Great and Affordable in NYC?
Next month I am taking my youngest daughter to NY City to see where she'll be going to college next year. We both love great food, but I don't know the city and I'm on a budget (she's my third in college, on a single mom's salary!) I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!
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16 Comments:
Definitely try Otto on 8th Street off of 5th Avenue--it's good and lively, but inexpensive if you resist the urge to over-order. And it's right by NYU if that happens to be where she's going.
Kerry Saretsky at 2:36PM on 01/12/09
@chilimama: I hate to drop in with just a link and no specifics, but if you're not aware of our New York–specific site, Serious Eats New York, it's a great resource. Most of what we write about there is affordable—and it's all good. If you'd like a visual sense of where to eat near whatever school your daughter's going to, here's the Serious Eats New York Google Map of Gastronomic Delights.
Adam Kuban at 2:42PM on 01/12/09
Tiny's GIANT Sandwich shop : )
Prairie at 3:14PM on 01/12/09
Max Soha up by Columbia is delicious and prices are definitely very reasonable.
laurelie at 3:23PM on 01/12/09
mmm...tiny's!!!!
nalega at 4:06PM on 01/12/09
where will she be going to college? Downtown or up?
eleeb at 5:05PM on 01/12/09
Thank you for all the advice! Keep it coming, she's attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, 120 Madison Ave (I don't know if that's uptown or downtown)
chilimama at 5:26PM on 01/12/09
got to brave the cold and go to shake shack in madison square park--she'll need to know where to get a burger and fries when she's in college.
Kerry Saretsky at 5:48PM on 01/12/09
That's near the Flatiron District - in addition to Shake Shack, treat her to dinner at Bread Bar at Tabla, the downstairs part - -amazing Indian food, cool setting, reasonable prices.
eleeb at 9:59PM on 01/12/09
Nyonya, just off the Italian quarter in Chinatown. Tasty authentic Malaysian food, at ridiculously low prices. Anywhere in Chinatown is going to be a bargain - hit some dim sum spots. Enjoy.
Pintchow at 8:43AM on 01/13/09
I agree that Tiny's Giant Sandwich shop is awesome; I just ate there yesterday! Otto is another favorite of mine.
It's hard to come up with suggestions not knowing what your budget is like though. Can you give any more details? Tiny's = $5 sandwiches, while I might spend around $20 at Otto. Quite a difference, but both affordable and worth checking out.
Robyn Lee at 9:15AM on 01/13/09
Thanks so much, I feel so much better about our trip now, I thought we'd be have to make do with McDonalds!
chilimama at 1:45PM on 01/13/09
You could also venture to the outskirts of Chinatown and try one of my favorite places in the world: Pho Grand. Their soup is magical - try the sesame beef pho. And if you're there, it would be criminal not to order the spring rolls. The prices are very very reasonable and the quality of the food very high. 277 Grand St, at Forsyth St.
Or, my other favorite cheap eats place is Caracas Arepas. Fun atmosphere, cheap prices, absolutely scrumptious and filling food. Try it for lunch, when the lines are more reasonable and go to the takeout side (they have tables) for no service charge and sometimes less of a wait. It is so yummy - it is worth the wait every time. E 7th St, Btwn 1st Ave & Ave A.
Both places are located in trendy, fun neighborhoods that you and your daughter would probably really enjoy exploring.
laurelie at 4:22PM on 01/13/09
I was just going to recommend Caracas but Laurelie beat me to it. I love love that place. The De Pabellon is excellent. I usually eat one or two arepas and share a guasacaca and chips. Plenty of food and not expensive at all.
A college kid should know about Pommes Frites. Belgian fries with your choice of a billion different dipping sauces. 132 Second Ave.
Moustache - 90 Bedford (between Grove & Barrow) has affordable middle eastern food.
Pho Bang -157 Mott. Not great service but delicious and cheap pho, summer rolls, etc.
46-48 Bowery. There's a tunnel that connects Bowery and Elizabeth St. (You can find the entrance between Canal and Bayard) with good, cheap places to eat. New Malaysia. Yummy Noodles. Coluck.
Honestly, there are a ton of affordable places to eat. Hope you have fun.
LHSK12 at 10:03AM on 01/14/09
try some Shanghai Cafe on Mott St. Soup dumplings there are great.
Shake shake is awesome, it's on 23rd st in Madison Sq park.
foodinmouth at 3:16PM on 01/14/09
Oh and one more thing, if you're going to visit Pommes Frites, go across the street to Veselka (2nd ave and 9th street), a Ukrainian restaurant and late night and brunch hot spot for some light as a feather pierogi.
laurelie at 3:59PM on 01/14/09