clanwilson

I'll be staying at the Belleclaire, W. 77th and Broadway, next week for my first ever solo theater trip. Hooray! For my previous eight visits, I've stayed in mid-town west, but after seeing "You've Got Mail," I wanted to try the upper west side.

I've booked four shows and also plan on visiting the performing arts' branch of the library at Lincoln Center and a museum or two: probably the Met or the Frick. I'm familiar with menupages.com, but I'd love any recommendations for good food at a reasonable price...teacher's salary.

Thanks!

SueNYC

You'll have to go to Cafe Lalo from You've Got Mail - 83rd between Amsterdam and Broadway and you will shop at Zabars where Meg Ryan forgot her CreditCard. Wander the streets -- There's good Indian, there's a branch of Shake Shack -- Broadway, Amsterdam and Columbus from 76th to 86th and on the side streets are filled with fabulous places

Explore and report back!

Do enjoy the 50th Anniversary exhibit about Lincoln Center - especially the first video you encounter AND in the case on the left the "Letter from America" and the Cafe in front of Alice Tully Hall is great when not closed for private events.

Aduchamp1

One way to eat lunch out and to buy prepasred foods for dinner and eat it in the room and you are near Zabar's, Barney Greengrass, H & H bagels, Fairways, plus other places the Upper Siders know.

One of our favorite eating activities is to buy foods as we see a city and throw them in our back packs to eat later.

clanwilson

Sue, that exhibit at the library is why I'm headed there! I can't wait. A few years ago, I visited the one devoted to Irving Berlin and was in hog heaven. I'm stretching the memory here, but are you the Library Maven at this forum? If you are, I'd love to know about any good exhibits at the main branch that I should catch. Last April, I visited the one on the French Resistance during WWII.(English teacher/Bookworm here.)

Does Cafe Lalo do just coffee, tea, and desserts or could I grab lunch stuff there?

Aduchamp1, thanks for the tips.

Aduchamp1

You're welcome.

Pack a knife, fork, spoon, can opener, wine bottle opener, in your luggage. If you are only taking carry-ons, just buy some good quality plastic utnensils or take (steal) crummy quality take out stuff.

SueNYC

Well -here are the exhibits in one place.

http://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions.cfm

The early maps and candide exhibits in the main library are great. Haven't seen the Eastern Europe one at Performing Arts yet.

Good Stuff at the Morgan as well

http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/default.asp

Cafe Lalo serves food as well as desserts.

I know you are a defender of New York City Vacation Packages. Did you ever take my Central Park tour with them?

For a slightly esoteric museum North of you, you might want to visit here.

http://www.roerich.org/

Also if you haven't made it to St John the Divine do so and there are a couple of good soul food restaurants near by. Rack and Soul and Mamies Spoon Bread too.

ThinGorjus

www.kefirestaurant.com


Thin

nytraveler

Don't know what you mean by a reasonable price but we often go to:

Isaabella's
Ocean
Nice Matin
Kefi for very nice Greek

all right near your hotel

Shun Lee on W 65th for great Chinese

Further uptown neighborhood places:

Gennaro on Amsterdam
Bella Luna on Columbus
Tandoori on W 94 for nice Indian on a budget

Barney Greengrass is great for breakfast or brunch but the lines can be long at times

clanwilson

"I know you are a defender of New York City Vacation Packages. Did you ever take my Central Park tour with them?"

Sue, I used the company once years ago when three friends and I traveled together. It's a trustworthy company and fine for people who don't want to handle any details themselves. Since then, I take care of everything myself. I've never taken a Central Park tour yet, but it's definitely on my to-do list...one day.

When it rains, it pours! Thank you, everyone, for the recs. I appreciate them very much. Oh, "reasonable" to me is not over $15 for lunch and $30 for dinner. I don't drink, so wine is never part of the cost factor. I'm cheap but lovable!!

nstevey

The Perf Arts NYPL branch - if you go to the third floor, there is a private looking space but is open to the general public. There are some interesting exhibits in there as well, original scores, books etc... Just check-in with the security guard. Look for a statue of the RCA dog. It's one of my favorite places to study - there are skylights.

clanwilson

nstevey: Sounds like a perfect way to spend some time. Thank you.

mclaurie

The $24 lunch at Asiate is great (imo). Lovely view, lovely room, very nice food. 35th floor of the Time Warner building (at Columbus Circle) off the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental. Great for someone with champagne taste on a beer budget (and even cheaper if you don't drink!). The new Museum of Art & Design is also right there. http://www.madmuseum.org/ Check out the Albright pin collection.

mclaurie

Oh, don't miss cookies from Levain bakery. http://www.levainbakery.com/

clanwilson

Thanks, mclaurie. Can't wait to hit the upper west side!

janie

for $15 or less lunches:
Land Thai (slightly fancier Thai, $8 lunch!)
Recipe (same owner as Land, upscale comfort food, $10 or $12 2 course lunch)
Cafe con Leche (Cuban & Dominican food, about $10)
Swagat (Indian --lunch $8, brunch with an extra course $12)
Savann, Bettola
all these are on Amsterdam avenue between 79-83rd--and there are about 10-15 other places in these price ranges on these same few blocks.
All are somewhat more for dinner, but would all still be well under your price range.
The Cafe at Fairway market (Broadway 74th)is great for lunch and brunch--everything under $15. For dinner, it becomes a steakhouse, and they do have a good value menu for that too.
Cafe Lalo is pretty and worth an obligatory stop to acknowledge the movie, but it bugs me to pay $8 for a slice of cale that isn't made there (they do have dozens of choices of cakes, though)

clanwilson

Thanks, janie. There definitely is no shortage of places to eat! Picking which ones will be the tricky part...