NYC / Manhattan Dining

[torpid]

Going to new york for several days in early september. Me and a friend who lives there are trying to plan where to eat. Absolute musts are good chinese, italian, and hopefully dim sum. We are also considering indian because we both like it. Here are the ones we are considering. Any locals know these places (my friend has been only to shun lee west)?

Shun Lee West
Oriental Garden
Golden Unicorn
Jing Fong
Dawat
Chola
Sirabella
Vespa

Any other recommendations? Shun Lee is about as much as I can afford for a single meal, so places like Nobu are out, obviously.

 

[chowmein]

anywhere in chinatown is good authenic chinese food.

little italy is great italian food as well.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: chowmein
anywhere in chinatown is good authenic chinese food.

That's what I hear, but my concern in going for dim sum is that my friend is a vegetarian so either they must have a huge variety (golden uni and jing fong) or a good regular menu (oriental garden).

 

[xospec1alk]

chola was great, i was there last week.

haven't been to the others though

Jing Fong is decent dim sum, although i don't know where else you can get good dim sum in chinatown. although golden unicorn has decent dim sum as well...they all start to taste the same after a while hahah.

 

[GasX]

For Indian food, check out East 6th Street. It's a whole block of Indian restaurants and rumor has it they share a single kitchen

My favorite is The Rose Of India. Make sure you tell them it is someone's birthday.

 

[xospec1alk]

i see you mentioned vegetarian...there is this GREAT vegetarian restaurant in the east village called Counter.

its also a wine bar, its on 1st avenue near 6th street...(i forget the exact address)

 

[chowmein]

Jing Fong, Golden Bridge, and maybe Harmony have pretty good variety. all within a 3 block radius of each other.

 

[cchen]

I've heard good things about Dawat. Shun Lee is so American. Jing Fong and Golden Unicorn are good. Although out of your price range, for good italian, i only recommend one place: Babbo

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: cchen
I've heard good things about Dawat. Shun Lee is so American. Jing Fong and Golden Unicorn are good. Although out of your price range, for good italian, i only recommend one place: Babbo

Lupa would probably be a good choice then as well then no?

personally i would recommend Hearth, i thought that was a great Tuscan place.

 

[cchen]

Lupa is nothing compared to Babbo. Esca, however, could be considered close.

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: cchen
Lupa is nothing compared to Babbo. Esca, however, could be considered close.

hehe i figured all batali's places are teh same. =)

im not such a big fan of italian food in general though.

 

[Stifko]

Vespa is always crowded but I have never eaten there.

 

[torpid]

Babbo is about the same price as sirabella from what I can gather. Is it small portions? Zagat seems to think it's impossible to get reservations...

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: torpid
Babbo is about the same price as sirabella from what I can gather. Is it small portions? Zagat seems to think it's impossible to get reservations...

Its not impossible, if you have the right connections.... do you have a credit card with concierge? They might be able to get you one... and if Babbo is within your price range, then Nobu is as well

 

[Night201]

http://www.brguestinc.com/

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: Night201
http://www.brguestinc.com/

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go to these restaurants. They are mediocre (NYC standards), at best

 

[torpid]

Hey you're right, nobu isn't as bad as I thought. But still a bit more than Babbo.

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: cchen

Originally posted by: Night201
http://www.brguestinc.com/

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go to these restaurants. They are mediocre (NYC standards), at best

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE

when people tell me they went to a BR Guest restaurant like they're some big sh!t i look at them funny....

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: torpid
Hey you're right, nobu isn't as bad as I thought. But still a bit more than Babbo.

Depends on what you order. You could get away with spending less than $90, but you won't get to try as many things. The fish dishes are quite large, and a great value IMO. And I really feel that Babbo is a great value as well, only $59 and $65 for the different tasting menus

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: torpid
Hey you're right, nobu isn't as bad as I thought. But still a bit more than Babbo.

i think thats the misconception with restaurants...as long as you stay away from the tasting menu, dinner shodulnt' run you more than 130 for two people or so...

 

[torpid]

Adding Babbo to the list. Thanks for the recommendation. Let's see what my friend says.