It's all relative. I don't find a 10-15 minute walk to the subway as something inconvenient! Further, I welcome the opportunity to get in a little exercise.

In suburbia, people drive a block.
OTOH, New Yorkers think nothing of
walking 10 blocks.

I agree with you HowardR - it's what you're used to. People who live on York or East End Ave walk to Lex every day and it's no big deal. I walked to and from my kids' school on Madison for years - rain or shine. Everything's relative.

Yes, it IS relative, that was my whole point - it's relative to the person. What's convenient to HowardR, Centralparkgirl et al. is not necessarily convenient to me, the OP or others. And actually, the only point of relevance is whether or not it's convenient for the OP (which apparently it is).

There are many restaurants in the area, particularly on 2nd and 3rd Ave. I'm familiar with Estia (Greek) 34-33 St on Third; 2nd Ave
Deli, 33 St between 3rd and Lex, a couple of Mexican places on 3rd in the low 30's, Duke's Barbeque, 36/3rd, Josies 36/3rd for Asian fusion, Da Ciro for Italian, 33/Lex, Cosette (across from 2nd Ave Deli) for French, more than I can list. Check Menupages.com and click on East 30's for a listing.
If you feel like getting gourmet style food, go to Todaro, a specialty grocer, on 2nd / 30 St. Great prepared food, good selection of meats/fish/produce to prepare at home. Then there's the 13 screen Sony movie theater across the street if you want to see a flick.
You can look up many things online, particularly if you are looking for restaurants.

Raymond, that's exactly what I've been trying to say.....to give the OP a different perspective, lest she think that everyone thinks the location is not convenient.

There is an Amish Market, which is a gourmet/supermarket not far from that address at 240 East 45th Street.

I cannot believe that some people think that a 10 minute walk is "not convenient!" I have spent my entire city life living further east than that address and it takes me (a slow walker) 10 minutes, or even less, to walk to the nearest subway on Lexington Ave...

If you want authentic Chinese food, Phoenix Garden is a good bet at 242 East 40th Street.

For Turkish, friends of mine say good things about Ali Baba at 212 East 34th Street. Both of these are inexpensive options.

You Manhattanites need to realize that the rest of Americans who don't live in NYC rarely walk!

If they need to go from one store to another one that's across the street, they WILL get into their car and drive over there. That's the way it is!

Before I moved to Dallas, I visited there a number of times and didn't have a car. I walked 10 minutes to the grocery store. I was the only person in Dallas who walked. Almost got run over by cars everytime I tried to cross the 8-lane road to get to the store (with WALK signal on), because the drivers weren't used to seeing pedestrians.

And for folks who are visiting NYC, they will be walking all day, so adding another 15-min walk at the beginning and at the end of each day can be tiresome.

I don;t consider that walk long either - we routinely do a couple of miles after brunch on Sunday. But - to many visitors the idea of walking - except from house to car to office to mall is foreign. And that location is not very handy for the subway - most places will have a stop closer then that.

travelling couple:

Please share the details on the short term apartment rental at 330 East 39th Street.

Sandy

We live in the suburbs in California and we walk everywhere when in NY. Last time we were there, we walked from our hotel at Bryant Park to NYU. Time before that, we walked from Union Square to Times Square, and the friends we were with continued to their home in the west 70s. That's just life in NY; not saying it wouldn't be more convenient if the subway were at your corner, but it's not, and obviously, plenty of people live in that neighborhood and other neighborhoods equally "far" (I also don't consider a 10-15 minute walk very far in NY)from a subway stop. The apartment is already rented, so the "convenience" factor isn't really much of an issue for the OP, just knowing where it is and how to get there may be.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I live on the east side and use the 4-5-6 subway line just about every day. (Well, not today 'cause I'm in the Hamptons.)

Anything east of 2nd Avenue is considered a long walk to the subway by all the east side New Yorkers I know, and I know a lot of east side New Yorkers.

"Tavellingcouple's" rental is mid-block between First & Second Avenues, and it's 3 blocks south of 42nd Street.

My friends who live that far east and take a subway to work often will take a cross-town bus to the subway. Of course, I'm not talking about tourists in sneakers, I'm talking about New Yorkers.

Perhaps for a tourist it's not a long walk from 330 E. 39th to Grand Central? I find that tourists are generally less tolerant than locals.

As a Tudor City resident for almost 12 years I've enjoyed the banter within this thread. I have never once considered taking a bus to the subway at Grand Central, but granted I am on the 43rd St side! As people have said, the buses up & down 1st can get you anywhere on the E. side you're looking to go - the 2nd Ave bus tends to be slow at times (and crowded) but is convenient depending on your destination. The 1st Ave bus on the other hand is quick if you are going Upper East side - you can walk to 42nd for the Express by the UN or there is a bus stop on 1st & 39th that is a local.

All of the recommendations for food that have been given are very good!

It is a safe area. 1st Avenue can get a little bit empty over there late at night but it's nothing to worry about.

What a bunch of hogwash! East Siders, West Siders, any siders are a diverse lot. Some live a few blocks from a subway station and walk to the subway. Others take a bus. In any case, a helluva lot of New Yorkers live, say, six or more blocks from a subway station and walk to the subway! Otherwise, I want to know who all those people are walking to the subway at 8-8:30 Monday through Friday!

Sure, if you don't have a choice, you do what you gotta do.

But "those people" wish they lived further west, and that's one reason why rents go up as you move west towards Lex.

I won't bother arguing anymore. I live here.

HowardR - maybe they're ET's.

It's NY - you never know!

If you like spicy Chinese food, Wu Liang Ye on Lex between 39th and 40th Sts. is very good.

Also, as someone who grew up on First Avenue, I'd like to point out that East Siders love to complain about their lousy subway access. They have a point, but don't get them started, because they'll go on and on about the 3rd Ave. el, the 2nd Ave. el and all of the failed 2nd Ave. subway schemes. This time for sure!

Turkish Kitchen has fine food and a great Sunday buffet.

I live between Ave A and B. And this thread is laughable that a two or three block walk is a long walk.
Oh, my feet hurt. How I am going to reach the corner?

And for being sensitive to visitors taking the car, we purposely drag out-of-towners around on foot. If I am supposed to say bon jour to every shopkeeper in Paris, then visitors can use their precious little tootsies.

I agree with Doug that Chez Laurence was once one of the few places that produced genuine croissants and brioche. I had been not there for years and when I walked through the door and saw staff attired in berets, I knew that something was wrong and the croissants proved it.

I just hate when people from Queens and Brooklyn are made up to look like a bad movie from the 1950's.

Oh dear, berets at Chez Laurence? Not good! We were there again in January and had no problems (or berets). We've some good breakfasts there and as I said good coffee. Let's hope they lose the costumes.

Anyway, travellingcouple the area you have rented in is fine and I hope you have a wonderful stay in NYC!

I love this !
I was expecting maybe 1 or 2 answers.
So many choices in restaurants and so many views on distances and ways to get around.
I think we are going to take the tourist hop off hop off bus the first day to get around and to to see where everything is .Then walk where we can ,some subway and then cabs in the evenings.

Anybody know where the closest hop on hop off bus stop is to our apt.

Can't wait until our NY visit!