laurelt

What about the new place, Westville, for all american food. anyone tried it yet?

luv2fly

STAY AWAY FROM ROCCO'S. That is my only suggestion.

Gekko

JoeG -- Glad to be of service. You'll enjoy exploring the LES/East Village/Alphabet City. Do me a favor -- if you're in the area, please do not walk across Tompkins Square Park after dark. Even post-Giuliani, it can be a bit rough. Better to be safe.

And if you're in the area and want to see a slice of freak show bohemian New York City, walk down St. Mark's Place from Third Ave to Ave A (St. Mark's is 8th street). It's usually a wild scene, man.

JoeG

Gekko,
Now you are really adding a sense of adventure to our dining experience!
JoeG

Tess_Durberville

>
Congee Village in Chinatown; think the address was 100 Allen St.

And another recommendation for WD50 in East Village. Address is 50 Clinton St. Expensive.

cindymal

Hi
Babbo is so over rated. Our server
was terrible and the atmosphere was just
ok but most important the food was average at best.I think if you enjoy fine dinning stay away from this place.
For the same price you can have a lovely dinner at Daniel
enjoy your trip

cindymal

actually all of the resturants i suggested i have been too and have been
living in NY my entire life

LilMsFoodie

from my experience, people that live in New York get so caught in the latest "experience" they can lose contact with what is truly excellent and what is "of the moment". My friends who are truly "le bec fin" find Babbo to be just a restaurant "of the moment".

Gekko

Perhaps partially correct, LilMsFoodie, but many restaurants that were once "truly excellent" rest on their laurels and become mediocre overpriced tourist traps.

New restaurants, on the other hand, face intense competition and the most demanding food critics in the world. If they're cuisine is only "of the moment," they won't last more than a moment (which is often the case, I might add -- "new" restaurants fail & close all the time in Manhattan, some remarkably quickly).

wondering

i think the key to Babbo is to know what to order. we went with menu suggestions from a guy who lives around the corner from the restaurant (so he frequents it often)and it was really a great meal. maybe not the best i have ever had, but in the top 10 for sure, and no, i am not a foodie but i have been to many great places and know a good meal. if you find a restaurant that everyone agrees on 100% , then go with it. my guess is you won't find one! the suggestions here on this site are always excellent! happy eating!

wondering

btw...if you are adventuresome...the salt baked squid at New York Noodletown in Chinatown, which is pretty much a dive, is AWESOME!

JoeG

All of these suggestions/recommedations are so much appreciated. Food is really the top priority for us. Theater, museums, etc. take a distant second. Sometimes I think we make a point of doing other things just so that when we talk about our trips to people who don't understand they won't think we're weird. I love all the thoughtful advice.It really allows us to maximize our experience. Plus you don't feel like a country bumpkin in the Big Apple going to Mama Leone's.
JoeG

1jan1

What would be your best recommendation for pre theater dinner?

GoTravel

Probably not what you want to hear but my suggestion would be to have a late lunch someplace fabulous and skip the pre theater dinner. I get too rushed and then too bloated and sleepy from dinner to enjoy the theater.

Gekko, props to you for such a great dining list! I've eaten at some of the restaurants on your list and they are all great dining for the money!

Gekko

Thanks GoTravel. That's pretty much my list of 'regulars.' My three rules for Manhattan dining are:

* Avoid midtown & Times Square (with an exception or two of course)

* Try something new

* Relax, be patient, have fun -- it's just a meal after all

1jan1

Go Travel, Thanks for the lunch suggestion that is just what we will do.

wantsomesun

If you want some thing wondeful in Chinatown, a MUST is Peking Duck House on Mott St. Order the Peking Duck of course it is heavenly.

Then walk up to Little Italy and have a sweet something from any of the wonderful pastery shops on Mulbury St.

Have a great time while you are here.

wondering

joe g: i also just remembered Martha Stewart did a show on her food program and visited chinatown nyc. she ate off the street-wish i could remember what it was- i think maybe bean curd-?- and sat down and then had a meal at Sweet and Tart....bet you someone on this forum can give you info on that!

JoeG

GoTravel,
I appreciate your suggestion regarding the late lunch vs. pre-theater dinner. We did the late lunch last year and it worked out much better. The year before we had a dinner at Bice and figured no problem taking a cab from there to the theater for Ragtime. Well, of course you can't find a cab at that time and even if you could it would take longer than walking. We ended up running all the way and just as we got into our seats the curtain opened. Needless to say we had an uncomfortable couple of hours.
Gekko - I appreciate your "three rules" - there are so many restaurants and so little time.
JoeG