pylos, on e.7th, is a nice modern greek that's not too pricy. all indoors, though. in general, you have to make some trade-off for a good outdoor space - usually price or quality.
― lauren, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 18:19 (seventeen years ago) link
i know that's so true, ok i'm lookin it up
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 18:21 (seventeen years ago) link
okay has anyone been to Medina?
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 18:25 (seventeen years ago) link
yeah pylos is ok. you got to bring a lot of people to share al the dishes they have there.
― sanskrit, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 18:41 (seventeen years ago) link
http://eater.com/archives/2007/06/the_dish_shopsi.php
― gabbneb, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 00:04 (seventeen years ago) link
okay, so cheap sushi in West Village/East village/somewhere downtown, with cocktails
anyone?
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 17:52 (sixteen years ago) link
Tomoe is the cheapest decent sushi bar but there is usually a line of people outside.
― Steve Shasta, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 18:02 (sixteen years ago) link
And most other decent sushi in that area is not cheap.
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 21:44 (sixteen years ago) link
That thread bump reminds me that I went to Ferdinando's in Carroll Gardens this weekend and recommend it. Some of the best calamari I've ever had, and you ought to eat a panelle at least once in your life. Plus they're the only place in NYC with Manhattan Special on tap (it's way tastier than the bottled stuff)
Best Use of Chickpeas - Ferdinando's FERDINANDO'S is Brooklyn's oldest focacceria, a Sicilian snack shop that specializes in oil-slicked vegetables, stewed seafood, and tiny sandwiches on round rolls. One of their best products is the panelle special, made with chickpea fritters that show the influence of North Africa on Sicily piled on one of the aforementioned rolls and then heaped with clouds of the freshest ricotta. Two make a meal. -Robert Sietsema
151 Union Street, Brooklyn
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 21:47 (sixteen years ago) link
xpost I did a little Zagat search for you -- there are a few very highly rated places in that area in the $35-40/person range: Kanoyama at 2nd and 11th, Yama (which has a Carmine St. and a W. Houston St. location), and Hasaki, on 9th btw 2nd and 3rd.
Just slightly cheaper is Mizu Sushi, on 20th btw Broadway and Park.
Sapporo East on First Ave. is cheap and decent.
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 21:53 (sixteen years ago) link
anyone have an opinion on Rose Water?
― gabbneb, Thursday, 12 July 2007 22:11 (sixteen years ago) link
One of their best products is the panelle special, made with chickpea fritters
Is this like socca?
― Michael White, Thursday, 12 July 2007 22:13 (sixteen years ago) link
cheap sushi ..... East village
Esashi at 3rd and A is pretty good
it's no Tomoe or Yama but it's cheap and never has a wait. it's on the level of a good neighborhood place.
― dmr, Thursday, 12 July 2007 22:19 (sixteen years ago) link
but I would say go to Yama if you don't mind waiting a bit
― dmr, Thursday, 12 July 2007 22:20 (sixteen years ago) link
Based on my one dinner there, it was kind of meh. Not especially original, and not very well done, for the prices they charge...
― porcus dei, Thursday, 12 July 2007 22:27 (sixteen years ago) link
xpost Wikipedia suggests there is a connection but does not clarify whether they're exactly the same thing.
― Hurting 2, Thursday, 12 July 2007 22:27 (sixteen years ago) link
dave, do you go to Taro near you? people rate it as the best outer-borough sushi, fwiw. I'm no expert, but I like it, and they have a fried chicken appetizer that, while not sushi, is really tasty.
― dan selzer, Thursday, 12 July 2007 22:33 (sixteen years ago) link
thanks, that seems to be the opinion of some others who've been there as well, but it's hard for me to tell if my panisse-ian taste would feel differently
― gabbneb, Thursday, 12 July 2007 22:41 (sixteen years ago) link
Orhan Yegen now safe for below-14th Streeters - http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/sea-salt/
― gabbneb, Friday, 13 July 2007 21:44 (sixteen years ago) link
btw, Rose Water was v v pretty
― gabbneb, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 00:47 (sixteen years ago) link
Geido on Flatbush is my fave sushi in my neighborhood .... have not tried Taro yet. Haven't tried the Brooklyn outpost of Blue Ribbon Sushi either ($$$). Sushi Gen on Washington Av is pretty good (only gotten takeout) but I like Geido more.
― dmr, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 02:59 (sixteen years ago) link
what about Zen Garden on St. Mark's and Ave A? this is definitely not gourmet sushi, but they have a perpetual "thank you campaign" that gives any customer, any day of the week, at any given hour 50% off of the sushi. also, 10 PM to 1 AM drinks 50% off as well.. this is mainly for undergrads without fake IDs, but if you're looking for cheap east village sushi..
― poortheatre, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 07:00 (sixteen years ago) link
we had dinner at taro before going to southpaw a few months ago. based on that meal, i'd rate it as one of the better places in the city (outside of the big name, expense account category) and would agree with the best in the outer borough claim. kanoyama, mentioned by hurting upthread, is really great as well but the price per person is a bit misleading. they do high-quality basics for pretty good value, but the real draw of the menu is the special fish of the day list. once you're in that territory, the bill shoots up. mishima, on lex in the low 30s, is kind of like kanoyama uptown. if anyone finds themselves in murray hill craving sushi, i highly recommend it.
― lauren, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 14:44 (sixteen years ago) link
is zen garden the place with a karaoke room for hire in the back? yeah, it's not knock-you-out sushi or anything, but the whole "50% off, ALL THE TIME" thing is pretty crazy. why not just change the prices ont he menu?
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 14:46 (sixteen years ago) link
thanks guys!! i'm going to this place tonight:
http://almarestaurant.com/
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 14:48 (sixteen years ago) link
the whole "50% off, ALL THE TIME" thing is pretty crazy. why not just change the prices ont he menu?
uh
― gabbneb, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 16:06 (sixteen years ago) link
gesundheit
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 16:10 (sixteen years ago) link
http://www.yelp.com/biz/wNWEO6UzGNsti9pjmdFpgw#hrid:fj_5dthEiRvvi4UySzChmA/query:zen
("great location"!)
― gabbneb, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 16:11 (sixteen years ago) link
we had dinner at taro before going to southpaw a few months ago. based on that meal, i'd rate it as one of the better places in the city (outside of the big name, expense account category) and would agree with the best in the outer borough claim.
two high recommendations .... I'll have to check it out .... thx for the tip
― dmr, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 16:27 (sixteen years ago) link
i'd make a reservation, as the place is very small (8-10 little tables). we would have had at least a 20 minute wait if we'd been walk-ins.
― lauren, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 16:32 (sixteen years ago) link
Taro has great lunch specials and usually isn't crowded then. I guess that's great for those of us without real jobs.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 16:59 (sixteen years ago) link
surmounter, alma is great. make sure to sit on the roof. also: pineapple vanilla margarita
― bell_labs, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 17:03 (sixteen years ago) link
wtf that sounds amazing thx
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 17:18 (sixteen years ago) link
a couple more favorites..
Lunch: -Chez Brigitte @ Greenwich & 7th Ave. Really small diner that serves simple, hearty french-italian food. The lunch special gets you a soup, entrée, and drink. I think it's $8, so $10 plus tip. Chicken cutlet, very good. -Home @ Cornelia St. Slightly overpriced for dinner, but the lunch special is a good deal if you're with someone else. If you split an appetizer and an entrée, you get a free dessert. The food comes from local 'artisans,' etc and is gourmet american.
Brunch: - Elephant Castle @ Greenwich & 7th Ave. Great menu. Great coffee. - Honorary Brooklyn places that serve decent food but I never go to anymore because the service is shit: Wombat, Relish, Enid's.
Dinner: - Mas on Downing St. Okay, no one can afford this, but damn this is the best food I've ever eaten. Great service, too. Slightly less expensive/pretentious alternative next door at Blue Ribbon Bakery. - Lupa @ Thompson & Houston. Batali pre-Babbo. This is a new favorite, although meat dishes can be a little salty. Fantastic wine and service, too. Kind of expensive, but worth it. - Dumont @ Union & Devoe (in BK). Obviously. - Pepé Rosso @ Houston & Sullivan. An Italian restaurant where Italian people eat. Very inexpensive and cramped, but divine pasta.
Vegan/Vegetarian: Candle Café, Pure Food and Wine, Counter.
― poortheatre, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 17:46 (sixteen years ago) link
Mas sounds so good. It may be #1 on my have-not-eaten-yet list.
― gabbneb, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 17:58 (sixteen years ago) link
candle cafe is overrated.
― tehresa, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 19:06 (sixteen years ago) link
and over-priced! $20 for some kale, tempeh, and pureed sweet potatoes that could be made at home and more flavorfully for about $3.
― bell_labs, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 20:33 (sixteen years ago) link
I worked briefly at Mas. I currently work at one of the restaurants on my list.
― poortheatre, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 06:00 (sixteen years ago) link
Candle 79 is over-priced/rated. Candle Café is only overpriced if we can agree that every organaturalegan nyc restaurant is, too.
― poortheatre, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 06:03 (sixteen years ago) link
yes, linds! i think by overrated i meant overpriced! i mean, it is a good tempeh sandwich/whatever but i could make that at home if i tried hard enough! the juice drink i had was good but again, proper blender + me at home = could have made it.
poortheatre, i have not been to too many but i am inclined to agree with you on principle. unless someone makes me some incredible outlandish exotic vegan thing i never would have dreamed up making, vegetarian restaurants leave me feeling blah. in fact, <u>part</u> of my leaving vegetarianism after 6 years (no meat at all)/10 years (no red meat) was that i was bored of going to restaurants (even veggie ones) with crappy, unimaginative entrees.
― tehresa, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 06:14 (sixteen years ago) link
pepe rosso is still there!!??? awesome! does it still have the small sign inside that says "no skim - no decaf - only real food" ?
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 10:14 (sixteen years ago) link
i have this wonderful memory of a fresh salad there made with these ingredients only: spinach, bacon, olive oil
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 10:15 (sixteen years ago) link
- Elephant Castle @ Greenwich & 7th Ave. Great menu. Great coffee.
-Chez Brigitte @ Greenwich & 7th Ave. Really small diner that serves simple, hearty french-italian food. The lunch special gets you a soup, entrée, and drink. I think it's $8, so $10 plus tip. Chicken cutlet, very good.
these places have been around for SO long...must be doing it right.
on the not-cheap tip we had a nice dinner at The Orchard on the LES a few weeks back, what my wife calls "interesting American" food. only one entree out of four -- a soupy paella -- was less than stellar.
― m coleman, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 10:24 (sixteen years ago) link
oh ok i have only been to candle 79, didn't realize there was a difference. to be fair, the raw food lasagna thing i had a bite of was excellent but also teeeny tiny and more than $20.
the only vegan place i love is hangawi - also not cheap, but really wonderful vegetarian korean.
― bell_labs, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:10 (sixteen years ago) link
the pistachio tofu ice cream at hangawi is incredible, really much better than many "real" desserts. also, the fried mushroom dish is SO TASTY.
― lauren, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:15 (sixteen years ago) link
mmm the fried mushrooms. i wish i could eat their pumpkin porridge everyday!
― bell_labs, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:17 (sixteen years ago) link
woori jip (the cafeteria-style place on 32nd) has decent and pumpkin porridge for cheap most days.
― lauren, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:19 (sixteen years ago) link
that should be, "decent and cheap".
― lauren, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:20 (sixteen years ago) link
i was astonished by pure food and wine (near gramercy park), it's all raw and all totally delicious. not sure if it's still around.
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:30 (sixteen years ago) link
This might be stating the obvious, but Hummus Place is my new favorite cheap Manhattan spot. The hummus with fava beans is incredible.
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:43 (sixteen years ago) link