Dining in New York City |
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The dining experience in the Big Apple is one of infinite possibilities. Here one finds exquisite cuisine from almost any corner of the globe, and there is something to suit every palate—and every wallet. Some visitors may be overwhelmed by the vast array of options, and even seasoned New Yorkers can find the city’s gastronomical wonders daunting at times. To help narrow these choices, Local Resource Committee members have provided a selection of their favorite eateries. We have organized our list by location, and we’ve also included our recommendations for desserts, fresh and organic foods, and of course, entertainment. For a more exhaustive guide to the city’s restaurants and entertainment, we recommend the following websites: New York Magazine Restaurant Review (<http://nymag.com>), which also lists the nearby subway stops; Citysearch (<http://newyork.citysearch.com>); and if you are willing to pay $4.95 for a thirty-day subscription, Zagat’s dining and nightlife surveys are trusted options (<http://www.zagat.com>). Midtown Manhattan The city’s center located roughly between 14th Street and 59th Street from the Hudson River to the East River. Includes the CUNY Graduate Center, Empire State Building, Times Square, Museum of Modern Art, Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and the Theater District. One can purchase same day tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows at 25 percent, 35 percent, and 50 percent discounts at TKTS on 47th Street at Broadway. Uncle Nick’s. Greek. Grilled fish is the specialty of the house. 749 9th Ave. My Most Favorite Dessert Company. French/Kosher. Closed Friday night. Saturday night opens two hours after sundown: check for exact time in advance: 212-997-5046. 120 W. 45th St. Queen of Sheba. Ethiopian. 650 10th Ave., between 45th St. and 46th St. Bali Nusa Indah. Indonesian. The two specials (meat and vegetarian) are a great value: appetizer, platter, dessert, and coffee for about $20. 651 9th Ave., between 45th St. and 46th St. Tagine Dining Gallery. Moroccan dining on low cushy seating. Belly dancing begins most evenings at 9:30. Check their website at <http://www.taginedining.com>. 537 9th Ave., between 39th St. and 40th St. Han Bat. Good inexpensive Korean food in an unpretentious setting, open 24/7. Try their gobdol bibimbop—the rice cooks to a crisp in the stone pot, and they’ll make it vegetarian, if you want. 53 W. 35th St., between 5th Ave. and 6th Ave. Hangawi. Elegant and expensive vegetarian Korean food served in a zen-like setting. 12 E. 32nd St., between 5th Ave. and Madison Ave. Bon Chon Chicken. Hip, under thirty Korean crowd and the best fried chicken ever! A dining adventure! No reservations and be prepared to wait. 314 5th Ave. at 32nd St., 2nd floor. Cabana Carioca. Massive portions of feijoada, Brazil’s national dish. 123 W. 45th St., between 6th Ave. and Broadway. 212-581-8088. Via Brasil. Moderate prices, daily specials. 34 W. 46th St., between 5th Ave. and 6th Ave. Churrascaria Plataforma. Brazilian rodizio (assorted grilled meats) with an enhanced salad bar that has choices to please even vegetarians. Moderately expensive. 316 49th St., near 8th Ave. Columbus Circle 59th Street and Broadway at Central Park. Includes the Time Warner Center, Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Opera, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Fordham University, John Jay College, and Juilliard. Sapphire. The lunch buffet is a delicious sampling of Indian cuisine, very affordable. Dinner is only a bit pricier, and Jazz at Lincoln Center is just steps away. 1845 Broadway at 60th St. Whole Food Market. Located in the Time Warner building lower level. Shop for organic fresh vegetables and fruits. Purchase an entire prepared meal to heat and eat later, have a smoothie, or make your own salad and eat at the store’s lunch style tables. Noisy, but fun. 10 Columbus Circle. The Greek Kitchen. Delicious food, friendly service, and it is affordable. 889 10th Ave. at W. 58th St. Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. Great jazz and good food and drink, with a magnificent view of New York City. $30 cover. Located at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Center at Broadway and 60th St. In and around Union Square (Broadway at East 17th Street) The Strand Bookstore at E. 12th Street and Broadway, New York University, the New School for Social Research, Cooper Union. Visit the original Barnes and Noble at 18th Street and 5th Avenue, Chelsea Piers, and the massive sports complex between 17th Street and 23rd Street on the Hudson River waterfront, which offers everything from bowling to hip hop dance classes. Union Square Greenmarket. There are now dozens of local outdoor markets in New York City thanks to New York City’s Council on the Environment. The mother of them all is the Union Square Greenmarket which opened in 1976. The market is open all day Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, rain or shine. The busiest day is Saturday. City Bakery. Not your typical salad bar; it is expensive and the place is usually crowded and noisy but a quintessential New York experience. The food is fresh, interesting and addictive! 3 W. 18th St. at 5th Ave. Blue Water Grill. Fish. Seats over three hundred and has jazz downstairs. 31 Union Square West. Ennio and Michael. Italian. Warm atmosphere. Try the chicken parmigiana. 539 LaGuardia Place, just off Washington Square. Cornelia Street Café. American. Jazz and poetry in the basement. 29 Cornelia St. Lower East Side Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Eldridge Street Synagogue, New Museum of Contemporary Art. There are still a few places to experience the pre-gentrification Lower East Side. Katz’s Deli. Opened at this location in 1888; they serve the best artery-clogging pastrami, corned-beef, and specials in the city. <http://www.katzdeli.com/> 205 E. Houston St. Russ and Daughters. Owned by the same family for four generations, Russ and Daughters is a New York City jewel. This is an appetizing store serving bagels, the best smoked fish and cream cheese, and a host of other delicious products. There’s no place to sit in the store, but if it’s a nice day, you can sit outside on the bench down the block (in front of American Apparel.) <http://www.russanddaughters.com> 179 E. Houston St. Essex Street Market. Opened in 1940 to remove peddlers from the streets of the Lower East Side, the market recently received a makeover from the City’s Economic Development Corporation. It is a fascinating commercial space that caters to local residents and visitors alike and should be a model for preserving the old but welcoming the new. Closed Sundays. <http://www.essexstreetmarket.com> 120 Essex St. at Delancey St. East Village The area east of Broadway between 14th Street and Houston Street has a countercultural history. Public Theater, Opheum Theater, Amsterdam Billiards, Bowery Poetry Club. De Robertis Caffe. In the East Village since 1904, De Robertis features delicious Italian pastries such as cannoli, cassatine, and pignoli cookies. <http://derobertiscaffe.com> 176 1st Ave. at 11th St. Dok Suni. Korean. Great food, cozy atmosphere. Café Mogador. Moroccan. Caters to the Graduate student and the French expatriate set. The tagines are recommended. 101 St. Mark’s Place. Max’s. Italian. Stick to the pasta: Osso buco sicilian-style over risotto or rigatoni with eggplant and mozzarella. 51 Ave. B, near 4th St. Bao Noodles. Traditional Vietnamese. 391 2nd Ave., near 23rd St. Meatpacking District West 16th Street to the Hudson River. Pastis. This French bistro, located in the hip meatpacking district, is great for people watching, particularly at the sidewalk café if the weather is nice. <http://www.pastisny.com>. 9 9th Ave. at Little West 12th St. Harlem Stretches from the East River to the Hudson River and extends from 110th Street to 155th Street. East Harlem’s southern border begins at 96th Street. Apollo Theatre, Studio Museum in Harlem, Lenox Lounge, Minton’s Playhouse, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Amy Ruth’s. Soul Food. Excellent chicken and waffles, terrific catfish. There can be a long line on Sunday mornings. 113 W. 116th St., between Lenox Ave. and 7th Ave. Africa Kine. Senegalese. Located along a stretch of culturally connected shops and grocers along 116th Street. Inexpensive and filling! Great lamb Mafe. Can accommodate large groups. <http://www.africakine.com> 256 W. 116th St., between 7th Ave. and 8th Ave. Restaurant LaMarmite. West African. The service is not great, but it has the best Thiebou Djeun (a lunch dish of fish with rice and vegetables) in the city. 2269 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd., between 133rd St. and 134th St. Florence’s Restaurant. Ghanaian. Very low on atmosphere, but the groundnut (peanut butter) stew is great as is the Kelewele (spicy plantains). The Bissap and Ginger juices are lovely. 2099 8th Ave, between 113th St. and 114th St. Mobay’s. This Harlem hot spot serves soul food, Jamaican, Caribbean, and vegetarian cuisine, at very affordable prices. The jerk chicken wings with tropical mango salsa are a must-try. In the spirit of Uptown, this venue also features live jazz music and a warm and intimate atmosphere. 17 W. 125th St. 212-876-9300. Also visit the Brooklyn location on 112 Dekalb Ave. Zoma. Upscale Ethiopian. Good Vegetarian platter. 2084 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (a.k.a. 8th Ave.) at W. 113th St. Brooklyn Bedouin Tent. Middle Eastern. Terrific atmosphere and friendly service, lovely outdoor garden, if the weather permits. Try the stuffed grape leaves, the thin crusted grilled chicken pitza. The honey drizzled-baklava is a sweet ending to a flavorful and sumptuous meal. BAMcafé. Brooklyn Academy of Music. Every Friday and Saturday night, BAMcafé Live showcases renowned and emerging artists, featuring some of the best jazz, R&B, world beat, pop, and experimental music from Brooklyn and beyond. Paninis, salads, snacks, and drinks available at the bar. No table service during Live performances. 30 Lafayette Ave. and Ashland Place. 718-623-7811. Juniors. A Brooklyn landmark, opened in 1950. Family style restaurant in downtown Brooklyn. Hands down, Juniors serves the best cheesecake in New York, or perhaps anywhere. Also in Times Square at 45th Street and Grand Central Station. Bar, bakery and take-out at each location. 386 Flatbush Ave. Lucali. Pizza. “The city’s best pizza.” Mike’s International Restaurant. Jamaican. The stew chicken and rice and peas are the best. South end of Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens a short walk away. 552 Flatbush Ave. Chilies and Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen. Special find for those interested in authentic Oaxacan cuisine of southern Mexico. The chef is from Coyotepec. Not your run of the mill fajita/taco eatery. Excellent selection of moles. 54 7th Ave., between Lincoln Place and St. Johns Place in Park Slope). Nathan’s Famous – Hurry! Before it’s all gone, take the “F” train to Coney Island, buy a hot dog and fries at Nathan’s on Surf Avenue, walk on the boardwalk and watch members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club—the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States—swim in the ocean. Or visit the Sideshows by the Seashore. If freak shows aren’t your thing, at least view Marie Roberts’s wonderful sideshow banners on the side of the building on West 12th Street off Surf Avenue. After twenty-seven years of living in New York City, it’s still one of the best ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. Bronx The Venice Restaurant. Some of the best inexpensive Italian food in New York City. 149th St. and Wales Ave., South Bronx The “G” Bar. Small jazz club in the South Bronx that serves excellent Italian food. 150th St. off the Grand Concourse. Willie’s Steakhouse. Excellent Spanish food with live Latin Jazz on Wednesday and Saturday nights. 1832 Westchester Ave., near Parkchester. Dominick’s. Family style restaurant in the Arthur Avenue section of the Bronx. No menus! They tell you what to have. 2335 Arthur Ave. Total Blend. Excellent Caribbean cuisine in the one of the largest West Indian neighborhoods in New York City. White Plains Rd. and 223rd St. Johnson’s BBQ. The best inexpensive barbecue in New York City. Take out only. In the historic Morrisania neighborhood. 163rd St. between Tinton Ave. and Union Ave.
Queens Kebab Café. Egyptian. “Hands down, the best meal I have ever had.” Located on Steinway Street’s “Little Cairo.” Cash only. 25-12 Steinway at 25th St., Astoria. Jackson Diner. Indian. Don’t let the name fool you, Jackson Diner serves authentic Indian cuisine and is well worth the trip. 37-47 74th St., Jackson Heights, near. 37th Rd. |
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