# Need New York-y Restaurant Suggestions
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 22, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678 "2006-08-22T00:50:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/1 "2006-08-22T00:50:40Z")
[Rula Lenska] “Friends are visiting from Europe.” [/Rula Lenska] Australia, actually. I was going to take them to the Algonquin, of course, as it’s the _only_ place I eat out in the city, my home away from home. But, blast it, other friends of his are already taking him there! _Bastards_.
So I’m at a loss. Anyone know of any good New York-y place I can take him to, that is quaint or colorful and fairly easy to get to? Quality of food doesn’t matter as much as history/atmosphere.
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### Author:  [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/2 "2006-08-22T01:00:10Z")
Iconic, New York eateries:
Tavern On The Green
Empire Diner
Katz Deli
Carnegie Deli
Not necessarily great food, but very memorable.
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### Author:  [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/3 "2006-08-22T01:01:43Z")
Dear, you _do_ know Australia isn’t in Europe, don’t you?
Don’t know why but they seem to take it personally if one makes that mistake. Just a word to the wise…
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/4 "2006-08-22T01:02:07Z")
[Keen’s Chophouse](http://dinesite.com/info/rstrnt-83356/??&t=0) on 36th just east of 6th. Venerable old broiled-meat mecca with a million clay pipes hanging from the ceilings. A bit pricey, but if you frequent the Gonk, it shouldn’t stun you.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/5 "2006-08-22T01:36:00Z")
I just want to say that I am shocked - _shocked!_ - that **Eve** is asking for help on finding New York icons.
Sardi’s? The 21 Club? The Rainbow Room? Are all the places mentioned in those old movies now gone?
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### Author:  [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/6 "2006-08-22T02:35:53Z")
[Bobby Vans Steakhouse](http://www.bobbyvans.com/steakhouses.html)
Or if you want a simple pub, with Bass ale and Guiness on tap, check out the Ear Inn at 325 Spring Street.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/7 "2006-08-22T02:42:21Z")
The Guest House? The Falls? Scores? These places have all been mentioned in the Post.
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/8 "2006-08-22T03:14:35Z")
Places not mentione that I’ve heard of:
The Four Seasons
Le Cirque
Lutece
Tom’s Restaurant (Seinfeld)
Russian Tea Room
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### Author:  [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/9 "2006-08-22T03:46:05Z")
Brooklyn Diner? I hear it mentioned on Opie & Anthony a lot.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/10 "2006-08-22T12:58:07Z")
I’ve taken a few Europeons and Ozzies to Ben & Jerrys on 8th & 42nd for dessert and coffee. Impresses the hell out of them.
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/11 "2006-08-22T13:31:38Z")
21? The Four Seasons? I’m a _writer_, dears, not Jackie O. Sadly, the Russian Tea Room (the _real_ one) is long-gone, as is Le Cirque (and, more sadly, McGurk’s Suicide Hall). There’s a nice, very old burger place in the East 20s: Old Town something or other. Ring a bell with anyone?
(Yes, I know Australia is not in Europe, I just wanted to do my _Ruuuula_ Lenska impression)
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/12 "2006-08-22T15:13:09Z")
> [@Eve](#):
>
> There’s a nice, very old burger place in the East 20s: Old Town something or other. Ring a bell with anyone?
The Old Town Bar and Restaurant? East 18th Street, near Union Square?
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### Author:  [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/13 "2006-08-22T15:15:10Z")
[The Manhattan Chili Company](http://www.manhattanchili.com/)
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/14 "2006-08-22T15:19:04Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#):
>
> The Old Town Bar and Restaurant? East 18th Street, near Union Square?
Ah, I think that’s it, thanks. [Looking it up](http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/bars/oldbars.html), it dates from 1892, the food’s good, not too expensive, and it has nice cozy booths for chatting.
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### Author:  [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/15 "2006-08-22T17:21:25Z")
Holy cow, I too find it hard to believe someone living/working in NYC, one of the restaurant capitals of the world would really need suggestions on where to take someone other than The Algonquin. How does this happen? Turn in your New Yorker ID card right now! Even Margo Channing ate at other places besides the Cub Room.
BTW, if the Russian Tea Room (real version) would actually have been a possibility cost-wise, 21 is certainly not out of your reach. They have a $40 pre fixe dinner there, if you grab a 6:30PM reservation. Otherwise, if you order _a la carte_ menu and skip the appetizer course, you should be able to squeak in at under $60. (Not including drinks, of course.)
Seriously, this is such a wonderful city with so many interesting places to eat, it’s a crime not to explore some of the many _boites_ and hidey-holes. Expand those horizons a little, girlfriend!
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### Author:  [@Long\_Time\_Lurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_Lurker)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-york-y-restaurant-suggestions/369678/16 "2006-08-22T19:31:50Z")
Some of my favorites, all links to menu pages.
Steak:
[Sparks](http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=3466&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0) (on the pricier side, conversation piece if you’re into mob hits)
[Angelo & Maxies](http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=2650&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0) (not too expensive for a steakhouse, livelier crowd, consistently good food)
Seafood:
[Aquagrill](http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=1889&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0) (often crowded, great raw bar)
Italian:
[Bice](http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=3476&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0) (never had a bad pasta dish here)
Comfortable:
[Da Ciro](http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=2739&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0) (their Focaccia Robiola Di Ciro is unique and highly recommended)
Trendy:
[Employees Only](http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=5897&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0) (Eclectic, sometimes crowded)
[L’Orange Bleue](http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=4687&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0) (Mediterranean food, on the loud side)