217967 Sun Jan 16 23:02:14 -0800 2005 7 18 Manhattan 0 1160356 Throwing out a quick trivia question to pick anyone's brain: Wanna find a place to meet a friend for a CHEAP-EATS and good dinner, anyplace between Grammercy Tavern (where I work) and the Zeigfeld on 54th?56th (going to see Phantom movie)-- limits are No: Thai, Vietnamese, or Indian. Esp partial to good pasta, great cheap french.brasserie, good chinese, and solid ribs. I guess this route includes Park Ave S, Usq, Chelsea, and Hells Kitchen..... Can't wait to see what you brilliant, encyclopendic folks come up with!!!! Sun Jan 16 23:02:14 -0800 2005 0 LesHalles 1 1160358 Grand Sichuan for Chinese at the 50's West side location...(Not sure of exact loc) Phantom? Really? Sun Jan 16 23:20:39 -0800 2005 1160356 0 Fat Dog Casserole 2 1160385 Can you tell me what sea cucumber on thier menu is? Prepared many manys apparently. Also, many of their siichuan dishes (they split their menu into 'american chinese' and 'sichuan cooking' - wonderful - say "dry and sauteed" like beef, or beans....what do they mean? Mon Jan 17 10:47:53 -0800 2005 1160358 0 Les Halles 1 1160359 Menchanko-Tei Sun Jan 16 23:30:13 -0800 2005 1160356 0 Nina W. 2 1160383 Thanks Nina -- what is it, and where is it, and is there anythingi in particular you like about it? Mon Jan 17 10:35:22 -0800 2005 1160359 0 Les Halles 3 1160384 It's a noodle joint. Fast service, hot satisfying bowls of noodles and soup, cheap. Mon Jan 17 10:39:55 -0800 2005 1160383 0 Nina W. 2 1160386 How about in Chelsea? Aby thoughts? Or how about good bar menus (that are cheap eats) in the stretch from Gramercy Tavern up along the west side (chelsea, hell kitchen) to the Ziegfeld? Mon Jan 17 11:00:22 -0800 2005 1160359 0 Les Halles 1 1160362 You're just a hop and a skip away from Via Emilia, on Park Av. S., b/t 19th & 20th Sts. Not much decor to speak of, but the pastas are delicious -- particularly the lasagna -- and it's inexpensive. No reservations and cash only. In the Hell's Kitchen area, Becco, on 46th St., b/t 8th & 9th Avs. (Restaurant Row), has very good pasta, and their all-you-can-eat pasta special -- 3 pastas du jour + antipasti or Caesar salad -- for $21.95 is a great buy. The restaurant is owned by Lidia Bastianich and her son Joe. www.becconyc.com You don't say what time you will be eating, but Le Madeleine, a French bistro on 43rd St., just west of 9th Av., serves a $21 prix-fixe after 8 p.m. The food's nicely prepared, and atmospherics are pleasant. www.lemadeleine.com Enjoy the movie and Bon Appetit! Mon Jan 17 00:26:50 -0800 2005 1160356 0 RGR