Need NYC restaurant help

I have good friends that are spending the first week of April in NYC. They have never been and are planning on seeing the sights a bunch of shows etc. Since I grew up on LI they assume I know all the great eateries in NYC.

I DON"T. I have not been to NYC in almost 7 years.

Anyway, can you guys tell me the good must eat at places in NYC. Everything from jeans and t-shirt places, the best deli to a nicer restaurant.

Is the Boathouse in Central Park still as awesome as I remember it?

Thank you. You guys are saving my rep.

Message edited 3/17/2010 3:17:13 PM.

Re: Need NYC help

Phillippe Chows is a nice upscale restaurant. http://www.philippechow.com/

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Thanks. I will put this on the list.

Anyone else want to help me out.

It could be a deli, hotdog stand, great brunch place, etc.
Any ideas would be great.

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

We like..

Bar Americain

Asia De Cuba

Tao

Artisnal

Katz Deli is famous (and pricey for a deli )

China Grill

Lots of good steak houses: Sparks, SMith & Wollensky, McCormick & Schmidt, Palm, Uncle Jacks (come to mind)...

HTH

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

rosa mexicano
Rosa mexicano has great guac!
You can dress up a little b/c they are a trendier place.

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

I like the boathouse for brunch.. i don't think it's awesome- but you can't beat the atmosphere...

Also:

Nobu for sushi

Otto- Mario Batali's pizza place

New Green Bo on Bayard ST in China Town for that authentic China Town experience
Pastis in meatpacking- still a place to see & be seen after all these years..

Del Posto- mario batali's fancy restaurant he owns w/ Joe Bastianich (Lidia's son who is a sommolier)

For greek there is Pylos- on east 7th and Avenue A- delicious food- had my birthday dinner there last year...

For tapas- I Like pipa- it's in ABC Carpet & Home which I think is on 18th or 19th?

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

There are so many amazing restaurants in NY. When DH ans I lived in Queens before we had DD, we would pick a new place to try every week. Some great resources for food reviews are the Zagat guides and Time Out NY Magazine.

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Thanks everyone. I think they have some great choices.

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

I live in the city. So here are some of my favorites.

While in the Theatre District, they can walk a few blocks and go to Eatery.

Eatery Website

If they want an expensive/Top restaurant Union Square Cafe.
Union Square Cafe Website

They can venture down to Little Italy. Go to La Bella Ferrara's off of Mulberry and Canal. Great Bakery and I love their Pinnoli cookies. (best I've had). Then they can walk up and down Mulberry and choose one of many Italian restaurants.

Bakery website.

For Mexican. You can't go wrong with either Rosa Mexicana or Dos Caminos.



If they like Dim Sum or want to try. It is so much fun to go to Jing Fong in Chinatown for BRUNCH. They do an amazing dimsum brunch for so CHEAP. They just keep bringing carts filled with food and you keep selecting foods to try. Everything is like $2- $4 an item...so u can try everything. A lot of like dumplings, ( shrimp, chicken, seafood, scallion, etc.) then noodles, chicken, and more. They only thing is it is Communal tables so you may be placed with strangers...But still fun!

website

For Cupcakes- Try Crumbs!! Several locations.

Fondue- They should try Artisanal.

Seafood- Blue Water Grill

A local Favorite near me on Upper East Side - Flex Mussels. The best Mussels and Seafood
FLex Mussels Website

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

We like
Sofritos
Dos Caminos
Avra
Jacks


I am bad with remembering where we go haha

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

the cafeteria on 18th and 7th-
they have great brunch, lunch and dinner options..... you can dress casual. or 'dressy' ...super yummy!!

6 and 12 great soups and sammies on the corner of...you guessed it. 6th ave and 12th street

Bar 6 on 6th ave and 14th street...good for lunch or dinner

rays pizza 6th ave and 11th? street....it might be the next corner down, but pretty sure it is 11th

jackson hole 34th ish and 3rd ave great hamburger place with huuuge burgers that are delicious!

sometimes the only thing I miss about working in NYC is great food no matter where you are.

Message edited 3/19/2010 10:49:08 PM.

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

If you want fabulous Indian food, go to Banjara's on 6th St at 1st Avenue. It's only a few blocks away from McSorley's Ale House (7th b/w 2nd & 3rd) which is a must-see bar for anyone from out of town.

Have a great visit!

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Our faves:

Katz's Deli
OTTO
Max
Buddakan
Carmines

Get tickets for:
Wicked
Jersey Boys

have them shop in SOHO and Macys 34th street

Message edited 3/22/2010 9:51:14 AM.

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

I second Avra and OTTO.

Other faves for when tourists visit me include:

Saju Bistro on 44th b/t 6th Ave & Broad - great for a pre-theater meal.

Angelos of Mulberry St in Little Italy

Pampano for Mexican

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

We love the Garage in the village. It has a great brunch but it's also great for dinner. El Rio Grande in Murray Hill is delish for Mexican. These places are nice but casual.

Check out opentable.com to make reservations ahead of time. It works great.

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Peter Lugers

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Juniors!!

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Normas in the Parker Meridian for brunch

Rosa Mexicana for Mexican

Del Friscos for Steak or Abe and Arthurs is a new hot spot in meatpacking for steak (ETA if you want to go to A&A you need to make reservations a few weeks in advance)

The place in the Standard hotel is supposed to be good too and if its nice when they come they have a beer garden...

Message edited 3/25/2010 8:49:51 PM.

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Patsy's Italian Restaurant is a really nice Italian restaurant with delicious food. We go there every year for Valentine's Day. It has been around since 1944.

Patsy's

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

omg i am hungry reading this!

artisnal is awesome. i also love churrascaria plataforma brazilian bbq, danal, alice's teacup and big daddy's for brunch, tapas at Poco

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

We went to Tao during restaurant week and it was awesome...it's Japanese/Asian fusion...a cool looking place, great service and food (and a nice bar in the front).

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

We just went to Cento Vasco on 23rd btwn 6th and 7th for Lobster just this past Sunday.. OMG it was YUMMY!!! we had 2lb lobsters stuffed with king crab legs and spanish cheese.. it was Delish!!!!

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

http://nymag.com/

give awesome reviews of just about anything.... in the search field type in whatever u need to know and awesome info is given...

Re: Need NYC restaurant help

Desert/Cappuccinos at Venieros

http://www.venierospastry.com/

The White Horse Tavern/Restaurant
(famous patrons: Jim Morrison, Kerouac, Bob Dylan, Norman Mailer)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Horse_Tavern_(New_York_City)

and my pre-vegetarian days, absolute favorite burger place in the whole world, Corner Bistro

http://cornerbistrony.com/