# Taking a trip to NYC (restaurant suggestions) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 5, 2021, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831 "2021-11-05T13:28:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/1 "2021-11-05T13:28:34Z")
This winter for a week. We already have a packed itinerary and plans on eating tons of New York pizza (or as Jon Stewart calls it - pizza) and street hot dogs. My question is what is a restaurant that we absolutely, positively, only-time-in-NYC **have** to go to? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/2 "2021-11-05T13:31:40Z")
That depends on your taste and your budget, I would imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/3 "2021-11-05T13:34:07Z")
What’s your budget? Where are you staying? What do you like to eat? It’s touristy, but a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Deli is a sure winner. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/4 "2021-11-05T13:41:45Z")
I don’t have a must try place in NYC. The non-secret to NYC is they have a lot of great places. So many that none are must eats. One place to consider though for its age and fame would be McSorley’s. > **[Home - McSorley's Old Ale House](https://mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc/)** > > Matty Maher, an Institution at an Institution, McSorley’s, Dies at 80 As bartender, manager and owner, he helped the East Village saloon survive neighborhood blight and change its ways by admitting women and banning smoking. Matty Maher and the... But considering just stopping in for a drink and plan to eat elsewhere. Their food is very basic. Or just getting a quick lunch there. Concentrating on Manhattan: Below Central Park I would say on almost every street between the 30s & 40s have an Irish Pub/Tavern with good food. You can’t go wrong with the Manhattan Diners and Delis. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/5 "2021-11-05T13:55:42Z")
If it’s a one-of-a-kind dining experience you’re after…maybe Shopsin’s? > **[Shopsin’s | New York Magazine | The Thousand Best](https://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/shopsins/)** > > The Essex Street Market home of “slutty cakes” and “blisters on my sisters,” and a bona fide local institution. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/6 "2021-11-05T15:19:27Z")
So what I’m going for is something like if in England you have to eat at [The Fat Duck](https://thefatduck.co.uk/). If it were still open, we’d go to Morimoto’s Restaurant (wife is a huge fan) in NYC. What are Michelin restaurants there or any unique restaurant that is once-in-a-lifetime. I get the deli thing but that is a walking by grab a lunch thing. Don’t consider budget - if it is $200 per person that’s fine as long as it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/7 "2021-11-05T15:48:05Z")
One of the best meals I have ever had: > **[Eleven Madison Park](https://www.elevenmadisonpark.com/)** > > Eleven Madison Park is a fine dining restaurant located in the heart of New York City. The restaurant overlooks one of the most beautiful parks in Manhattan, Madison Square Park, and sits at the base of a historic Art Deco building on the corner of... ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/8 "2021-11-05T15:53:05Z")
That’s what I’m looking for. Those cocktails look amazing. I can guaranty we’ll get drinks there. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/9 "2021-11-05T15:53:41Z")
NYC is up there with Paris and Rome in the top three culinary destinations in the world. There are 68 Michelin starred restaurants in NYC, with five three-star ones. And scores of non-starred but still excellent restaurants are located in the city as well. Probably your best bet is to narrow down WHAT you want to eat, and then see what you can find. P Personally, on my trips to NYC, I’ve tried to stick to stuff that’s specific to NYC- pizza, deli food, street food, bagels and nova from Zabar’s and so on. I mean, while I’m sure that Le Bernardin is sublime, it’s French food in NYC. I’d rather stay local, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/10 "2021-11-05T15:57:20Z")
FYI, Eleven Madison Park recently went vegan. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/11 "2021-11-05T15:59:27Z")
Yeah it may not get enough votes to eat there and I can’t find a menu online but like I said, definately some drinks. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/12 "2021-11-05T16:06:04Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So what I’m going for is something like if in England you have to eat at [The Fat Duck](https://thefatduck.co.uk/). If it were still open, we’d go to Morimoto’s Restaurant (wife is a huge fan) in NYC. What are Michelin restaurants there or any unique restaurant that is once-in-a-lifetime. I get the deli thing but that is a walking by grab a lunch thing. Don’t consider budget - if it is $200 per person that’s fine as long as it’s worth it. If what you want is a top-rated restaurant, these, I believe, are the ones with four stars from the New York Times (and some have three Michelin stars); Le Bernardin, per se, Jean George. Restaurant Daniel and Eleven Madison Park. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/13 "2021-11-05T16:08:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Eleven Madison Park recently went vegan. Did not know that! Half my family are lacto-ovo vegetarian and half (including me) are omnivore, it does reduce the appeal for me. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/14 "2021-11-05T16:09:05Z")
Go to Zabar’s on a Sunday morning, especially when they roll out a rack of fresh croissants. Their food is rather pricey, but worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/15 "2021-11-05T16:25:21Z")
This place is very New York and very, very, good. As others have said, you have about 1000 choices for outstanding meals in New York. > **[ilili NYC | Hours + Location | ilili](https://www.ililirestaurants.com/location/ilili-nyc/)** > > ilili NYC, the Lebanese premier institution of Lebanese food ships our signature Lamb Shank and Brussels Sprouts nationwide with Goldbelly straight from New York to your doorstep.. Get yours now! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-a-trip-to-nyc-restaurant-suggestions/953831/16 "2021-11-05T20:19:15Z")
I would make a concerted effort to eat a fresh, hot bagel or two every single day. They are that good in NYC. I’d start with Zabars and work my way out from there. Hot pretzels from street carts are superb, as are all beef street cart hot dogs. Each day would include have to any two out of the three and I could fall asleep very happy.