[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[LN2Campy]

The best Italian food in NYC is in the Bronx (just about any place along Arthur Avenue, which is it's own, somewhat more authentic, Little Italy). Little Italy in lower Manhattan is loaded with skeevy clip joints for the most part. It hasn't been a real Italian neighborhood for about 45 years now. It's also being swallowed whole by Chinatown.

BTW, plan to take a walk in Chinatown -- it's really like a third world city. The fish stores there sell creatures you never knew existed!!!

Have a fun time -- we're really not the dirtbags alot of people think we are!!

[NewYorker]

Suggestions for your visit to NYC: Shows to see: Kiss Me Kate, The Music Man, 42nd Street, Proof, Contact, Phantom of the Opera, Noises Off. Things to do: The Frick Museum, the "Pearls" exhibit at the Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, The New York Public Library - take the tour, the 2 hour Circle Line tour (excellent - it includes a close up view of the Statue of Liberty) of mid and lower Manhattan -www.circleline.com. Restaurants - you can check out reviews at zagat.com. In lower Manhattan - Le Zinc, Bubby's, Tribeca Grill, Fourteen Wall Street, Fraunces Tavern - which has a charming museum. In mid-town: Chin Chin (Chinese), The Oyster Bar (at Grand Central), Angelo and Maxie's (for steak) Upper West Side: Isabella's - near the Museum of Natural History - the museum is open late on Friday and Saturday nights, as is the Met, and has a jazz band and light snacks. Also suggest you pick up a copy of Time Out at the newsstand when you get here. It will give you a rundown on everything that's going on in town. Have a great time!