Eating in NYC

danimal15


I'd advise them against staying in Times Square. I realize that's where a lot of cheap hotels are, but that is my least favorite part of NYC. It's extremely touristy and unpleasant, with few decent restaurants. If they can afford it, they should stay in Midtown but to the east of Times Square, or on the Upper East or Upper West Sides, which are real neighborhoods and give a better feel for what Manhattan is like. Times Square is like Disney's version of Manhattan.

If they are near Times Square, it's not too far a walk to the Carnegie Deli, and John's has a pizzeria over there as well.

 
Since NYC has one of the world's better public transportation systems, there's no reason to feel compelled to stay near where you expect to spend much of your time.  In recent years, I have stayed in Chelsea near 23rd and 7th Ave.  23rd has a crosstown bus line and 7th Ave., as well as 6th and 8th, have subway lines (all three have local, but not express stops at 23rd).  One can even walk from there to Times Square or Herald Square.
 
Get a subway map and a MetroCard and EXPLORE.  It makes you feel free and opens up the entire city's dining opportunities.

Nobody's mentioned the New York Deli's. Stay away from Ben Ash; there's a a reason there's no line there (it's not BAD, just not up to the other ones). Last time I went to Katz's, I must admit some disappointment; Carnegie and Stage, as far as I know, are still great (both on 7th Avenue, around 54th St.).
 
However, if you want something unique to New York, and cheap, there are the the Chinese/Cuban restaurants. But there is one in particular which is absolutely different is the Chinese/Peruvian Flor de Mayo on 484 Amsterdam Avenue, between 83rd & 84th St. And whatever else you order, get the Peruvian chicken. Just look up the reviews.
 
Bart

bartl


Nobody's mentioned the New York Deli's. Stay away from Ben Ash; there's a a reason there's no line there (it's not BAD, just not up to

 
They've been mentioned by a couple of posters but I'll say again that 2nd Ave. (33rd St between 2nd and 3rd Ave) is my favorite.  For other than corned beef or pastrami, Carnegie is probably #2 although for those 2 items only it's probably Katz's.
 
Still, this isn't my idea of birthday celebration food unless the celibratee really like deli.

Since she's planning the trip, I suggest that your daughter check out this website:
http://www.menupages.com/
She can pull up menus including the meal prices in the vicinity of her hotel. 

<< But there is one in particular which is absolutely different is the Chinese/Peruvian Flor de Mayo on 484 Amsterdam Avenue, between 83rd & 84th St. And whatever else you order, get the Peruvian chicken.>>
My wife and I ate there about 6 months ago and had that highly acclaimed Peruvian Chicken. Truth be told we were somewhat disappointed. Maybe we were there on a bad day/time (off hour on a Sunday), but it was a little dry and just didn't kick *ss like we had hoped. There's a Peruvian Place about 5 miles from me here in NJ (different thread, I know, but it's called Planet Chicken) and thier chicken has it easily beat.
 

There are some nice, very reasonably priced hotels on the lower east side now (2 on Houston between Bowery and Allen), but their names escape me.  These places also have the benefit of being walking distance of great food, including Russ & Daughter's for breakfast.  BTW - NYC's crime rate is now below the US average, with most of Manhattan significantly lower.  Anywhere around the Village would be much better for food, sights and general NYC experience.  Times Square is a big mall, full of chain stores and restaurants with nothing of what makes NYC unique.
 
Food:
Subs - Faicco's at 260 Bleecker St., West Village, easy subway from Times Sq. 
Pastrami - Katz's at 205 E Houston St is a must-do for NYC visitors and it's across the street from the best gelato (Il Laboratorio del Gelato) and just a few blocks from the best doughnuts (Doughnut Plant) and pickles (The Pickle Guy) down on Grand St.
Pizza - Co. at 230 9th Ave., Chelsea.  Very close to Times Sq and points south.  A new place, but very well-regarded and one of the best crusts i've ever had.  Also, Grimaldi's just opened a new location in Chelsea, which saves the trek to Brooklyn.  Arturo's on Houston is great, as well.
Bagel's & lox - Russ & Daughters, which is described here on Roadfood.com.  The best and a great NYC experience.  Lower East Side.
Knishes - Yonah Schimmel, just a couple blocks west of Russ & Daughter's, with a similar old NYC feel that may be gone by the time your daughter can vote.
Thai - Sripraphai or Chao Thai in Queens, which is a trek, but the best Thai food in the US.  Very safe, but due to the time, probably for foodies only.  Also, Kin Shop at 469 6th Ave. in Greenwich Village is excellent.
Chinese - Too many to mention.  Try the map "best chinese food in nyc" at Dinevore, all of those are very good: X'ian Famous Foods (#27 on that list) is a great experience, but there aren't any tables.  Famous Sichuan is great for dinner / sitting down.

The burger at, 'The Spotted Pig'

Thanks for the responses to my post.  It would seem I stand corrected by my off-the-cuff remark about slices vs. whole pie. 
 
How can I deny that the "slice" thing is indeed genuine New York -- perhaps I didn't realize how NYC it is, and it's true that the better slice joints do make tasty pizza, and Di Fara's (which I wouldn't recommend in this instance anyways since it is so far flung) does serve by the slice.
 
But consider the coal oven, the quality of the ingredients, the char on the crust....I really do feel that the pizza at Grimaldi's, Arturo's, John's on Bleecker, etc. are a different STYLE of pizza than the slice joints, where you are eating something that has been sitting under a heat lamp, re-heated, and you shake red pepper flakes and dried oregano and eat folded up while you walk down the street. Fun and tasty, very NYC, but not the same, not the same.
 
A few other posters have mentioned SriPraPhai.  I'm already over this place, ruined by the masses.  (Too many white people like me!)  Chao Thai in Elmhurst (mentioned in fortbethel's post above), and Ayada Thai in Woodside are my current faves.
 
Chao Thai
8503 Whitney Ave
Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 424-4999
 
Ayada Thai
77-08 Woodside Ave
Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 424-0844

Groovercat


There are some nice, very reasonably priced hotels on the lower east side now (2 on Houston between Bowery and Allen), but their names escape me.  These places also have the benefit of being walking distance of great food, including Russ & Daughter's for breakfast.  BTW - NYC's crime rate is now below the US average, with most of Manhattan significantly lower.  Anywhere around the Village would be much better for food, sights and general NYC experience.  Times Square is a big mall, full of chain stores and restaurants with nothing of what makes NYC unique.

Food:
Subs - Faicco's at 260 Bleecker St., West Village, easy subway from Times Sq. 
Pastrami - Katz's at 205 E Houston St is a must-do for NYC visitors and it's across the street from the best gelato (Il Laboratorio del Gelato) and just a few blocks from the best doughnuts (Doughnut Plant) and pickles (The Pickle Guy) down on Grand St.
Pizza - Co. at 230 9th Ave., Chelsea.  Very close to Times Sq and points south.  A new place, but very well-regarded and one of the best crusts i've ever had.  Also, Grimaldi's just opened a new location in Chelsea, which saves the trek to Brooklyn.  Arturo's on Houston is great, as well.
Bagel's & lox - Russ & Daughters, which is described here on Roadfood.com.  The best and a great NYC experience.  Lower East Side.
Knishes - Yonah Schimmel, just a couple blocks west of Russ & Daughter's, with a similar old NYC feel that may be gone by the time your daughter can vote.
Thai - Sripraphai or Chao Thai in Queens, which is a trek, but the best Thai food in the US.  Very safe, but due to the time, probably for foodies only.  Also, Kin Shop at 469 6th Ave. in Greenwich Village is excellent.
Chinese - Too many to mention.  Try the map "best chinese food in nyc" at Dinevore, all of those are very good: X'ian Famous Foods (#27 on that list) is a great experience, but there aren't any tables.  Famous Sichuan is great for dinner / sitting down.

 
Great list and great first post groovercat!
 
Where have you been since signing up in 2005? You clearly have a lot to offer. Hope this is the first post of many!

bristaylor

How can I deny that the "slice" thing is indeed genuine New York -- perhaps I didn't realize how NYC it is, and it's true that the better slice joints do make tasty pizza, and Di Fara's (which I wouldn't recommend in this instance anyways since it is so far flung) does serve by the slice. 

 
I agree that the best pizza you can get these days is at non-slice places, but NY's commitment to the whole slice thing is evident in the way NYers eat their slices...folded. Pizza by the slice was one of the original NY street foods. All the older pizza joints have that little sliding window up front so you didn't even need to come in to get your slice. Folding the slice allowed you to eat it with one hand while holding your drink in the other as you walked down the street.