New York City: How Not to Eat Like A Tourist?
Ive been working in NYC a few months and haven't had time to fully explore the city's intimidatingly vast dining options. My family is coming from out of town, and we want some places to eat that aren't tourist traps. Perhaps one night Italian (to make things simple), one night not so typical (more exotic, but something to satisfy a wide variety of tastes). Know any places with a great menu, fair prices, family atmosphere, and interesting locale (beyond the tourist oriented areas)?
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16 Comments:
Go to Queens for Greek food (Astoria) and Flushing for Dim Sum.
For good Italian, try Al Di La in Park Slope.
NSW at 12:13PM on 10/16/07
If you're downtown Manhattan, there is a pizzeria that serves the best spinach calzone I have ever had. I want to say it's this one: http://www.undergroundpizzany.com/menu.htm but I'm not sure. It's on Hanover Square in lower Manhattan. It's a small place with more seating upstairs. This place is one of the things I miss most about NYC.
As much as it might sound touristy, you can't go wrong with the Peking Duck House in Chinatown. http://www.pekingduckhousenyc.com/ I was recently there and the food is as incredible as I remember it.
Another one of my faves for inexpensive, authentic food is Sam's Noodle. They have the most perfect steamed brown rice as an option to white rice. I could eat the stuff all by itself. I used to get the thick noodles in "Little Bit Of Everything Noodle Soup." Big steaming bowls - it was wonderful. See below.
Sam's Noodle Shop & Grill 411 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(corner of 3rd avenue and 29th street)
11:00 am - 11:30 pm
I was recently in SoHo and the gourmet stores are wonderful for "grazing." A purchased loaf of bread, cheese, some charcuterie and a sweet (after all, it's VACATION) can prove to be a most substantial lunch enjoyed in a park.
Don't forget the value of just walking around and "discovering" places. That's half the fun.
chiff0nade at 1:37PM on 10/16/07
The problem with some touristy things (especially in the food world) is that they're popular for a reason. Balthazar is packed on a Saturday morning because it's Balthazar and because it's that good. So while you probably want to stay away from the unbearable cheesey Serendipity 3, don't feel bad about taking them to a Mario Batali joint just because he's on the food network. Babbo is just a good restaurant, hands down. Also, Otto might be what you're looking for in terms of atmosphere and group friendly.
While we're talking italian, a couple of local, not-too-hype-y places I like for wood fired pizza: Nick's on the UES at 93rd & 2nd or Vezzo at Lexington and 31st. Both good food, good service, good atmosphere.
LizNYC at 2:02PM on 10/16/07
Do your research at home/in your hotel, then put up your guidebooks. Do use a book, like for a test. Pretend your running lines for a play, and the going out and eating part is the performance (no scripts allowed). Act like you've been there, wherever there is, before. Don't talk so much to the help - your server doesn't have alot of credible advice to give you (what did I say about doing your research, above?). Don't order specials. Don't order the salmon. Don't order against eatery type (you went to Old Homestead for steak, so order steak). Don't look clueless. Don't look at the neon sign in the 2nd floor walk-up's window and ask what "Body Work" is. Avoid Little Italy - the paisani left a long time ago. Don't stop in the middle of the street before making a 90 degree turn-off. Don't run onto a subway, then ask what train is it (again, research). Hey, enjoy your stay!
Sandro at 2:57PM on 10/16/07
I think you should definitely bring your family to the W. Village, where there are some really great eating options. Check out Perilla, run by Top Chef winner Harold. Also, August is a cozy restaurant on Bleecker...very warm, inviting, and most importantly, tasty! If you're craving some South East Asian food, stop by Fatty Crab on Hudson. Or for more upscale, drop by Jean George's Perry Street located inside Richard Meier's architecturally beautiful building on the West Side Highway. Good luck!
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You like to eats?
http://www.gobbl.com
druz99 at 3:13PM on 10/16/07
Head to Brooklyn, particularly Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, or Park Slope. 2 fantastic restaurants in Red Hook are the Good Fork and 360. Neither attracts many tourists because they aren't that easy to get to but the food is as good, if not better, than the most popular spots in the West Village.
July at 3:19PM on 10/16/07
do you have a neighborhood in mind? there so many great places in the city to choose from. pipa in gramercy is a great tapas spot. you really feel the citys vibe and enjoy great food and yummy drinks.
jaf at 3:55PM on 10/16/07
I also like Perilla, but I love Il Buco on Bond St. The food is good, though it is a little noisy, but it's fun. If you can get into The Little Owl, it's great. Or in Tribeca, where I live, everyone goes to Gigino's on Greenwich St. -family atmosphere, good food.
Mich23 at 3:55PM on 10/16/07
"Head to Brooklyn, particularly Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, or Park Slope. 2 fantastic restaurants in Red Hook are the Good Fork and 360."
360 is closed I believe, and that's too bad because it was great. Good Fork is fantastic. Frankie's, Al Di La, and Noodle Pudding in Brooklyn are all great. Alma in Brooklyn has great Mexican and wonderful views of the Manhattan skyline.
Definitely head out of Manhattan for at least one meal. For the food, I think it's hard to beat restaurants in Queens. Sure the atmosphere may not always be what you get in Manhattan, but the food is fantastic... Greek in Astoria, Dim Sum in Flushing, and Thai food in Woodside (at Sripraphai: http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7419856/)!
NSW at 4:08PM on 10/16/07
I think I need new adjectives, hey? Ha.
NSW at 4:09PM on 10/16/07
Daniel -- exceptional no-snobbery high-end, nicest staff, awesome food.
Blue Ribbon in SoHo -- always a line, but way, way worth it.
Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien -- see previous comment; cheap.
Pizza 33 -- reliable, cheap, accessible (corner of 3rd and 33rd)...
Viand -- very cheap, very quick, and very mediocre, but well worth it for the unexpectedly excellent roast turkey and mashed potatoes from scratch (soups are usually pretty good, too).
LoCo at 4:41PM on 10/16/07
there so many places to choose from....do you have a specific neighborhood that you might be in or want to go to? Pipa in Gramercy is a great spot for tapas.
jaf at 1:33PM on 10/17/07
One very good tip for New Yorkers with out of town visitors is Grimaldi's at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side. The pizza is near the top-tier in NYC (there is some debate as to whether or not it has declined recently), and it's right near the excellent Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and Jacque Torres chocolates, if you can still force down dessert after pizza. The real key to this, though, is to walk the Brooklyn Bridge either before or after dinner. Some solid NYC pizza and a great walk back into Manhattan around sunset is a fantastic outing on a crisp fall evening. It always impresses visitors.
empath at 3:08PM on 10/17/07
One of the great things about Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is the ability to take your cone or sundae and eat it while looking over the water, at the lights of lower Manhattan, and up at the incredible bridge. It's tough to imagine a more spectacular combo of ice cream and view. And Jacques Torres' chocolates are to die for.
I'd give Perilla a miss -- it's a nice restaurant, but its primary claim to fame is that it's run by the Top Chef guy -- but would jump all over Fatty Crab. I can guarantee they haven't had food like that anywhere else.
maggiesara at 2:23PM on 10/19/07
It really depends on taste and budget, but some of my favorites:
mid-priced Italian: Noodle Pudding in Brooklyn Heights
best pizza: Franny's in Brooklyn on Flatbush Ave
on the expensive side: Union Square Cafe
fancy BBQ: Blue Smoke in Manhattan
Korean: Kang Suh on Bway and 32st St
I agree w/ the above poster on Brooklyn Ice Cream, Jacques Torres, and Grimaldi's (though the wait here can be very very long)
Irene at 2:26PM on 10/19/07
great, got some suggestions in here that will help me out with visitors and let me explore new places of the city. thanks for all the replies!
Runz_w_Scissorz at 9:50AM on 10/23/07