Sam, the sad part is you just don't get it. You really don't understand (or don't want to understand)what some of the others and I are trying to say. And, that's sad!
In response to your question, my three favorites NYC restaurants are, in no particular order, Le Cirque 200, Le Bernardin and Bouley Bakery. Any more questions?

P.S. to Tom: Not all of us successful New Yorkers are arrogant!

Sam, no one is debating your knowledge of dining in New York. Your reviews and advice are much appreciated and will help many Fodorite on future trips to New York. However, what is not appreciated is your arrogance and impetulance. You sound like a child. That fact that you feel the need to belittle others for their dining choices saddens me. What you have to gain by calling others morons is not clear. Your knowledge of restaurants is impressive and relevant. However, the fact that you eat out 20 times a month is not.

Sam, relax a bit. Most New Yorkers eat out 20 times a month. And as I said before, I agree with some of your reviews; but you make it sound as if you are more discerning than those who disagree. I daresay I would match you in where I eat and how many times and how knowledgeable and discerning I am--but I do defer to you on ego! Readers, be aware that one opinion is just that: Opinion. Take the sum of this and other postings. And as a general rule, avoid eating where tourists flock. Check out the NY Times and use a book with many opinions as a backup, And by the way, to save money, go for lunch or pre-theatre or prix fixe meals. You can eat in the greatest restaurants for the price of merely good ones.

Well said, Foodwriter! This board could use a little sanity and solid advice and you have provided both!

Too much bickering and not enough reviewing.

I'd like to hear some recommendations for some smaller, more affordable neighborhood restaurants.

Okay Okay Okay

I give up. I will never write on this site again. Do you think you will better off because you won't have to tolerate my massive ego or worse off because you will be eating at Carmine's because it's so very popular? Good luck to you all. Anybody with a real food question can contact me at my email adrs [email protected]

Sam, for what it's worth I thought your posts were enjoyable reading. One of your rebuttals really had me laughing. Don't not post to this site just because people get all hot and bothered ... ignore.

Gee, what a loss!

My goodness-give the guy a break! Thanks Sam for the informative message. I also feel that Zagats can be unreliable. As far as I am concerned, the more reviews I hear (good and bad) the better.

Alisa

I've posted before about writing for Zagat's. When I wrote the blurb for Union Square Cafe, a few years ago, there were over 2k responses--and most of them were from NY foodies, as confident and sure of their opinion as Sam is. So if you think Zagat's with its 2k opinions is unreliable, beware of one opinion. (At least Sam's are generally good ones; some restaurant recommendations on this board are not, as far as I'm concerned.) I don't mean to pick on Sam. I just think that restaurants don't lend themselves to "real truth" easily. But no hard feelings, ok.

I've only visited NYC three times in the past 6 years (and ever), and I enjoyed reading Sam's post. It never occurred to me that he thinks he knows everything about dining in NY; of course, I tend to always think the best of people which is why I can't understand the harshness of some of the responders. Sam could have entitled his post "My opinion of NYC Restaurants", but that would have lacked the oomph. I'm sensitive to criticism because several persons on this forum attacked me quite viciously when I innocently offended them several months ago. I felt like Sam - "forget it, I'll never post here again."
One can take gentle chiding, but it's hard to overlook personal attacks.
I like the many differing opinions on this topic; that's what this group is all about...let's just differ agreeably, O.K.?

Greetings -

I'm with Brian...where are the affordable restaurants?

I'm all for splurging, but $250 for dinner is not what I call an everyday thing. We just went to Bangkok over the Thanksgiving holiday and splurged on a fancy French meal. It was wonderful. Took 3 hours and the service was supreme. The food melted in my mouth.

However, when it's 5 p.m and we want to stop somewhere for dinner on the way home, we are not thinking in terms of 100's...we're thinking in terms of 10's!

Anyone have any restaurant recommendations along this price line in NYC? Appetizers - $5-$10, Entrees - $10-$20, etc.

Thanks

Hey Lynn, don't know what's convenient for you, but you should really try Lupa. Its the most amazing rest in town given the prices. The gnocchi and all the pastas are fantastic. The octopus thing is too salty. The only dessert I really liked was the chocolate. Also try Mediterraneo. Very good and bustling. its on 66th and 2nd ave

Lynn, Brian: what kind of food and what neighborhood? I can provide plenty of info for East Village, Lower East Side, Midtown and Park Slope, but I'd rather know what your limits are with regard to price, ambience, etc.

samiamnot: For limitations, I would definitely shy away from $30 entrees. I see no reason a restaurant can't serve very good food for around $15 an entree (away from the high rents of Midtown, of course). For location, the East Village is more of what I'm looking for. For atmosphere, we prefer places that are casually hip, but without the attitude (from the staff and the patrons) that seems to be present in the hippest places. We also prefer restaurants that maybe aren't full every night, but who have owners, chefs and staff that work hard to impress (and value) the customers that do come in. We generally prefer American, Italian or French cuisines. Any cool bars in the area (sans the guy in the designer suit guarding the door) would be great too. Thanks!

P.S. Sam, Lupa sounds good. I just hope it's not too "discovered" before I can get back into town.

Hi Brian, for any rest review, type in nytoday.com and type in lupa in the upper right hand box to get nytimes review

Okay Brian, here goes. I only recently moved out of the EV but lived there for nearly 7 years and I'm not a cook so I've had plenty of opportunity to eat out. Most of these places may be low on outer beauty, and some in fact are quite down-and-dirty when compared to Le Bernardin, which is why I wanted to make sure you weren't looking for a traditionally touristy ambiance. Consider yourself warned-they're oriented toward the young and not-so-flush but they are neighborhood classics.

CITY BAKERY- not technically the East Village, as it is on either 16th or 17th half a block west of Union Square, but a must-go for lunch or a snack. In summertime, get a lemonade (different flavors every day) and in winter, a hot chocolate with a homemade marshmallow. Better than Angelina's in Paris. The tomato vegetable soup is delicious, the salads and sandwiches terrific but expensive, and every dessert is stupendous (plus, if you're on vacation, no calories!).

COL LEGNO-I hope this Italian brick oven gem is still on 9th between 2nd and 3rd because it can be SO good. I haven't been for ages, though, so this is a bit of a shot in the dark. But it's excellent Italian for very decent prices. I had homemade pappardelle with boar sauce and still think about it years later.

FLAMINGO EAST-kind of a French/Italian/American fusion cuisine with definite Asian influences. 2nd between 13th and 14th. A little fancier than most of the others. Great bar. For dessert, don't even think about ignoring the brownie sundae. And upstairs every Thursday there's a drag revue, or so I've been told.

VESELKA-on 2nd Ave. and 9th St. Eastern European food, open 24 hours, always packed with locals. Has less of a grungy feel to it after (fairly) recent renovations but what it lost in atmosphere it gained in people-watching as the walls are now all glass. The soups are heavenly. Whenever they ask what kind of bread you want say challah. Pierogis great, breakfast foods great (oh, the pancakes!), the world is divided on the meatballs (passionately love or hate 'em). I'd really recommend getting a combo platter to sample a few East. Europe tastes. And if you're wedded to the West, the hamburgers are yummy too. Warning: service gets low low marks. There is distinct B- or C-Level celeb-spotting potential here (Jon Stewart, e.g.).

SECOND AVE DELI-the name says it all. A legend. At 10th Street. I've actually never been (4 feet of pastrami is not my idea of the ideal meal) but it is a classic (I think it even has landmark status).

THREE OF CUPS-on Ave. A, I forget which cross street. Again, fantastic Italian food, entrees as far as I can remember no more than $15 each. Excellent pizza.

LOMBARDIS-okay, again, not technically East Village as it's on Spring (or maybe Prince?) in the vague SoHo/Little Italy/NoLIta area, but it's some of the best pizza in the city (second only to Patsy Grimaldis, in Brooklyn), from what they claim was the first brick pizza oven in the US. Fresh mozzarella will spoil you for anywhere else. The meatballs are probably the best topping. They also offer a white clam pie. I've never tried it; hear it's garlic central. In summer, go outside on the roof deck.

MOUSTACHE-on 10th street between 1st Ave. and Ave. A. Middle Eastern. Very small interior but they do have a garden out back for summer. Interior suffused with a coppery glow. Pita bread made fresh, the best I've ever had. Excellent lentil soup. The "pitzas" made on pita bread are terrific, and you can't go wrong with the salads.

BALUCCHIS-2nd Ave., somewhere between 11th and 8th streets, I forget exactly where because it opened after I moved. The best Indian food in the city for my money. If you like Indian food you MUST GO. One of the appetizers is described on the menu as being "indescribable." Get it. They also have outposts in SoHo and the West Village. (Other Indian-stay clear of 6th street itself, but go instead to Haveli on 2nd Ave. just below 6th; the one with the smashed glass window-on purpose.)

POMMES FRITES-the best french (actually, belgian) fries you'll ever have. On 2nd Ave. below Astor Place(8th st.). Not a restaurant, a store front. They offer about a million different toppings, so if you are up to it, give one a try (save ketchup for every other fry in your life).

FLEA MARKET-a French bistro on Ave. A, I think between 9th and 10th. Oo la la!

LE JARDIN-another French bistro, and another one sneaking in from another neighborhood. It's right below Spring, where Lafayette and some other avenue meet. Tables very close together but the real thing as far as french bistro food and the waiters and owner are very friendly. Also B- or C- list celeb potential.

HOLY BASIL- One flight up on 2nd Ave. between Astor Place and 11th streets. Fabulous Thai food.

MIRACLE GRILL-unfortunately I haven't been in years and so can't remember much but they have one of the best gardens in the Village and it's enormously popular.

DANAL-very cute place decorated in American Country mode. Great brunch alternative but they don't take reservations and you'll have to wait and I think they're raising their prices. Still, excellent food (I'm partial to the french toast made with croissant).

GREAT JONES CAFE-on, funnily enough, Great Jones St, which is E. 3rd between Broadway and 4th Ave. Top notch American cooking with a cajun bent. Sweet potato fries....mmmmmm....

XUNTA-excellent Spanish tapas bar on 1st, somewhere between Astor and 13th.

LA PAELLA-on 9th just east of 3rd ave. Go with a friend and treat yourselves to a paella.

I'm sure I'm leaving tons of great options out, but this is going to tax the server enough as it is. So my bar info will be brief: Flamingo East and Gemini next door, Detour if you like up-and-coming live jazz and lung cancer, Beauty Bar on 14th between 2nd and 3rd is in an old beauty salon, 10th Street Lounge is still going strong, there's a great sake bar on 9th just west of 2nd Ave. but I don't remember the name. I don't go out to bars so much so am not the authority on that subject, sorry.

Otherwise, hope you enjoy any of these you might look into. If you don't, at least you'll know you went to a place the real East Villagers go to (or went to at one point).

Forgot to add:

CENTOSETTE-a cozy little Italian on 3rd and 13th (perfect after a shopping spree at Kiehl's next door). Casual romantic feel (low lights, candles, exposed brick), good food, desserts are hit-or-miss.

IL BAGATTO-Another atmospheric Italian. This is one that has also been somewhat hit or miss and it is way in the boonies from a tourist point of view (it's on either 3rd or 4th street, I think between B and C) but it can be like winning the lottery in terms of bang for your buck.

LE TABLEAU-don't know how I could forget this. I don't remember the exact address and I'm sure no natives want me giving out the name let alone the address but if you can find it and you don't mind waiting (again, no reservations) you will get some magnifique French food at prices so low you'll think you're in Brooklyn. Be warned-this is understandably a VERY popular place.

Hopefully you haven't left like you've threatened to....I love the candid opinions you've given and personally would enjoy more of the same this site. Tell it like it is! We're all entitled to our own viewpoint.

Tell me Sam (if you're still there), what do you think of Ruby Foo's? My aunt from California is coming to town this weekend and wants to eat there. I hear the decor is great, but the food and service is so-so. (I've already made a reservation).

Thanks!