We flew in early yesterday from our trip to Baltimore and on to Manhattan. I used to live in MD and have lots of family there, so I didn't need any tips, but I hadn't been to NY in ages - these were the highlights:
With the CityPass we did the Ntl History/Hayden Planetarium (Worlds Beyond Earth was very good), the Intrepid, the Empire State Bldg, Top of the Rock, and the 9/11 memorial. We also did lots of fun stuff like the Shearwater Schooner Sail around the harbor down to the Statue of Liberty and back (gorgeous city sunset views & nice jazzy DJ/musician), great visit to the Roerich Museum near Columbia U (amazing art and history), went to Roosevelt Island (enjoyed the tram ride, Four Freedoms park, the smallpox hospital ruins and the great story about how Mae West was "imprisoned" for 8 days on the island in 1927), the High Line (very well done and a great way to enjoy the lovely weather), Little Island, etc.

We went to three deli's: Katz's was hectic but their pastrami is damn good, 2nd Ave was laid back and delicious, and Zabar's let us stock up on some tasty rugelach, olives, to-go sandwich, etc.

As for food, so many great places! Loved Izakaya MEW (great cocktails, corn, beef & chicken all done very well), Momofuku Noodle Bar (in a mall, but delicious ramen!), Olio E Piu (tasty spaghetti and marg pizza), Hill Co. BBQ Market (craveable ribs and sides), Patiala Indian (vindaloo was amazing and the lamb biryani was unique, also the wine list was terrific), Reichenbach Hall (so-so German food), etc.

We did a few bars just for drinks: Brandy Library (had some amazing lowland scotch and cognac with some fine Jamon Iberico), Alligator Pear (great cocktail menu), Valerie (terrific Citrus Gin, Royal Pim's Cup). We only visited two breweries, Harlem Hops on the pier near the Intrepid and Other Half Brewing near Rockerfeller. We live in Portland so weren't expecting very good beer. Of the two, Other Half was better, but it was odd that all their IPA's were hazy, they do a nice British Brown Ale, though.

We had bagels for breakfast maybe 5 times, and the best was at Ess-a-Bagel - an everything with cream cheese and green onion. It was inhaled so fast our coffee was still steaming hot when we finished it off!

Thanks to everyone for your recommendations! The city couldn't have been easier to get around - the credit card on the phone made subway trips a breeze and uber for the few times we needed to get across town in a hurry.

Thanks for reporting back -- a hint - This really needs to be posted as a Trip Report, not tacked on to the end of your planning thread. If you ask the Moderators, they can create a new TR thread out if your post.

A bit late posting if you’re still there but we really like New Wonjo on 32nd, open late (used to be 24/7). Ground floor for regular menu, 2nd floor for Korean bbq, charcoal grills with excellent ventilation system.

The pub menu served at the bar at Keen’s Chophouse is good, a classic venue. Eisenberg’s Sandwich’s is an old school lunch counter.

Sounds like you had a good trip and hit a lot of NYC classic places.

basingstoke, you said you were raised the appetizer business and mentioned a brand starting with P, Parnes. My father had a client that fit that description!

Thx OP TheModoc! Bkmking.
I am done. the Olivia Benson whisper

True. My grandfather's surname was Parnes and he and my grandmother owned an appetizing store called Parnes Pickles and Salads located on Sutter Ave. In the East New York Section of Brooklyn. The store also sold other items such as knishes, perogie, blintzes, herrings gefilte fish and more. Everything except herring and lox was made by them. Other items such as fermented beet borscht were seasonal. It is hard to believe how hard they worked. I helped out in the store at times and did deliveries on Thursday evenings. One of my proudest moments was when after long training I was allowed to slice lox on Sunday mornings, one of the busiest times and when most lox was sold, usually ¼ lb at a time.

Metropolitan Museum is a must.
Briton Beach is rather original too)

Agree. Don't think of Brighton Beach as a beach, that is not the real attraction. Brighton AKA little Odessa is a culturally Russian area and unique in NYC if not the US. The restaurants, shops and even nightclubs are authentically Russian and Russian is the street language. It is your chance to visit cultural Russia without risking arrest as a spy.