Good tip to avoid the crowds - thanks laurie!

For lunch or dinner at Grand Central: The Oyster Bar!

https://www.oysterbarny.com

I've lived in NY my entire life and the only people that I've ever known to be able to get into Rao's were connected in certain ways and/or being a celebrity.

Agree about Rao's, and the people I know that have been there have not raved about the food. I went in once, many years ago, to ask about booking a table, and the bartender told me to call him 6 months later, which I did, and there were no tables available!

Sorry to make some corrections, but:

Le Bernardin is not downtown, it is in midtown west, and you would need to book a month in advance. Price would hover at a minimum around $300 a person without beverage and before tax and tip.

I think you can do a lot better than Balthazar, both for food and for service.
If you want French-ish food, we can recommend alternatives.. For one, LE COUCOU; another would be FRENCHETTE. Both have far better food than Balthazar, but they are slightly more expensive. Another would be Raoul's, FAR less touristy than Balthazar, its classic NYC French. Like both of those I just mentioned, you need to book as far ahead as possible.


https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59dbf46ec534a5f2363e3b4b/t/65fb418cec7e8e3c6660b64b/1710965132555/DINNER_03_20_24.pdf





Again, I would not call Zabars a deli; it is more of a food store, with excellent food, but not necessarily deli meats. And you cannot sit down and eat there, at least as far as I know. But as I wrote, above, you can buy foods to take out and eat in. your hotel, or in the Park.. Their speciality is smoked fish, not deli meats.

The deli I would recommend is Katz', as I mentioned above.
Along with Russ and Daughters Cafe, that would give you an over view of both Jewish-style deli food (meats) and appetizing (dairy).

Pastrami King/Queen is good. But for atmosphere I would go to Katz'. Read up on all the "rules" for how to order, where to sit, how to get free tastes, etc.

Here's another Italian restaurant suggestion... it is in East Williamsburg and the oldest Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, Bamonte's. It is definitely old school and you will need a reservation. If you ever watch Blue Bloods on TV, frequently there are stake-outs shown on this street where the Bamonte's sign is visible and at least one show has been filmed inside there, possibly more. You will have a fine meal but certainly not the best meal you've ever eaten. Service is very good. There are old fashioned wooden phone booths in the bar area although I've never seen anyone use one. Lots of signed pictures of baseball players and other athletes and celebrities from the 50's and 60's.

You need to offer an idea of your budget for a meal in order to get accurate responses.

Almost anyplace you choose to dine now, you would need to book in advance, IF the place takes reservations.

OF all the places in NYC, I would not recommend Hill Country Barbecue, or any BBQ---go someplace we do well..Chinese, Latino of various types, Korean, etc etc.
I can recommend some great Italian food but need to know your price point.

Second Avenue Deli is very good.

Just to add to the mix, here are a few (upscale but casual) places I've been to recently that I liked and would recommend (in addition to the ones I mentioned in my posts, above:

CLAUD
KOLOMON
DAME


For casual, very good Thai food, I like THAI DINER.
There is a great Asian food court on 261 Canal Street, where I like JOE'S STEAM RICE ROLL...inexpensive and delicious; no reservation needed but try to avoid peak lunch hours (noon-2pm).

Some great choices, eks! We usually like to keep things casual unless we're heading out to see a play or visit a particularly upscale restaurant.

I also recommend heading to the ferry for the Statue of Liberty early. I think you can book this online but it has been awhile since we went. You will have some early mornings (but they are worth it!)

Joining the great "Jewish" deli controversy. First, Katz is what can be called Jewish style, but it is not Kosher so not authentically "Jewish.". Second ave Deli at the 162 33rd st location is kosher and authentic and IMO is much better than Katz anyway without the shtick - just top notch real Jewish Deli. I was raised in the appetizing business (Brooklyn's Parnes Pickles and Salads) and know that business and deli well.

Bingo - you're exactly right. And for two great deli's we'll be doing Katz's (there are about 5 other amazing bars/eateries/pubs near Katz's location) and 2nd Ave. According to the map - it's only a 15-20 min walk from our hotel to 2nd Ave Deli.

Who knows, we may try Russ & Daughters too, and maybe Zabar's if we want some deli-to-go after the Hayden Planetarium or the Roerich Museum.

Has anyone done the Shearwater Schooner - it looks super nice and they get what looks like great reviews?

I have to agree, but for years I've underplayed 2nd Ave, in case forums like this result in it's being overrun like Katz'. Actually, I think the hordes downtown are mostly due to Meg Ryan's scene in When Harry Met Sally. At lease, when I haunted the place in the early Seventies it was practically deserted. Anyway, food's better at 2nd Ave.

Words of a true deli maven.

The area around MSG has lots of Korean restaurants. Try one of them.

I see two places not far from the Empire State Bldg - Her Name is Han and Jongro BBQ - thx for the tip!

As I said in an earlier post. all of 32nd Street is known as Koreatown. Lots of restaurants to choose from.

Any favorites or are they all pretty good?

No specific ones that I can recommend over another. I worked on 31st st between 6th and 7th pre-pandemic although I have since retired. I am not in that specific area all that often these days, last time was about a year ago en route to Penn Station, having exited the subway at Herald Square, for a quick stop at Macy's so didn't walk in that direction.

https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-y...estaurants-nyc

A Korean steak house that we liked a lot is COTE. We went just after they opened, a few years ago nd they had a good deal on a meal with various cuts of beef....but this was a few years ago and while I hear is it still good, word has gotten out so it may have become more of a scene...

I think you can just walk down the street and see what appeals to you..read up a bit so you can choose whether you want BBQ, offal, tofu, mind (dumplings) etc......Its fun there..looks so luck like Seoul!

Definitely doing Katz's and 2nd Ave Deli. Thanks for the Artichoke mention - I hadn't heard of that one.

What is "pedestal tickets" only - is that the Statue of Liberty??

Yes, pedestal tickets refer to the Statue of Liberty allowing access only to the pedestal.
https://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvis...e-pedestal.htm