402892 Fri May 18 12:21:15 -0700 2007 9 18 Manhattan 0 2581965 I will be a first time visitor to NYC next month. Several restaurants were recommended and I would appreciate knowing if anyone has eaten there recently and if the food was good : Destinos , Tavern On The Green ,Casa Bella ,Costa del Sol Fri May 18 12:21:15 -0700 2007 99563 Lexmark77 1 2582043 Out of those restaurants, I have only been to Tavern on the Green - a few times, actually. The ambiance is beautiful and the food is fantastic. I definitely recommend it! Fri May 18 12:36:51 -0700 2007 2581965 95861 bosox 1 2582052 Love TontG, do u mean Casa Bella in Little Italy? I like it because its in the middle of "everything", food is just ok. Il Cortille and Sal Anthony's SPQR are my favs downtown. Fri May 18 12:38:36 -0700 2007 2581965 64949 nyebaby37 1 2582525 I live around the corner from Destino (for those who don't know it is at 50th and 1st) The food is pretty good, but not for that price. You could see celebrities there because Justin Timberlake is one of the owners, I have seen Bill Cosby, Matt Damon, and others. Also one of the people managing is a family member of the RAO's folks. There are better places for those prices especially downtown. TOG - not worth it unless you are sitting out in the Garden for a Sunday Brunch. I personally think the decor is a little overly baroque and gross. Fri May 18 14:41:54 -0700 2007 2581965 56282 centrejack 1 2582570 When it comes to Tavern on the Green, the consensus on this board is that the food is mediocre at best and pitiful at worst. Unfortunately, it has managed to get the reputation, enhanced by guide books, that it's a very "New York" place to dine and a must for tourists. Thus, it's become a very popular tourist destination despite the fact that there are many other restaurants that not only have far superior food, but truly do have a New York feel. One such place is Keens, which has been in its location since 1885. So, in addition to delicious food, there is unmatchable old NY ambiance. I highly recommend that you put it on your list. http://www.keen.com Since this will be your first time here, you might want to consider taking my (in)famous Lower East Side eating "tour." It will give you the opportunity to walk around a very interesting, historic neighborhood while sampling foods that are emblematic of NYC. I'm appending the tour here: LES Food Excursion For the quintessential NYC deli experiences, no place beats Katz's, on the corner of Houston (pronounced "how-stun") & Ludlow Sts. You're there specifically for the pastrami sandwich. When you enter, you will be given a ticket. Instead of opting for table service, do what the "natives" do and get on line for counter service. When you reach the counter, put a $1 for each sandwich in the counterman's tip cup – though not mandatory, it is a tradition -- and order pastrami on rye. He'll give you a piece to taste. If you like it (the best pastrami is juicy and has some fat on it), tell him o.k., and he'll make your sandwich, give you some sour pickles, and punch your ticket. Then, continue along the counter for sides – the cole slaw is good -- and drinks. Find seats at a table in the center of the room. (Tables along the wall have menus on them and are reserved for waiter service.) When you’re done, take your ticket to the cashier in front, where it’s cash only. To pay by credit card, go to the counter at the rear where the salamis are sold. Note: For the purposes of this tour, unless you have a gargantuan appetite, it would be best to share one sandwich in order to leave room for more tastings along the way. When you exit Katz’s, turn left and continue along the same side of Houston St. You will come to Russ & Daughters, famous for all sorts of smoked fish and many other goodies. It's not a restaurant, but they make sandwiches to go. After leaving the Russes, continue west a couple of blocks until you reach Yonah Schimmel's. Get a tasty potato knish, and make sure to ask them to heat it up. Now it’s time for the quintessential NY drink – the egg cream. So, reverse yourself and head east on Houston until you come to Avenue A. (Note: Avenue A becomes Essex St. on the south side of Houston.) Turn left on A and head north until you get to the block between 7th St. and St. Mark’s Place. Look for a hole-in-the-wall candy shop, closer to 7th, with an overhead sign jutting into the street that says, “Belgian Fries.” (The place’s official name is Ray’s, but there is no signage to that effect.) One of the women behind the counter will make you a delicious chocolate egg cream. When you’re finished licking your lips, go back to Houston St. and make a left (east) one block to Norfolk St. Turn right and walk down Norfolk until it ends at Grand St. Two places to look for at the corner of Grand and Norfolk: Kossar's, for freshly baked bialys (another very NY food) and the Donut Plant (self-explanatory). Next, walking west along Grand St., you will come to Orchard St. Turn right. At 87 Orchard, snack on a pickle from Gus's World Famous Pickles. Then, continue to 97 Orchard, b/t Broome & Delancey, where you will find the Tenement Museum. The tour will show you what life was like for immigrants to NYC at the beginning of the 20th century. ( http://www.tenement.org ) Once you have finished the tour, Il Laboratorio del Gelato, right next door at 95 Orchard, is a must for some of the best gelato anywhere. If your sweet tooth is still not completely satisfied, the final stop on this tour should do it. Continue ahead (north) on Orchard, crossing Delancey, then one more block to Rivington St. Make a right and you will find Economy Candy at 145 Rivington. Note: It’s best not to take this tour on a Saturday since some of the spots are closed because of religious observance. Also, Donut Plant is closed on Mondays. ********** I hope you have a wonderful first visit to NYC and Bon Appetit! Fri May 18 14:56:02 -0700 2007 2581965 13867 RGR 2 2583440 Here's the link to Keens: http://www.keens.com/ Fri May 18 21:43:29 -0700 2007 2582570 13427 Ora 3 2584429 Oops! I see now that my link was incorrect. Thanks for providing the correct one, Ora. Sat May 19 12:10:26 -0700 2007 2583440 13867 RGR 1 2582648 For the quintessential NY experience, go to Union Sq. Cafe...unpretentious, great food, friendly staff, reasonable prices. Wait a minute...that is NOT the typical NY experience, but go anyway. Fri May 18 15:20:28 -0700 2007 2581965 12296 steakman55 2 2582695 I'm not a fan of USC. But that aside, do you really think that a restaurant that serves excellent food, provides friendly service, is unpretentious and has reasonable price is totally atypical of NYC? If so, I would disagree with you. Fri May 18 15:36:00 -0700 2007 2582648 13867 RGR 1 2583310 Have a drink at Tavern on the Green and then go elsewhere for dinner. The food is like slightly above average hotel food and it's not cheap. You can do much better. Have a great trip and search the boards for other reccs. There are almost too many restaurants in NYC so it can definitely be overwhelming. Enjoy! Jeremy Fri May 18 20:12:31 -0700 2007 2581965 10691 JeremyEG