PrintNYC: Inexpensive and Elegant
My husband and I will be in New York for two weeks. He hates to pay for fancy-pants restaurants unless it's a special occasion, and he knows the restaurant will deliver (something besides bragging rights, that is). We'll be staying with a long-time friend who will be celebrating a "big" birthday. She is not a fan of the funky. OK. There will be a blow-out celebratory dinner, I'm sure. But besides that, I will be caught between the two of them. Please, help! Do you know places that are delicious, elegant, and good value?
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9 Comments:
if you are a fan of italian food I recommend al di la in brooklyn. it feels special, elegant, yet casual enough that you could almost justify eating there everyday. perbacco in the east village is along the same vein but a bit more casual. you cant make reservations at either one though. I think they are both great values, especially al di la.
Falai on the lower east side might mediate things as well, it is a "funky" neighborhood but the atmosphere and style is chic and modern. The food is wonderful, pricier than al di la and perbacco.
Margherita at 3:30PM on 03/03/08
Not sure of your exact price point or whether you're sticking to a particular area, but these possibilities immediately spring to mind...
Not exactly elegant, but very comfortable, reasonable prices, and super tasty, is Blue Ribbon Bakery & Cafe. Worth the wait on line.
LoCo at 3:46PM on 03/03/08
A very reasonably-priced option (even cheap, by Manhattan standards) is Tanti Baci in the Village. It's very cozy, kind of a date-type place, but could also be a special place for an intimate party of 3. Ideally, order some of the homemade pastas, which are easily under $15 a plate.
Here's the Citysearch page for it:
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7117525/new_york_ny/tanti_baci_caffe.html#
Caffe Taci is another option for Italian in the village. It's a few dollars more (15+ for pasta) but the bonus is that they have live opera singers.
renzata at 4:41PM on 03/03/08
I think Otto is a terrific spot; it's always lively, the food and wine are fabulous, and the price point just can't be beat in NYC! Everything from cheese plates and olives to pizza and full entrees, and I can't imagine you'll find a better $9 plate of Carbonara! Or Amatricana, for that matter... ;-) And the gelato is TO. DIE. FOR. If I lived in that neighborhood, I'd be there 3x a week! Just avoid the weekend nights, when it's a zoo. Great bar dining if you're into that, too! www.ottopizzeria.com
These two are definitely more expensive, but still good options, imo:
DB Bistro Moderne is Daniel Boulud's 'casual' spot in midtown... www.danielnyc.com/dbbistro/cuisine.html
I'm a huge fan of Tabla, where you can eat downstairs (Bread Bar) for the more casual menu/pricing, or upstairs for the more upscale version. Chef Cardoz's creative, flavorful, Indian-inspired food is interesting and exciting, and I love the atmosphere there as well. www.tablany.com
Curlz at 10:48AM on 03/04/08
Thanks so much for the suggestions! Our friend has moved into a new apartment and will not have a kitchen for several more months, so I've been doing a lot of anticipatory worrying about keeping both dear husband and old friend happy. We've been to Ouest and Cafe des Artistes in the past; good to be reminded. It would be fun to explore the others, except for DB Bistro Moderne---I've posted about that unhappy experience. My husband is impressed by the support given by the SE community.
islandexile at 3:00PM on 03/04/08
I like Landmarc in the Time Warner Center for a casual yet upscale feel. The food isn't as cheap as regular old bar fare but everything is reasonable and the menu is diverse enough that most people will find several things they like.
I also like Supper in the East Village but it can get crowded, especially on the weekends.
Good luck!
Jacquie at 3:35PM on 03/05/08
Alta in the W.Village has a nice atmosphere and offers a wide array of tapas dishes, they also take reservations and are reasonably priced. Market Table in the W.Village is another good option offering reasonably priced seasonal fare in a very relaxing room. Lunetta in the Flatiron district is another good option, great Italian food, unpretentious and priced right.
ginsbera at 4:29PM on 03/05/08
Malatesta Trattoria (Washington & Christopher) is wonderful. Great service, low prices and very cool atmosphere... when I lived in the city this was our goto for 'special' dinners that we didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for.
I will also second Otto.
MML at 7:30AM on 03/06/08
I LOVE Malatesta - used to live across the street and ate there all the time. Friendly, pretty spot and great food. Other suggestions:
- inoteca, Freeman's and Frankie's 17 Clinton St. Sputino in the Lower East Side
- Cafe Noir in Soho
- Bar Veloce, Counter (great vegetarian), and Supper in the East Village
Have fun!
CookiePie at 9:48AM on 03/06/08