NYC Food Suggestions?

I’ll be flying into Newark and hopping over to NYC for about 6 hours before taking the train to Philadelphia. The largest reason for going to NYC before going to Philadelphia is to eat some awesome food that I don’t get in Oklahoma City. I’ve been recommended to get a hot dog from a street vendor and to get pizza.

I’ll use this as a 5 hour refeed and eat everything I possibly can until I’m miserably full.

So what else to eat?

Not sure what you want to spend, but a multi-course gourmet meal can be found at Becco. My favorite when in NYC, and I always walk away stuffed to the gills.
( http://www.becco-nyc.com/ )

A great burger and ale joint with old-world pub charm can be found at Broom Street Bar & Grill.
( http://broomestreetbar.ypguides.net/ )

Don’t bother with pizza unless you plan to go to Brooklyn.

Grab a dog @ Gray’s Papaya (right near penn station):

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4ADBR_enUS265US265&q=539%20Eighth%20Avenue%20at%2037th%20Street&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

Forget the dirty dogs. As for the pizza, I think it’s overrated (I prefer Chicago style), but it won’t set you back much for time or $. Rather than a hot dog, I recommend the Hallo Berlin sausage stand on 54th and 5th Ave. by the entrance to the University Club (the Triple Soul Food is my item of choice). Get there by 11:45 am so you don’t have to wait in a long line, but the food is worth it.

Alternatively, Hallo Berlin has a restaurant as well at 44th and 10th Ave and at 50th and 9th ave. Rafiki’s is a stand at 47th and Madison that serves up some good gyro platters for a reasonable price ($6). Churrascaria Plataforma on 49th between 8th and 9th aves is one of my favorites, or if you’re downtown, the Churrascaria Tribeca at Broadway and Franklin St.

Carmine’s (right off Times Sq on 44th) is always reliable for good Italian food. Nanni’s (46th and Lexington) is fantastic Italian, but pricier. Maloney and Porcelli (50th between madison and park) will fill you up with good meat. Connelly’s Pub (multiple locations) has good grub and beer for lunch. For burgers and shakes, the Shake Shack (mulitple locations now) is very good.

The “21” Club is a really cool place for lunch on 52nd between 5th and 6th Aves - really cool atmosphere. Keen’s is a great steakhouse with a great atmosphere. It would be convenient too if you’re taking the train from EWR since it’s a couple of blocks from Penn Station on 36th st between 5th and 6th aves. The building has great history which you can read on the menu and other places around the restaurant and the food is top notch.

Sorry I didn’t lay this post out in a beter format but i was just going to name a few places and it kind of snowballed on me.

DB

Only advice I can give is to go to Chelsea — New York's Best BBQ Chicken, Ribs & Frozen Drinks | Dallas BBQ

Went there last spring while on a day trip and it was great!

i was coming in here to recommend carmines and shake shack as well.

Do not get pizza from any random place. The best pizza is from Lombardi’s on Spring street between Mott and Mulberry in little italy. It’s coal oven pizza. Every other pizza place is gas oven and is completely different. If you just want regular gas oven pizza then take your pick of the thousands of places. Oh but if you go to Lombardi’s you have to order a whole pie. No slices. Polishing off a regular sized one is very doable though.

Shake Shack in Madison Sq Park is also worth it for a good burger and custard shake.

I dont know your budget, but heres a few I cannot resist…

2nd on Greys Papaya, best hotdog. The sewer water dog vendors are quick, cheap and dirty, but stay away from the kebab.

Zabar’s Bakery. Amazing deli, amazing everything. fresh baked breads and thick stacked meats. You’ll thank me later.

Virgil’s at Times Square. Real authentic southern BBQ. See you’re coming from Oklahoma you may not care, but its still great.

Tavern on the Green = Awesome Menu, $$$$ price. If I were on death row and offered a last meal, it would come from there.

Russian Tea Room. Fantastic ambiance. Great menu, if it hasnt changed. I havent been there in a LONG time…

5th Avenue Epicure is also a great deli. Ive only been there once, and I keep saying to myself how I need to go back, but I never do.

Whomever said dont get pizza unless its in Brooklyn is absolutely right, if you’re used to standard pizza style pizza. Real Brooklyn Pizza is large, thin, herby, cheezy and fantastically oily. Its like a food group in and of itself. So good though.

Amelia’s off of Varick street is awesome breakfast. Real delicious breakfast sandwiches. great drink selection. not pricey.

My personal favorite, Heidelburg Cafe off of 2nd Ave makes real delicious German cuisine. I was raised off their menu, I hope you would concider it too. Great atmosphere.

I hope I was helpful.

Use Yelp, no matter what city I am in, you can find the best of the best for anything from restaurants to tailors.

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
Do not get pizza from any random place. The best pizza is from Lombardi’s on Spring street between Mott and Mulberry in little italy. It’s coal oven pizza. Every other pizza place is gas oven and is completely different. If you just want regular gas oven pizza then take your pick of the thousands of places. Oh but if you go to Lombardi’s you have to order a whole pie. No slices. Polishing off a regular sized one is very doable though.

Shake Shack in Madison Sq Park is also worth it for a good burger and custard shake.
[/quote]

Never been to Lombardi’s, but it does have that reputation. However, it’s coal oven, which is great, but if you want to try the thin crust slice of pizza that made New York pizza famous, the closest I’ve seen to the glory days is the actual, REAL, original Ray’s pizzeria at 27 Prince Street. It’s gas oven pizza, still served by the slice, which is what old school pizzeria pizza is, in my book. Whatever you do, don’t just randomly walk into any pizzeria named Ray’s, or you will most likely be served absolute garbage. Try a plain slice to see what it’s all about, then grab a pesto slice if you want, which is equally good.

The same goes for the dirty water dogs. Maybe 20 years ago, you could get a great street vendor dog. Those days are long gone. The closest you can come to that now is Gray’s Papaya (Papaya King is supposed to be good also, but I’ve never gone). Whatever you do, don’t mistakenly walk into some random Papaya hot dog joint like Papaya Dog, or you will likely be served crap also. You’ll want to order a bunch of dogs (at least four, I’d guess), but get at least one plain with mustard. As your drink, of course do the papaya drink.

Sucks that it’s come to this in New York, but it has. The worst part is that you have tourists coming here, grabbing a horrible, cold, bland dirty water hot dog at the first stand they see, and thinking that that’s what made NYC hot dogs famous. Ditto for any random pizza joint. They leave thinking it’s all bogus hype, and that Chicago pizza is better than New York pizza. Not to knock Chicago, but what they serve is so different from true Neapolitan style pizza, I hesitate to call it pizza. I’m sure it’s great though. As for the Chicago hot dog? Eh, don’t get me started…

If we New Yorkers hear about anyone else coming all the way here from places far away – New York City, the gastronomical capital of the world – and eating at Dallas Fucking BBQ, we will have them killed.

That is all.

[quote]Doug Adams wrote:
Only advice I can give is to go to Chelsea — New York's Best BBQ Chicken, Ribs & Frozen Drinks | Dallas BBQ

Went there last spring while on a day trip and it was great![/quote]

[quote]dollarbill44 wrote:
Forget the dirty dogs. As for the pizza, I think it’s overrated (I prefer Chicago style), but it won’t set you back much for time or $. Rather than a hot dog, I recommend the Hallo Berlin sausage stand on 54th and 5th Ave. by the entrance to the University Club (the Triple Soul Food is my item of choice). Get there by 11:45 am so you don’t have to wait in a long line, but the food is worth it.
DB[/quote]

FACT.

For a really great burger, try 5 Napkin Burger in the Theater district on 45th and 9th ave. The same chef also owns a French/American place directly next door, called Nice Matin. I go to either of those places whenever I see a show.

If you feel like dropping some coin and having a delicious steak, hit Strip House on E 12th.

Also on East 12th is Gotham Bar and Grill, which has all around great food.

If you head to the village and want something sort of gitchy and don’t want to spend money, go to New York Peanut Butter Company - it’s awesome.

On the menu:

Peanut Butter BLT
We use fresh cut bacon and toasted bread to give this sandwich great flavor and texture.

The Elvis
A grilled peanut Butter sandwich, stuffed with bananas and honey. Try it with bacon for that extra indulgence. Long live the King!

check out www.ilovepeanutbutter.com

I’ll think of some more and post again in a bit.

I’m a huge fan of the roast beef sandwich with horseradish spread, salt n vinegar chips, and horseradish pickle OR the porter beef stew at Pony Bar. Rotating 20 solid domestic micro brews on tap as well for only 5 bucks each (good for NYC).

If you like Thai food check out any of the Wondee Siams in the area, they are my favorite Thai so far.

[quote]ChrisPowers wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
Do not get pizza from any random place. The best pizza is from Lombardi’s on Spring street between Mott and Mulberry in little italy. It’s coal oven pizza. Every other pizza place is gas oven and is completely different. If you just want regular gas oven pizza then take your pick of the thousands of places. Oh but if you go to Lombardi’s you have to order a whole pie. No slices. Polishing off a regular sized one is very doable though.

Shake Shack in Madison Sq Park is also worth it for a good burger and custard shake.
[/quote]

Never been to Lombardi’s, but it does have that reputation. However, it’s coal oven, which is great, but if you want to try the thin crust slice of pizza that made New York pizza famous, the closest I’ve seen to the glory days is the actual, REAL, original Ray’s pizzeria at 27 Prince Street. It’s gas oven pizza, still served by the slice, which is what old school pizzeria pizza is, in my book. Whatever you do, don’t just randomly walk into any pizzeria named Ray’s, or you will most likely be served absolute garbage. Try a plain slice to see what it’s all about, then grab a pesto slice if you want, which is equally good.

The same goes for the dirty water dogs. Maybe 20 years ago, you could get a great street vendor dog. Those days are long gone. The closest you can come to that now is Gray’s Papaya (Papaya King is supposed to be good also, but I’ve never gone). Whatever you do, don’t mistakenly walk into some random Papaya hot dog joint like Papaya Dog, or you will likely be served crap also. You’ll want to order a bunch of dogs (at least four, I’d guess), but get at least one plain with mustard. As your drink, of course do the papaya drink.

Sucks that it’s come to this in New York, but it has. The worst part is that you have tourists coming here, grabbing a horrible, cold, bland dirty water hot dog at the first stand they see, and thinking that that’s what made NYC hot dogs famous. Ditto for any random pizza joint. They leave thinking it’s all bogus hype, and that Chicago pizza is better than New York pizza. Not to knock Chicago, but what they serve is so different from true Neapolitan style pizza, I hesitate to call it pizza. I’m sure it’s great though. As for the Chicago hot dog? Eh, don’t get me started…[/quote]

Yes for sure original Ray’s for a slice of gas oven pizza. I live in Brooklyn and eat regular pizza here but Ray’s is good.

And seriously try Lombardi’s at least once in your life. Half plain/half calamata olives is the way to go.

DO NOT Eat at tavern on the green.
And for whats its worth- lot of the recommendations are super touristy
and not that good.

If you had the time go to Brooklyn, L&B Spumoni Gardens for a true Brooklyn Pizza.
But pizza is subjective.
Pick up a dozen bagels at Kings highway bagel, Brooklyn’s finest.
and that would be most of your trip.

Do you like Chinese? Thai? Vietnamese? Sushi?

Becco is actually very good, you need to get out of midtown- and get downtown to get more choices.
Really it depends on what you like.
some of the best ethnic food is downtown- in hole in the wall spots.

IF you want to go tourist, go to Carnegie deli and have a sandwich that will weigh ten pounds.
And its old school NY.

http://www.carnegiedeli.com/home.php

If you want Thai PongShri its in the theater district

It is excellent.
http://www.pongsri.com/

sushi
http://www.sushiyasuda.com/home.html
Or bond st sushi or Nobo- but its touristy and pricey.

depends on what you want to eat.

if you want to eat with mobsters, you can go to Rao’s
uptown except they dont really take reservations its that private.

think about what you want to eat, and pm someone to help out.

Yes to Grey’s Papaya. Note: You might shit grease.

Yes to Lombardi’s. But it is indeed a fact that the best pizza is in brooklyn. The best italian in general is in Bay Ridge.

Also, there’s Nicky’s (150 East 2nd Street). Real tasty vietnamese sammiches. The Classic. YUM!

And Chinese more generally. The whole Dim Sum experience is awesome. Dumplings on wheels. Go to that area by the manhattan bridge. Pearl street?

Oh! and Milon (93 1 Avenue) - indian food. BYOB! Tandoori is great, as is the lamb saag. Tell them its your birthday for some fun and free ice cream (for real!).

All of this is super cheap eats too boot!

[quote]kmcnyc wrote:
DO NOT Eat at tavern on the green.
And for whats its worth- lot of the recommendations are super touristy
and not that good.

[/quote]

Bad experience?

[quote]BluePfaltz wrote:

[quote]kmcnyc wrote:
DO NOT Eat at tavern on the green.
And for whats its worth- lot of the recommendations are super touristy
and not that good.

[/quote]

Bad experience?[/quote]

FYI I think Tavern on the Green is no more. They’re auctioning the some big chandeleer this weekend or something.

Also, OP, check this site day of. Might be a good deal.

http://www.nycdailydeals.com/

Damn, I’m a cheap bastard. Ha!

I work in television, and do lots of events- in hotels/bars/retaruants

when you shoot or do a gig in a hotel- you have to push all your gear in through the kitchen.
its nasty.

lets say Tavern is Nasti x 10.

Katz’s - Pastrami on Rye (cliched but oh so good) @ 205 Houston E

midtownlunch.com - great for a street food recommendation, everything from halal carts to BBQ

Screw the hot dogs and pretzels, there is nothing special apart from the sentimental associations.