Penn Sta with very little time

[Wanda]

I am changing Amtrak trains at Penn Station with only about an hour, an hour and a half between trains, around dinner time. I fear I will not be able to get to Aura (Thai) or Dimple (Indian) or one of the Korean restaurants behind Macys in that short time. Is there someplace even closer anyone recommends for a bite to eat? Perhaps right in Penn Station, or if not, adjoining. Someone told me there was a Mexican there but I don't know where. Any input on any food would be great--I like ethnic of any kind but good meat and potatoes, breads, bagels, fish, whatever. Don't want chain-type fast food if it can be avoided. Also, nothing too expensive, and definitely not slow service! Thanks.

[Striver]

Whatever else you do between trains, at some point go out the LIRR exit to 34th Street, make a quick left, and grab a big bag of Garrett's popcorn (the cheese is excellent) for the rest of the trip. Get plenty of napkins and something to drink, too.

[sivyaleah]

I'm glad you mentioned this, I was wondering if it was any good. Every night I pass by on my way down into the station and it's always completely empty. I was beginning to wonder if anyone ever went in there. Is the regular popcorn any good too? I'm not big on flavored versions.

[Striver]

I've never tried their regular (it's too easy to make my own to my taste), but I do love cheese popcorn and theirs is very good. I assume their regular would be good as well. They're apparently a much-loved institution in Chicago, and I believe this is their first branch outside of that city,

[sivyaleah]

I wonder if it isn't busy because there are several cheap places in Penn which make very good fresh popcorn? Or maybe it just looks kind of intimidating? Guess I'll have to stop in one day and see how it compares.

[pronek]

Salumeria Biellese is very close by (8th Ave and 29th St) for really good Italian sandwiches... not sure how late the deli is open but Biricchino (the restaurant) is open for dinner, albeit probably not fast enough for your schedule. But you could easily grab a sandwich if the deli is open.

Also Djerdan is an interesting little Eastern European joint on 38th between 7th and 8th Aves.

[a_and_w]

Agreed re Salumeria Biellese -- the Italian combo sandwich is among the better in Manhattan, imo, and super cheap (around $5). Better check, however, how late they're open -- for some reason I recall them being closed at night.

[GurglingStomach]

Gray's Papaya! Cheap and quick. Not a gourmet lunch, but definitely a New York institution.

http://damnedgoodfood.blogspot.com

[ACknowsStyle]

Penn station is a sad area for dining. Imagine if it ever becomes the new meatpacking? lol... I'm sure it will, with evolution of NY and all...

[a_and_w]

Are you kidding me? Some of my favorite places in NYC are in a five block radius of Penn Station. Excellent middle eastern, chinese, pizza, italian...

[NAtiveNewYorker]

What are some of your favorite places?

[a_and_w]

To name a few:

Pick-A-Pita
Olympic Pita
Greek Kitchen
Szechuan Gourmet
Lazarra's
Birichinno
Tre Dici
Bruce's Burgers
Sandwich Planet
Atomic Wings
Market Cafe

PS: I just realized that some of these places are a bit more than five blocks -- but not much more. All are within walking distance...

[Wanda]

Thanks for all the advice.

Although I know the main way to get to the LIRR and NJ Transit from the Amtrak board, I cannot tell from the descriptions here where exactly some of these places are, and I may not have much time to ask.

BigO, what are "Riese crapholes located at the LIRR end of the Connecting Concourse"? Is this on the Amtrak level of Penn Sta, or the LIRR level?

Sean, to what back door are you referring, the back door of Tracks? Is it near the NJ Transit on the Amtrak level of Penn Station, or something lower near some NJ trains? Also, where is Rose Pizza?

And Mikezenspace, re Soul Fixins, what is B&H?

Thanks again!!!

[travelmad478]

The Riese crapholes are on the LIRR level. Island Dine is squashed in the back of one of them, and if I recall correctly, it's one of the ones farthest from the escalators that lead up to the main concourse. I have gotten food from there but they give you such huge portions that I end up feeling a little ill. A little goat curry is nice, but a lot is not, for me.

[Sean Dell]

Tracks is on the main level of LIRR. Way over to the left, as you're looking at the big board, over the ticket windows.

It's a long, excuse me, 'railway' bar (pause for jeering). So the back door leads almost directly into the NJT lobby/ticket area. No ups, no downs, you stay on the same level until you get into the NJT lobby, where there is a short stair to the ticket windows.

- Sean

[mikezenspace]

Most of the people in my office who like Aura for Thai, like Chef Yu for Chineese. I've only had take out, but it looks like a decent place inside (corner of 36th and 8th).I also Soul Fixins on 34th and 9th (across from B & H) - standard soul food dishes.

[big o]

Until recently, I was taking weekly Amtrak trips down to DC out of Penn Station, and the best food I found is served at Island Dine. They're a Jamaican counter that's oddly stuffed into one of the Riese crapholes located at the LIRR end of the Connecting Concourse. There's a Nedick's in front of them, and a KFC behind them. I would typically get a patty and some type of stew (oxtail, goat) over rice.

Tracks is okay, and Rose Pizza puts out a decent slice.

[Sean Dell]

I've been to Tracks many times. Not bad at all, given its location. If you're using NJ Transit, it's especially convenient. Slip out the back door and you're right there.

- Sean

[RGR]

The appropriately-named Tracks Raw Bar & Grill is right in Penn Station. I haven't been, but sivyaleah, a Hound whose opinion I trust, went there and reported a pretty positive experience. Here's the link to that thread: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/31838...

[sivyaleah]

Thanks for the mention RGR.

I don't know if you've already taken your trip, I just saw this thread today but Tracks is a decent choice. With such little time between your trains, I personally wouldn't want to be running out of the station if I didn't have to - although Amtrak is notorious for running late and most likely, you would have enough time to eat out of the station.

You could comfortably sit inside Tracks and have a leisurely, enjoyable meal without worrying about missing your connection. The food is quite good and many people who have been there have been pleased. I haven't heard one bad comment about it yet. It just seems like the kind of place which wouldn't be good, because of where it is.

Please let us know where you wind up, or where you eventually did go if you went already :-)

[MMRuth]

I have had not bad sushi at the Japanese place in Penn Station, though it's been a while.