eating in NYC (Dexter, Italy, Hope: live, restaurants, prices)

[baylovers]

You want a real Chinatown experience.... go to 10 Pell St, 69 Bayard St or a little more touristy Wo Hop, 17 Mott St but make sure you go to the one in the basement.

Little Italy is a bit of a tourist trap but they still have good food! An out-of-towner's favorite is Puglia on Hester St... they used to have some big Italian lady singing on the weekends. It is actually a fun place. I also like Il Fornaio on Mulberry. And don't forget to stop into Ferrara's for pasteries. But if you are walking around and make your way to Bleeker St you should go to Rocco's for pasteries. If you are on the east side, try DiRoberto's on Second Ave or Veniero's on 12 St & Second.

If you are adventurous, go over the Brooklyn bridge to the Red Rose Restaurant on Smith St. Nice, cozy place good meals at a decent price. If you are super adventurous and can find your way around Brooklyn, go to Two Tom's. You will not be able to eat for a few days after dining here. It is recommended to go with a large group since everything is served 'family style' but it is outstanding!! You must call to make a reservation & to make sure that they do not have a private affair for the time you intend to go.

[NJ Chutzpah]

If you want a true NYC experience you must hop into a diner. Pick any they are all the same.

[Carbro]

Originally Posted by NJ Chutzpah

If you want a true NYC experience you must hop into a diner. Pick any they are all the same.

The menu is the same, but the service and quality vary widely. Try Viand. It's one of the very few, rare places you can get authentic (from the bone) turkey any more.

Viand - NYC Restaurant & Menu Guide. Menus, Ratings, Reviews. New York City, NY

Another cheap fave of mine is Mingala, Burmese cuisine, which is like 2/3 Thai and 1/3 Indian. The location in my neighborhood closed, but there's one on the Upper East Side and another in the Village. Meals are served in the style of Chinese restaurants. Get the ginger salad and Rangoon Night Market noodles. Yummmmmmy!

Cafe Mingala - NYC Restaurant & Menu Guide. Menus, Ratings, Reviews. New York City, NY

Originally Posted by mamaof2

also, will we stick out as tourists from NC?? ha.

Depends.

[westchester]

you must venture up to the Bronx, forget Frankie and johnny's.......you must go to Arthur ave.......try Roberto's or Dominic's, Roberto also just opened up a fantastic new restaurant ( forget the name but is absolutely beautiful, with great food............just contact Roberto's and they will give you the name. Me and my wife ate their with a bottle of wine bill was only 95$....p.s. it is right next to the Bronx Zoo so you could make a whole day of it.............well worth the trip..........................

[gichicago]

Originally Posted by mamaof2

i know this should be posted in the NYC forum, but i have posted there in the past and received very few responses. my husband and i are going to NYC for the first time at the beginning of feb. and i am trying to come with a list of inexpensive (by new york's standards) and excellent places to eat. would love pizza, bagel, italian and mexican suggestions!! thank you!!!
also, will we stick out as tourists from NC?? ha.

Rec's here are pretty good. Here are a couple guidelines that served me well
> Dont go to any restaurants in the Time Square area; its overpriced and boring. If you need to, take a walk to 9th ave. You have better options there
> I'd avoid Mexican places in NYC. There are acceptable restaurants, but no standouts.
> If you are around Macy's, an adventerous alternative is Korea Town (32nd) street.

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by gichicago

Rec's here are pretty good. Here are a couple guidelines that served me well
> Dont go to any restaurants in the Time Square area; its overpriced and boring. If you need to, take a walk to 9th street. You have better options there

I think that you mean 9th AVENUE

[gichicago]

Originally Posted by apvbguy

I think that you mean 9th AVENUE

ahh yes, thanks for the correction...

[jeffcon0]

Originally Posted by gichicago

Rec's here are pretty good. Here are a couple guidelines that served me well
> Dont go to any restaurants in the Time Square area; its overpriced and boring. If you need to, take a walk to 9th ave. You have better options there
> I'd avoid Mexican places in NYC. There are acceptable restaurants, but no standouts.
> If you are around Macy's, an adventerous alternative is Korea Town (32nd) street.

All good points here. For one there are no standout restaurants in Time's Square unless you are looking for gimmicks. And in that case you could spend the same at some very fine dining establishments in other neighborhoods.

Also agree on mexican places. There are some good places but even those will not deviate much from the type of places you will find in Anytown, USA.

Koreatown is a great suggestion if you are up for an adventurous meal. The blocks around 34th and Broadway are packed with great Korean spots. I never remember the names of the ones I eat at but I have yet to be disappointed. You will not feel out of place there as a non-Korean as they cater to tourists and plenty of non-asians as well.

If you can, try to splurge for one fantastic fine dining experience while here. I'm not talking the old guard of New York fine dining but a small restaurant with a fantastic chef and unique atmosphere. The type of place you can only find in NY. I would strongly recommend Perilla in the West Village as one of the best meals I've had. The chef/partner is the winner of Top Chef season one if you are into that sort of thing and his food is great new American type of cuisine. On the same tip I would also recommend Little Owl (try their pork chop!) and Mermaid Inn for seafood.

All of those places are non-pretensious with great food and "reasonable" prices by NY standards. You would not feel out of place in jeans and a sweater. If you do opt for any of these types of places be aware that weekend reservations can be very difficult (the wait at Perilla and Little Owl may be a month or more) but you can get weeknight reservations a week in advance if you are flexible. Check opentable.com to make them online. A good meal for two with an appetizer, two entrees, and a bottle of wine would run you $120 - 150 after tax and tip but it is well worth it for a rare treat.

A lot of us NY'ers are foodies (maybe it's our small kitchens that get us eating out so much) so if you have been thinking of somewhere in particular we can probably help you out. Let us know or check out chowhound.com for a very active community forum.

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by apvbguy

are you from NY? little italy is a sham, no italians, the restaurants are tourist traps, and all the fake merchandise is in chinatown, mostly on canal st west of mulberry.
you don't need to go to a jewish deli for a good bagel, any deli will do or you can go to H&H or places like that.

Why must everyone always give Little Italy a bad name, I do not live in NYC, but I am there many times a month, and always go to Little Italy for Lunch. I took advice from other people to go to mid-town and try Italian restaurants there but the places in mid-town are MUCH more expensive than many of the places in Little Italy. For example: Italian dish in midtown = $25-30. When I can find the same dishes in Little Italy for a lot less! And the quality of food did not have a overwhelming difference in taste.

Many of my favorites in Little Italy include:
Buona Notte
Il Cortile (a bit expensive, but great food)
Grotta Azzura
Da Nico
Caffe Napoli
and Casa Bella

Little Italy is having a hard enough time trying to their restaurants opened because of high tax, and because of people giving it a bad name, stop giving Little Italy such a bad name!

[baylovers]

Dexter, I think many of the folks here consider themselves too savvy to dine in a tourist area like Little Italy... but I agree with you. There are quality restaurants down on Mulberry Street, my favorites:

Luna's... you get a HUGE sandwich for $8 (takeout only), eat in is a NY experience with gruff staff and less than pretty decor with the little old lady sitting at the back table.
Il Fornaio... casual good personal pizzas
Il Cortile is pricey but outstanding food.
Puglia's is a tourist attarction but they put on a good show.
Little Charlie's on Kenmare St... off the beaten path but again, good food but not a bargain.

If you find yourself in East Elmhurst, Queens... go Mama's Italian deli on 104 St & 46 Ave. AKA Leo's Latticini. This is the real deal with the best fresh mozzarella & they have a delicious special everyday... Wednesday is ravioli day OMG. They also have an awesome Italian Special sandwich.
Absolutely worth the trip.