georgec

We are from the UK, visiting NYC in September. Staying in 152 51st ST looking for a nearby neighborhood diner/cafe for cheap cultural breakfast

laurie_ann

In New York on those East/West Street's in NYC you usually need to know West or East as part of the address. If you are staying at the Michaelangelo Hotel that is 152 West 51st Street. You can use google maps, put in the address and then use the "find nearby" feature, type "breakfast" and see what comes up such as New Cosmic Diner 888 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10019-5704 which appears to be a classic NYC diner by its menu at www.cosmicdinernyc.com.

doug_stallings

First off, I'm not sure I'd characterize any NYC diner as "cultural", and most of the places in Midtown are certainly not cheap. Here's the basic problem. That location is smack dab in the middle of a busy business-oriented part of the city where nothing is really cheap or very neighborhoody. So, yes, you do want to walk west, but you really need to go all the way to 9th Avenue until you will reach an actual residential neighborhood where things start getting a little cheaper.

That Cosmic Diner might be the best shot close by, but it's also not exactly cheap (well, to be honest it might be by UK standards). Now if you want something that's good, try Le Pain Quotidien at 7th Ave./58th St. But it's more French in style.

For something cheap, walk into any deli in Midtown (not a sit-down restaurant or a Jewish-style deli, but a simple sandwich/coffee place that only serves take-out food) and buy an egg sandwich and coffee and take it back to you room. Breakfast for $5.

nytraveler

agree that you need to get your east sorted form your west - or you will be very confused your whole trip. the dividing line is Fifth Ave. The number start from 1 there (1 east and 1 west - and get higher the further your are from Fifth in either direction.

You can use hopstop.com to find places - as well as the easiest way to get there by foot, subway or bus.

And diners arean;t really cultural. If you want a real NYC breakfast get a bagel with a schmear and coffee at a take out place. For a real breakfast head to the upper west side to eithr the Popover Cafe or Barney Greengrass - the Sturgeon king.

Dukey1

ALL of them will SEEM "cultural" in a way because you will NOT get any baked beans for breakfast.

Bowsprit

The Red Flame Diner

67 West 44th Street

http://www.theredflamediner.com/Location.tpl

Reasonably priced, typical diner food, lots of local color. You'll love it.

Aduchamp1

Go to Ess-A-Bagel on Third Avenue just south of 51 Street for the best bagel in NYC. They have all sorts of cream cheese they can put on for you.

georgec

Sorry, should have said staying at the michelangelo Midtown west
Thanks, I feel we should walk over to 9th/10th or to 2nd/1st ave to eat with the neighbourhood locals. We love to talk to local residents as you get a better appreciation of your great city
Thanks all for your help. i am near completion of our 10 day visit intinery, which I will ask you for you comments. First day already booked (we hope) A Big Apple Greeter Thanks again.

bigbomoho

i eat at Ess's every day when we stay in NYC--the 2 of us get coffee and a bagel for under 10 bucks.We always stay at the Marriott courtyard at 53rd and 3rdI would put Katz's deli on your list of places --its been there over a 100 years and is terrific.Sit on the left to get table service when you walk in.Get an egg cream as a NYC special as well as a pastrami sandwich. You need to get the whoel east/west thing down or youll never get where you need to go in a taxi.My memory is thet the dividing line is broadway,with numbers increasing from there going east or west--the 100s will be the first block eastn, then 200s--so your hotle must be 1 02 blocks west from Broadway, ie W152

LSky

We stayed in Queens when we went to NYC. Each morning on the way to the subway, I stopped at a little Indian place and whatever that woman was cooking would be my breakfast.

I miss her still

After that it was pizza until my husband would no longer tolerate my eating habits on that trip.

nytraveler

No - that's not how the numbers work at all.

The dividing line for East and WEst is FIFTH Ave. And each block is not 100 numbers. Some of the shorter blocks are only 50 numbers - the longer ones - and farther from Fifth - are 100.

Broadway couldn;t be the dividing line since is almost the only avenue throgh midtown that is not directly north and south. It enters to the west - at Columbus Cicle and gradually slants to the east - crossing 7th Ave at 42 (Times Square) and crossing 6th at 34th street (Herald Square/Macy's).

Aduchamp1

I looked up the Michelangelo and it is between 6th and 7th.

Please note, probably the worst time to chat with a NY'er is at breakfast. Most are picking up something for the office and running. And if they are sitting they are either in a businss meeting or from out-of-town. Brunch is a big deal in NYC and that is only Saturdays and Sundays when people linger.

Bowsprit

Aduchamp1: Where is your favorite brunch spot in the city? Other than your own kitchen, that is....

Aduchamp1

Unfortunately my favorite spots are other people's favorites spots as well and are zoos on the weekends. But they are relatively inexpensive.

Since I live downtown they are downtowncentric.

Clinton St. Bakery-they have full table service and offer the same menu during the week and make some of the best biscuits, scones, and pancakes in the City.

City Bakery-They actually know to make real croissants plus other wonderful pastries.

Five Points-On Great Jones Street
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profil...ve_points.html

Blue Ribbon Bakery-another place that only has table service but bakes their own bread. This place is a bit hard to find.
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant...ribbon-bakery/

Casimir-French Bistro
You usually can get into here.

Cookshop
10th Ave and 20th Street.

Bowsprit

Thank-you, Thank-you. What a great list. Anything you really love in the West Village? All too touristy or no...

Where is Great Jones Street? Time for me to google.

Bowsprit

I've actually eaten at the Blue Ribbon Bakery. Is Penelope's in Murray Hill still around?

Aduchamp1

Doug lives in Murray Hill so he would know about Penelope's.

I prefer less expensive places and have not found a favorite. In a bind we go to DiFiore Marquet on 12th Street.

But I love the food shops on Bleecker between 6th and 7th especially Murray Cheese and Faicco's Italian butcher and two of my NY favorites Raffetto's Pasta and Joe's Dairy for there store made mozzarella. But these are not restaurants.

I am sure others have favorite brunch places in the West Village.

Bowsprit

Thanks. Murray Cheese and Joe's Dairy are fine establishments. I am looking forward to getting back to the city soon. I miss it.

Bowsprit

I made a mistake: The name of the restaurant is 'Penelope' without the possessive.

doug_stallings

Yes, Penelope is still there, but I just don't get the allure. It's ok, but expensive. The Barking Dog or even Cinema Cafe are both better, but in the neighborhood Benjamin is still my favorite.