Small corrections to above post:

Num Pang does not sell banh mi; they sell Cambodian sandwiches known as num pang.

They are not located in an alley, unless you consider E. 12th Street to be an alley.


The falafel place is Olympic Pita Express. It is Glatt kosher.

Yes, all the Tenement tours look interesting - it's hard to choose! You guys are coming up with some wonderful suggestions.

We've been to the Chinatown ice cream factory. Think we'll check out Il Laboratorio after the museum since it looks like they're in the same area. Katz's too.

volcanogirl: I re-visited the Tenement Museum website and noted that their tours have changed since last I visited the museum. However, all the old tours were wonderful, I would assume these more current tours are as wonderful. I did notice that some of the tours are longer than others. One of the tours includes a costumed 'guide'. Any of them would be great. Have fun!

go to Patsy's for pizza 117th st in Harlem. Katz for Deli and if you can go and see Jersey Boys have seen it twice.

eks: Ok - thanks for honing the GPS - and double thanks for the Olympic Express Pita name - and yes, Glatt Kosher is the correct term. Mazeltov.

Now as for the sandwiches - please enlighten me as to the significent difference between the Cambodian Version and the Vietnamese one. I was there - had it - and it could have been prepared by any one of the numerous Vietnamese places that started making them here in SD well over 20 years ago.

Here in SD - I think the Cambodians are more involved with Donut shops - but we have large groups from all over Southeast Asia thriving here - so who's to say for sure? :)

BTW - as for deli food - and at the risk of stepping into a deep pool of favorites here - after visiting the Met Museum of art - went for a stroll - and I had a nice Pastrami sandwich at the Pastrami Queen in the upper east side. Think they started in Brooklyn, and there were lots of locals popping in while I was there.

I also liked Katz - and no Q that Stage Deli has a great pictorial history on the walls - as does Carnegie? - but thought both of those have become a bit expensive.

http://www.pastramiqueen.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pastrami-queen-new-york

also bookmarking

volcanogirl - I think we were discussing Costa Rica a couple of years ago.

Tom: The sandwiches certainly are similar but given the animosity between the two nations, neither wants his sandwich to be referred to with the name of the other. As far as I can tell, the Cambodian versions tend to have fresh cooked meats often BBQ, and are served hot, while the typical banh mi includes pate and is usually offered at room temperature. (Num pang means "bread" in Khmer, I believe) The bread used at Num Pang in New York is not the usual banh mi Viet-style baguette.

Both sandwiches trace their origin to the French colonization of Indochina, as sandwiches/bread are not traditional in most of SE Asia. (Although the northern Chinese shao bing have been very popular here in New York for the last few years)

Maybe the next new thing will be a shop selling the Lao khao jee. Or perhaps they are already sold on the West Coast US. (Currently no dedicated Lao restaurants here in NYC that I know of)


While I've eaten my share from the street carts in Saigon, I am no expert on the various banh mi offered in NY; one place that I did not like was Paris on Mott Street.

Hope that helps.

My new favorite tours to take of Greenwich Village:

http://www.cocktailsandcuriosities.com/

Self-guided walking tours that stop at cocktail establishments along the way. Genius!

t, yes, you're right!

G, we did a food tour of the Village, and I really loved it. I'll check out the link you posted.

Still having fun exploring all these wonderful ideas.

Aduchamp1 on Mar 17, 12 at 12:11 PM I went to Lincoln HS and lived in Sheepshead Bay for many years, it is nice to know El Greco is still around.
====

Their melted mushrooms w/cheese hamburger is to die for. on the expensive side, but well worth it. They've got some hot young Russian waitresses too. Too many Russian women in the hood/too few jobs means they'll take any job in any old hole in the wall just to get paid.

Some nice sea food joints on Emmons ave as well. You could go on a fishing boat to catch some yourself.

burgers at Shake shack
neue Gallerie
Katz deli even the toilet
the foyer at Ace Hotel
High line walk
The lamb's Club for a drink and art deco

LOL eks: The Vietnamese Banh Mi out here are made with the the usual good sauces and freshly cut veggies - and various forms of BBQ Beef, meatballs and my favorite - the BBQ Chicken.

And Oui - they use very light baguettes - and no idea where they find them here - but perhaps they were the first French-Asian fusion, non? :)

Hey - at the Thursday farmer's market here in San Diego's Linda Vista area - we probably have about six different groups from SE Asia - all peacefully co-existing and vying for your business, along with some other great booths - with offerings including Mexican/Central&South American, Indian and African foods, with some Brazilian Capoeira "dancers" performing. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct2ZoehKv4U

<<Tenement Museum - which tour is your favorite?>>

volcanogirl, we went there yesterday, and took the "Sweatshop Workers" tour--highly worthwhile! I recommend it!

We had lunch at Katz's Deli. The pastrami Reuben (with obligatory pickles) tasted great! I suggested we split a sandwich, but that didn't suit my husband, and we both wound up STUFFED!

We're visiting Manhattan for a few days. Today friends from CT came up and we went to see a matinee of <B><I>Anything Goes</B></I>. Cole Porter music with some very good singing and a couple of exceptional dance numbers--we enjoyed it a great deal! (I wanted <B><I>Book of Mormon</B></I>, but that's sold out till mid-November!)

<<Of course, I think a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is obligatory>>

I agree with Tomsd and others! Every time we visit NY I spend at least one full day at the Met--I haven't come close to exhausting it, in over a dozen visits! (I recommend the Cloisters strongly as well, if a visit is feasible.)

I also agree that the Frick is outstanding!

We have visited the Met and loved it, but have never been to the Frick - seems like it gets rave reviews.

I was thinking of splitting a sandwich at Katz's too because I have to save room for Doughnut Plant and Il Laboratorio de Gelato since those all seem to be in the same area as the Tenement Museum. That will be an unhealthy eating day!

It seems like all the tours are great, so maybe we can't go wrong. I get the impression that the one where the narrator is in costume is designed more for children though.

The Pickle Guys. Lower east side on Essex, two blocks off Delancey. Went there 2 yrs ago on a Fodors recommendatioon. Sure its only pickles but gosh IS it pickles! Here is the web site http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...&page=1#132435

Oops wrong link! Try http://www.pickleguys.com/

Honestly, everyone, I was just trying to be nice with the tip about the bathroom at Katz's. My experience was late in the day, but really, it was awful. I wouldn't post such a thing if it wasn't IME.

Has anyone done the meet the residents tour at the Tennement Museum? It says 5 and up on their website and I'm wondering if that's too "baby-ish" for a 9 year old. I like that it's also on the first floor and I think my parents will be with me and my mom has a bad knee.

Ok - so the bathroom was at Katz was a bit out of order. Duly noted. :) And did you say anything to the manager?