I’m going to be in New York for the day on June 5th, and I’m looking for somewhere to eat. Ideally, I’m looking for an experience that I can’t replicate here in Springfield; something like an Italian place (with REAL Italians working there) or a corner pub or something. Here’s what I need:
[ul]
[li]Reasonably inexpensive. Meaning, an adult can eat a meal for around $25-30 or less, with dessert and non-alcoholic drink.[/li][li]Within walking distance of a subway stop.[/li][li]Preferably, on the upper west side of Manhattan, so I don’t have to venture too far fromwhere I’m going to be.[/li][/ul]
I really can’t help you very much here, and I do apologize if I’m taking up bandwidth for no good reason. But…
When our daughter lived in downtown Manhattan, she took us on a tour of the place, and we ate at two really good Italian restaurants. Both were walking distance from the subway or bus system. Heck, the entire area was.
I do not remember the names, unfortunately. A third place we ate at was what I believe was the original, founding, real, original New York Pizza Place. I even saw it later on the Food Channel, or maybe Discovery. It was VERY good, but I don’t remember that name, either.
I don’t know any places on the Upper West, but the subway will take you to Little Italy, where a trip down Mulberry will give you a choice of a dozen nice Italian restaurants. Figure on maybe a 30min trip each way, including the walk. Stop at Ferrara’s (Grand St.) for a cannoli to tide you over on the way back. Unless you’re really short on time, this is the way I’d go, I guarantee it’s an experience you won’t easily replicate.
If nobody has better suggestions, and Little Italy is no good, let me know what cross street you’re staying at, and I’ll look up some nearby places in my (slightly dated, so call first) Zagat.
I don’t know much about New York City’s geography, but you should definitely consider Rosa Mexicano. It’s slightly over your price range before tip, but the food I’ve had at the one here in Washington (DC) is absolutely fantastic and well worth the price.
I’ll be at 57 W 66th St, near 66th & Broadway. How do I get to Little Italy from that intersection via subway (there’s a subway stop at 66th & Broadway on the #1 line)?
If it’s a nice day and you feel like walking across the Park, try “Bella Cucina”, 1297 Lexington Ave (at 87 st). Authentic Italian, great food, lots of daily specials.
There is also “Allegria”, 66 W 55th St (between 5th and 6th). A bit more pricey, but also authentic.
Famous for a lot of reasons including a particular scene from the movie When Harry met Sally. (yes, that scene)
Take the downtown F or V train to 2nd Ave. That is the Lower East Side. Little Italy and Chinatown are a few blocks to the south from there.
You want something you can’t replicate in Springfield, and you choose Italian? Personally, I wouldn’t recommend going all the way to Little Italy (although Lombardi’s is great) if you’re only here for the day… too much time wasted on the subway. My advice is to really go out on a limb and try Turkish food! There’s a great place called Pasha on 71st between Central Park West and Columbus Ave, probably a ten minute walk from where you’re going to be.
Peasant is easily my favourite Italian in NY. It’s in SoHo though, and probably a bit above the price range you mention, but it is a fabulous place that I can’t recommend highly enough.
Russian Samovar on West 52nd street, as featured in Sex And The City. It is dark, claustrophobic, lit with bordello lamps, lots of actual Russians will be eating there, a band will be singing bandit songs to a balalaika, the food is good and pretty much in the range you gave. It can be pretty wild.
Oh… and since Italian really seems to be the thing in this thread… you might try Da Tommaso, 903 Eighth Avenue, between 53rd and 54th Streets. Everyone there will look like they walked off the set of Moonstruck, the waiters are Italian and will pull out the table to seat you (just like in Europe), and though they do have a menu, the waiters are very good at looking at you and telling you what you want to eat. And the food is awfully good.
Oh don’t get me wrong, I totally agree you’d be hard pressed to find better Italian food elsewhere. I was just saying in the spirit of helping the OP have an “experience that I can’t replicate here in Springfield” (is his words) it might be fun to try something even farther off the beaten path in terms of ethnicity.
Another option: Ethiopian food. My wife and I went to a pretty great Ethiopian restaurant last year while we were there; this may be a cuisine hard to find in Springfield (although for some reason the Triangle in North Carolina has several great Ethiopian restaurants).
Agreed, although I think a lot of people would be very surprised (hopefully pleasantly) at true Italian peasant food. As my father’s side of the family crossed the pond from Sicily at the turn of the century, and some were still farmers during my formative years, I grew up on the food and learned how to make both American Italian and true Sicilian food. There is quite a difference.
(It may be a stereotype, but every Italian family I knew growing up loved to cook, although it declines over the generations. Fortunately for my family, I still have the bug, but my children can’t be arsed to learn how I do the things I do in the kitchen).
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend going all the way to Little Italy (although Lombardi’s is great) if you’re only here for the day… too much time wasted on the subway. My advice is to really go out on a limb and try Turkish food! There’s a great place called Pasha on 71st between Central Park West and Columbus Ave, probably a ten minute walk from where you’re going to be.