Heading to NYC... any great restaurant recommendations?

[frndshpcptn]

I like Carmines near Broadway. Most people think it's touristy but I like it.

I've lived in New York for 16 years and love going to Carmine's Their house salad is awesome, love the pizza bread and the penne vodka is a favorite

 

[jevs]

Awesome blog! Thanks!

No problems

 

[iheartglaciers]

For a quick bite to eat, Urban Space food hall is right near your hotel. In terms of unique offerings in there, if you like sushi, try the sushi burrito from Hai Street Kitchen. My favorite is the salmon, but if you don't like spicy ask them to substitute the sauce with the miso one.

I also like Shake Shack burgers... there's a location right inside the Grand Central food court. If you like korean BBQ, I like New York Kimchi, which is also in midtown (the restaurant is down the stairs in the back when you walk in). You don't have to do the full traditional korean BBQ with the meat grilling. And for Turkish/Mediterranean food, I like Akdeniz (you won't want to eat the food from Epcot Morroco after this!).

I'm guessing you may not venture to Queens, but if you do HinoMaru Ramen in Astoria is amazing! Also Spring Shabu Shabu in Flushing is sooo yummy and a great way to try this hot pot dish if you've never had it before since it's buffet style.

What kinds of food do you like or want to try? There are so many good places

 

[SingingMom]

I've lived in New York for 16 years and love going to Carmine's Their house salad is awesome, love the pizza bread and the penne vodka is a favorite

Carmine's is just too commercial for me. Il Vagabando and local places like that are more my favorites. When in NYC, I try to steer clear of "chains".

 

[JaxDad]

Carmine's is just too commercial for me. Il Vagabando and local places like that are more my favorites. When in NYC, I try to steer clear of "chains".

 

[frndshpcptn]

Carmine's is just too commercial for me. Il Vagabando and local places like that are more my favorites. When in NYC, I try to steer clear of "chains".

Totally get it - but since I live here sometimes it's fun to go to one of the "chains." In fact, for our wedding anniversary this year we went out to NJ for Cheesecake Factory! We never get that kind of food (always going to places in the city - which are awesome btw) but it was such a fun novelty!

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Carmine's is just too commercial for me. Il Vagabando and local places like that are more my favorites. When in NYC, I try to steer clear of "chains".

Yeah, I don't think I'll ever understand people who visit NYC who eat at the Times Square Applebee's or Olive Garden.

 

[wilkeliza]

Totally get it - but since I live here sometimes it's fun to go to one of the "chains." In fact, for our wedding anniversary this year we went out to NJ for Cheesecake Factory! We never get that kind of food (always going to places in the city - which are awesome btw) but it was such a fun novelty!

I totally agree as a local! For my birthday we drove to NJ for the simple fact that all I wanted for my birthday was Sonic. We still don't have one in NYC and well some times you just want chili cheese tater tots.

 

[bcla]

Yeah, I don't think I'll ever understand people who visit NYC who eat at the Times Square Applebee's or Olive Garden.

We ate at one of the McDonald's at Times Square. However, we were in a hurry since we needed to get back to Penn Station to get our luggage, followed by the subway to JFK. That's all we had time to do.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

We ate at one of the McDonald's at Times Square. However, we were in a hurry since we needed to get back to Penn Station to get our luggage, followed by the subway to JFK. That's all we had time to do.

I totally get that. I've done the same thing in similar situations, but if someone is already taking the time to go to a table service restaurant in NYC there are so many better options than the huge chains and probably for the same price if not cheaper.

 

[eastendlights]

Two Times Square/Theater District pubs that we enjoy are Emmett O'Lunney's and Hurley's Saloon. We also love PJ Clarkes as PP mentioned. Fresco by Scotto in Midtown has fantastic Italian food in a very pretty setting and is reasonably priced by NYC standards. If you go, you MUST have the meatball appetizer-best meatballs on the planet-as good as the ones my born and bred Italian nonna used to make-seriously-and she was an insanely good cook. Bobby Flay's Bar Americain is outstanding-I have made a dinner out of the side dishes alone-they are so good and for seafood Oceana is exquisite-best salmon I have ever had in my life and the seafood paella for two is amazing.

None of these are in the strasosphere occupied by Daniel or Per Se-where dinner for two will easily run $500 and $1000 respectively.

 

[bcla]

I totally get that. I've done the same thing in similar situations, but if someone is already taking the time to go to a table service restaurant in NYC there are so many better options than the huge chains and probably for the same price if not cheaper.

I've been to NYC a few times. I kind of regret that a never really has a New York slice or ate at one of the big Jewish-style delis like Katz's. However, even the small restaurants were good.

I was mostly on my own the first time I visited and stayed with a relative who was a student. I remember being really cheap, including a McDonald's near Wall Street with a live piano player and where all orders were brought to your table. That was relative class for fast food at least.

 

[wilkeliza]

I've been to NYC a few times. I kind of regret that a never really has a New York slice or ate at one of the big Jewish-style delis like Katz's. However, even the small restaurants were good.

I was mostly on my own the first time I visited and stayed with a relative who was a student. I remember being really cheap, including a McDonald's near Wall Street with a live piano player and where all orders were brought to your table. That was relative class for fast food at least.

See I actually find Katz to be too commercial now. I'd rather go to 2nd Ave Deli then wait an hour for Katz. Plus there are a ton of mom and pop delis that don't have the name that are just as good.

 

[Trose25]

One if by Land, Two if by Sea is beautiful! Also Eatily just opened a second location downtown that I heard good things about

 

[ElizabethB]

I think you can't go wrong with a Danny Meyer place. We love Gramercy Tavern in the Tavern (dining room we think is too formal and expensive). We also love Maialino. Union Square Café is opening in a new location but it may not be open quite yet. We also like Brasserie Cognac for French (a previous poster mentioned that one). If you want really good Italian and happen to be on the west side near Lincoln Center, we like Il Violino -- a neighborhood place on Columbus Ave. that is popular with locals, well priced and delicious. Also near Lincoln Center are Rosa Mexicana for Mexican, and Daniel Boulud's Bar Boulud and Boulud Sud, each a bit pricey but very good. If you're in the downtown financial district seeing the 9-11 Memorial, etc., we like The Palm downtown location, which has a nice $25 lunch. Becco on Restaurant Row between 8th and 9th has good food and an all you can eat nightly special of three pastas (and of course it has Lydia Bastianich from public television fame) but it's become so crowded all the time that we don't bother with it anymore. In Times Square, we like The Lamb's Club -- pricey, clubby and chic with a lot of NYC history.

Hope these help. Enjoy!

 

[Caskett616]

I've lived in New York for 16 years and love going to Carmine's Their house salad is awesome, love the pizza bread and the penne vodka is a favorite

I've worked in NYC for most of my adult life. I love Carmine's. I love the rigantoni with sausage. Yum. Have their cookbook and make that for myself once in a while since I can't always get there.

OP, if you're with a group, Carmine's isn't chain-like. The food is really good.

Virgil's BBQ is good too.

 

[crazymama]

Good heavens I just made it back to the board and see a whole bunch more suggestions! You people are great. I am compiling a short list to narrow things down. Thanks so much!

 

[crazymama]

The Jaiya Thai commercial cracks me up every time I see it.

What else is near - Oh! Check out the Vanderbilt Food Hall - it's got a whole host of great places to eat, all in one spot and adjacent to Grand Central. An outpost of Roberta's, Dough, Hard Time Sundae's, Mile End, La Sonrisa, Odd Fellows, and tons more.

http://urbanspacenyc.com/urbanspace-vanderbilt/

Thanks! How does this food hall compare to the one in Hell's Kitchen... Gotham Market or something?

 

[lorimay]

This is our problem when we visit NYC, there are so many wonderful restaurants and we always run out of time too quick to try as many as we would like to.
We try to go to new places each visit.
Good Luck with all the great choices that have been shared.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Thanks! How does this food hall compare to the one in Hell's Kitchen... Gotham Market or something?

Both are good! Gotham West Market has an Ample Hills ice cream, Cannibal and an Ivan Ramen. Both have delicious options - it just depends which area you'll be near. Vanderbilt is right near the Grand Hyatt. Gotham West is across town. I think Vanderbilt has more variety - but Gotham West certainly has good food (plus an Ample Hills, which is great ice cream). Will you be that far west at all while here?