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Manhattan eateries
A friend is going to NYC next month...and my family will go end of June, and she asked me if I could help her out with some restaurant ideas.
Well she gave me a list of key words to help and here they are... edgy foodie bistro could be ethnic entrees under $30 place to hang out good bar Anyplace ring a bell with those things in mind? TIA, thereyet |
Hello Thereyet. I live in NY and here is a list I print every once in a while. Most are inexpensive and downtown. There are a number of newer places that we have only tried once that are not on the list. All restaurants on the list, we have been to at least twice and most many more times than that
Indian-Brick Lane-Banjara, Mitali, Brick Lane Inexpensive Italian- La Marca (3rd Ave. and 22 Street, only opened noon-10 PM, Mon-Fri) Great Value Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches (limited seating) Burgers Black Iron also have wonderful onion rings, Paul's (on Second Avneue local divery place), Corner Bistro (on everyone's list but it is a zoo on weekends) Pork sandwiches-Porchetta (that is all they offer) Medium priced Italian- Cacio e Pepe (Romano, Gnocco, Supper (Nothern Italian, cash only, could be the best place on the list), Luzzos (Wood burning pizza oven), inoteca, Perbaco (small plates), La Lavanga Expensive Italian- I Coppi (Nothern Italian For dinner But great brunch value) Inexpensive Eastern European- Veselka French Bistro- Casimir, Flea market, Lucien Greek-Pylos (little more expensive) Tapas- 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, City Bakery (18th off 5th), Cafecito (Ave C), Clinton Street Bakery (our favorite but must go during the week, weekends are a zoo) Pizza-Lombardi's, Totonno'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 and Eastern European fare. (Never see a visitor, looks like a dump) French fires-Pomme Frites Seafood-Mermaid Inn Ice Cream-Cones on Bleecker, Il Laboratorio de Gelato, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Cones and Sundaes (East 10th), Grom (Italian chain) Chinatown-.Big Wong, NY Noodletown, (Both are slap dash service and very inexpensive) Joe’s Ginger, Joe's Shanghai, Peking Duck Dim Sum-Jing Fung, Golden Unicorn (Both are zoos on the weekends) Jewish Delis-2nd Ave Deli, Katz’s (These are expensive for sandwiches but worth every bite) Turkish-Turkish Kitchen (Sunday brunch buffet and everyday lunch prix fixe very good bargains) |
how bout if I give you a suggestion for each word?
edgy (not sure what that means but if you mean cutting edge of 'food fashion' - Aldea foodie - any Momofuku: Ko (good luck getting a reservation) Ssam (be prepared to wait) Noodle Bar (easy if you go early) Milk Bar (walk in any time for dessert) bistro - DBGB Kitchen and Bar could be ethnic - could be? probably the best food in NY IS 'ethnic' - how about Korean BBQ as reviewed in this yesterday's NY Times - Mandangsui http://events.nytimes.com/2009/12/09...tml?ref=dining entrees under $30 - see Time Out's list or NY Mag's cheap eats (http://nymag.com/restaurants/cheapeats/2009/) or Adu's good list above place to hang out - hmmm - any NY restaurant is not so interested in you hanging out around meal times if it's busy, unless you're spending money - if you mean a lounge or bar, how about the hip lobby of the Ace Hotel, which serves great coffee and has a DJ at night http://www.acehotel.com/newyork good bar - The Redhead; Rusty Knot; front room of Gramercy Tavern; Old Town; I'm not really a bar person anymore but here is a good database: http://nymag.com/nightlife/?f=bars-sub If you want ONE place that is ALL those words: I'd say Momofuku Ssam but you can't "Hang Out" there. And it's not a bar. |
Your list (including good bar and place to hang out) reminded me of the place LowCountryIslander wrote about in her trip report. I went there, and really enjoyed it.
Her description is here - http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ing-ground.cfm and their website is here - http://www.divinebar.ypguides.net/ |
Edgy in my friends case...I think equals = young, artsy, avant garde. She loves indie music, innovative cocktails, and seasonal/sustainable/organic inspired cuisine.
For Pizza, has anyone heard of John's on Bleeker St.? How about Saigon Grill or Famous NY Noodle House? Thanks Adu (nice list), mp and starrs. You all are great! I said "could be ethnic only because I didn't want an all ethnic list. She/we LOVE ethnic cousine and I am sure there are not many places that rival NYC for such. thereyet |
John's is famous. You can only buy whole pies - no slices
http://www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com/ The exception was the Taste of NY walking tours that I took (loved it) :-) I was killing time by myself and ate at the bar at the Divine Bar. Most of the folks at the bar were young and edgier than me :-) Nice place and meets the criteria for bar and hanging out. Table service in on the second floor. So many places... I'm sure you'll get lots of ideas |
Yup, so far the response has been great.
I am sure whole pies are NOT a problem! ;) |
Where are they staying? That may help. Almost every neighborhood has a "hang out" place.
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I'll find out where they are staying, and post back later. ;)
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John's is well known and is fine but is not good as some of the others. It is anything but edgy. Saigon Grill is acceptable and I have NY Noodletown on the list.
For "edgy" stay in the Rast Village and Lower East Side. There are many places on Stanton and Rivington and in Brooklyn, as well. Get the Time Out NY Dining Guide. |
Saigon Village is - like . . it's the place you order from when you're too tired and broke to shop and cook. But only if you don't care about places paying their workers a living wage(they were involved in a long, acrimonious dispute with the staff last year) You can do better.
For a pizza place that is less tourist oriented and more favored by locals, try Motorino, Keste or Co. Artichoke, as Adu recommends is terrific, but mostly just a take out place for slices. These days, edgy in NY is local, inexpensive comfort food, chef-driven, and sprinkled with bacon. |
Great to see another Aldea fan here! Excellent!
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Must get over to Motorino and Aldea.
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mp, will strike Saigon village off the list. Thanks.
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I agree, too, about Keste, although I think Motorino has better pizza. They have a good lunch deal--pizza and soup or salad.
The noodle house you are referring to is probably NY Noodletown on the corner of Bowery and Bayard in Chinatown. I love the place but you should know that it is no frills and you may have to share a table with other diners. (If that appalls you, you can stand your ground and try to wait for a private booth. Or go off hours.) A big nix on Lombardis--strictly for tourists. If you are in that Little Italy area, L'Asso has good pizza. Is your friend willing to travel to Brooklyn--right across the bridge (W'burg) there are some places that fulfill most of your requirements. |
My friend says she will be staying at the Muse on 46th St. at 5th Ave.
I will check out Brooklyn in June, but my friend spent all her time in Brooklyn last visit and wants to stay in Manhattan this time around. Thanks everyone! And thanks ek for chiming in. |
For bagels: will second Ess-a-bagel and would also add Murray's. If you only want the bagel to go with no toppings, would also recommend H&H Bagels.
There are lots of different ideas on NYC pizza, here and at every other board I've ever experienced. I especially liked John's and (in Brooklyn) Grimaldi's. Another Brooklyn spot, DiFara's, is supposed to be excellent, but I've never been. Was less taken with Lombardi's and Totonno's, but other folks like them. |
Topping for the weekend posters.
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We love Les Restaurant Sans Culottes. It is a country French place with great food, low prices and most important, a fun atmosphere. No bar though as I recall. It is located on 2nd ave just north of 57th street on the west side of the avenue. It's a pretty small place so reservations would be a good idea if going at a popular time.
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"...Edgy in my friends case I think equals = young, artsy, avant garde. She loves indie music, innovative cocktails, and seasonal/sustainable/organic inspired cuisine..."
In general, don't mix music with food. Few places do both well. mp posted recently about citywinery.com which I haven't yet tried but looks like one of the exceptions. Seasonal/sustainable food= Park Avenue Winter (seasonal) Blue Hill for sustainable-- both pricey but good. Here's a bigger list of restaurants http://www.slowfoodnyc.org/programs/soa I'll add WD-50 for edgy. http://www.wd-50.com/info.html I think your friend would like the website urbandaddy.com |
The Muse is a GREAT choice!
I'm too old to be edgy. :-) Wish I had more ideas but I'm fresh out. |
Ohhhhhh, those are some great links ek and mclaurie!
Thanks starrs, I will let her know. |
Thursday we are going ou for diner in the Aldea neighborhood. But Zagats puts diner at $61 a person, which is more than I anticipated. We will go to an old stand-by Le Zie but we will definitely go to Motorino in the next few weeks.
We went once to the predecessor of Motorino, who has left Manhattan for the wilds of New Jersey. They had a guest book at the pizzeria. As pretenious as the rest of the place. They closed when they ran out of dough (the flour type.). We signed the guest Fred and Ethel Mozzerrella. |
Bookmarking (NOT for the fake Chanel bags)
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Aduchamp: I don't think that the Zagat price points are always accurate. AFter all, they depend on people like us to state the prices! My favorite dish at Aldea (goat with cherries) is not on the winter menu but there are many good things waiting there, I can assure you.
The former owner/leaser of the Motorino space left to open a place in San Francisco. |
<<<The former owner/leaser of the Motorino space left to open a place in San Francisco.>>>
San Franciscan here. Name please (chef or new restaurant)? |
I will see my boss today, who is just getting back from NYC and she swore they were going to Motorino...so will get her review.
thereyet |
SF: His name is Anthony Mangieri. He comes from New Jersey and made his name at the predecessor to Motorino, Una Pizza Napoletana.
He developed quite a following here but his fanatacism also irked many people. He did close for the day when he ran out of fresh dough, although I am not sure why that would provoke people. I have no details on where he went in the Bay area, but you might like to read this article for more info: http://nymag.com/restaurants/cheapeats/2009/57897/ |
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I will second Katz and Murray's. Murray's cinnamon swirl bagel is to die for. For pizza, I love Famiglia in Morningside Heights, very near Columbia U. Near that is a great French restaurant, too: Le Monde, which is kitty-cornered to Tom's Diner. Take the 1 to 110th and walk north a few blocks. Over on Amsterdam at the corner of 110th St. is Bistro 1018 which fits many of your friend's criteria. But Aduchamp's suggestions are always good--they were very helpful to me during my extended NYC visit last March.
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Great post and thanks for the shout-out Starrs about the Divine Bar! :)
I'll be back in NYC at the end of March and I will be checking out the restaurants on this list before I go to decide where to dine! |
Thank you.
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My experience with WD-40 was good until I tried the olive oil ice cream for dessert.....
NY noodletown is a good one for lunch. It's a Cantonese restaurant so stick to the southern dishes. I like the panfried seafood noodle (the best in Chinatown), salt-bake(actually fried) soft shall crab or squid, steam chinese vegetable(gai lan is a favorite) with the vegetarian oyster sauce (it's made of mushroom) on the side, roast duck and roast pork( take out or do a noodle soup with either). The deep fried flounder is quite good not the best in Chinatown. They serve beer. Congee village on Allen street has good decor for a Chinatown restaurant. They serve wine, I prefer to bring my own, cork fee per bottle is about $10. Also a Cantonese restaurant which means seafood galore. A good place for group dinner. The tables on the right hand side of the restaurant are more quiet than the ones in the middle. The dimsum in Chinatown is really not doing justice for dimsum. They are poorly made. For real dimsum, consider a trip to Hong Kong. Jackson Diner in Jackson heights is a great cheap Indian Restaurant with authentic indian food. Lunch is buffet style with lots of food and costs about $10. They serve a la carte too. Their mango lassi (yogurt drink) is really good. Next to the restaurant is a good dessert place, get a piece of everything for the fun of it. Next to that is a grocery store, try the snacks-v. very spicy and good with beer. They have a really good coconut hair-conditioner, if you care for that. |
SF: We sent you Anthony Mangieri and you sent us Nate Appleman!
I've never had Appleman's food but the cookbook, A16, is terrific! It would make great gift for a home cook. |
SF: We sent you Anthony Mangieri and you sent us Nate Appleman!
I know!! I was so surprised watching "Next Iron Chef" that he's in New York. Meanwhile, every night I drive through SoMa on my way home and have my eyes peeled for a new pizza place under construction. Haven't found it yet :-) |
I am italian and I know that lots of italians love N28 pizzas!
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The dimsum in Chinatown is really not doing justice for dimsum. They are poorly made. For real dimsum, consider a trip to Hong Kong.
What subway stop is that? |
This list is great. So many new places I have never heard of. Going to check them out when I am in NYC the end of this month.
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The Divine Bar looks very cool. Love the rooftop deck! Need to check it out.
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