NYC Favorites?
 

I'm curious about everyone's NYC favorites. What are you favorite places for...

Pizza?
Bagels?
Gelato?
Deli?
Also your favorite casual and favorite upscale restaurants?
Favorite site to visit or tour to take?
And favorite current Broadway show?

Area of town doesn't really matter. Just looking to see what your favorites are. Thanks for any guidance you can give me!

Current favorite pizza is Numero 28. Thin crispy crust. There are several locations. I've only eaten in their newest on 1st ave and 73rd St, but eating lunch in the East Village tomorrow.

Grom gelato (from Italy)

2nd Ave Deli (2 locations) for hot pastrami or corned beef.

Bagelworks

Restaurants: Spigolo, Union Sq Cafe, Red Farm, Il Buco, I Sodi, Peter Lugers for starters

New shows to see: Venus in Fur, Peter and the Starcatchers, The Lyons, Clybourne Park

Pizza - we like John's. Motorino second best (Adu, no flaming allowed :-) )

Deli - we love Katz', but haven't been to Second Avenue Deli. Like Carnegie.

Favorite sites/tours - Tenement Museum and Ellis Island.

Thanks, guys - we have not been to the Tenement Museum yet, but it's on our to do list.

I try to always go to the Frick Museum when I get to NYC. It is my favorite US museum and one of the most enjoyable in the world, I think.

Favorite walk: - All or part way across the Brooklyn Bridge. Then from that area you can go south through the South Street Seaport Area and continue down along the water, all the way around the tip (have to cross in front of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal) to Battery Park and then up the Hudson Side to the WTC area, then back in and you'll be at City Hall Park.

Pizza-Motorino, Lombardi's

Bagels-Ess-a-Bagels used to be my favorite but the last two times they had fallen dramatically and H & H the good one is out of business. They bad one on the Eastside is awful

Deli-2nd Ave and Katz, the others are not close

Gelato-Il Laboratorio de Gelato

Ice Cream-Cones (bleecker, Sundaes and Cones (east 10th), Chinatown Ice Cream Factories

Will list favorite restauranrt

Bagel & Bean

Uncle Nick's (for Greek food)

I know lots of people say it's over-rated, but I still love Carnegie Deli. But Katz' is great, too.

and for something special that's not on most peoples' radar: Yonah Schimmels knishes. According to the photo in the window, Martha Stewart says they're the best in the world. There's no doubt ;-)

What great replies!

and for something special that's not on most peoples' radar: Yonah Schimmels knishes. According to the photo in the window, Martha Stewart says they're the best in the world. There's no doubt
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I actually like the knishes at Zabar's better, but we are very fortunate to have a place like Yonah Schimmel's at all. The very goyisha Martha Stewart is almost right.

Pizza - Little Italy Pizza
Restaurant - cafe sabarsky
Favorite Site - Brooklyn Bridge

Shows - Musical: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Play: Other Desert Cities. Loved The Lyons off-Broadway (opening on Bway soon). Once, Jersey Boys, Book of Mormon.

Pizza - John's (for it's location -- good place for dinner in the Times Square area. Not, like the best pizza in the city.)

Bagels - Russ & Daughters (for the lox spread, mostly. Also, love their iced coffee for some reason.)

Restaurant - lunch special at Spice. Dinner: i Trulli (like sitting in the wine room.)

Italian Sandwiches-Defonte's
Inexpensive Italian desserts-Veniero's
Donuts-Donut Plant
Breads-Sullivan Street
Bialys-Kossar's
Filipino-Maharlika
Taiwanese bao-Baohaus

Favorite Italian dish-Cacio e Pepe at Cacio e Pepe. Restaurant made pasta tossed in a hollowed wheel of pecorino with peppercorns.

Chocolate-Teuscher or Kee's truffles

Chorizos Spanish style (as opposed to Mexican)-Despana

Smoked Mozzarella-Joe's on Sullivan Street

Best Indian Buffet-Brick Lane-(They are very busy, they only put out small amounts and bring hot poori to the table.)

Most addictive food-Pineapple concoction at Pickle Guys. You will both thank me and curse me for this suggestion.

best hamburgers: 5 guys. El Greco in Brooklyn makes good burgers too. In fact, any good clean diner is way better than McD's or Burger King.

Pizza: 2 bros on 39st/9ave has slice-$1

like to hang out on Pier17.

Sheepshead bay in Brooklyn is good and clean. Go before Summer crowds arrive.

I went to Lincoln HS and lived in Sheepshead Bay for many years, it is nice to know El Greco is still around.

St John the Divine!

thestarryeye.typepad.com/explorenyc

I dont do tours typically, but I really enjoyed the Classic Harbor architecture boat tour of coastal Manhattan buildings, Statue of Liberty and of course, the bridges. Those tours leave from Chelsea Piers. Some of them have architects from the Alerican Institute of Architects who narrate the tours, the deco-style yacht is great. You learn a lot of history on those tours.

oh, and another vote for 2nd Ave Deli, I like the one in Murray Hill. How can you not love a deli that gives you free pickles and slaw right when you sit down. And their egg creams are to die for, much less the pastrami and Matzoh ball soup. Katz is a crowded zoo experience, I thnk that is part of why people like it. At 2nd Ave, you can really savor the food in a nice booth, it is not so crazy, and the tile in that place is just beautiful.

Never EVER go to the bathroom at Katz's.

I've used the restroom at Katz' and don't recall it being particularly a problem - I've been in way worse.

I'm not a fan of pizza, bagels,but,I love ice cream.
Try going to Brooklyn Heights, walk to Montague St.A lots of restaurants. Continue on walking to Brooklyn Promenada ,sit an look at the Manhattan Skyline, with a view of The Lady. One of my favorite places in New York.

ttt

Thanks for continuing to add all these great places. We have been to John's and liked it very much.

There are two very good ice cream places near the Manhattan Bridge. One is the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and the other is one of Jacques Torres's stores.

There are some interesting stores and restaurants on Atlantic Avenue including Damacus Bakery and Sahadi's spices.

Heading up in June.
2nd Avenue is always a must visit!! My son has already requested it.
For bagels I like a pick a bagel on the ues, is it still there?
We also love budakhan, miso butter, mmmmmmmm.
For brunch Eatery in HK.
For Donuts that you must eat. Doughnut Plant on the LES.
Another vote for Tenament Museum, I've done 2 of the different tours, so great!
We did an amazing walking tour a few years back, 4 0r 5 years ago I think. Don't know if they still give the walks...http://www.walknyc.com/
We did the Immigration and LES tour with James and loved it. That's where we first learned about the donuts!! We also stopped for bialys and pickles!
Have fun!!

Best tours: Big Apple Greeter. And they're free. Amazing.

http://bigapplegreeter.org/


Nothing wrong with the bathroom at Katz's Deli; it's old, odd and awkward but it's clean.

Best public bathroom in the City is the bathroom at Bryant Park near Bryant Park Grill. It's an experience. Don't forget to tip the nice lady.

Great thread.

Are there any other places in Manhattan particularly known for a good hamburger besides 5 Guys?

5alive - Five Napkin Burger (several locations) and Union Square Cafe for a more upscale experience.

MBM - There's a PickaBagel on 2nd betw 76 & 77. There might be more - maybe 86th.

For those who have done the Tenement Museum - which tour is your favorite? Thanks again for all this great info.!

re burgers, yes--- Shake Shack. Several locations. I like the original one in Madison Square Park.

Burger places have been popping up like crazy, so we are far behind in our burger binging.

We stopped at the Shack Shack a few weeks and the burgers were fine, not great, oversalted, and on the smallish side. The fries were meh but the shake was creamy, rich, and smooth.
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Corner Bistro-an old NY favorite with a bar in the front. Zoo on weekends.

In Le Merdiden behind curtain number two is the Burger Joint. An odd location with good burgers.

In the East Village is Paul's a dive burger spot where rarely do I see a tourist, even they line up down the block at Pommes Frites. The waitresses are of the "What will you have hon," varierty and the burgers are big and juicy.

Black Iron burgers. It is a bar setting with great onion rings.
http://www.blackironburger.com/

I've done all the Tenement Museum tours and they're all wonderful. Review the website and reserve your tickets online if there's a tour that you're particularly interested in.

Bookmark

Great suggestions. If you want to really get a flavor of what Little Italy used to be - and maybe see the Bronx zoo as a bonus - get over to Little Italy in the Bronx - along Arthur St. http://www.arthuravenuebronx.com/index.php

I went to a Ferragosto (think Italian Octoberfest - blessing of the harvest, etc ) ceremony over there one fall - and it was singing in Italian and dancing in the street - reminiscent of a scene from the Godfather.

Also - second the Big Apple greeter suggestion - and my guide in Greenwich Village was not only informative and very entertaining - but also very proud of his neighborhood.

Also second the Frick Museum - which is super. Of course, I think a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is obligatory - but you could also visit it's "neighbor" and I think on Sundays is it? - the Frick is free - but they do ask you leave a donation that you can afford.

As for pizza - can't imagine anything better than Motoronio's - which took me back to my "simple" - but incredible - Magherita pizza in Florence. http://motorinopizza.com/

Motorino's had their brick oven built by an old world type craftsman. It was not only amazing - but for $12 - included a very good salad and the pie was so big - I too half of it and my sister and her friend enjoyed the rest for breakfast the next day. :)

And don't forget Guava Dog or the other good "street food" type places around Manhattan. Seems if you have been hoofing around - and walk by and smell something great - it usually is. :) I had a lamb gyro at a "greek" cart close to Union Square - and the yogurt sauce was as good as I ever had.

Also - over by 12th and University in Greenwich Village (in a little alley) - is another "find" - and that's a Cambodian/Vietnamese place with very good Banh Mi sandwiches - and it's as good as the ones we have had here in San Diego for decades. :) Here is a NY Times review about what's happening in the Apple with these delicacies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/di...pagewanted=all

And I like Murray's Bagels just fine http://www.murraysbagels.com/index2.htm

And don't miss the incredible Cheese Shop - Murray's Cheese in Greenwich Village - on the very cute Bleeker St. - but I think they are owned by different people. http://www.murrayscheese.com/

Oh yes, here is the highly acclaimed Bahn Mi place in the alley in Greenwich Village - which one noted NY food critic droned on about for weeks. "The best surprise I have ever had," yada yada............................ NUM PANG 21 East 12th Street (University Place); (212) 255-3271.

Actually - right next to it was a small - Kosher approved - mid-east type counter - which had great Flafala for like $1.50 for 2 "balls" - with very good sauces. And the owner was a kick, one of the Jews who had migrated from Iraq.

Bookmarking

Bagels: Bagels & Co (76th & York)
Pizza: Arturo's
Ice cream: the red bean flavor at Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Deli: 2nd Ave
Favorite view: from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Years ago, it used to be just turning around after getting out of the Brooklyn Battery tunnel (provided I was the passenger, of course!).

I was going to list Friday evening music at the Met as a favorite thing to do - the perfect start to "date night," but I just went to their website and I'm not sure they do it anymore...?

Live music at Bemelman's Bar in the Carlyle Hotel. You might want to refinance the house first. ;-)

Best bagels-"Gotta Get a Bagel" in Forest Hills, Queens.

Volcano- they have expanded the tours since I've been on them. I'm so glad they did!! I guess I'll have to make a trip back!!