Restaurant recommendations for lower east side & upper west side
 

Hi Fodorites, I will be in NYC in just over two weeks. My trip research of late has been delayed as my dear old Dad hasn't been well - I usually have everything done by this late stage. Happily he is much recovered and I can travel without overly worrying.

I would like your recommendations for restaurants in the lower east and upper west sides, as I am staying in each area for part of my stay. Looking for lunch and dinner locations, I would spend max between $20-30 for a main course. I like all cuisines, usually accompanied by a good glass of red.

Thanks in anticipation!

I have posted a few times before and are mainly East Village. Unless otherwise stated it is inexpensive to moderately expensive

Favorite new place of Au Za'atar which very reasonably priced French-Mideastern

Our new favorite Ice Cream-Davey’s on First Ave. Strong flavors without being too sweet.

Indian-Brick Lane, Mitali, Brick Lane, Saravanaa Bhavan. Brick Lane great lunch buffet.

Inexpensive Italian- La Marca (3rd Ave. and 22 Street, only opened noon-10 PM, Mon-Fri) Great Value

Taiwanese Bao-The Baohaus

Burgers- Brindle Room, Black Iron (also have wonderful onion rings and veggie fries), Paul’s (local divey spot), Corner Bistro (on everyone’s list, zoo on weekends), Back Forty

Hip Filipino both owned by the same people Jeepney and Maharlikan (more expensive)

Pork sandwiches-Porchetta (that is all they offer and limited seating)

Medium priced Italian-Cacio e Pepe, Gnocco, Supper (cash only), Luzzos (Wood burning pizza oven), Le Zie,

Eastern European- Veselka,

French Bistro- Casimir, Lucien (more expensive)

Greek-Pylos (little more expensive)

Tapas- Tia Pol, Nai, La Boqueria, Café Mono (more expensive)

Dessert-Veniero's, DeRobertis for the frozen lemon thing and tortonis.

Brunches-Five Points, Blue Ribbon Bakery, City Bakery (18th off 5th), Cafecito (Ave C), Clinton Street Bakery (our favorite but must go during the week, weekend is a zoo)

Pizza whole pies-Motorino, Lombardi's, Gruppo,

Pizza by the slice-Artichoke (14th Between First and Second) Bizarre service with a line because the pizza is good and the management is goofy

Hole in the wall-Stage (next to Stomp) great cheap homemade soups

French fires-Pomme Frites

Seafood-Mary’s Fish Camp (cramped, no reservations, moderate) Luke’s Lobster (just lobster rolls, limited seating) Aquagrill (very expensive)

Ice Cream-Cones on Bleecker, Il Laboratorio de Gelato, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Cones and Sundaes (East 10th), Grom (Italian chain), Van Leewen, Davey’s

Chinatown-Big Wong. Joe’s Ginger, NY Noodletown

Dim Sum-Jing Fung, Golden Unicorn, Nom Wah on Doyers.

Jewish Delis-2nd Ave Deli, Katz’s (These are expensive for sandwiches but worth every bite)

Turkish-Turkish Kitchen (Very good values are the daily prix fixe lunch and Sunday buffet)

Expensive but great prix fixe lunches-Gotham, Tocqueville,

There are a million places on the upper west side - of almost every imaginable cuisine - and most are in the inexepensive/lower moderate category.

It would help to know where you will be - are you looking at the lower 60s or the lower hundreds - assuming you are looking for places an easy walk from where you will be staying.

Note that all of the avenues are lines with restaurants - many with outdoor cafes - which I encourage if the weather makes sense. And any place that is not crowded at meal time I would avoid like the plague - since everyone here eats out all the time.

For UWS -

Gennaro - note: cash only
http://www.gennaronyc.com/

Pio Pio - the Matador combo is a great option to share but everything is good
http://www.piopio.com/

I've eaten at several restaurants in the LES but my favorite, by far, was Veselka. A Fodorite took me there and it was wonderful. I recommended it to a Fodorite recently and her photos of the meal made me realize how much I want to return.

http://www.veselka.com/

Last time I visited the UWS, a friend who lives there chose this 'French bistro' for us:
http://cafeluxembourg.com/

We liked it a lot.

UWS--

$$$$ Picholine. This is one of the top restaurants in Manhattan.

Casual--Nice Matin.

Thin

I'm not at all sure Luxembourg is in your price.

Gennaros is good but we have found Pio Pio has gone downhill.

Nice Matin is fine. Isabella's is too.

The OP is "Looking for lunch and dinner locations, I would spend max between $20-30 for a main course."

Yes, Luxembourg is definitely in this price range:

http://cafeluxembourg.com/lux-menu/

Almost all dinner entrees are under $30, and they also serve a burger or an omelette for dinner, under $20. Lunch is less expensive, of course, as is Brunch and a Brasserie menu they serve in the late afternoon.

Best to check the menu, before un-recommending a place based on price.

Isabella's near the Natural History Museum.

Thanks for all the great recs, I really appreciate them. Good tip nytraveler re the empty restaurants.

For Italian food, I love Morandi in the West Village. Awesome ambiance, food, and wine!

We got a recommendation when we were in NYC last November from some guy we met at City Winery. His favorite little hole in the wall on the lower east side is Tre on Ludlow.

We made a reservation (the place is tiny!) and loved it. The owner is from Naples and is very friendly.

Thanks again, I can't wait to try some of these :-)

LES --DBGB has some good prix fixe menus.
http://www.dbgb.com/nyc/menu

Gemma in the Bowery hotel is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The LES covers a lot of ground, so it might be best to give the address of where you will be staying.