LA Chowhound coming to NYC for a long weekend seeks guidance

[misseatsalot]

Hi, I haven't been to NYC in 6 years, and I'm excited to try some amazing eats. I'm on a little bit of a budget, so recommendations for meals in the mid range ($50 a person after tip) to bargain meals would be very much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[beagleboy]

Avoid the Bar Room at the Modern-it ain't cheap and it's not all that good.
Spigolo on the UES(81st and 2nd or 3rd) is great for Italian that won't break your bank-
Have you ever been to Pearl Oyster bar(Cornelia st)? Transcendent lobster roll, and the fried oysters are one of my favorite things in the world
Get a hot dog at Sparky's too-it's on Lafayette and Bleecker-

[misseatsalot]

Thanks for the advice. Will report back. Not going until September.

[adamandeve]

If you are willing to do the trip to Brooklyn, skip Franny's and do al di la for your italian.

[misseatsalot]

I'm staying with a friend in Brooklyn Heights, so it's easy. Al di La looks wonderful. Too bad I'm on there for 3 days.

[RGR]

For that pizza you're craving, the absolute best can be found at Di Fara, on the corner of Avenue J & 15th St., in Brooklyn.

[DonnyMac]

From a fellow LA hound, here is what I recommend based on my visit last Fall.

Try the Bar Room at the Modern for dinner. Unless you go nuts on wine or cocktails, you can keep it close to your budget. It's like a very un-LA version of A.O.C. - superb.

Take a lunch break from shopping in Soho by walking over to the Village to grab lunch at 'ino - best rendition of a panini place and wine bar outside of Italy that I have yet been to - charming and delicious. Again, nothing like it in LA.

I'll leave the rest to the NYC hounds.

[misseatsalot]

Thanks, DonnyMac. I love AOC and am definitely going to try the Bar Room. You've hit the nail on the head. I want to go places that I wouldn't find in LA.

[Chandavkl]

Also, here's last week's thread on a similar question from a fellow Angeleno (linked to another similar thread).

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[livetotravel]

For starters, have fun wading through NY Mag's top "Cheap Eats" places . . .

http://nymag.com/restaurants/cheapeats/2006/18479/index1.html

I can recommend Momofuku Noodle Bar,Una Pizza Napoletana,Tía Pol,and Lupa without a doubt.

I would also recommend The Tasting Room in Soho on Elizabeth and The Spotted Pig in the Village. Jojo on the Upper East Side still has a $24 prix fixe lunch.

Look at this site for more info . . .
http://www.savorynewyork.com/wiki/Mai...

[misseatsalot]

Thanks so much -- Momofuku is definitely on my list of places to go (from my persual of Gayot and other sites). I appreciate having your vote of confidence for that place. Also might have to just try Franny's. Let me know if I can recommend any places for you in LA.

[kenito799]

Just do NOT get the noodles at Momofuku--they are awful. Stick to other small dishes. Many much better Japanese noodle places around.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[RGR]

With hundreds of restaurants to choose from, it would help if you would narrow things down by telling us which cuisines especially appeal to you.

[misseatsalot]

Good point. I'm in search of NY style pizza, transcendent (but not bankruptcy-inducing) Italian food in a cozy joint, and perhaps West-Indian style food.