Need suggestions from NY Freepers (vanity)

me | 11/14/01 | me

[fellowpatriot]

Fellow NY Freepers/world travelers, my neighbors, husband and I are flying to Manhattan on Friday for the weekend. We've had this trip planned since last spring. What I need are some suggestions of good restaurants, clubs...

[fellowpatriot]

We have purchased tickets to see the Lion King. What are some of your favorite places? We plan to go to Little Italy for dinner one night. Thanks!

[Texaggie79]

Don't see Cabaret. Unless you just like being tortured in decadence.

[fellowpatriot]

We tried to get tickets to see the Producers but they were booked beyond the end of the year. I never saw the movie, but I heard it was a flop.

[Pharmboy]

San Domenico's on Central Park South is mine and my wife's favorite place to eat. Expensive? Yes. That's why we eat there only once per year. Nice people. Extraordinary food. Freepmail me as to when you'll be in and if the time is right I'll give you an historical tour of lower Manhattan if you care.

[fellowpatriot]

You've got freepmail!

[Texaggie79]

Ha, you want to see Producers, better plan a few years ahead and have plenty of money. They said that they are going to start matching what scalpers charge at the ticket box. $500 each. And that's for the bad seats.

[surrey]

My son-in-law who loves food just said the other day that The Union Square Cafe is THE BEST for value and great food. He's also fond of Oceana (don't know exactly where it is) I'm thinking around the 50's.

[fellowpatriot]

I looked on ebay for Producers a few months ago and the bid was at $2700.00 for 2 tickets in the orchestra section and there were still two whole days of bidding left!

[fellowpatriot]

Thanks for the tip!

[NativeNewYorker]

Hit zagat.com, and go to NYC, "best food".

Me?

Steaks? The Post House

Fish? Manhattan Ocean Club or Le Bernardin

Chinese? Shun Lee Palace or Shun Lee West

Italian? Il Mulino

Deli? Carnegie or 2nd Ave.

American? Union Sq Cafe

French? Lutece Le Cirque

Off beat Scandi? Aquavit.

My quick scan of the Zagat selections validates most of their opinions. Pick your cuisine/price/locale.

[fellowpatriot]

They all sound so good that I wish we were spending more than three days!!! Thanks!

[habs4ever]

Jean Georges, or Daniel, and you can't beat Le Bernardin for fish...all three are very expensive, but some of the best of their kind anywhere in the world.I'd also recommend heartily the Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe and Gotham Bar and Grill...enjoy!!

[NativeNewYorker]

Oh, I almost forgot:

Breakfast: Sarabeths's east or west side (go early!).

Casual lunch (believe it or not) Cafe SFA on the 8th floor of Saks Fifth Avenue opposite Rockefeller Center. Either eat at the counter, and watch the people, or go for a window table overlooking Rock Center or St. Pat's Cathedral.

AND MOST IMPORTANT:The Only REAL FAMOUS RAYS PIZZA is on 6th Ave at 10th St., NW corner.

[fellowpatriot]

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions! (I may need to buy an extra seat on the plane for the ride home!)

[newwahoo]

If you're up for a unique Italian experience try La Mela on Mulberry street in Little Italy. They're in Zagat's I'm sure. No menu, they just bring plop a big bottle of vino on your table and bring out appetizers till you burst. If you even get to order a main course they'll just ask you what type of meat or fowl you'd like, unless you specify. Its very good, and very low key, with a very festive atmosphere. It doesn't look like much but the food and fun are special. Jeans are fine, and your cab's shocks will suffer from carrying you back to the hotel. The way I figure, you can order off menus anywhere. At La Mela it will all be a delicious surprise the first time around.

For steak I like Peter Luger's over the Brooklyn Bridge. Pricey, but the beerhall atmosphere is great and so are the steaks.

I'll also endorse the earlier suggestion of Union Square Cafe.

If you want to see the site make sure you go to Rector street and Broadway. Head west from there. They are tearing the street up and you won't see anything a block down, but the second corner will break your heart. Go down one more block to the west and you'll probably be ready to cry. Its the "best" view of what is left of one of the towers that I've seen, but not many visitors have found it. Don't let the construction stop you, just keep walking west from Broadway. Oh and when you pass the church cemetary graveyard on the Rector side you can clearly see the final resting place of Alexander Hamilton.

[lds23]

Mars 3000 is fun - food is average. You should see the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Guggenheim has a Norman Rockwell exhibition. Little Italy is ok for a tourist trap, not many good restaurants left there (Blue Grotto used to be my fave). The East Village has some great ethnic areas - Ukranian, Indian, etc. Chinatown is fun, Wo Hop is my favorite. The West Village is the gay haven. Great for antiquing and odd shops, but bring a date of the opposite sex for protection.

And of course, you can pay your respects at the WTC site - Take the subway to Battery Park.

[AppyPappy]

I have always wanted a historic tour of Low Man. I want to see the spring locations.

[katnip]

Living on Long Island and working in Westchester I don't get into Manhattan much. 8 friends from Florida came up for the Millenium Celebrations and after eating at Windows on the World (sigh..) and other famous places, said that this is the place that was their absolute favorite. I've never been there, but they RAVED.

By the way, have a wonderful time. We love to have you here.

River Café

One Water Street

Neighborhood: DUMBO

Tel: 522-5200

Open: Monday - Thursday 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm & 6 pm -11 pm

Friday 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm & 6 pm - 11 pm & Saturday Noon - 2:30 pm & 6 pm - 11 pm

Sunday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm & 6 pm - 11 pm

Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V

Valet Parking

Reservations Recommended

Appetizers: Entrees: Prix Fixe $68 Desserts:

Water Views

Subway: A, C to High Street

The view at the River Café is spectacular. Looking through the windows that face the East River, one can ponder the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Governor's Island, Staten Island Ferry Terminal, nearly the entire sweep of the isle of Manhattan. Very often it is said of establishments that provide such a grand view, that that is all they provide-the food is usually mediocre. That cannot be said of the River Café. The cuisine is as exciting and arresting as the view. And just as the view is marvelous whether you are sitting by a window, along the back wall of the dining room or enjoying a cocktail on the deck, the food is equally exquisite whether you prefer roasted rabbit, leg of lamb or a savory steak. Everything is considered here. The service is attentive, knowledgeable and accommodating. The lobster appetizer is so beautiful, for a moment you may consider not eating it. But you'll then come to your senses and devour it. The lobster has been carefully shelled, then placed on the plate in the shape of a lobster. The pink, red and white of the lobster is dazzling, especially surrounded by paper thin slices of avocado. The lobster appetizer is available only as a special, but try the terrine of smoked duck foie gras. It is lusciously rich and served with simple toasts that allow the foie gras flavor to emerge. You may be tempted to order champagne with it. The pan roasted rabbit is marvelously decadent. The rabbit is tender and smoky. It is served sliced with a thick, creamy ricotta cannelloni on a bed of mesclun drizzled in its own juice and topped with olives and oregano. For something less daring, but equally exciting, try the poached salmon, naturally done to a turn and served in a gingery dressing. Tasting Menu $85.

[BikerNYC]

One of the hot "new" neighborhoods is the Meatpacking District. Restaurants there are Pastisse and Fressen. Both very good. Pastisse is a bit of a scene, with models and celebs haunting its tables, and it can be a wait for a table, but you get real french bistro fare. Fressen is much more elegant and very good. You should go to the store "Jeffry" way over on west 14th street. Very trendy and your wife might marvel at the $2,000 pocketbooks. Needless to say, don't buy anything, not that you could get a slaesperson to help you with something anyway.

Gramercy Tavern...excellent. Daniel...the best there is, but be prepared to spend $300 for two with one bottle of wine and a couple of cocktails. (One of the few restaurants where men must wear jackets.)

The steakhouse has got to be Sparks in midtown, where mob boss Castellano was wacked by Gotti's goons.

Or just pick up a copy of Zagat's restaurant survey and look at all the restaurants yourself.

[Pharmboy]

Appy, when you're in town, it would be my pleasure...for starters, Broad Street (where the NYSE is located) was originally a slip where the Indians would paddle in with their canoes. It was filled in the 1690s (slightly before my time).