborhood where much of Seinfeld takes place. The Mus. of Natural History is nearby and Lincoln Center is not far. Perhaps the most likely place to see celebs in that area is outside the ABC studios (M-F)where Live with Regis and Kelly are done on Columbus Ave. and 66 st. at 8-9am.

LGA is really close to NYC and while you can take the bus, a taxi will only cost about $35 max. and most NYers would do that for 2 or more people.

The Roosevelt Island tram is at 2 ane & 59th st. Here's some info about it (although the price in this link is wrong. It costs the same as a bus or subway ride, $2 each way)
http://www.ny.com/transportation/ri_tramway.html

Thanks everyone for all your help.Can't wait to get there.My daughters high school choir is singing at Carnegie Hall so want to know how far it is from upper west side.

The Beacon is at 75 st & Broadway. Carnegie Hall is at 7th ave. & 57th st. It would be about a 15-20 walk (not unpleasant) or take the subway at 72 st & Broadway 2 stops to Columbus Circle. It's a short walk from there. You could also take a bus down Broadway, get out at 57th st and walk over 1 block. Here's a bus map that shows Carnegie Hall

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/index.html

If you're into food shops, don't miss Zabar's and Fairway, 2 really famous food stores on the uws near the Beacon. Both also have small cafes to eat there. Barney's Greegrass is also in the neighborhood and famous for their smoked fish (nova, lox etc.)