NYC Suggestions

Hi All,
We are headed to New York in 2 weeks and have a lot of the fancy nights planned already but need some suggestions for the family nights...at times we'll be traveling in a party of 10-12. Most of the participants won't be concerned about price, just don't want to end up somewhere with average food that still costs a lot. Any suggestions? We're all just south of central park but willing to hit anywhere in the city for a night or two!

Thanks...

[Robin Garr]

We are headed to New York in 2 weeks and have a lot of the fancy nights planned already but need some suggestions for the family nights...at times we'll be traveling in a party of 10-12. Most of the participants won't be concerned about price, just don't want to end up somewhere with average food that still costs a lot. Any suggestions? We're all just south of central park but willing to hit anywhere in the city for a night or two!

Christian, are you willing to go out to the outer boroughs? Astoria in Queens, a quick subway/elevated ride from midtown, is a really interesting, safe and increasingly trendy neighborhood with a very strong Greek accent ... it could be fun to just get off at Broadway, Grand Avenue or Ditmars Boulevard and stroll around, trying just about any taverna or Greek coffee shop you see.

One of our events is in Queens as well so we will be there at least 1 entire day...we have a lot of eating slots to fill on this trip.

I'm jealous!! Have a great time!

One place I highly recommend is a place my family & friends have been going to for years. It's an Italian place (family owned) with amazing food served family style - perfect for the size group you'll be traveling around with. Here's the info:
Tony's Di Napoli
1606 Second Ave. (at 83rd St.)
212-861-8686

Another fun place with moderately priced food is:
Film Center Cafe
635 9th Avenue (between 44th & 45th St)
212-262-2525

This one is my parent's absolute most fave Italian place:
Nino's Tusccany
117 West 58 St.
(bet 6th & 7th ave.)
212.757.8630

Whatever you choose - be sure to grab a dirty water dog from a sidewalk vendor!!!!

Enjoy!!

Where in Queens will you be? My family still lives in Howard Beach and can probably have a few good suggestions for there as well.

[Robin Garr]

One of our events is in Queens as well so we will be there at least 1 entire day...we have a lot of eating slots to fill on this trip.

Queens is an amazing place to explore, the most ethnically diverse county in the entire US. You may know all this already, but in addition to Greek in Astoria, Flushing is the "new Chinatown," with far more Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurants than the original Chinatown; and Roosevelt Avenue is awash with Latino restaurants and, in Jackson Heights, Indian.

It's been over a decade since we moved back to Louisville after four years in NYC (where we lived in Astoria), so my specific restaurant reccos might be sketchy, but I still remember Queens fondly as an adventurous foodie's paradise.

When my brother and family, with kids from 6 to 16, came to visit they fell in love with Ruby Foo's. There are two locations, but for fun I recommend the one in Time's Square at 47th & 7th. They are huge overdecorated Asian themed places with big tables fitted with lazy susans for easy sharing. The food runs from OK to really good, but the fun factor makes it worth the trip. If it isn't raining there are portrait artists and Chinese artists who will make you a poster with your name in colorful calligraphy just outside the door. If there are toy aged kids with you it is only a 5 block walk down to Toys-R-Us Times Square where there is a ferris wheel, a 50 ft moving T Rex and a 2 story walk in Barbie House. And if that isn't touristy enough Madame Tussaud's is just a short walk down 42nd St.

Hey Michele
Do you remember New Park Pizza?
I grew up in Woodhaven, and used to hitch to the beach, and stop at New Park pizza for a snack afterwoods.

CHRISTIAN
Anyway, if you are looking for something casual, and are in Queens, there maybe some GREEK DINERS left in Astoria. I worked in Long Island City, (next door) that is the birthplace of the Steinway piano. The former warehouses and such are slowly being converted (like everything else) into upscale restaurants, shops, I think MOMA even has a satellite museum there.

Queens boulevard in Forest hills has some good kosher restaurants, and Austin street just off QB, may still have some little cafes, and bistros.

Otherwise hop on the train, into manhattan and have at it. There are a million restaurants to try!
Chinatown, village, SOHO, (south of Houston)upper east side, Dumbo, (down under manhattan bridge)

It's been a long time since I have eaten in Queens, but try the diners, you cannot go wrong there.

ROBIN,
What brought you to ASTORIA?

There are no kids in our bunch- all of these suggestions still sound great! The week-end wedding events are in Jackson Heights... all the weekdays (including Friday night) are in Manhattan. I will look all of these places up online tonight!

Thanks again all. Anyone been to Stone Rose? We are trying to get bottle service there to no avail so far...

Hey, there is this swanky bar/restaurant in the Lower East Side called the Stanton Social. I know you would love it.

http://www.thestantonsocial.com/

Oh my goodness!!!

Heather wrote:

Hey Michele
Do you remember New Park Pizza?
I grew up in Woodhaven, and used to hitch to the beach, and stop at New Park pizza for a snack afterwoods.

Heather - if you tell me you hitched to 116th Street in Rockaway I might just cry! I spent way too many days out there! LOL! I grew up in Howard Beach - moved to Long Island in the early 90's and here to the 'ville in '98.

By the way New Park is still there - my parents live within walking distance! I still can recall the slightly blackened bottom of the crust that cracked just a little when you folded it!!

also, Check out the roof top bar at the Hudson Hotel
356 west 58th Street. This is a Morgan Group hotel, and the bar is a must see!

I forgot about the meatpacking district..... Spice Market will NOT be a dissapointment.

Chelsea Market, and Chelsea.... who knows you might run into Rachel Ray or Bobby Flay! It's the home of the Food Network studios. You also might want to check out Bobby Flay's restaurant Mesa Grill 102 Fifth ave, Bolo, 23 East 22nd st. or Bar Americain 152 West 52nd St. (If you like that sort of thing...celebrity)

You mentioned Stone Rose... you must go to Columbus circle center.
Uugh, Pick one....! Per se, Bouchon Bakery, Cafe Gray, If you like sushi, Masa...is one to try. Porterhouse... and the list goes on.
They also have fantastic shops to check out.

Have fun!

I happen to be in NY right now.

I can't really tell from your post what price range you are looking for, so I will try to give you a lot of options.

Last night I had a great dinner at Insieme on 7th ave. This would be close to your hotel. It was the most reasonably priced fine dining meal I've ever had in Manhattan.

Also in Manhattan I like:

Hearth (east village, moderately expensive, superb tuscan influenced cuisine)
Lupa (Mario Batali's second restaurant to the flagship Babbo, featuring cuisine of Tuscany. In Village.)
Landmarc (great food at reasonable price in Tribeca. Locals favorite.)
Balthazar: A perfect replica of a real French Bistro/Brasserie in the heart of Soho.
Grand Central Oyster Bar: Sit at the bar, order oysters and sancerre
Pearl Oyster bar: Sit at a table and order lobster rolls
Otto: Batali's Italian wine bar. Great wine, cheap eats, unreal gelato
For burgers try the burger bar in the Parker Meridien Hotel on 57th.

other consistently good restaurants in manhattan:

Gramercy Tavern
Blue Hill
Montrachet
Veritas
Fleur de Sel
A Voce
Cafe Boulud



In Queens:

Kabab Cafe: The best egyptian food ever.
Sripriphai: ditto for Thai food.

In Brooklyn:

Al di La: My favorite Italian in the city, featuring the little known cuisine of the far northern reaches of the country.
Franny's: great pizza and pasta in park slope
Lucali's: shockingly good pizza in Cobble Hill
Quercy: French bistro cuisine
Saul: Fanciest food in brooklyn
Peter Luger: steaks, the best.

Bronx:

anywhere on Arthur Avenue, especially Mike's deli.

Michele,
Get some tissues! 116 it was. bikini top, denim cut off shorts, mercurachrome (spell check), and baby oil. Yikes.

Yes, yes, wild times!

I loved New Park Pizza, and I experienced my first "bad clam" on Crossbay blvd too. I won't eat them till this day.

I can remember seeing John Gotti once too!
A guy I went to H.S with ended up becoming one of his little cronies!

Michele.

Is Janosek, pronounced Jan-o-check? If so, .... do you know Mary Venis?