Best (good and not too expensive) New York City Restaurants???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez.....some of these suggestions are just tourist-crap joints. First off, make reservations ahead, and pick the restaurants that have prix fix lunch and dinner menus. You can eat at top notch restaurants, ya just need to work it:
Look at Union Square Cafe, Jean Georges. Many many more offer the $20.13 lunch, where you get a great app, choice of 2 entrees, and dessert. If you stick w water, it will be that cheap. Slightly higher prices for dinner. Also try Little India, think Havali West....in Chinatown, for the best chow fun, try Big Wong on Mott St; or, for dim sum, get there early, go to Golden Unicorn

Agree except for Jean Georges which does have fantastic prix fixe menus but also restricts children. Made a reservation once for Nougatine and the confirmation email noted that children under 3 were not allowed. Jean Georges does not allow kids under 9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez.....some of these suggestions are just tourist-crap joints. First off, make reservations ahead, and pick the restaurants that have prix fix lunch and dinner menus. You can eat at top notch restaurants, ya just need to work it:
Look at Union Square Cafe, Jean Georges. Many many more offer the $20.13 lunch, where you get a great app, choice of 2 entrees, and dessert. If you stick w water, it will be that cheap. Slightly higher prices for dinner. Also try Little India, think Havali West....in Chinatown, for the best chow fun, try Big Wong on Mott St; or, for dim sum, get there early, go to Golden Unicorn

Agree except for Jean Georges which does have fantastic prix fixe menus but also restricts children. Made a reservation once for Nougatine and the confirmation email noted that children under 3 were not allowed. Jean Georges does not allow kids under 9.

Thanks for this, I"m not the OP, but I will be going to NYC with my Dh (and no kids!) next week. I tried looking at the Jean Georges website, and it doesn't seem to have a menu. It also seems like there are a few different restaurants-- "Nougatine" and "Terrace"...just wanted to make sure if I make a reservation it is at the right place, with Price Fix menu?

[Anonymous]

Spice Market is fun and has a tasting menu.

[Anonymous]

Just head down to Alphabet City at around 6:30pm and wander around. There are some amazing restaurants on Avenue C. ST Mark's between 1st and A has A wonderful little italian place on the south side of the street (blanking on the name right now) that was our go-to dinner place when DH and I were young lawyers, living in the East Village. We never cooked or even had food in the house, so we'd always just wander over there for a reasonably priced dinner. There's a great French bistro around the corner on Ave A that has windows that open on to Tompkins Square Park--great people watching. You feel like you're in France. 7th st between 1st and A also has great restaurants, including Caracas Arepas Bar--cheap, filling arepas. Almost none of these places take reservations, so just drop in at an earlier hour if you don't want to wait (New Yorkers eat late) or put your name on a list and enjoy a drink at the bar while you wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for this, I"m not the OP, but I will be going to NYC with my Dh (and no kids!) next week. I tried looking at the Jean Georges website, and it doesn't seem to have a menu. It also seems like there are a few different restaurants-- "Nougatine" and "Terrace"...just wanted to make sure if I make a reservation it is at the right place, with Price Fix menu?

You definitely will want to go to Jean Georges for lunch where you can get two courses for $38, $19 for an additional course. One of the best deals anywhere in fine dining IMO. Nougatine is more affordable and similar to Central compared to Citronelle in level of cuisine.

The other fine dining that I have been blown away with is Le Bernardin. Amazing fish and sauces. I didn't even mind that I didn't have any red meat at that meal.