Please make NYC Mexican/Italian Restaurant Recommendations -
 

Hi, I am going to be going to NYC (Radio City Music Hall) this weekend and would like suggestions on a good mexican or italian restaurants. I would like to pay no more than $20 a person in a casual atmosphere. Please Advise. Thanks!<BR><BR>

If you're coming from somewhere that has good Mexican food you may be disappointed. Good Mexican is not one of New York's stronger points. What alot of New Yorkers think is good Mexican pales in comparison to the great, inexpensive Mexican food you can get down south. I can recommend a "decent" Mexican place that's no too-too far from Radio City - El Azteca, on 9th Ave. and (I think) 52nd or 53rd. It's a fun place, in your price range and the food can be quite good. <BR><BR>I'll leave Italian to someone else, but will throw out one name -- Carmines on 44th, b/w Broadway and 8th.<BR><BR>

This post is from 1998. Let's hope that they found a good meal!

Italian--Puttanesca on 9th Ave at 56th Street has a following & I like it.<BR>It's cheap for New York.<BR><BR> Very cheap, not convenient for you: Focacceria, 1st Ave beteen 7th & 8th Streets, no reservations. <BR><BR> At no reservations places: 6 or 6:30, or 10, are good times to go. At this one you can go almost anytime, probably not 7:30-8:30 Friday or Saturday.

Mexican Radio on Cleveland (near Lafayette & Spring) is excellent. I believe it was named the Best Mexican Food by the New York Post. I've been several times and enjoyed it immensely. Try to get an upstairs table -- service can be slow downstairs.<BR><BR>

Diane...there used to be a place called Cancun Mexican on 55th Street and 8th Avenue...good food, very reasonable...I also remember an Italian restaurant called La Tre Venezie on West 46th Street and Pasta D'Oro on 7th Avenue in the 40's.