Where I eat in Manhattan - updated for 2012
 

Again, not necessarily a "best-of" list, just a decent reference point from a 40-something foodie couple who live and work in lower Manhattan.


Diner: Hudson Diner (W. Vill), Waverly (Gr. Vill), Amelia’s (Hud Sq.)

Everyday Italian: Arturo’s on Houston (Gr. Vill.), Pane Panelle (TriBeCa)



Mid-range Italian: Aurora SoHo, Morandi (W. Vill.), Crispo, (Gr. Vill.), Bar Pitti (Gr. Vill.) , Lupa (Gr. Vill), Tiro A Segno (Gr. Vill)

High end Italian: Pepolino (TriBeCa), Da Silvano (G.V.),

Value: Mooncake Foods (SoHo, + 2 locations), Café Noir (SoHo), lobster at El Paso (Houston St, Gr. Vill)



Indian: Banjara (E. Vill), Brick Lane (E. Vill), Chola (UWS)



Burgers: The Gauchito burger at Estancia 460 (TriBeCa), Corner Bistro (W.V), BLT Burger (G.V.), Broome Street Bar (SoHo), Aquagrill (SoHo)

Sandwiches: Faicco’s (Bleecker St, Greenwich Village), Katz’s (E.V.), Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich (NoLIta)

Pizza Slices (Manhattan): Pizza Box, Joe’s (Carmine St),

Pizza Pies: Arturo’s, Spunto, Kesté (Carmine St) (All G.V.), Motorino (E. Vill) These are all very different pizzas.

French: Buvette (W. Vill), Orsay (Upper East Side), Bistro Les Amis (SoHo), Cercle Rouge (Tri), Balthazar (SoHo), Pastis (MPD)


Greek: Stamadis (Not Manhattan, Astoria), Parea (Flatiron), Snack (SoHo), Pylos (E.V.)



Chinese: Suzie’s (G.V.), Mandarin Court for dim sum (Chi), Wo Hop (Chi)


Asian: Mooncake Foods 

(SoHo)

Spanish: La Nacional (W.V./Chelsea), Despaña (SoHo)



Spanish Tapas: La Nacional, Tia Pol (Chelsea), Boqueria (SoHo +1), Despaña

, Txikito

Basque: Txikito (Chelsea), Quinto Pino (Chelsea)

Latin: Mancora (Peruvian,E. Vill), Tauro (Hudson Square, weekdays, lunch only)

Latin fusion: Taka Taka (Japanese-Mexican, SoHo)



American: Ditch Plains (Gr. Vill), Minetta Tavern (G.V), Blue Hill (G.V.+1), Daisy May’s (Mid W.), Blue Smoke (Flatiron), Eleven Madison Park (Madison Pk)



Steak: Wolfgang’s (SoHo or Park Ave), Minetta Tavern 



Euro-inspired American: Extra Virgin (West Village), The Odeon (Tri), Union Square Café 



Fish: Aquagrill (SoHo) 



Raw: Giorgione (Hud Sq, better shucker here), Aquagrill (SoHo)



Pub: Mr. Dennehy’s (Gr. Vill), South’s, Walker’s (Tri), Broome St Bar (SoHo)

Thanks for posting your very helpful updated list.

We have many choices in common. This is an excellent selection for Ny'ers and visitors.

We are traveling but there was a few I would like to add:

Dim Sum Chinatown-Nom Wah, Jing Fong, and Golden Unicorn

And for sandwiches Defonte's and 2nd Ave Deli. 2nd Avenue also offers a great side dishes.

Great list and love that you specify the neighborhood!

For reference, the previous version of this thread - http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-manhattan.cfm

My favorite place in the Theater District for pre-theater meals. Steps away from the theater, but not in the craziness of it all = West Bank Cafe http://www.westbankcafe.com/menu.html

Hmmm. The 2011-version post of this got 90 responses. This one's got 6.
Is eating in Manhattan not cool anymore? Or has my take on it become irrelevant? The choice seems clear.

:-(

Been to Motorino and John's. Which of the others would you suggest we try next?

Well, the 2011 thread DID veer off into a meta-discussion much larger than the restaurant recs themselves which generated a lot of posts. What this thread needs is a little controversy to stir things up a bit! :)

Seriously though, thanks for the list--we are just back from our NYC trip and restaurant choices in Manhattan are SO overwhelming!

Great Idea, Ciaony: I'll add a few thoughts; hope that is ok!

Forcella, on the Bowery, should be on the list of recommended new pizzerie. From Naples by way of Brooklyn, their claim to fame is the montanera, which is the most recent pizza trend. It is fried, but not at all greasy, actually pretty light. They have many traditional pizza as well. And other small dishes. The restaurant is attractive and you can make reservations.

http://forcellaeatery.com/

They have a tiny outpost on Ludlow Street, near Il Lab di Gelato:

http://www.lamontanarapizza.com/


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/di...-new-york.html

http://www.laboratoriodelgelato.com/



In the upscale category, in Flatiron, is this new restaurant, under the helm of EMP's team:

http://www.thenomadhotel.com/#/dining

bm

Thanks for the update! More places to try this summer.

We ended up at Kesté last night and it's my new favorite! Just had a margarita pizza, a house salad and a caprese (outstanding mozzarella and basil). Couldn't tell what kind of pizza oven, but the pizza was delicious. Followed that up with gelato at Grom, which is fantastic - tried vanilla, yogurt, pistachio and caramello and loved all of them!

(as an aside, there is nothing better than Manhattan on a beautiful summer evening)

Thanks, all.
Ekscrunchy, first of all, nice job pluralizing pizzeria. Second, I'll try Forcella, but my wife's default pizzeria is always Spunto on Carmine St.

Kesté kicks butt.

I've decided on our next trip to NY, instead of trying one or two new pizza places, we'll try 3 or 4 a day!

SF, my husband and I did a pizza-themed long weekend a couple years ago. We had pizza seven times over a 4-day weekend - not quite 3 or 4 a day, but respectable, imo! ;-)

Any recommendations for Brooklyn? We used to eat out fairly frequently in Manhattan but since my son moved to Brooklyn we tend to eat there more often. Our favorite so far is abistro near Fort Greene Park but I think it may have closed. Would love to hear about some other worth trying.

Brooklyn is exploding with restaurants right now. You're better off picking up a Time Out New York magazine to keep current on openings and closings.

Thanks for the great list!

looking for a restaurant between 48th and 54th st... closer to 54th....could walk up 7th or 8th st from 48th...have mother with me and trying to not make her walk too far out of our way to the theatre...prefer greek but if not good food (not hot and spicy for mother.)