OT - NYC Restaurants

[Tisha_PA]

Can anyone give me some recommendations for good restaurants in NYC? We'd like to try restaurants that you can only find there - nothing that's a chain. TIA!!

 

[bamor]

John's Pizza in Times Square is in an old church. Very good pizza, whole pies only.
Norma's in the Le Parker Meridien has a KILLER brunch menu. Don't order juice, it's $9.00/glass...unlimited refills, but honestly who can drink that much juice.
Le Zie in Chelsea for Italian.
Chinatown
www.menupages.com breaks all the restaurants down by area. Very helpful.
www.hopstop.com will help with subway and or walking directions.
They NYC forum on trip advisor can also be very helpful.

 

[Malibelle]

Bar American is a great place, its one of Bobby Flays restaurant. Carmines is one of our all time favorites and right in the theatre district, you much have reservations. Also Becco on W 46th street.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Carmines is great for Italian and so is OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria (Mario Batali's restaurant)

For a hokey time with above average diner food - Ellen's Stardust Diner. The waiter/waitresses sing from Broadway show during service.

And just walking through Chinatown or Little Italy and picking a place works well also.

Have fun. Eat well!

 

[Chelley00]

We went to Trattoria Trecolori near Broadway based on a recommendation of a friend for our visit in June. It was amazing Italian food.

 

[smkiya]

For a hokey time with above average diner food - Ellen's Stardust Diner. The waiter/waitresses sing from Broadway show during service.

COOL!

I also love Carmine's. Ate at the one in Atlantic City, bread pudding was delicious!

 

[ktlm]

Almost anywhere in little Italy. They all have the menus posted outside- they will probably be standing out there trying to get you to come in too. My DH (who grew up in New Jersey) and I have been to New York a lot and sometimes we just use our noses (in little Italy but pretty much through the rest of the City as well). We'll just be walking down a street and if there is a yummy smell coming out of a restaurant- that's the one we pick! Our noses have never steered us wrong. There are a ton of non-chain places to eat in New York. You definitely won't starve!

 

[RMulieri]

Carmines Italian. Make ressies though, I go there often and lately it has been PACKED.

 

[bamor]

OP,
You don't say how many people you will be travelling with.
If it is only two of you, Carmine's is not a good choice. The meals are served family style and are huge. I mean huge.
Roberto Passon, Maria Pia, Trattoria Trecolori are all nearby Carmine's and would be a better choice for two people.

 

[VirataMama4]

If you're traveling with kids especially boys there is Mars 2112. The food is good, not great but the environment is great!

 

[micheleq]

Recently went to Osteria al Doge (W.44th in the theater district) before a b'way show and enjoyed it, not overpriced. I Trulli is another good Italian place (E 22nd?), and La Mela in Little Italy (loud and fun). There are so many wonderful places, it depends on if you are on an adults only trip or with kids. If adults only, some of the best dining in the world is in NYC! NY Magazine's website has a good restaurant review section.

Have fun! I saw your other post about hotels, and my best advice is to look for deals and call the hotels directly esp. if you want to stay in Times Sq. or Midtown where all the action is. The Kimpton hotel chain recently opened up one or two places in the City and that is a very nice boutique chain with some good packages.

PS - If you are driving, be prepared for insane parking garage charges! Keep your car at the hotel and use taxis or mass transit to get around.

 

[Tricia's mom]

Scratch Carmines and go to Tony's dinapoli there is one near Toy r us in times square and one on the upper east side. Don't miss there fried mozzarella and frozen bellinis as a matter of fact you could just stop in there for that.

Bar American- Is also another great one.

For really good burgers and BBQ go to Blue Smoke it is mid town.

Also keep in mind that there is TKTS center down at southstreet seaport to get 1/2 price broadway shows. the one in Times square is always super crazy.
RESTAURANTS TO STAY AWAY FROM:

Mars 2112
ANY Chain rest. They are twice the price and gross.
Re: Plant hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe

Have a great time. I in NY and visit NYC often.

 

[Tisha_PA]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I'm going to see if I can look us these restaurants online and see what reservations we can get. It's actually an adults only trip for a weekend - going with my brother and SIL. Thanks again!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

hi! posting from the bronx here work in manhattan and eat in nyc everyday!

tony's dinapoli is great!!! i prefer the one uptown though

puglia's in little italy gets my vote.

any side street pizza place is they way to go. skip john's or ray's!

PM me for any other recommendations help!!! happy to help with cuisine-specific and non-touristy places!!

 

[Nancyg56]

DH and I really liked Gallaghers

 

[MNdisneymom]

Since you're not going to have kids with you...a couple of ideas, both very different: If you enjoy Thai food and are staying near Broadway, I *loved* Ponsgri Thai on 48th. Yum! (Pretty normal thai place, but my former FIL always had to check out off the wall little places, and the food was actually quite good.) The second is Restaurant Aquavit--it's a Scandinavian restaurant run by this incredible Swedish chef--the decor is elegant and understated, and the food is the same. (There used to be a branch here in Minneapolis, land of all things Scandinavian, but evidently most Minnesotans couldn't deal with non-traditional scandi food that wasn't lutefisk and lefse.)


One of my other favorite NYC food experiences: street vendors. Pretzels with gobs of mustard, and then if you can find one, a bag of roasted chestnuts. (there used to be a good one not far from Broadway on 47th street.)

Have a good time!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Joe Allen (West 46th St) is a great little place. While technically a 'chain' (there are 4 worldwide; NY, London, Paris and Miami) it's been around forever (44 years) and not only is the food excellent, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting any number of actors and actresses also having dinner there. Reservations are a must and can only be made a week or two in advance. Check their website:

http://www.joeallenrestaurant.com/NY_home.html

It's perfect for pre or post theatre meals.

Have fun!

 

[holden]

Osteria del Circo is another great place. they have a fixed price menu that is a great deal!

 

[disneygoof]

I swear it's the restaurant from Enchanted. Even if it's not, you could sell it to a child as the same restaurant, and it's a unique, cool place. Spiral staircase to a balcony, huge pizza oven in the dining room, enormous mural of the city on one wall, great food, great service, and kid friendly.

Have fun!