Help With East Village Food Crawl

[John Galt]

This Saturday is my brother's birthday, and we are visiting Manhattan that afternoon for a chow crawl to celebrate. In putting together an itinerary, I am currently focusing on the East Village. I have scoured this board, and my tentative list now includes the following. Please feel free to comment on these, or let me know what's missing.

Pistahan
229 1st Ave., 14th

Momofuku
163 1st Ave. 10th

Pylos
128 East 7th St.

Ramen Setagaya
141 First Ave.

Crif Dogs
St. Mark's, between 1st and Ave. A

Cecel Cafe
135 1st Ave. (Between 9th and St. Mark's)

Thanks for your help.

[Stewdude]

Another place to stop and check out (but I would not eat there except maybe for the littlefried donuts if they have them) is Bamn. The retro look is very cool and I love people thinking what a great idea it is to get food from little windows. I remember teh original automats. I would make a stop at Mamouns on St. MArks for falaffel. Probably the best in the city

[kathryn]

I agree about not eating at Bamn. It's novel until you actually try to eat something.

[kenito799]

Taralucci e Vino, E 10th at 1st Ave, for espresso and profiteroles.

[SweetPea914]

If there is any drinking involved you need to end with Pomme Frites!

[orthorunner]

Another related option is la petite abeille, a belgian place with tons of belgian beers available, on 1st avenue around 20th.
For good pizza, either check out una pizza napolitana or else luzzo's, not as well known but also very good, and with some other options for toppings (though still trad neapolitan style, brick oven, etc)

[roze]

Maybe stop at Zum schneider for a brat and a beer and listin to some Oompah music! I think they do their Oktoberfest from 4-7.

[kenito799]

nice idea...and some wurtz

[RGR]

Be sure to stop in at Gem Spa or the hole-in-the-wall candy store (Ray's) on Ave. A for the quintessential NY drink -- the egg cream! :-)

[JungMann]

I'm thrilled that you're going to Pistahan! I love that place, though servings are pretty generous if you're looking to do a "food crawl." I agree with the previous poster: if you're going to Setagaya, Momofuku Noodle Bar is superflous. Better to go to Momofuku Ssam Bar. Dessert at Chikalicious would be ideal!

[KTinNYC]

I don't think it would be superfluous to go to both Momofuku and Setagaya. I'd have the ramen at Setagaya and what ever is on the seasonal menu at Momofuku. I think the ramen at Momofuku is pretty bad, over-cooked noodles, yuck.

[kenito799]

yeah i was going to say that, but i assumed that the momofuku stop was to get the 800% marked up pork buns or something.

I am not sure when the other much anticipated ramen shop on 4th Ave is opening, but that will be worth checking out (Hakata Ippodu).

[kenito799]

Cha-an tea house, E 9th (2nd/3rd) upstairs...lends itself to a crawl, get some perfect oolong and little tea snacks.

[kathryn]

Great idea! Make sure you get steamed buns at Momofuku Noodle Bar. Mmmm.

What about a stop into:
Birdbath (scone, cookie)
Cafe Zaiya (croissant)
Vinny Vincenz (grandma slice)
Grand Sichuan (soup dumplings)
Sundaes & Cones (ice cream)
Veniero's (cannoli or eclair)
Caracas Arepas Bar (for arepas, of course)
Nicky's Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi, although I like Ssam Bar's upscale one better)

[piccola]

I was just going to suggest the last two.

[clashfan]

Una Pizza Neopolitana or Hearth. Rai Rai Ken is nice alternative to Setagaya and Momofuku.

[kobetobiko]

Is it just one day? Does it include 3 meals? It will help if you tell us how you want to split these places into the 3 meals as all of them somehow can be qualified for a small bites or a hearty meal.

Here are some of my suggestions:

- if you are going to Setagaya for ramen, then you should visit Momofuku Ssam Bar (on 2nd Ave btw 11th and 12th St). The one you listed is Momofuku Noodle Bar, which will be redundant if you are going to Setagaya.

- You can consider adding 1) Chikalicious for desserts
2) Pomme Frites for Belgium Fries and crazy selection of mayo
3)Otafuku for okonomiyaki and takoyaki

There are going to be tons of more places to choose from (and I am sure other hounds will be jumping in soon) so it will help to tell us your itinerary.

[John Galt]

Thanks for the reply. There is no set itinerary. Just go where the food leads us. We will likely not have a full meal anywhere. Just make a day out of snacking from place to place.

I've been to both Otafuku and Pommes Frites, thanks.

[LeahBaila]

You'll LOVE Pylos.