NYC Restaurants--Please Help!!!
 

We're finalizing our trip to NYC and need some last minute restaurant recommendations. We do have reservations at the following restaurants already: Nobu, Gotham, Balthazar, Quilty's and Roy's. We like California cuisine type of foods (light, fish, vegetables, innovative dishes etc.). <BR>1) Any other restaurants we should try? <BR>2) Need restaurnat around the Wall St. area for lunch. Doesn't have to be fancy, just some where good. <BR>3) Need good place for dim sum in Chinatown for Saturday. <BR>4) Where is a good place for brunch? Not interested in the lavish expensive spreads. Just want simple but innovative eggs, waffles etc. Debating on Quilty's, Sarabeths or Isabellas. Need input. <BR>5) Is Johns Pizzeria better or Grimaldi's? We plan to try one. <BR>6) Is Balthazar really all that? What dishes are good there? <BR> <BR>THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!

John's and Grimaldi's are both EXCELLENT, but very DIFFERENT. <BR> <BR>John's is a little more "upscale" (but NOT fancy by ANY definition). It's in a converted church, so the atmosphere is very comfortable with very high ceilings. <BR> <BR>Grimaldi's on the other hand is an "institution." You'll likely wait on line (outside) with nobody taking names, one just waits their turn. Inside things are fairly rushed, and the seating is TIGHT. <BR> <BR>I don't think you can go wrong with either, but John's is probably a better "overall" experience as it is a little more comfortable/relaxing, although the pizza at Grimaldi's MIGHT be SLIGHTLY better (unless of course you're a Sinatra fan, then Grimaldis wins as his music is always playing on the juke box). John's Pizza is probably a better location for you as well as it is right near the heart of Times Square, while Grimaldi's is in Brooklyn (and i don't know of any other reason why you would be in that area under the Brooklyn Bridge).

A few suggestions for you! <BR> <BR>(1) You mentioned you like fish - try Aquagrill, in Soho. Fresh innovative fish dishes - definitely call ahead for a reservation. 210 Spring St. (6th Ave.) New York, NY, 10012-3601 (212) 274-0505 <BR> <BR>(2) Brunch? Try Bubby's 120 Hudson St. (N. Moore St.) New York, NY, 10013-2317 (212) 219-0666 - in TriBeCa and absolutely great for brunch - prepare to wait a bit! <BR> <BR>Another to try is EJ's Luncheonette - there are 2 locations, on on 3rd Ave in the 70s and the other on 6th Ave between 9th St. and 10th St. Inexpensive, cute diner decor and great pancakes and omelettes. <BR> <BR>(3) Balthazar is good. Very good. Not my first choice however - for great steak au poivre try Raoul's - a NY institution in French bistros! 180 Prince St. (bet. Sullivan & Thompson Sts.) New York, NY, 10012-2924 (212) 966-3518 Excellent foie gras too. <BR> <BR>(4) John's Pizza would be my choice over Grimaldis. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip! <BR> <BR>

One place to try for a Wall Street lunch is Mangia at 40 Wall, diagonally across from the Stock Exchange. It offers a variety of food, but not waitress service. There is plenty of seating. The atmosphere is very, very upscale take-out; you can choose between sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, hot foods. Expensive, but good food and good quality. <BR> <BR>If you are on the other side of Broadway (closer to World Financial Center or World Trade Center) Mangez Avec Moi is a good choice. It offers Thai and other Asian foods. It is on West Broadway between Murray and Warren Streets.

Wow - sounds like a great trip! I live in NYC and have never eaten at any of the restaurants you've mentioned, although I did eat at Roy's on Oahu during a vacation there. However, I have gone for dim sum in Chinatown recently and my friend took us to Golden Unicorn which was delicious. She also pointed out the many Hong Kong style modern tea shops where drinks with these beads or balls in them are popular. <BR> <BR>Commenting on the above posting, I love Bubby's. Wish I could eat everything on the menu. And EJ's, a place I go to frequently because there's one in my neighborhood, has another location - on the Upper West Side at Amsterdam Ave & 81st St. EJ's has an upscale diner feel; in the same West Side area but more restauranty is Isabella's & Sarabeth's. I prefer Sarabeth's food, but if it's a nice day out, I love sitting outside at Isabella's. Oh and I also love Raoul's. I haven't been there in years, but in my pre-child days I spent many a special occasion there.

Grimaldi's pizza is my choice without a doubt! As far as no other reason to be under the Brooklyn Bridge area....just take a short walk over to the <BR>River Cafe Restaurant just under the bridge. It's one of the MOST spectacular views of NYC you will ever see! Worth the trip for pizza & view!!!

Dim Sum - I second Golden Unicorn or HSF on Bowery. Glden Unicorn is a little more friendly buth both places speak Cantonese fairly exclusively. I had my mother-in-law there who is Chinese but speaks Mandarin and we were still incommunicado. As long as you can handle some mystery dumplings you'll be OK. <BR> <BR>One of the tea places mentioned is Ten Ren, I think it's on Mott St, 1st block south of Canal on West side of street.

Balthazar is OK, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get there. <BR>

Hi Margaret, <BR> <BR>Sarabeth's has a wonderful brunch. We ate their last weekend and it was fabulous. I had the farmers omlette with a sticky bun and pork apricot sausage. The person I was with had a green and white omlette (scallions and cream cheese). Both were very good. No reservations so get there before 10am to avoid a long wait. If you do end up going there walk over to 78th and Columbus and check out the street fair. It is there every Sunday and doesn't take very long to walk through. You will find everything there...Indian Saris, Morrocan jewelry, fresh vegetables, hand made watches, etc. <BR> <BR>Have fun!

Thanks for all the great tips! I feel like I'm going to gain 20 pounds after this trip from all these restaurants! I think I'll stick to Sarabeth's for brunch and go over to that street fair after then hit Museum of Nat. History. I'm kind of hesitant about Balthazars.

minor quibble, but the "street fair" mentioned is actually a regularly scheduled 'greenmarket' (produce) and 'flea market' used and new stuff, heavy on inexpensive imports from India, indonesia etc. If you happen to be around on Sept 16th, there will actually be a 20 block (!) street fair on Columbus avenue (66-86th street) and the flea market will likely be closed or empty. You'll see a lot of the same vendoes though... <BR>

I actually will be the 9/16. Was planning to hit Sarabeths in the morning for brunch, hit the street fair then head over to Museum of Natural History. Can you tell me more about the street fair going on? Will this be a good day to go to Sarabeths and museum or will it be just too crowded?

You can count on the are being a bit more crowded than usual on the day of the street fair, but keep in mind that Sarabeth's and most other nearby Amsterdam & Columbus Avenue brunch-y restaurants always have significant lines on sundays between say 12 and 2 or later. Count on waiting an hour. <BR>You could also skip the brunch (I don't know whether you consider $10-15 entrees per person pricey for brunch) and eat your way through the street fair. There are lots of food stands, some from local restaurants, some regular street fair food vendors.Especially if you like different ethnic foods, this can be a fun way to brunch. <BR>Museum of Natural History is also always crowded on Sunday afternoons, less so first thing in the morning if you're inclined to get started early. <BR> <BR>NYC has loads of street fairs but this is one of the larger and longest running. Unlike some of the smaller (5-10 block) fairs we have, this one seems to involve more of the local merchants with sidewalk sales, promos, etc. Go, but expect lots of crowds, heat (for some reason, I always associate this fair with warmer than expected for September weather!) and lots of politics since we will probably be in the middle of a runoff democratic primary election for mayor--don't be surprised if you see "Mark Green" and <BR>"Fernando Ferrer" signs and supporters!

You've made some good choices. We go to Sarabeth's everytime we're in New York and usually arrive when they open so we won't have to wait. They also have a location on the Upper Eastside in the Hotel Wales. We usually go to the Upper Westside location, but if we're going to the Metropolitan Museum, Guggenheim or Whitney the other location works well. <BR>Another favorite of ours for breakfast is Kichenette in Tribeca-it's a tiny place but the food is really good and it has a nice neighborhood feeling. <BR>Balthazar is a good place but I've had some really bad service there. The same owner has a place in the meatpacking district called Pastis which is a little(just a little) less expensive and it has a very Parisian atmosphere.

Would Pastis be a better choice over Bathazar? What are the good dishes at Bathazar?