New York restaurants
Discussion
I'm planning on taking Mrs Lauda to New York for her 30th birthday later this year and was hoping the connoissuers of PH may be able to provide some good recommendations.
We're both very into our food and wine (although Mrs L won't eat meat - thankfully she does eat fish) so am interested in finding some really good, non-tourist, places to eat. Budget not really much of an issue provided the food is right although I would like to go for one blow-out meal somewhere a bit special whilst we're there.
So, where should be be heading?
We're both very into our food and wine (although Mrs L won't eat meat - thankfully she does eat fish) so am interested in finding some really good, non-tourist, places to eat. Budget not really much of an issue provided the food is right although I would like to go for one blow-out meal somewhere a bit special whilst we're there.
So, where should be be heading?
Seafood restaurant will give her lots of choice. My friend in NY loves this place...
http://www.oceanarestaurant.com/
http://www.oceanarestaurant.com/
If you have a reasonable budget for a night out, then you most definitely have to try this place:
http://www.keens.com/
Not only for the food, but also for the very interesting decor. I've been there each time I go back to NY and the service never fails. They have a fantastic selection of wines, which upon speaking with your waiter, will be able to recommend something to your taste.
Its primarily a steakhouse, but with a difference. They also have a nice big lobster tank on display as you enter the main dining area, which if you're feeling more seafood, you can choose yourself.
Overall, a great place to eat and relax, not too overpriced, with great steak and some real character. If you consider it though, make sure you take the details with you as it can be a little hard to find, not being so obvious from the outside. Only a short walk (a few blocks) from Madison Square Gardens too if you then fancy heading to a basketball game or something like that, depending whats on.
http://www.keens.com/
Not only for the food, but also for the very interesting decor. I've been there each time I go back to NY and the service never fails. They have a fantastic selection of wines, which upon speaking with your waiter, will be able to recommend something to your taste.
Its primarily a steakhouse, but with a difference. They also have a nice big lobster tank on display as you enter the main dining area, which if you're feeling more seafood, you can choose yourself.
Overall, a great place to eat and relax, not too overpriced, with great steak and some real character. If you consider it though, make sure you take the details with you as it can be a little hard to find, not being so obvious from the outside. Only a short walk (a few blocks) from Madison Square Gardens too if you then fancy heading to a basketball game or something like that, depending whats on.
How about Benihana, you can get steak and SWMBO can get prawn or other seafood. If you haven't been to a Teppanyaki restaurant it's great fun and the food is good too. See the site below, there's a menu, price list and map.
http://www.benihana.com/locations/newyorkwest-ny-w...
http://www.benihana.com/locations/newyorkwest-ny-w...
CypherP said:
If you have a reasonable budget for a night out, then you most definitely have to try this place:
http://www.keens.com/
Not only for the food, but also for the very interesting decor. I've been there each time I go back to NY and the service never fails. They have a fantastic selection of wines, which upon speaking with your waiter, will be able to recommend something to your taste.
Its primarily a steakhouse, but with a difference. They also have a nice big lobster tank on display as you enter the main dining area, which if you're feeling more seafood, you can choose yourself.
Overall, a great place to eat and relax, not too overpriced, with great steak and some real character. If you consider it though, make sure you take the details with you as it can be a little hard to find, not being so obvious from the outside. Only a short walk (a few blocks) from Madison Square Gardens too if you then fancy heading to a basketball game or something like that, depending whats on.
MMmmmm.http://www.keens.com/
Not only for the food, but also for the very interesting decor. I've been there each time I go back to NY and the service never fails. They have a fantastic selection of wines, which upon speaking with your waiter, will be able to recommend something to your taste.
Its primarily a steakhouse, but with a difference. They also have a nice big lobster tank on display as you enter the main dining area, which if you're feeling more seafood, you can choose yourself.
Overall, a great place to eat and relax, not too overpriced, with great steak and some real character. If you consider it though, make sure you take the details with you as it can be a little hard to find, not being so obvious from the outside. Only a short walk (a few blocks) from Madison Square Gardens too if you then fancy heading to a basketball game or something like that, depending whats on.
Everything he says is correct, the service is the best I ever had, and so was the steak!
Last April the wife and I went to Mesa Grill which is on 5th Avenue www.mesagrill.com.
It's run by Bobby Flay who's the US equivilant of Jamie Oliver. Food is a mix of american and mexican and certainly different to what you'd get back home. Prices aren't too bad, certainly not budget but not sky high either.
It's run by Bobby Flay who's the US equivilant of Jamie Oliver. Food is a mix of american and mexican and certainly different to what you'd get back home. Prices aren't too bad, certainly not budget but not sky high either.
PandaEyes said:
Last April the wife and I went to Mesa Grill which is on 5th Avenue www.mesagrill.com.
It's run by Bobby Flay who's the US equivilant of Jamie Oliver. Food is a mix of american and mexican and certainly different to what you'd get back home. Prices aren't too bad, certainly not budget but not sky high either.
Very good spot on foodIt's run by Bobby Flay who's the US equivilant of Jamie Oliver. Food is a mix of american and mexican and certainly different to what you'd get back home. Prices aren't too bad, certainly not budget but not sky high either.
Justman said:
We were really disappointed with the Gramercy, perhaps because it had been too hyped up. We had eaten at Tabla a few nights before (owned by the same guy) which had been utterly superb, so perhaps we were expecting too much!As for others, try the original Nobu or Nobu next door - not as pricey as you might imagine, need to book well ahead for Nobu, Next Door don't do bookings. Another place to try would be Balthazar - www.balthazarny.com - one of my favourite places down in Soho.
If you want non-tourist you want to avoid mid-town completely.....so most of the above restaurants aren't what you want. If you want to eat in mid-town you will generally be eating in big, expensive restaurants which could be in any city in the US.
New York is a fantastic city to eat out in but to get the real flavour of the city you should head to the East and West Villages or the Lower East Side.....that's where all the new exciting indpendent restaurants are (and they are much,much cheaper than the big mid=town places) . Parts of the East Village and Lower East Side can look a bit edgy but they are absolutely brilliant places to go for a night out.
You say you like your wine so maybe try this place http://restauranthearth.com/terrior/Terroir.html click on the "EV Wine" link at the bottom and check out the 45 page wine list...everything from a $6 glass of white to a $1900 bottle of Sassicaia. You'll get a proper feeling for New York in a place like that!
New York is a fantastic city to eat out in but to get the real flavour of the city you should head to the East and West Villages or the Lower East Side.....that's where all the new exciting indpendent restaurants are (and they are much,much cheaper than the big mid=town places) . Parts of the East Village and Lower East Side can look a bit edgy but they are absolutely brilliant places to go for a night out.
You say you like your wine so maybe try this place http://restauranthearth.com/terrior/Terroir.html click on the "EV Wine" link at the bottom and check out the 45 page wine list...everything from a $6 glass of white to a $1900 bottle of Sassicaia. You'll get a proper feeling for New York in a place like that!
use the open table app for booking restaurants and look at menus through menupages.com.
Places I have been to and enjoyed are,
Bouley - Expensive and should wear a jacket. Decent priced lunch menu though. Flan was not what I expected but great.
Bar Americain - good steak (most steak in NY is good though)
Balthazar - Always enjoy the french themed food but prefer Pastis (which is the sister restaurant) for drinks
Maze - (Gordon Ramsey) good theater menu
KittiChai - Good/expensive Thai food.
5 Napkin burger - Good and reasonably priced.
Rosa Mexicana - Big portioned Mexican
Nougatine - PH recommended and was a good one.
Aqua Grill - Some say the best sea food in NYC.
One if by land two if by sea - great food DO NOT GO IF YOUR NOT PLANNING TO PROPOSE UNLESS ALREADY MARRIED!!!! (there may be added pressure on you after going here as it is known for sappy proposals)
Otto - good pizza. (I had my rehearsal dinner here)
24 Fifth has a great deck over looking the empire state building. It absolutely looks like an office entrace as it is but if you have the right address just walk in with confidence.
MR Chow (Tribeca) Love this place. The Maitre d is a funny quirky person and the waiting staff are fun people and not stuck up like they can be at the other Mr Chows.
Restaurant week is 11th - 24th July try and coincide with this as most decent restaurants do great deals. Be warned its bloody hot though
Places I have been to and enjoyed are,
Bouley - Expensive and should wear a jacket. Decent priced lunch menu though. Flan was not what I expected but great.
Bar Americain - good steak (most steak in NY is good though)
Balthazar - Always enjoy the french themed food but prefer Pastis (which is the sister restaurant) for drinks
Maze - (Gordon Ramsey) good theater menu
KittiChai - Good/expensive Thai food.
5 Napkin burger - Good and reasonably priced.
Rosa Mexicana - Big portioned Mexican
Nougatine - PH recommended and was a good one.
Aqua Grill - Some say the best sea food in NYC.
One if by land two if by sea - great food DO NOT GO IF YOUR NOT PLANNING TO PROPOSE UNLESS ALREADY MARRIED!!!! (there may be added pressure on you after going here as it is known for sappy proposals)
Otto - good pizza. (I had my rehearsal dinner here)
24 Fifth has a great deck over looking the empire state building. It absolutely looks like an office entrace as it is but if you have the right address just walk in with confidence.
MR Chow (Tribeca) Love this place. The Maitre d is a funny quirky person and the waiting staff are fun people and not stuck up like they can be at the other Mr Chows.
Restaurant week is 11th - 24th July try and coincide with this as most decent restaurants do great deals. Be warned its bloody hot though
We had a lovely meal at The Bluewater Grill in Union Sq a couple of months ago..
http://www.bluewatergrillnyc.com/
Also had a nice modern Mexican in upper East Midtown, but can't remember the name of the place or the street I'm afraid...
http://www.bluewatergrillnyc.com/
Also had a nice modern Mexican in upper East Midtown, but can't remember the name of the place or the street I'm afraid...
Beardy10 said:
If you want non-tourist you want to avoid mid-town completely.....so most of the above restaurants aren't what you want. If you want to eat in mid-town you will generally be eating in big, expensive restaurants which could be in any city in the US.
New York is a fantastic city to eat out in but to get the real flavour of the city you should head to the East and West Villages or the Lower East Side.....that's where all the new exciting indpendent restaurants are (and they are much,much cheaper than the big mid=town places) . Parts of the East Village and Lower East Side can look a bit edgy but they are absolutely brilliant places to go for a night out.
You say you like your wine so maybe try this place http://restauranthearth.com/terrior/Terroir.html click on the "EV Wine" link at the bottom and check out the 45 page wine list...everything from a $6 glass of white to a $1900 bottle of Sassicaia. You'll get a proper feeling for New York in a place like that!
If you want non tourist and a proper feeling of NY you take a walk downtown, stop at one of the little silver carts at the side of the road and say "pardon me my good man, one of your finest gryos please with extra chilli sauce thankyousomuch".New York is a fantastic city to eat out in but to get the real flavour of the city you should head to the East and West Villages or the Lower East Side.....that's where all the new exciting indpendent restaurants are (and they are much,much cheaper than the big mid=town places) . Parts of the East Village and Lower East Side can look a bit edgy but they are absolutely brilliant places to go for a night out.
You say you like your wine so maybe try this place http://restauranthearth.com/terrior/Terroir.html click on the "EV Wine" link at the bottom and check out the 45 page wine list...everything from a $6 glass of white to a $1900 bottle of Sassicaia. You'll get a proper feeling for New York in a place like that!
When you get back to your hotel make sure you get a bog roll in to the ice box in the mini bar and cancel any plans for the next few hours.
These get some good write-ups
http://www.danielnyc.com/
from very expensive down to more bistro type stuff
Andy
http://www.danielnyc.com/
from very expensive down to more bistro type stuff
Andy
What Beardy said, stay away from the tourist bits and head to the Village! The Meat Packing District has some superb bars and restaurants and Chelsea is a great area as well, I've got the Zagat food guide I can dig out for you if you like and thumb through for fish restaurants, the wife and I went to a nice one recently that I'll get you the name of as well.
Boozy said:
What Beardy said, stay away from the tourist bits and head to the Village! The Meat Packing District has some superb bars and restaurants and Chelsea is a great area as well, I've got the Zagat food guide I can dig out for you if you like and thumb through for fish restaurants, the wife and I went to a nice one recently that I'll get you the name of as well.
That would be great, much appreciated!Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff