We will be in NYC for a few days in July, first time. Does anyone have suggestions for moderate/budget priced restaurants in the area of the Amsterdam Inn, Amsterdam Ave.and 76th St. "Where do the locals eat"?

Kefi - very good new wave Greek - cash only - go early, it fills up with locals 222 W. 79th between Amsterdam and Bway

Arte Cafe - good, not great Italian 106 W. 73rd and Amsterdam

josie's - OK healthy vegetarian/organic Amsterdam and 74th Street

Hummus Place - Amsterdam and 74th excellent hummus, and snacks, small but good

check these and more out with www.menupages.com

Another vote for Kefi.

Ouest is good but not cheap

We LOVED Bettola and Ocean Grill.

Here are a few that are pretty inexpensive:

Chirping Chicken - Amsterdam & 77th
Artie's Deli - Broadway between 82nd-83rd
EJ's Luncheonette - Amst & 81st
Patsy's Pizza - 74th between Columbus & CPW (not the best, but not bad)
Popover Cafe - Amst & 87th
City Grill - Columbus between 72-73

mp- how early are you getting to Kefi to be able to get in? Or are you more patient than I am about having to wait?

You'll be in an area really packed with restaurants,and they are mostly inexpensive local haunts. The retail spaces on Amsterdam, Broadway and Columbus avenues in that are are probably 50-75% restaurants!

Other ideas in the neighborhood

Cafe Con Leche (Amsterdam and 81st-82nd)dominican/cuban

Fairway Cafe (Broadway and 74th, above Fairway Market) especially for lunch/brunch--little bit of everything, sandwiches, burgers, salads--with great ingredients from the market. At dinnertime it turns into a fancier/pricier steakhouse.

I also like as mentioned above
EJ's luncheonette (but they are open for dinner too, with great specials) and Artie's deli

Pasha for Turkish.
Santa Fe for Mexican/southwest
Tenzan for sushi

Menupages.com has details of all of these.

spring 212 - it's REALLY early - between 6 and 7 - after 6;45 forget about it . . . you see, we have a kid, so we've gotten used to eating around then, even tho he's almost 14 and doesn't NEED to eat then - we all just prefer it now because you can almost ALWAYS get a table almost EVERYWHERE. Especially in the summer.

It's not hip, but the service is usually better then, too.

PS If you like hot dogs, Papaya King at Broadway & 73 st. is not only one of the best bargains in the city (2 hot dogs and a drink for less than $5) it's great! Not a restaurant though, more a snack bar with stools.

The 79th st. Boat Basin Cafe (on the Hudson River) is a nice place to to sit outside and have a burger etc.
http://www.boatbasincafe.com/

ooh! forgot about Gray's Papaya (I think that's what mclaurie meant) at the corner of 72nd street (BDWY/AMSTERDAM).
Two dogs and a drink (try the pina colada--non alcoholic of course)have gone all the way up to $3.75!

The Upper West Side has great inexpensive Chinese restaurants. I haven't lived in NY for years, but Empire Szechuan and Hunan Park were 2 of our favorites. We never visit NY without eating at one of these places, as well as Gray's Papaya.

The other very inexpensive regular meal we used to have was at Dallas BBQ on 72nd Street. The half chicken meal was incredibly cheap and tasty. I believe its still there, but maybe someone can confirm.

Go to Zabar's and pick up prepped sandwiches or salads to eat in the park.

Cafe con Leche is VERY inexpensive and quite good.

In fact, that whole area is just packed with good, inexpensive places - since many people eat out or order in much more than cooking.

If a place is crowded and the menu looks good, give it a try.

Yes, I did mean Gray's Papaya.

Turkuaz

I agree with 79th St Boat Basin, Cafe con Leche (we always order their chicharrons and pernil) and Fairway Cafe above.

I'll add Flor de Mayo (Chinese/Peruvian - get the pollo a la brasa), Ollie's on Broadway & 84th (I like their Cantonese Won Ton Soup with Roast Meats and a Roast Pork Bun), and Land Thai Kitchen (a sliver of a restaurant).

Definitely don't miss H&H bagels for breakfast. It's at 79th and Broadway. Truly a must-do in New York.

We love Fred's, at 83rd and Amsterdam. It's a really cozy, casual place that's excellent for dinner and brunch. In the summer they have outdoor seating, though it can be hard to get a table there. Inside is usually fine though, or a very short wait.

http://www.fredsnyc.com/

Another restaurant we visit all the time is Brother Jimmy's, a BBQ/Southern Food joint opened by North Carolinians. It's tasty and kitschy, with lots of ACC paraphernalia (we're UNC grads!)

http://www.brotherjimmys.com

Here are some suggestions from a local:

Very inexpensive:
Grays Papaya- very cheap/great hotdogs
Chipotle- fast food mexican- delicious
H&H -- great bagels
Lenny's- deli-- good breakfast and sandwiches

Moderate:
Patsy's Pizza- 74th/Columbus- yummy pizza, pasta and salads.
West Side Brewing Company- Great bar food- 76th/Amsterdam
Pappardella-- 75th/Columbus-- great Italian food
Ocean Grill-- can be pricey depending on what you order-- but yummy--could go for appetizers and drinks- 78th/Columbus

You can view menus for all of these places at www.menupages.com

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