Restaurant recommendations: New York City

In My Humble Opinion
1

(I considered putting this in Cafe Society as it’s about food and culture, but chose IMHO as it’s sort of a poll, looking for opinions. Mods, please move as you deem appropriate.)

I will be in New York on a musical-theater crawl in December, and I’m looking for interesting places to eat while I’m there.

Yes, yes, I know, New York is the restaurant capital of the known universe, so I could browse the web and get eight thousand different ideas. But see, that’s exactly why I don’t want to just browse the web; I’ll be inundated and won’t be able to differentiate good ideas from bad.

So I’m turning to you, the foodies of the SDMB, to help me sort through the available options and come up with only the most interesting possibilities.

Because that’s the thing. That’s what I’m looking for: interesting food. I don’t have any desire to go to a famous restaurant just to go to a famous restaurant (e.g. the Rainbow Room). I don’t see the point in spending a ton of money simply to prove I’m getting a good meal (e.g. Masa). I won’t do a celebrity-chef place just because it’s a celebrity-chef place (e.g. Mesa Grill), unless, of course, you think it warrants the attention (e.g. Esca). And I really, really don’t need to go someplace where the point is simply to See Or Be Seen (e.g. Elaine’s).

What I want is recommendations for interesting restaurants serving memorable, even unique, food. I’m seeing a food experience specific to New York, not simply The Best Steakhouse. I know New York has some of the greatest steakhouses anywhere, but to me that’s just a matter of degree. In some ways, obscure is actually better; if you’ve just discovered an unsung hole in the wall where a young Thai chef is offering an amazing fusion of Lebanese and Norwegian cuisine, I’d probably choose that over a heap of Ducasse truffles. On the other hand, if you know of a place that’s squarely a representative of its genre, but that takes the style to a transcendant new level, that’s great too. For example, I’m thinking about that one sushi place Ruth Reichl raves about in her book Garlic and Sapphires, but I’ll be damned if I can remember the name.

I’m not trying to avoid spending money, either. Expensive is fine if the food is truly worth it. I’ve got Aquavit on my probable list, for instance (I have their cookbook and love the style). And mainstream cuisine is fine if there’s an unusual twist on it; Eatery is an example, though the reviews appear to be all over the map. And just to make this an even more confusing and contradictory request, if you know a place that’s brilliant because the food is pure and simple and unadorned, the opposite of ostentatiously unique, by all means, let’s hear it.

Also, I’ll be staying in the theater district, and doing mostly pre-show meals before walking to the various venues, so try to keep it in Manhattan, please. Unless of course there’s a can’t-miss-on-pain-of-torturous-death Korean grill in Queens or something. :slight_smile:

So here’s your chance, New York foodies. Tell me where to eat.

Oh, and please feel free to argue with other people’s recommendations. That’ll be just as informative to me, or probably actually more informative, than just a list of straight suggestions. I mean, it’s not like New Yorkers have strong opinions about anything. :wink:

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At some point, take a short subway trip or leisurely stroll up Broadway to Zabar’s and get stuff to have a picnic in Central Park. Just the smells in the place as you walk through the door is a foodie’s delight.

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There’s an Ethiopian restaurant on York that my wife and I enjoyed. We’d go there again if the spices didn’t give us hives.

“mmmm this is dee-lish. Hey, what’s that on your lip?”

4

It’s a bit away from the theater district, but it’s an “only in New York*” favorite that my wife and I try to visit every time we’re in town. Pommes Frites, 1st Avenue between 7th St and St. Marks (8th St.) They sell nothing but Belgian-style French Fries and a wide array of Dipping Sauces (and cold drinks). Try the “frite sauce,” it’s not just regular Mayo. I like the Vietnamese Pinapple Sauce too.

*(Ok, it’s only in New York, and possibly Belgium. But it sure ain’t here in Delaware)

Don’t know if this counts as a restaurant, but Veniero’s Bakery has some of the best pastry anywhere. www.venierospastry.com 342 East 11th Street.

Sadly, my other recommendations are the late lamented and defunct Kiev and 2nd Avenue Deli.

5

Well, you already picked what I came to recommend. It was a memorable dining experience, both the food and the service.

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I love giving restaurant recommendations! I unlurked for this!

First, Angels. A really homey Italian place on the East Side. The food is wonderful, the staff is friendly and attentive, and the kitschy decor is great. They have a Christmas tree up all year round to display their angel ornaments.

Then, Uncle Vanya, a Russian place a little closer to where you’ll be seeing shows. Total hole-in-the-wall, you’d never stumble over it if you didn’t already know where it was. There’s often a man playing an accordian and singing Russian dirges in the evenings.

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The absolute best pizza anywhere: DiFara’s on Ave. J in Brooklyn. We called ahead and still had to wait about 45 minutes for our pie but man, was it worth it!

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Junior’s Cheesecake is now in Times Square!

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Angels is great. They have an appetizer called Gorgonzola Bread - garlic bread in melted gorgonzola - that’s fantastic.

If you want big & loud & excellent Italian, Carmine’s is quite good.

10

I agree with the positive reviews for El Faro. I had a shrimp and rice dish and could only eat half of it (and I’ve been known to polish off an entire 2-pound-plus Stouffer’s “Family Size” entree as my supper). I took the El Faro leftovers back to Lafayette, reheated the meal a couple of nights later, and it was still delicious as well as filling. If you like sangria, be sure to order a glass (or pitcher, if you’re not dining alone).

11

Ah, restaurant experiences for visitors in New York. I got tons of them, but I’ll start with two suggestions.

First, you should do dim sum in Chinatown for lunch one day. This weekend I’m taking some vistors to Ping’s on lower Mott Street.

Second, you should walk across the Brookyn Bridge from Manhattan and go for pizza at Grimaldi’s under the Brooklyn side of the bridge. Take a subway to City Hall to get to the bridge and walk across the walkway. Even in December, it shouldn’t be too bad if you bundle up a bit. Take the stairway on the Brooklyn side (to the left of the path) and when you get to the bottom of the stairs, turn right and follow Old Fulton Street along the bridge until you hit Grimalidi’s, and be prepared to wait in line for a table. Grimaldi’s is a frequent choice in “what’s the best pizza in New York?” debates (and I haven’t been to XJET’s entry so I can’t compare), but the combination of the walk across the bridge and the pizza is incomparable. Take a walk along the Brooklyn Heights Prominade and explore the Heights a bit if you have time.

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As you well know, I’m not from New York. But I’ve been to New York, and friends took me to an awesome restaurant.

Minuses: It’s not in Manhattan. It’s not close to the subway. It’s in Astoria, about a 10-minute walk from the nearest stop.

Pluses: It’s fucking awesome. Kabob Cafe: Egyptian/Moroccan food. Make time if you possibly can. Say hi to Ali for me.

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Go to the Grand Central Oyster Bar sometime. It’s a couple of long-blocks from Times Square. That’s a classic NY institution, and the best place I know to eat oysters. But only get raw oysters, oyster stew, or (I guess) clam chowder–don’t bother with the restaurant, just the bar.

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I lived two blocks from Ali’s place. Oy Jesus, the food there is fabulous.

Also easy to get to from midtown (for a place in Queens). Take the N or W to Astoria Blvd (second to last stop). Walk away from the Triborough bridge until you get to Steinway Street (the street numbers will get bigger). Go right. It’s a couple of blocks, on the right, past the mosque.

If you like greek food, and are willing to brave the boroughs, Zygos Restaurant (also Astoria) is fabulous. 22-55 31st Street. About a 5 minute walk from the subway. Actually, if you like greek food, you’re almost certainly better off braving the boroughs - at least the Astoria part.

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This sounds great. (Lamb’s penis?) I’ll get out there if I can find a free day for the trip.

I love Ethiopian food. I get pretty good Ethiopian regularly here in Seattle. What sets this one apart?

Woot!

Perfect. I’ll totally check this one out. The Italian place sounds great too.

Thanks, y’all, for the other ideas, also. I’ll be showing the list to my traveling companion to see what else he might be interested in. And we could even make a foodie-night-out New York Dopefest type of thing, if anybody’s interested.

Keep 'em coming!

16

Great Hole-in-the-wall burger joint: **Island Burger ** on 9th around 51st or so.

**Union Square Cafe ** and the **Gramercy Tavern ** are simply classics - been around for years, great, great food, unpretentious atmosphere.

In Greenwich Village, there’s **August ** on Bleecker - a great, small place with, oh, rustic Italian type of cuisine…and Tartine on 11th, I think - classic French Bistro with a great, local eclectic clientelle - very reasonable, too.

I’ll second Grimaldi’s - fabulous. It used to be called Patsy’s but another pizzeria using that name made them change it. The still-named Patsy’s is pretty darn good, too - there’s one up in Harlem and another in Midtown, I think…

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I’m not well-versed enough in Ethiopian cuisine to say what sets one place apart from another. I’ve only eaten at two other Ethiopian places and both had low tables and stools where you’d kind of hover over the platter. This place has regular seating. The food was more spicy than I remember (it had been at least ten years since the last time), so much so that my wife and I had reactions to it. The Sambussa - a spicy beef & lentil pie was particularly memorable. She had the Tibs Wot and I had the Doro Wot. I don’t mind suffering a little for fine spicy food, but hives are a bit much! If you’re more used to the spices you probably won’t have that reaction.

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Best steak in the theater district: Bond 45 on 45th Street off Broadway.

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It’s not really a bad trip at all, but out-of-towners like my wife and me were happy to have some locals as our guide. Among the four of us, our entrees included lamb, duck, goat, and rabbit – as someone said later, it’s like we ate a petting zoo. A super tasty petting zoo.

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Want an experience?

Okay. You get seated. They give you a coaster. On one side, the coaster is green. Leave it green side up and dudes walking around will approach you with skewers of meat and carve pieces off for you. Leave it red side up and everyone stops bothering you.

One of the coolest places I’ve eaten in NYC.