East 50-70's: Restaurants and cafes, the whole shebang!

[fooddoggie]

Hi there,

I saw from another post that Payard is closed (for the moment), and I am this close to freaking out! I lived in New York for many years and whenever I return my family and I stay on the Upper East Side just to go to Patisserie Payard - sometimes two three times a day!

So...we arrive in NY next week, and now we have a "situation": we need to know where to go - breakfast, lunch, and dinner; brunch and afternoon tea - the whole shebang. (I guess this is what happens when you don't "diversify!") Your help, please?

We need restaurants and cafes in in the Midtown/Upper East Side areas (east 50's-70's). I know, not the easiest.

We already go to La Goulue. And, i found Fig & Olive on several posts here, and it looks like our style. (We like good healthy food, organic is nice too. We don't care about trendy.) I saw Financier Patisserie posted here - on 54th, I think? - so I am looking into that as an option nearby as well.

Recommendations (East 50-70's) for the following would also be most welcome :

Chinese take-out
Greek diner or coffee shops (with actual good coffee?)
Pushcarts (for anything) are fine too.
Bagels
Baguettes or French sandwiches (stuff to take on the go)
Any place that makes an old-fashioned hot chocolate or oatmeal!

This is a tall order, I realize. If you can help with any of it, that'd be great!
Thanks so much!

[LeahBaila]

Tal Bagels
Mantao Chinese Sandwiches
Beyoglu (for Greek/Med)
Papa Perrone's (truck...great grandma slices, pasta, meatballs)
Dishes
Butterfield Market
Grace's Marketplace
Nancy's Pig Heaven (Chinese - haven't been, but have heard good things)
Bistro Chat Noir

www.thelunchbelle.com

[fooddoggie]

No one has mentioned the above yet, thanks! Will look into it more. Based on previous posts, looks like Tal isn't open (at least for now).

[LeahBaila]

They have another location on 86th btw 1st & 2nd. :)

www.thelunchbelle.com

[fooddoggie]

Thanks!

[thew]

pig heaven is my parents fave chinese

[RussianGirl]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/634241
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/631943
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/623656

[rosiemac75]

Coffee shop/breakfast: EJ's on 3rd Ave and 73rd St.

Bagels:
Tal bagels on 1st ave betw 53rd/54th
Bagel Works 1st ave. betw 66th/67th

Baguettes or French sandwiches (stuff to take on the go):
Le Pain Quotidien on Lex betw 63rd and 64th or 1st Ave betw 67th and 68th or 77th betw. 2nd and 3rd Ave
Obika Mozzeralla bar on Madison and 57th
Fresco on the Go E. 52nd betw. Madison and Park

Restaurants to consider in the area:
Fig and olive (which you mentioned) on 52nd and madison or 64th and lex
Felice 1st ave and 64th
Accademio di Vino 3rd ave. and 64th
Sushi Seki on 1st Ave betw 62nd and 63rd
JG Melon (for burgers) 3rd ave and 74th St.
Mia Dona on 58th betw. 2nd and 3rd

[fooddoggie]

Thanks! Plenty to choose from! I will check out the menus!

[RussianGirl]

I just drove by Tal Bagels last night in a taxi and was shocked/horrified/upset to see it closed. How can THAT place go out of business? There isn't a decent bagel store in a ten-block radius from there?!?!? Sad...

[MMRuth]

The First Avenue one was closed? I drove by the one on Lexington yesterday, and it is closed for renovations - maybe the First Ave. one is too?

[RussianGirl]

Doesn't look like it. And some other CHs also reported the closing, so I think it's for good.

[carijo3]

I walked by there this past wknd and they had a sign saying that they were closed through a certain date. Don't remember the date off the top of my head but am thinking that it should be back open within a couple weeks.

[City Kid]

Le Magnifique, as suggested, is very good French bistro food. An alternative in that category is Jubilee on 54th St. near First Ave. I have never been but a Parisian friend who lived in NYC for many years and knew a thing or two about food said it was her favorite place here.

For pushcarts: My favorite is Tony Dragonas's cart on Madison @62nd St. - the best grilled chicken platters anywhere, as well as burgers, sausage, etc.
http://nymag.com/restaurants/features...

[fooddoggie]

Got it! Thanks!

I wonder if pushcarts is the way to go these days, especially for those restaurants who seem to be losing their leases left and right.

[City Kid]

Note: Tony's is not the usual cart. I like some Halal ones, but his Greek-style food is a different take, which I find fresher. He has a legion of fans out there, as you will find if you google him!

[MMRuth]

La Goulue is now closed. You can try Orsay, their sister restaurant at Lex and 75th or so.

Via Quadronno - 73rd between Madison and Park has some of my favorite coffee in NYC, as well as a good selection of panini for lunch - those might work nicely for stuff to take on the go. Their sister restaurant is Bottega del Vino, at 59th just east of 5th.

I've wanted to try Le Magnifique - French, on Lexington, maybe a couple of blocks south of Payard.

Edit - I like both Viand and Nectar for coffee shop type places - can be a bit pricey but, well, I still like them. Three Guys as well. All along Madison at various spots, though there is also a Viand further east on 86th.

[fooddoggie]

Thanks for the updated info on La Goulue. I had heard different things on the boards, so I was hoping...We had passed by Orsay, but had never stopped in. I guess now's our chance!
I will also look into your other suggestions! I greatly appreciate them!

[MMRuth]

Yes - I think yesterday was the last day at Goulue - it kept getting postponed, and I do think they plan to try to reopen.

[thew]

chinese, for delivery - 6 happiness . 74th and 2nd
good diners - all mine are in the 80's
pushcarts - 60th and 3rd taco truck

[fooddoggie]

Thanks, especially for the Chinese takeout!

Any other suggestions out there? Still in search of restaurants and cafes in the East 60's and 70's. ( :

[thew]

i don't eat much in the 60's. NYC is funny that way. everybody lives in a small town, whose borders vary from person to person. because i grew up in the 80's (the streets not the years) even though i live on 74 now i tend to the 70's and 80's not the 60-70's