DH and I are going to NYC...

lauralizabee

...in 11 days!

See, I told you I was going to be a PW.

Anyway, DH has never been, I've only ever been on planned field trips for school/dance, so I've never had to plan anything for it.

I posted on the travel board, and checked out the recommendations on the NYC board, but I still want to know...what are YOUR favorite places (restaurants especially) in NYC?

We're staying Upper West Side, going to some Broadway show yet to be determined, probably going to a Mets-Tigers game (just BC we hate the Yankees so much ), going to the Met, Rockafeller Center, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, ...we mostly just need good places to eat, that are somewhat budget friendly. And maybe a lunch or dinner or coffee with a NYCer or two

Bigwuhead

OOOOOooh I love NYC . 

If you haven't already, and you can get tickets, see Wicked on Broadway.  If you can squeeze in a trip to the MOMA (if that's your sort of thing) it's awesome.  Also try to make it to the Central Park Zoo, or atleast CP.

As for places to eat and/or drink....

Juniors Cheesecake... There's one mixed in in the Broadway area.

Also check out Resturaunt Row

http://www.restaurantrownyc.com/media/restaurantrow.html

There are some neat places a long there if you are going to be in the theater district!

stlucia_wife

SO JEALOUS!!  we are going to go next year for the summer.  jake has never been either!

sarlah

One of my favorite things was actually the giant Toys R Us. It was really fun to go in there and see all the different areas, plus there's a little ferris wheel inside the store! There's a Candy Land, Cabbage Patch, etc. If you're near there, it's worth popping in and seeing everything.

hawaiianbride08

I also like the MOMA.

when we've wanted to do NYC on a budget we stick to little pizza places away from the main streets of time square (where everything is inflated).

For a yummy dessert treat, serendipity 3 on the upper east side :-) Been there twice for the frozen hot chocolate.

Bigwuhead

hawaiianbride08:

I also like the MOMA.

when we've wanted to do NYC on a budget we stick to little pizza places away from the main streets of time square (where everything is inflated).

For a yummy dessert treat, serendipity 3 on the upper east side :-) Been there twice for the frozen hot chocolate.

 

I second the Serendipity 3 reccomendation!  It's YUMMY.

nataliejp519

You lucky duck!  Grimaldi's in Brooklyn...it's just over the bridge.  I'm hungry just thinking about it.

ChooGirl

If you are going to the Met, we must meet up. I live 6 blocks away!!!!

Great restaurants (by neighborhood because I'm neurotic):

UES (upper east side aka my hood)

Elio's (84th/2nd) yummy, old school Italian.

Poke (85th bet 1st/2nd) BYOB (there is a wine store around the corner) sushi. So fresh you'd swear you could see it move. My fav.

Flex Mussels (82nd Lex/3rd) went two nights ago and loved it.

UWS (upper west side)

Dovetail (77th/Columbus) great American

Shake Shack (77th/Columbus) Burgers and fries are to die for. There is a Citi Field location, but you'll wait for ever and ever to eat there.

Bar Boloud (63rd/Broadway) a much cheaper option than Daniel or Cafe Boulud. Love it. Amazing menu.

Midtown

Nobu 57 (57th bet 5th-6th ave) LOVE. Beautiful people and decor and the food lives up to the reputation.

Milos (55th bet 6th-7th ave) Best fish in the city.

Burger Joint (in the Parker Meridien hotel 57th bet 6th/7th ave) the competitor of Shake Shack. An NYC staple. Hidden. Ask the conceirge in the lobby where the entrance is. I think it is better than Shake Shack.

Downtown

Mercadito (avenue B near 12th street) my all-time fav Mexican. If I could eat and drink here (don't even get me started on the margaritas) every day, I would.

Babbo (110 Waverly Place) hands down best Italian in the city. You won't be able to get a weekend res-- it take 6 weeks. Can't hurt to try though!

Pearl Oyster Bar (18 Cornelia Street) best lobster roll I've ever had outside of Maine.

Casa Mono (52 Irving Place at 17th Street) Mario Batali's tapas place. Open kitchen = you can watch the chefs cook. Delicious and inventive.

wd-50 (50 Clinton St) the food there is like a science experiment. A really cool experience.

La Esquina (114 Kenmare St) another Mexican option if you can't get into Mercadito.

Degustation (5th St bet 2nd/3rd ave) French/Spanish tapas. Yum

Brunch

Norma's (in Parker Meridien hotel 57th bet 6th/7th ave) Best brunch ever, but slightly older crowd

Sarabeth's (multiple locations - UWS 80th/Amsterdam) an NYC staple for brunch. There is one in almost every neighborhood

Balthazar (80 Spring St) My personal fav. Food rocks and it is celeb central. Great neighborhood (Soho) for post-brunch shopping.

Calle Ocho (Columbus bet 81st/82nd) I've never been, but my friends rave. There is apparently bottomless sangria...