Restaurant recommendations please!

Hello,

Myself and my boyfriend are coming to New York for the first time on Saturday for 10 days, I%26#39;m not sure that I will make it through the week without bursting with excitement! We have made some plans to see all the touristy type things and intend on doing as much as possible (thank you TA for all the help here). What I would really like to ask for is some help on places to eat. We will probably go to diners etc for some meals for the experience and lower cost but would like some restaurant recommendations. I would be really grateful as I know all you experts get these questions all the time.

A bit about ourselves we are both 24 and are coming to new york to celebrate our 4 year anniversary and my boyfriends graduation from medical school (he has worked so hard %26amp; deserves to enjoy himself before he enters a life in the health service). We are staying at the Fitzpatrick Grand Central and are looking for maybe 4 places to try. We like pretty much anything but tend to eat a lot of italian at home although we are willing to try most things. We are not fans of chain places or over priced, over trendy places that charge huge amounts to be treated anomously and get tiny, pretencious portions. I love the type of places that locals visit, that people have as their %26#39;regular place%26#39; and where the staff are truely happy to see you. We would probably spend up to 拢50-60 max ($100-120) for the meal %26amp; drinks (not including tip) as I don%26#39;t believe that you have to pay silly amounts to get good food %26amp; a lovely atmosphere. Anywhere with an outdoor eating area (if the weather is going to be good) would be a bonus.

I hope that someone can help!

Restaurant recommendations please!

check out menupages.com for the top rated restarants, they also have reviews, and give an estimated price

Restaurant recommendations please!

I love Cafeteria at 119 7th Avenue @ 17th Street (on the corner)

The restaurant serves %26#39;comfort food%26#39; (meatloaf, fried chicken, etc) also known as %26#39;diner fare%26#39;, and they do it very well. I really wouldnt call it %26#39;trendy%26#39;, but lots of younger, hip people go there. the staff is very friendly and professional. Also, in the summer i understand they open the garage type doors onto the sidewalk and the people watching there is awesome.

we had breakfast, lunch and dinner there and also swung by after a night of clubbing and found it to be consistently good.

a great thing about it is that they are open 24 hours and seemed to be busy all the time. check on the restaurant portion of this forum to read reviews.......

full bar and prices are within your stated budget.

hope you like it as much as we do!!!!

well,if you go to MoMa (museum of modern art,54th st.) free on friday nights,then go next door to restaurant for drinks and appetizers..it%26#39;s modern decor,and trendy setting(may be too pricey for full meal-we just sat near bar for app%26#39;s and drinks)

Pete%26#39;s Tavern down on Irving Place/17th street has lots of gramercy Park locals,nice atmosphere,still reasonable prices,with out door dining

i like Vice Versa or Bice for trendy italian in Times sq/Theater district area;also,Joe Allen%26#39;s -very friendly,been there a long time

down in village /soho area,PhillipMarie,and others,outdoor seating-great brunches.

Thalia ,50th or thereabouts,outdoor seating,trendy,friendly atmosphere..

these are all places I have been numerous times,that haven%26#39;t disappointed

my husband%26#39;s a surgeon;not easy going thru all that! Congratulations!

I love Russian restaurants..mmmmmm..;-)

i haven%26#39;t been to Russian Tea Room near Carnegie,since its renovations(some time ago,now;under new management for some time now,as well?)

but,years ago used to go with my mother %26amp; brother-loved it....

anyone ? what%26#39;s it like now??

Since you are in your early twenties, I would suggest that you try a couple of places on the lower east side and in the east village. This will probably be more your scene than the older and stuffier places.

I tried Pere Pinard on the lower east side. It has an outdoor sitting area in the back and is not too expensive. I had the beef tartare and they prepare it at your table. There is Lucien in the same area. It is a french bistro where the food is excellent.

In the east village, there is Cafe Fuego. I have never tried it but I have heard of it because it is owned by Montreal natives, including Halle Berry%26#39;s boyfriend who is from Mtl also. I went to Jules. It is a french bistro where there is live jazz.

Another place I did not try but that I told myself that I would try is Jack%26#39;s bistro on University place. There are lots of restaurants on university place below 14th street. There is a mexican place called El cantinero which is cheap at lunch time and on the second floor you have the cheapest (4$) frozen margaritas and a free buffet on thursdays and fridays I think.

If you know a bit about rock music (ramones, iggy pop, new york dolls), you can try the rock and roll walking tour of the east village. It is incredible!! The tour guide, Bobby Pinn, is really interesting and knows his stuff........www.rockjunket.com. I did it last week and really enjoyed it.

Have a nice trip!

For a great variety of German food and especially beer, Hallo Berlin over at 626 10th Ave.

';New York%26#39;s wurst restaurant,'; the Hallo Berlin menu proudly proclaims. And the wurst is indeed the thing at this budget German midtowner. Gorge yourself on one of the ';Berliner lunch specials;'; or allow the skilled kitchen to strut its stuff and try one of the traditional German fish dishes (try the rollmops, veggie-stuffed marinated herring). More ambitious dinner fare includes wiener schnitzel and also the likes of koenigsberger klopse: white meatballs. One of the only good German restaurants left in Manhattan.';

The best is the beer...try a few steins of German draft, like Dortmunder, Hofbraeuhaus or Spaten Munich Lager.

Pjk

If you like Thai there is a great place in SoHo called Peep. It鈥檚 kind of trendy but very reasonably priced. I believe it鈥檚 on Prince and Thompson. They have good, fun cocktails and great food. The drinks are disproportionately expensive compared to the food but still reasonable and very good.

Also for drinks %26amp; sushi there is Bamboo 52 on 52nd and 8th Ave. They have half price drinks from 12pm-9pm and the drinks are GREAT. The sushi is good, I went recently with a friend and we split 2 rolls which I thought wouldn鈥檛 be enough but it was plenty (I am a sushi fiend so would normally eat at least 2 on my own - but they are big).

Stanton Social on the LES is also good for tapas, etc.

You will have no problem finding fun, great restaurants for under $100 (depending on how much you drink)!

Thanks ever so much for all the suggestions! I knew I could rely on you all. I will start to investigate them all tonight.

Keep them coming! x

I just returned from NYC yesterday, and these restaurants are reasonably priced, have good atmosphere and delicious food. These are all frequented by locals. The service at each was superior and there was no wait for seating. They are in the Midtown area around Broadway/Times Square.

1. Pigalle%26#39;s - 48th and 8th (French)

2. 44 sw RISTORANTE %26amp; LOUNGE -621 9th Ave (SW corner of 44th ) (Italian) My FAVORITE Restaurant! Be sure to have a martini!!

3. Amarone%26#39;s - 47th and 9th (Italian)

On 46th between 7th and 9th is ';Restaurant Row';. You should be able to find any type of cuisine you desire in this area.