Imzadi
♥ Saved by an angel in a trench coat!
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2004
Wow Imzadi. So much AMAZING information. I can't thank you enough for jumping in with all of this detail. It is so very much appreciated.
To give you a point of reference, we are staying at The Hilton New York, Cnr 6th Ave & 53rd Street. We have stayed in this hotel before and liked that it was a few blocks off of Times Square. We felt that we explored a little more from this area.
Oh, that's a good place. I haven't seen the rooms but attended a couple seminars there before.
If they serve free breakfasts, do NOT eat the bagels from there!!! They get them in bulk and refrigerate or freeze them. Once NY bagels have been refrigerated they become horrible, chewy, doughy hockey pucks that can be thrown as weapons.
Get FRESH bagels from a corner deli or from the street vendor carts. They usually do not have room to store them so they get fresh deliveries every morning. There are 3 things I am a real NY snob about: NY bagels, NY pizza & NY cheesecake. I'd rather go without than have bad ones.
To answer the food thing. I have done some research on dining options but would welcome your feedback on some of the places I've jotted down. I've created a personalised google map with some notes (yes I'm a little crazy ). I'd love it if you could take a look and tell me if my suggestions are an epic fail or whether I've got some good things on there:-
https://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msid=205856736258165738418.0004ca54e1641ed35ad5c&msa=0
Some places we've eaten at before, many are new though. If you have some to add, that would be awesome.
There are some places to cross off the list immediately and/or substitute. Some are real touristy traps, overpriced and not good food. I'd rather you save your money on experiences or events, and save on food, unless that's really part of the experience. I also have a friend who is a concierge at a hotel, so I'll ask him for some recommendations and give you our list later.
Right now, John's Pizza is good. Cross off Angelo's. Everyone raves about John's Pizza.
Cross off La Bonne Soupe, and substitute Au Bon Pain, which makes great soups like the New England clam chowder, the corn chowder or their pumpkin soup which was so good, I had to try to copycat it at home so I wouldn't go broke buying it all the time. I think I did make a reasonable copy. They make good sandwiches & salads, and pastries, too. There is one 52nd between 7th & 6th Aves. Another on 50th St. between 5th & 6 Ave.
Or Pret A Manger. They make fabulous sandwiches, all natural ingredients. I haven't had a bad sandwich there yet. Both places have several cafes right around the area, depending on which direction you head in. There is one on 6 Ave north of 47th St, east side, or on 42nd between 5th & 6 Ave. Plus a few other places in the area.
You can cross off Katz's Delicatessen. It's too far downtown, unless you are going to be doing something else down there. The area's kind of gritty. Carnegie Deli is on 7th Ave at 57th St. or Stage Deli on 7th Ave. at 54th St. Very busy, loud, touristy, but are known for their HUGE, overstuffed authentic pastrami or corned beef or brisket sandwiches, which is comparable to Katz. Probably one sandwich can feed two people. You can alternately order these to go and eat them in your hotel room if you get the midnite munchies. They are open late.
Also The Shake Shack on 8th Ave. The lines are out the door.
http://www.shakeshack.com/location/theater-district/
Cross of Bubba Gumps. It's just a name and no one I know has really liked the food there. If you want good seafood, there are better places my concierge friend can recommend.
Mickey Mantles is very expensive. Unless you are going in to watch a ball game, it is a very expensive experience. You pay per ITEM. If you order a steak, you ONLY get the steak, you still have to order the veg separately and for another $10, and also order the starch/carb separately, too.
I have one supermarket marked down near our hotel but would welcome any recommendations for markets nearby to pick up breakfasts, yoghurts and snacks if you know of any.
Love those cupcakes you shared. Hmmmm and only $2, that is so cheap.
The cupcakes weren't that flavorful after all. They are new; must be a different baker than the one who makes their sheet cakes with real butter cream frosting. When I get a butter cream frosting craving I usually get a slice of cake there for $4. But the cupcakes looked good yesterday. I'm going back to the cake instead.
Junior's cheesecakes also makes a small size cheesecake, and single serving, mini cakes & slices, so you won't have a lot of leftovers. Their cupcakes also have real butter cream frosting.
Supermarkets - closest places to you:
Food Emporium: 49th St & 8 Ave - they have a fresh deli center upstairs, you can have sandwiches made, or take out containers of hot foods. Downstairs is the supermarket. Closes at midnight.
Gristedes: 54th St & 8 Ave. Slightly lower prices than Food Emporium. Open 24 hrs.
The Amish Market is on 9 Ave at 50th St. Great, fresh produce. They have good soups & a salad bar. They have a little cafe area. Closes at 10 pm.
Morton Williams Supermarket on W 57th between Broadway & 7th Ave is the cheapest supermarket around. Stock up on yogurts & fruits here or at Gristedes. Might be 24 hrs.
One of the best health food stores in the city is Westerley Market at 55th St & 8 Ave. Closes at midnight. They make pre-packages but made fresh daily, all natural sandwiches on whole grain bread, to take out, at the back wall of the store and have a fresh soup bar. Their produce is organic. They have a huge vitamin & supplement department. I get all my stuff there. The guys who work the supplement aisles really know their stuff & have worked their for years. You can ask them any question. One helped cure my anemia with their OTC iron supplement suggestion.
4 blocks up at 59th St & Broadway, (Columbus Circle) is Whole Foods. (Also a health food store.) They have a huge hot/cold food bar, sushi counter & places to sit downstairs. But get any supplements at Westerley as they will be cheaper. Closes at 10 pm.
I've seen the Walgreens, I'm obsessed with buying large quantities of ibuprophen . It's so cheap there. Like seriously. I paid $7.95 for 24 tablets here yesterday and at Walgreens its like $14.95 for 500 or something ridiculous . I'll be stocking up for sure.
I know exactly what you mean! I stock up there too. Walgreens & Rite Aid on W 50th St are both 24 hours.
There is a post office on W. 50th St between 8th & 9th Ave. You can ship stuff home from there. There are also Fed Ex and UPS centers to ship stuff too in the neighborhood, if you prefer them instead. Closes at 6pm.
I think one of the dollar stores you mentioned isn't far from us so I'll definitely be checking them out.
Yes, the dollar store on W 46th St between 6th & 5th Ave is just a walk from the hotel. Closes at 7:30pm.
Right down one block, on 45th St, almost back to back with the dollar store, is another Jack's discount store. But, they aren't the 99 cent store. Higher priced items. Some great discounts on household items & beauty supplies. Like, if you suddenly decide to buy a cheap toaster during your stay, this would be the place to get one.
Are you pretty much only going to stay around the Times square area? Little Italy and Chinatown a few blocks down both have authentic, ethnic foods. Just get on the F train or the R train down there. But, you probably already get really great Chinese food being so close to China.
One thing for the kids to do: ice skating in central park or at Bryant Park.
We have the largest dinosaur exhibit in North America at the Museum of Natural History. The laser light show on Friday nites at the museum is supposed to be really fun.
I'll get back to you with a better restaurant list of the area later.