213643 Tue Aug 31 18:25:55 -0700 2004 11 18 Manhattan 0 1137663 In town for the week from Nevada and ZOOKS your city is expensive! I was recomended to this site from our good friends in LA who use it all the time. We are staying at the Roosevelt Hotel, and have already dined at Morton's. Is there another restaurant in this area not to be missed? We love fish and my wife loves good chinese food. Thanks so much all. Tue Aug 31 18:25:55 -0700 2004 0 Marc Jackson 1 1137666 take the subway down to Canal Street and hit any of a number of spots in Chinatown. if time doesn't permit...there are several outposts of Grand Sichuan (check menupages.com for specific listings). seafood-wise, a better idea of your price range would help Tue Aug 31 18:36:06 -0700 2004 1137663 0 Nathan 1 1137669 Welcome to New York! The Roosevelt--let's see, that's 45th and Madison, roughly, right? Okay. For Chinese food, you're easy walking distance from Wu Liang Ye, over by Rockefeller Center: Wu Liang Ye 36 W 48th St New York, NY 10036 212-398-2308 A bit further afield, but still a manageable walk, there's a branch of the (very good) Grand Sichuan mini-chain (NYC-only) on 2nd Ave near 56th St: Grand Sichuan Intl 1049 2nd Ave New York, NY 10022 212-355-5855 Both of these places offer excellent, spicy Szechuan cooking with very fresh ingredients; highly recommended. My favorite fish places in New York are downtown... Mary's Fish Camp, a tiny place on Charles St at West 4th, is a particular fave; it's crowded on weekends but very manageable on weeknights. Hop in a cab and come on down. If you like oysters and shellfish in general, however, you're an easy walk from the Grand Central Oyster Bar, inside Grand Central Station on E 42nd St. The raw oysters and pan roasts are good there, but I frankly don't think much of their other seafood entrees. Also near you, the Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center. I haven't been there in years, but I remember it as being pretty good. (Hope some other 'hounds will chime in with their recommendations.) - er Tue Aug 31 18:52:42 -0700 2004 1137663 0 enrevanche 1 1137672 Rather than Morton's, I would have recommended Keens Steakhouse, on W. 36th St., b/t 5th & 6th Avs. But go anyway. It's been in continuous operation since 1885 and for good reason. The food is terrific. It used to be called "Keens Chophouse" so, instead of steak, order their famous mutton chop or their sensational lamb chops. (Those lamb chops are some of the best I've ever had!) Sides are great, too. And for dessert, the "Coffee Cantata" is seriously delicious. The main dining room is full of old world charm -- lots of wood, walls filled with interesting posters, and row-upon-row of clay smoking pipes suspended from the ceiliing. The tab will be high, but it's worth it! www.keenssteakhouse.com If you want to experience one of NYC best upscale restaurants without spending a fortune, I urge you to have lunch at Town, on W. 54th St., b/t 5th & 6th Avs. The New American cuisine is outstanding, and they offer a 3-course prix-fixe lunch for $28. A huge plus is the unusual subterranean dining room with decor that is jaw-droppingly gorgeous! www.townnyc.com Oceana, on E. 54th St., b/t Madison & Park Avs., is one of the best fish restaurants in NYC. Again, to keep costs down, do lunch. The 3-course prix-fixe is $48. (At dinner, it's $72.) www.oceanarestaurant.com Wu Liang Ye, on W. 48th St., b/t 5th & 6th Avs., serves Szechuan cuisine. Not much in the way of decor, but you're there for the excellent food. And if you're looking for cheap, this is the place. Enjoy the rest of your visit and Bon Appetit! Tue Aug 31 19:03:46 -0700 2004 1137663 0 RGR 2 1137773 Wu Liang Ye has great dumplings with spicy oil. While the decor may not be much, I love the place because it's an old row house with much of its 19th-century architecture still evident. It gives you a sense of proportion of rooms in those houses. Wed Sep 01 13:33:31 -0700 2004 1137672 0 bystander99 1 1137675 Welcome to New York! We democrats in New York need all those Republican tax cuts to pay for our restaurant bills ;) Anyway, the hotel is right by Grand Central, right? The Grand Central Oyster bar is a classic that is nearby. I'd suggest Aquavit for a fine dining experience that can't be replicated in Nevada (and you might get some great fish there, too). Tue Aug 31 19:08:54 -0700 2004 1137663 0 Dave 1 1137703 Welcome to NY. Aquagrill in Soho (Spring and 6th) is a great place for seafood. For Chinese, I love Dim Sum Go Go, which is in Chinatown at East Broadway and Bowery. Wed Sep 01 01:54:48 -0700 2004 1137663 0 hanover 1 1137742 I second the recommendation for seafood at Aquagrill, though it is in Soho and thus fairly far from your hotel. The Oyster Bar at Grand Central is also a classic city experience and very close at hand. There is also apparently an interesting architectural feature of the area just outside the restaurant. (Maybe another poster can be more specific, but I believe I have heard that if you stand in one corner of the arched area and speak softly toward the wall, there is some accoustic quality to the tiled ceiling that lets someone standing at the opposite corner hear what you say.) In Chinatown, for chinese food, I like Joe's Shanghai at 113 Mott. Zagat's says there is another branch of Joe's Shanghai at 24 West 56th, which is midtown, but I don't know how it compares to the original. Also, I hope you know to ignore the repeated bad advice from the poster who can't separate his politics from his restaurant recommendations (i.e., the Bubba Gump, Olive Garden guy). Enjoy the city! Wed Sep 01 11:37:16 -0700 2004 1137663 0 A Manhattan Diner 2 1137747 midtown Joe's is pricier and not as good as downtown. Wed Sep 01 12:03:52 -0700 2004 1137742 0 dude 2 1137780 --- Also, I hope you know to ignore the repeated bad advice from the poster who can't separate his politics from his restaurant recommendations (i.e., the Bubba Gump, Olive Garden guy). --- The troll has been deleted. Please, if you spot vandalism, nastiness, or suspicious postings, email us at webmaster@chowhound.com (preferably with a URL) so we can handle it ASAP. Wed Sep 01 13:41:37 -0700 2004 1137742 2 The Chowhound Team 1 1137778 Stayed at the Roosevelt recently. You can eat well, and cheaply within 6-8 minutes walk. Here are a few suggestions Morning coffee: Walk out the south door of the hotel, turn left (east) and there's a deli thirty yards down on the NW corner of Vanderbilt Place with exc coffee--maybe a buck, or 2 bucks for an XL size. You can get b'fast to go there cheap like the local office workers whom it serves. But much much better, continue walking about 7-8 minutes. B'fast. "Daniel's Bagels, 569 3rd Ave. between 37th and 38th Streets. Real boiled chewy bagels. They actually refuse to toast them for you, a good sign. While the bagels are excellent, the fish, sadly, isn't. Some of the oilest nova I've ever had. The whitefish is not superb either. Avoid the sable at all costs. You'd be best off getting your bagels here and your fish at Sarge's." A bagel w/cream cheese is about $1.50. Its enough cream cheese for more than two bagels, so just get a second sliced, with nothing. There are some tables and thin diner coffee. Exc nearby falafel "Bread and Olives/Bread from Beirut on 45th Street 5/6" Falafel is about $5.50 and a full meal. Superb. Has tables. Dinner Metro Fish, on E. 36th St., btw. Madison & 5th Ave. Straight ahead, traditional, Greek run. Has $25 multi-course dinner special. Very fresh fish, well prepared, baked potato, decent salads. Safe, non-challenging, a very good value. More Dinner. East of Lex, is Menchanko-Tei 131 E. 45th Menchanko (Japanese). Get the Menchenko special, a big bowl of noodles, broth, roast pork etc. Its under $10. Makes good takeout also. credit cards, beer and wine. We may differ on politics, but that's no reason you should be made to suffer at mealtimes for your shortfall of political judgement. Enjoy. Wed Sep 01 13:38:24 -0700 2004 1137663 0 Steve Drucker 1 1137930 If you are next to Grand Central Station, you have a wonderful NY resource -- the Food Halls of Grand Central. Since they fixed up the Food Court and installed the Grocery Hall, you have a fantastic array of NY foods at your disposal. In the Food Court, try the cheesecake from Junior's, Indian food at Cafe Spice, or Seinfeld referenced Mendy's. Also, walk through the market and grab some exotic cheese at Murray's, coffee at Oren's and yummy pastries at Corrado. Some of the produce they have on display are luscious! A fresh and inexpensive way to eat (at least for breakfast and lunch). Plus, Grand Central is just so NY! And full of the natives (ok, Tri-State commuters) for decent people watching. Thu Sep 02 12:50:52 -0700 2004 1137663 0 Pupster