― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 10 March 2003 16:33 (twenty-one years ago) link
I think Lupa is the best Italian restaurant in the city. It's on Thompson between Houston and Bleecker. 'hearty' 'rustic' Roman-style stuff like Saltimbocca, most things are like $15. mmmm pork shin.
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 10 March 2003 16:33 (twenty-one years ago) link
― hstencil, Monday, 10 March 2003 16:35 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Monday, 10 March 2003 16:37 (twenty-one years ago) link
― felicity (felicity), Monday, 10 March 2003 16:39 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 10 March 2003 16:44 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 10 March 2003 16:47 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 10 March 2003 17:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
decibel?
― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 10 March 2003 17:20 (twenty-one years ago) link
Well, I used to write restaurant reviews for the NYU paper, and also I've been fired as a waiter from like 10 NYC restaurants... but i like:
Pongsri Thai: cheap and yummy thai.
Blue Ribbon: expensive but veyr well made yummy things like the raw seafood platter... in Soho or Park Slope. open late.
Cafeteria: The macaroni&cheese and fried chicken & waffles are good. 24 hours in chelsea... but a weird mixed crowd of fabu-gays and thugz.
Florent: Always dependable for moules frites or a cheeseburger or eggs/bacon after a night at APT or something... in the Meatpacking district.
Tabla: Very good fusion Indian food on Madison Ave. Expensive though
avoid, because someone might try to take you to:Avenue A Sushi [YUCK!]Dojo [DOUBLE-YUCK!]Casa La Femme, Kin Khao, Chez es Saaada, Jewel Bako, Genki Sushi, The Grocery, Uncle Pho, Coffee Shop, and The Park [the bastards all fired me]
― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 10 March 2003 17:40 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 10 March 2003 17:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 10 March 2003 17:44 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 10 March 2003 17:45 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 10 March 2003 17:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
nobusushi sambathe coffeeshop (i swear it was good! i was not THAT drunk!)
um...one of the indian restaurants with the belly dancers on the lower east side (e. 6th?)
i can't remember any others...
― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 10 March 2003 18:08 (twenty-one years ago) link
NOOO!! Coffee Shop is the worst. I worked there one day before I got fired. The food is awful and the service sucks - trust me. Everything is seriously overpriced. $12 for a Cuban Sandwich? Nigga please. I could go down to Houston & Attorney and get one for 3 bucks. And also, they have a policy for the host-staff. All the beautiful people get the prime seats and booths, while the uglies get sent away to the back. It's true. It's policy. It sucks. Though the waitstaff is all pretty hot [but dumb...]
― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 10 March 2003 18:12 (twenty-one years ago) link
― fiona (fiona), Monday, 10 March 2003 18:12 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 10 March 2003 18:14 (twenty-one years ago) link
― suzy (suzy), Monday, 10 March 2003 18:35 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Dave M. (rotten03), Monday, 10 March 2003 18:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
Ugh Zen Palate. So frondy. I think I'm going to turn into an overpriced plant everytime I walk past one of those places so I try not to let the waitstaff see my eyes. NEVER let them see your eyes.
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 10 March 2003 19:31 (twenty-one years ago) link
― hstencil, Monday, 10 March 2003 19:39 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Dave M. (rotten03), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:13 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:36 (twenty-one years ago) link
― alli (alliok), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
Word. Also, for REAL Mexican food: the Rocking Horse Cafe, Gabriela's, Los Dos Rancheros.
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
― hstencil, Monday, 10 March 2003 23:03 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:05 (twenty-one years ago) link
A good place to check out if you want to spend lots of time (and major bandwidth warning) is the message board at chowhound.
Commentary on places mentioned before:
I second the recommendations for Gabriela's (90s location probably has a less annoying crowd than the 70s one), which is pretty good as far as NY Mex goes. Maya is a wonderful, if expensive, haute Mexican place on the southern tip of the Upper East Side. One of NY's better restaurants. As for other places, I've been once to the supposedly authentic La Palapa in the E. Village/LES and wasn't impressed, food- or other-wise. The others I don't know about.
Carmine's is not exactly subtle food, but it is better than one might expect and can be a great time for a group. Go for the Upper West Side branch, if convenient, to avoid the Times Square crowds (though I don't know what effect the theatre strike will have). If you do the Little Italy thing, you should know that the restaurants there aren't necessarily great (I don't know how they stack up against the E. Vill/LES places, which I've never been to). Of the ones there, Il Cortile can be pretty good.
Ollie's has a special place in my heart, but it is not worth your time unless you want slightly-better-than-average-Americanized (and excessively corn-starched) Chinese and it's nearby. Columbia branch better than the others.
John's Pizzeria (the Village place referenced, but not named, in Aaron Grossman's post, I believe) - very good pizza, not sure if it's a destination. V&T near Columbia is comparable. The great pizzerias are Lombardi's (in Little Italy/NoLita) and Patsy's (in Harlem, with V&T-quality branches elsewhere). You should, however, have some cheap, average NY pizza in addition to excellent, wood-burning-oven pizza to get the full experience.
Dosa Hutt - I've never been, but this place gets raves from most foodies. And you don't have to go to Flushing - there's one on Lexington in the 20s (26th?). Also nearby on "Curry Hill" is Curry in a Hurry, a great place for dosas and steam-table meals. That place, however, can't beat...
Pakistan Tea House in Tribeca (the place Tracer Hand was referring to). In the past year and a half, I've eaten in probably ten of the best restaurants in New York. I'm not sure I've had anything more memorable at those places than this place's Chicken Makhni platter with spinach and dal.
Coffee Shop - food shouldn't be the reason you go there (though it is decent). I'm not sure what should.
Blue Ribbon - I've never been to Blue Ribbon proper, but have been to the Blue Ribbon Bakery, slightly less, but still relatively, expensive. The food wasn't as amazing as I expected (though it was very good and I ordered strangely), but this place has great atmosphere.
Stuff you should try:
Hot Dogs - The classic places are the papaya ones (Gray's Papaya over Papaya King for me). F&B in Chelsea is a v. cute place with a chic'er and broader menu and probably better food.
The Soup Nazi - in midtown, open during the day. Cuisine in an expensive-for-lunch-but-cheap-for-quality cup (with lots of goodies added). Worth the adventure.
Sushi - but only if you go to one of the really good places, which will probably cost $. On the Upper East Side, Sushi of Gari is an inventive, fun (and pretty trendy for the UES) place that my Dad thinks has the freshest fish he's ever eaten (and he's eaten a lot). The invention here isn't quite my style (I do like invention, just a different kind), but many disagree. The other great sushi place, besides Nobu (which, like most big-name restaurants, is totally hit-or-miss) and the midtown-business-lunch places, is Jewel Bako in the East Village, where I've never been.
Chinese/Vietnamese in Chinatown/Little Italy - I'll leave the picks to others (I'm too Americanized to appreciate rice gruel). But I do like Funky Broome.
A cute/trendy/semi-cheapy French bistro like Le Pere Pinard on the LES. Metisse near Columbia has especially excellent food in this category, but is a much older, more sedate scene.
A personal pick - Beyoglu - on the Upper East Side (where it seems you won't be going), this place has really fantastic Turkish food, perhaps the best in NYC, for not all that much money. A group meal here can be great.
Are you a serious foodie planning on eating somewhere seriously gourmet/expensive? Cuz that's another discussion. I'll note that some of Danny Meyer's restaurants have comparatively cheap options - lunch at the bar at Union Square Cafe, the front room at Gramercy Tavern, the Tabla Bread Bar - that get you their very good (but not life-changing or anything) food and wonderful service for slightly less money.
Michael Daddino - are you the only other UES'er besides me? Am I going to run into you in Eli's (though I never have time to waste money there any more)?
― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 06:50 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 07:52 (twenty-one years ago) link
Yes! But Ashoka is better.
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 07:57 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Dave M. (rotten03), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:29 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:35 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:40 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
the upper east side is way underrated. three reasons to visit: the pizza at, fuck, can't remember, it's on like 81st and First Avenue, is my favorite I've had in NYC. I also like Angel's on 63rd and First. and perhaps greatest of all, and a real NYC institution: SERENDIPITY on 60th between 2nd and 3rd. I had my b-day dinner there (thanks again, Andy!) and love it every single time I go there, which isn't frequently enough. HUGE ice cream desserts, good soup and regular U.S. fare (nachos, burgers, chicken) done really well. the interior design is SICK--basically it's '70s nostalgia for the '30s. Andy Warhol ate there regularly, and it's where John & Yoko went for ice cream after John got his green card. Love it love it love it.
I live around the corner from Curry Hill, the heavily Indian-restaurant populated area of Murray Hill, and there are quite a few good places there. what I remain a perpetual sucker for, however, is Curry in a Hurry on 28th and Lexington--quick, delicious, well priced (big chicken tikka masala platter w/rice, naan and vegetable side is $9.19 including tax) and once you go upstairs to eat very atmospheric, w/blue walls and one of about three Bollywood flix playing silently on a small TV screen, huge picture windows to look out of. (plus Gareth can compare it to similar UK spots.)
and hell yes stay away from Dojo.
― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:43 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:45 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
Seconded, although I haven't been there in years.
Curry in a Hurry is k-classiXor.
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:53 (twenty-one years ago) link
― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 09:07 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 09:15 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 09:21 (twenty-one years ago) link
Though Jewel Bako in the East Village is really truly fantastic, really super-expensive. One piece of otoro is $20. The omakase is either $70 or $100. And don't arrive hungry, because you'll leave hungry. Oooh, but my favorite is Sushi Hatsu on 1st avenue and like 58th street. It's open till maybe 2am and they have the widest variety of fish [many flown in from japan] and THE freshest yummiest fish on the east coast. They have maybe 50 varieties of fish including many I've never heard of - but the waiter can explain what the differences are. It's crazy expensive though. And they only take American Express.
― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 09:27 (twenty-one years ago) link
― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 16:10 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 16:11 (twenty-one years ago) link
― chris (chris), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 16:20 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 16:59 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 17:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 17:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
Yeah, I googled that too and saw that weird article of nea vs NEO. I've been to Naples a couple of times just to eat pizza. Roberta's never struck me as that similar. I dunno. I like it a lot but I like most pizza. I would kill for some costco pizza right now.
PIZZA FITE
― Yerac, Sunday, 31 March 2019 02:55 (five years ago) link
I am very particular though about crusts and bread. Like, I think Bien Cuit is super overrated. I don't get it. Every single thing I have ever gotten from there was burnt and dry. Which makes sense they got ahead of it and called it bien cuit.
― Yerac, Sunday, 31 March 2019 03:00 (five years ago) link
I grew up in Southern Illinois. Most pizza we had was "party cut" and it was trash.
Some of the best pizza right now in NYC is Ops in Bushwick, which is similar to Roberta's but I think better. Very soft crust, but not soupy. Supposedly a very long fermentation.
― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Monday, 1 April 2019 00:58 (five years ago) link
Also, I will rep for Long Island "grandma style", which is like a thin-crust Sicilian with a chunky sauce and higher end cheese with a light hand. It is very good when done right.
― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Monday, 1 April 2019 01:01 (five years ago) link
Crappy place that used to be by me in Woodside introduced me to grandma slices that were so good. Cooked with onion that would caramelize on the bottom of the crust.
― dan selzer, Monday, 1 April 2019 02:08 (five years ago) link
I will never pass up a grandma slice. Even though Casanova's in Greenpoint had a cheesy location, I really liked their grandma pies. Soooo garlicky. Also, Rosa's and that weird Astoria Pizza Factory did a good one (would get with meatballs).
― Yerac, Monday, 1 April 2019 02:29 (five years ago) link
Can recommend Llamita, a newish Peruvian spot in the Village (having dined there last night).
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 April 2019 02:39 (five years ago) link
Their williamsburg restaurant Llama Inn is excellent as well.
― dan selzer, Monday, 1 April 2019 03:30 (five years ago) link
rosa's grandma pie is all time.
went to roll-n-roaster in sheepshead bay this weekend, lives up to expectations. roast beef sandwiches terrific but the big surprise was the apple pie, far better than any fast food apple pie needs to be. great scene too.
brennan and carr is the next sheepshead bay excursion i think.
― adam, Monday, 1 April 2019 11:37 (five years ago) link
I just saw that Rosa's has a location in Williamsburg now too. I got some pizza from the astoria one recently, it was good, I don't think as good as my memory of the one on Fresh Pond.
― Yerac, Monday, 1 April 2019 13:03 (five years ago) link
No one associates New York, a city in the eastern United States, with good restaurants. That's beginning to change. https://t.co/WpPyyvqKHU— L.A. Times Food (@latimesfood) April 1, 2019
― mookieproof, Monday, 1 April 2019 14:28 (five years ago) link
Impressive, it's the rare April 1st reverse troll! That's a tough one to pull off.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 1 April 2019 15:55 (five years ago) link
fresh pond rosa's is my local rosa's. can also vouch for the chicken caesar salad slice.
anyone got ideas for good affordable sushi? i swore off low-tier bad neighborhood sushi but don't want to drop $500 at shuko or whatever.
― adam, Monday, 1 April 2019 17:32 (five years ago) link
Outside of going local, the places I went to the most were:Bozu (wburg) I mention above in the thread what we would orderKaoru (by the UN) insanely good/big chirashi bowls for $20-$25. They stop serving early though and turn into a hostess bar.Jewel Bako (evillage) I haven't been in awhile, it's probably at the top price range for what you are looking for. The sushi/sashimi entrees are pretty decently priced for one michelin star.I recently went to Hasaki in the evillage (vg, busy) and TsuruTonTan in Union Sq for udon but their sushi was pretty strong too (they have nice lunch specials).
― Yerac, Monday, 1 April 2019 18:06 (five years ago) link
i think you can slide in around ~$50 for lunch at sushi yasuda on a weekday
hate to say it but win son is p overpriced for what it is, i also instinctively distrust sino-restaurants where 90% of the clientele are not sino (see also birds of a feather, mala project)
― 龜, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 00:18 (five years ago) link
I love Mala Project.
― o. nate, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 00:48 (five years ago) link
it's ok but you'd been able to get sichuan drypot for years prior in flushing, it's basically that but at 2x the price for the east village. i think there are more interesting places in the neighborhood (e.g. little tong noodle shop)
― 龜, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 01:00 (five years ago) link
I go to the one in midtown for one of the lunch specials (usually the fish). Its a nice option to have, even though all the specials basically taste the same, so you have to space out visits.
― o. nate, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 01:05 (five years ago) link
Does anyone know anything about Chelsea Table and Stage? I had never heard of it before but may go see a show there. I'm guessing it's extremely new because I can't find any reviews of it, which is p much unheard of for NYC. Food menu looks kind of blah but the price iss pretty reasonable for a table right by the stage so I'll eat my boring $27 salmon and enjoy the show I guess. Just curious what the deal is with this place. Looks kind of like a jazz club vibe but not exclusive to jazz.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 18:40 (two years ago) link
they look like they need some help with booking but glad to see any new club open!
― think “Gypsy-Pixie” and misspelled. (We are a white family.) (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 19:51 (two years ago) link
Thought this would be about Restaurant/Week/Month/Whatever
― Two Severins Clash (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 21:25 (two years ago) link
xp, yeah I mean the guy I'm going to see is awesome but I only randomly know who he is through instagram and he does not seem to be much of a name yet. Don't recognize many other names, but I'm sure "Funk Shui" is top notch
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 21:35 (two years ago) link
My soon to be 11yo has always deeply loved beef and steak. I want to take her for a good steak for her bday. What's a good place that wouldn't feel too stuffy for an 11yo girl with her dad? I thought about Luger but it would be a long ride from us coming from north of the city - something in Manhattan/Bronx/Queens is probably easier to get to.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 7 February 2023 03:57 (one year ago) link
Why not take her to an Argentinian place. Buenos Aires on E. 6th St. has a good selection of beef and a cheerful, casual vibe.
― Josefa, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 04:16 (one year ago) link
I mean luger’s isnt stuffy
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Tuesday, 7 February 2023 04:18 (one year ago) link
Right, it's not, it's just further from us. But I think she might get a kick out of it.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 7 February 2023 04:25 (one year ago) link
That Argentinian place looks good too, good idea
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 7 February 2023 04:29 (one year ago) link
Keens is so fun and so great.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 05:23 (one year ago) link
peter luger's is kinda a memory more than a meal, maybe worth it
― POLIZISTEN VERSINKEN IM SCHLAMM (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 7 February 2023 05:24 (one year ago) link
i think keens has better food and vibes than luger
― adam, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 11:44 (one year ago) link
^^^Kid might also think the pipes on the ceiling are neat.
― Unfairport Convention (PBKR), Tuesday, 7 February 2023 13:08 (one year ago) link
i haven't been but 212 steakhouse is one of the few steakhouses in america that serves officially licensed kobe beef https://www.212steakhouse.com/our-kobe-beef
― 龜, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 13:58 (one year ago) link
oh wait they are no longer on the official list... did they lose their license lol https://www.kobe-niku.jp/shop/?lang=1&prefecture=52&tag=3
― 龜, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 14:08 (one year ago) link
Keens is normally my go to - definitely better vibes than Luger. And the mutton! (I might still prefer the basic Luger steak though). Old Homestead is also excellent with a similar level of fanciness as Keens. It all depends on one's tolerance for that clubby kind of atmosphere. But I've seen young people at all these places.
― Josefa, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 14:09 (one year ago) link
Yeah, Keens is old-school and fancy feeling without feeling stuffy. It was fun and friendly when I went.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 15:32 (one year ago) link