Taste of Times Square , etc (w/pics)

Went to NYC on June 11th for the Taste of Times Square, etc.

My first stop ended up being Virgils BBQ booth


BBQ Wings from Virgils (yum). (espescially once I had them add a little more BBQ sauce on the side)

notice the sidewalk pavement backdrop (wings pic) I ate everything standing up, "roughing it". (was'nt much seating around anyway, typical of these street food festivals) I would usually try to stand close to the garbage cans, and have plenty of napkins on hand.

next up we have the Hawaiian Tropic Zone Restaurant. I did not eat anything there, (I was'nt really in the mood for the "chocolate cheescake lollipop" they were selling) but I did let the bikini top girl give me a free swimsuit calendar.

I had just got to this food festival about 10 minutes after it started. The street got real crowded , real quick. I could barely step more than one inch at a time

Next I got a Thai chicken wing (for one ticket), and some bread pudding (also 1 ticket) ....1 ticket = $1.00.
This food festival really lived up to it's name : A TASTE of Times Square , as the prices were really very fair for the "taste". It was a true taste. There was even one of the pizza places that had a slice for 1 ticket. (a very small slice, mind you, but it was good for kids, etc., or you can just buy 2 at a time, like I did)

The Thai wing and bread pudding were both delicious.(I'm used to just having mushy bread pudding on casino buffets) . I would gone back for another wing or 2 , but the line had built up
The food was from B. Smith's restaurant on 46th st...(as you can see the front door of the restaurant was right behind the booth)

part of the menu from B. Smiths. A little pricey for the fried chicken dish, huh?!?

My feelings are that even the best fried chicken in the world should'nt be more than like , 10 bucks. But $25.00? come on now!


now for the rest of the pics...

I did not try any of these Turkish delicacies. sorry, no pics.

I was pleased with the prices at this festival. I just saw a handful of items for 5 tickets. Most were 1, 2, or 3 tickets.

My biggest gripe was with the steakhouse restaurants : Broadway Joe Steakhouse, Shula's, and Gallaghers. I would've liked to see them selling their trademark : STEAKS! (extra small chunks of filet, whatever)
Instead, Broadway Joes was just selling sausage! Gallaghers had what they CALLED a steak sandwich (one of those 5 ticket items), but it was more like a thinly sliced cheesesteak (like the kind I get here in AC). And not charbroiled or seared or anything. I passed.

I did have some choc. chip cookies from the Doubletree Hotel booth, and some homemade potato chips from the same booth. Took them home and had them the next day for breakfast before work.

There were about 3 or 4 places selling baby back ribs, like Virgils, and the Hard Rock Cafe, and Applebees (yup, I hate to see them stick Applebees in that food festival, too!) (but I did appreciate the energy of those Applebee booth workers) . I go for beef ribs, though so I was S.O.L. (out of luck)

Even worse, was them sticking Papa Johns Pizza in there. Oh well, they are all part of the NEW cleaned up version of Times Square.
I had a slice from another place, "John's pizza." I never know if its the original Johns. They all seem to say they are.

There were real good attitudes of the restaurant booth workers.
It hardly felt like I was in NYC.

Also plenty of entertainment scattered about. About time for another pic


After spending about an hour walking up and down 46th street, it was time to move on! Getting too crowded!

So, here comes the good "ETC" part !

So I took a half hour subway ride to Rego Park, Queens to Ben's Best Kosher Deli (63rd St. subway stop) (not associated with any other Bens deli's)



now for my main meal : the pastrami sandwich !!
(that food festival were just my appetizers!)


The matzoh ball soup was excellent (aka "Jewish penicillin")

And they use Empire kosher pastrami hand cured locally. I found the roumanian crust to be a drop too overwhelming. (as much as I do like crusted edges) It was still real good, but it made me realize how I still like the Carnegie the best!


as I was paying at the cash register, I could'nt resist grabbing an Empire Hot Dog that they have spinning on the grill. $2.75

My hot dog with Ben's Best in the background. It was a good, garlicky tasting dog!
(I've been doing a lot of extra jogging this week to make up for all of this!)

I then went to the Comic Strip Live on 2nd ave/81 st to see over 3 hours worth of stand up comedy. It was great! Needed a change from going my local area Atlantic City comedy clubs.

But I could'nt leave NYC without taking out some Carnegie Deli pastrami, now, could I ?!?

So I stopped in and took out a half a pound. It made for a great breakfast for me at 10 am the next day before work! I just love the soft and moist texture of this pastrami... double YUM !!!


All this much fun at 12:30 am. (the Carnegie is open till 4 am!)

I also took home some real good cupcakes from Crumbs Bake Shop
and some good NY bagels... (I've been eating good all week now!)

Times Square , 7th ave by 45th st 1 am. It was like the strip in Vegas! Lots of NEON !


Here's more of the scene at 1 am in Times Square. As you can see, if you were in the mood for a horse and carriage ride at that hour, it was possible!!


Then I took the 1:30am Greyhound bus (left the driving to THEM!) back to AC. Every seat was taken.


Thanks for sharing the journey with me!

-the end-

Ellen

Southern Cornmeal Crusted Catfish - $25.00


-- (with) garlic mashed potatoes with black-eyed pea gravy, kale and red pepper aïoli --


(snicker... )...

There better be about a dozen catfish on THAT plate...

Grilled Corn on the "Cobb" for 6 bucks?? I guess that extra "b" makes it better. Also, I'd never pay more than $10 for anything called a "Thang"! pb

p.s. nice pics, ellen.I love it when you take me places.

Southern Fried chicken for $25? I am glad that New Yorkers have all that money.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Southern Fried chicken for $25? I am glad that New Yorkers have all that money.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

And I bet it's better than any fried chicken that you can down in Knoxville!

BTW, great photos Ellen, looking forward to the rest!

thanks for the good "plugs"!

I thought you would get a kick out of that B. Smiths menu.(and you did!) NYC prices for comfort foods. Where else can you get mac and cheese for $17.00?

I'll take my favorite fried chicken dinners : from Roscoe's House of chicken and waffles in L.A., and the Loveless in Nashville...
Does'nt get much better than those places!


Keep the kind words coming!

and have a great Roadfood/Fathers Day weekend!

ellen

Nice trip report Ellen, good pics; thanks.

How are you going to keep them down on the farm with pictures like these? You are having too much fun.

mark

quote:

Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Southern Fried chicken for $25? I am glad that New Yorkers have all that money.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

And I bet it's better than any fried chicken that you can down in Knoxville!

BTW, great photos Ellen, looking forward to the rest!

For $25.00, it better be better than anything we can get in Knoxville.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Ellen-I am so jealous of your adventures!!!Beautiful pics, and my favorite?? Pastrami and the matzo ball soup.

quote:

Originally posted by wanderingjew



And I bet it's better than any fried chicken that you can down in Knoxville!

Only because there's no Popeye's in Knoxville. $5 more and I can get a 24oz Prime Delmonico Dinner at a local steak house.

I'll take the steak and a box of popeye's

Thanks for the tour, Ellen!

Whenever I hear the name Times Square, I have to think of Eva Gabor on Green Acres and her beautiful Hungarian accent, it is ingrained into my head!


.....fresh air!
.....Times Square!

....you are my wife;
....GOOD BYE city life!




DD


BTW, Love the Mariachi !

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Southern Fried chicken for $25? I am glad that New Yorkers have all that money.

Everything is relative. (On average) we NYers earn way more than most folks in the country, but the cost of living here is the highest I've ever seen. $25 for a dinner entree is pretty standard at a decent mid-level restaurant in NYC, and I have no problem paying it- IF the food is good. I don't think everyone would get so up in arms over high prices in NY if they considered the relativity of costs of living vs. wages. I pay 3 grand a month for a 1 bedroom apartment because I can afford it and I want to live in Manhattan.

Just kidding about the price although I would never pay $25 for fried chicken.

I have been to Times Square many times and have always enjoyed it. The standard of living there cost wise is mucho more than Knoxville. We get a very good steak here for $25. We do not get the ambience of NYC and Times Square though.

Very good pics and it appears that you had a very good time. Wish I could have been there if I could afford it

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Southern Fried chicken for $25? I am glad that New Yorkers have all that money.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

They have another restaurant in Washington DC, and the prices were about the same when I was there a couple of years back. I agree it is overpriced...but it was good!

$25 for fried chicken, they should call it New York Fried Chicken.I think in the south you'd get shoot trying to get that.

Ellen another great trip and pics!

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

The standard of living there cost wise is mucho more than Knoxville. We get a very good steak here for $25. We do not get the ambience of NYC and Times Square though.

I would go so far as to say that you are quite lucky that you do not have the ambience of Times Square. I avoid that area as if the plagues were currently taking place there. The neigborhoods of NYC on the other hand....I personally wouldn't live anywhere else in the world. I adore my city.

Very nice report, Ellen (as usual). However, I saw nothing except the (Roumanium style) pastrami that I couldn't get here in Dallas for about 2/3rds less than NYC prices.
I guess that's the price one has to pay to eat in the best food city in the USA.
I Know because, I lived in NYC for the first 25 years of my life.

quote:

Originally posted by twinwillow

Very nice report, Ellen (as usual). However, I saw nothing except the (Roumanium style) pastrami that I couldn't get here in Dallas for about 2/3rds less than NYC prices.
I guess that's the price one has to pay to eat in the best food city in the USA.
I Know because, I lived in NYC for the first 25 years of my life.

Since you lived here, you probably already know this, but for others...you have to keep in mind that you could also get every one of those meals at 1/3 the price elsewhere in NYC. That is a pricey area, which, for the most part, caters to tourists. People who actually live here don't go out and pay $25 every time they want fried chicken.

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Bad People who actually live here don't go out and pay $25 every time they want fried chicken.

Case in point:

http://www.dirtybirdtogo.com/

Great fried chicken on 14th street.

Yes, in my fifteen plus years of living in New York (in Manhattan and one of the "outer boroughs"), I made it a habit to avoid spending much time at all in Times Square, because of the crowds for one thing. Before it became Disneyland North, I avoided it for the dirt, grime, and seediness, and since then, for schlocky stuff that abounds. And yes, the food is pretty overpriced and surprisingly bland for what you get. Even the nearby Restaurant Row in the Theatre District is surpisingly average, for the most part, IMHO.

I think the best fried chicken I ever got in New York was from, if you can believe it, one of those neighborhood diners in Manhattan, near Tudor City, if I am not mistaken. Tons of food for much less than 25 dollars, and the quality was superb. Who would have thought?

Oops, sorry, meant to add that your pictures are great, as usual, Ellen. I am glad that you had a good time, and am jealous that you can enjoy all that good food and stay so slim at the same time!

quote:

Originally posted by Pigiron

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Bad People who actually live here don't go out and pay $25 every time they want fried chicken.

Case in point:

http://www.dirtybirdtogo.com/

Great fried chicken on 14th street.

Thanks for the "Dirtybird" chicken tip. I will DEFINITELY try the place next time I am in NYC!... (and takes pics, of course)
You got me excited about the place already! (I get excited easy!)
It sounds like a tough decision between the buttermilk fried chicken, the rotisserie chicken , and the chicken fingers with "Slades" special sauce (hand breaded fingers, I'm hoping).Oh well, can't decide, so I guess I'll just try all 3 ! (taste a little of each) At those prices, what the heck?!?

quote:

Originally posted by doggydaddy


How are you going to keep them down on the farm with pictures like these? You are having too much fun.

mark

cute, doggy daddy! I like that "down on the farm" stuff!

I may actually end up trying that $25.00 fried chicken sometime, just to see if it's any good . (It will make for a fun report, anyway!)
And I can compare it to the DirtyBird chicken place that "pigiron" just tipped me off about! I'll do a comparison report.

I actually feel better paying high prices for steaks dinners, (compared to fried chicken dinners, for instance) cause there's more reasoning there ........like I'm probably getting that "prime" beef for the $40 , etc.

quote:

Originally posted by tacchino

Yes, in my fifteen plus years of living in New York (in Manhattan and one of the "outer boroughs"), I made it a habit to avoid spending much time at all in Times Square, because of the crowds for one thing. Before it became Disneyland North, I avoided it for the dirt, grime, and seediness, and since then, for schlocky stuff that abounds. And yes, the food is pretty overpriced and surprisingly bland for what you get. Even the nearby Restaurant Row in the Theatre District is surpisingly average, for the most part, IMHO.

I think the best fried chicken I ever got in New York was from, if you can believe it, one of those neighborhood diners in Manhattan, near Tudor City, if I am not mistaken. Tons of food for much less than 25 dollars, and the quality was superb. Who would have thought?

That's a real good way to put it, tachhino --- "times square used to be seedy, and now it's schlocky! (and can I tell you all a secret?!?
I miss the seediness. Well, I liked that better than the current "disneyland north", anyway. (who needs Chevy's, Applebee's, etc on 42nd st.?!? (I miss Nedicks hot dogs, etc) It's like they sanitized it TOO much now! I do like looking at all the NEON, though, as I love NEON. I pretend I'm in Vegas.
I missed when it had that edginess to it. It was fun counting the hookers on 8th ave, in their mini skirts and high heels.

I usually do go into the neighborhoods when I'm in NYC...
no one should visit NYC without going into Greenwich Village, for instance, (east village, AND west village).. I also enjoy the upper east side, upper west side, Chelsea, etc.

I usually do a combo of walking and subways. Even when I took the #6 Lexington Ave line back to midtown after my comedy club (2nd ave/81 st,) there were a few dozen of us waiting for the subway at 12:30 am.
Felt totally safe. (I would'nt want to venture WAY out into the outer boroughs late at night, though)

This thread has been so much fun! I like all the different directions in takes!

-- ellen --

P.S. hey, DESERT DOG, you've got me singing that Green Acres theme song, too now!! (cute posting, there, DD)

Greeeen Acres is the place to be, FAAARM living is the life for me...

I guess you watched Petticoat Junction as well. Those 2 shows kind of went hand -in- hand. (and those 3 sisters were easy on the eyes)

and here is my Green Acres sequel :

Flash forward about 40 years.
It is now the year 2007

They end up having a "commuter marriage".
She keeps an apartment in NYC , as she is the manager of a hedge fund on Wall Street. They need her high income to pay for the rising costs of medical coverage, etc.

He mostly stays on the farm. (he's got cows to milk, after all)

But on weekends ,she flys US Air Express to visit him.