NYC restaurants

I would like some help from NY DLers please. I am planning my first trip to NY in six years. I'm seeing a couple of shows (The Prom and Glenda Jackson in King Lear) and am planning on dining at Balthazar and Mercer Kitchen for sure because these are old favorites of mine and i have fond memories associated with them. I need advice on some mid-priced restaurants in NYC. I"d love to dine at Daniel and Eleven Madison Park every night but my budget won't permit it, so do you guys have any favorite neighborhood places that don't break the bank but serve good food? I'd appreciate some guidance. TIA.

Try Danji for Korean, Empellon for Mexican or Red Rooster for Soul food!

I love the Oyster Bar at Grand Central, even if it is touristy...

The Waverly Diner is a great place for cheap basic food.

I am going to New York for theatre as well. I am sad that the reviews for King Lear are abysmal as that was my first choice of plays, other than Socrates which I am going to see due to my fanship of Michael Stuhlbarg and Tim Blake Nelson. Also seeing Network and Hilary and Clinton.

We usually go to Molyvos for Greek food, and enjoyed Tacuba for Mexican. I suggest making reservations for Balthazar (and others) on Open Table. I went back to Becco because I'm a vegetarian and liked their 3 pasta meal, but it seemed really tired and askew when I went last time.

What's that place Jake eats at in the West Village all the time? It's Italian.

We usually end up at Virgil's when we see a show. It's pretty quick and not bad bbq.

Jake goes to the Spotted Pig in WV a lot. I love a block away. Another good village place is Waverly Inn. Yes it has had its day but the food and service are outstanding

An unsung restaurant is the restaurant at the Carlyle. Blue haired old ladies at lunch but dinner is off the charts. Also you can have a drink at Bemelmans Bar -- one of the last great nyc bars.

[quote] What's that place Jake eats at in the West Village all the time? It's Italian.

Bar Pitti?

On the other hand, maybe you should skip Bar Pitti.

"The Sixth Avenue eatery is “billed as one of New York City’s top Italian restaurants and a magnet for celebrities … yet despite their widely publicized success, defendants abuse their wait staff,” the class-action suit says.

Nichias Turban, a server who left the restaurant in October after eight years, dishes that he regularly worked “62 or more hours” each week, but was paid below minimum wage and received no overtime.

While serving boldfaced names like Jake Gyllenhaal, Heidi Klum, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, waiters were forced to share their tips with management, the complaint alleges.

The Manhattan federal court suit claims Bar Pitti violated federal and state labor laws."

Before Bar Pitti, half of it was Da Silvano. The best Italian I have had outside of Italy.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Thanks guys! Some good suggestions here.

Via Carota is overcrowded and overpriced. Malatesta trattoria is a cheaper more relaxed west village Italian. Gaetanas is also - though tends to be a less interesting crowd.

Thank you, r15. Good to know. Is it still "cash only"?

Any good restaurants on the east side?

Definitely go to Guy Fieri’s and the new Chik-Fil-A

The only upscale place we ever go on on yearly voyage there is 11 Madison Ave. An unforgettable experience.

[quote]I love a block away.

Tell Jake!

Olive Garden Times Square. What more do you need? Also there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings in Brooklyn and a Taco Bell Cantina on 8th ave.

Morandi in the WV at 7th and Waverly Place - great food and good atmosphere. Mid priced.

11 Madison is great! Bring lots of cash though. Gramercy Tavern is good for lunch. Joe Allen post theater is old school but good and theater celeb sightings are almost guaranteed. dbModern on West 44th is great for a pre-theater lunch.

Good luck with King Lear. We left at intermission (2 hours in)

After shows it can be nice to walk to the Algonquin Hotel for a drink. It’s close by, and it’s nice to have somewhere to head off to on foot while everyone else is stranded waiting for a taxi.

The East Pole is also very good and priced reasonably. My mother-in-law with major food restrictions absolutely loves it because there is always something fresh and delicious for her to eat.

Theater District has the Lamb's Club.

Don Antonio’s in Hells Kitchen has wonderful traditional Neapolitan pizza and is close to the theaters.

Toloache is fantastic. They have 3 locations I believe.

R11 Da Silvano closed claiming rising costs. A friend who knows the owner said he was in the process of a divorce and wanted to hide assets.

R15 R16 If you go to Malatesta bring ear plugs. It's the loudest restaurant in the West Village. Gaetana's is quiet because no one goes there for the food. Their money is from neighborhood folk who hang out at the bar.

Cafe Luxembourgh is my favorite place in NYC.

Old as the hills but still awesome.

[R31] Is the food at Gaetana’s any good?

I have not eaten at I Sodi, but someone whose tastebuds I trust loves it.

NY Mag's Absolute Best Italian Restaurants (2017):

Got a $500 gift certificate to Le Bernadin for my wedding 2 years ago. Haven't used it yet. I think dinner for two runs about $600 with wine and cocktails. Would love to hear from anyone who has been there. I have to say my best NYC dinner was at Tom Collichio's Craft. Excellent. I was looking forward to dinner at Lidia Bastianich's Felidia, but it was a huge let down.

Taladwat is more creative than average Thai on 9th Ave.

R36, Le Bernadin is great! I went last month with my friend for his birthday. Consider using your generous gift certificate for lunch instead of dinner. The service is fantastic. It's a rarefied experience for sure, but lots of fun.

Gaetanas is my local Italian. Classic old school homey Italian fare - nothing modern or fancy like I Sodi. But much much cheaper. And never too crowded, plenty of space. Easy to eat at the bar on a weekday after work. Good portions.

If you want good Italian in the West Village, I would do L’Artusi before I Sodi. Much nicer space, much more room, not crammed into a storefront on Christopher St. Almost directly behind it on West 10th St. And while there, check out Brooke Shields and Bradley Cooper’s houses next door.

Thanks, these are all great ideas.

La Carota looks great, but a three-hour line???

Interesting that there are now three very hot restaurants right around Christopher Street, which was rather dismal for so long.

Yet Manatus - the best gay diner ever - closed 5 years ago and the huge space has been empty ever since.

I'd love a gay restaurant like the one described in, what was it, The Front Runner? Where the waiters were in jockstraps?