663129 Wed Oct 28 16:12:12 -0700 2009 7 18 Manhattan 0 5138627 Visiting next weekend early Saturday - Sunday evening. Four women in their early thirties are staying in Times Square with plans to do some shopping downtown & MAYbe a little sight-seeing... We'll be car-less, but willing to take a cab or subway a bit, and do love to walk. Bottom line is, we are trying to get the most out of our short time. I'd like to have in mind (and make my own map) of places near the hotel/ train station, shopping & even in other areas (soho, Chelsea) so that I can have in my pocket a good inexpensive place when we get hungry without TOO much worrying if it is a chow-worthy joint. .. I have been searching this board extensively, but as you can imagine, it is overwhelming! Especially since we are willing to explore other neighborhoods... Inexpensive is the first criteria. One of us is a vegetarian, so options for her are necessary. And we are looking for FUN authentic experiences.. Thanks in advance for any suggestions & I will be glad to return the favor if you come to Baltimore! Wed Oct 28 16:12:12 -0700 2009 12175 foster 1 5139269 If you're staying in Times Square, plan to do shopping in Soho or Chelsea, and want to do some sightseeing (museums on the UWS/UES, Central Park, MoMA, Grand Central, etc.) it sounds like you're going to be all over town. Additionally, you don't need a car to get around Manhattan, and since you say you'll be willing to take the subway or walk, it looks like basically the entire island is in play. When you say inexpensive, I assume you mean , $20pp, or maybe even a little less? Are you looking for good sit down options or are you OK with takeout, street food, counter service, prepared foods, etc.? Don't Leave NY Without Eating... (most of these are budget friendly) http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/610739 Best pizza http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/648483#4988973 Best street food -- assuming you're OK with street food -- after all, it will be pretty fast and allow you to maximize sightseeing and shopping: http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/33527/ http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/653353 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/636263 See also midtownlunch.com (especially since you're staying in Midtown) and streetvendor.org/vendys for more. Best cheap eats in New York City: Everything under $10! http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/restaurants-bars/9142/best-cheap-eats-in-new-york-city-everything-under-10 The Concrete Elite: New York’s twenty best food carts ranked, in order. http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/33527/ $10 or less for delicious lunches http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/616942 Where 25 people can eat dinner for $12 each in Manhattan http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/604591 Current Favorite Dish/Item for Less than $10? http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/390555 $10 and under, family friendly, Fresh, Good, Clean, and worth leaving the Outer Boroughs for? http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/543727 More Cheap Eats, but cheap for college kids? http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/622841 cheap eats tour of greenwich/ west village--ideas? http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/627234 Great Cheap Eats for Weekend in Manhattan http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/606735 Wed Oct 28 20:31:13 -0700 2009 5138627 10936 kathryn 2 5147610 Thanks for sharing those links. I am plowing my way through them but some are pretty old. We are still trying to decide if we will head to Chelsea or the Lower East Side for shopping. We will be eating as soon we get in town - maybe Margon or Carve or Burger Joint. We will be staying at the Edison - how is the Polish tea Room nowadays? And we will surely nosh while shopping - Paprikaa or Inoteca or Mogador maybe? I would like to find something more casual - maybe a counter service place. Good pizza on LES or Soho? I think we will want some place fun for a late dinner on Saturday night - maybe Hells Kitchen or Gallo Nero? How are prices at Xai Xai? I was really hoping to find late night music nearby & see that while some places have jam sessions into the wee hours - Birdland doesn't mention it. Other possibilities? I like the idea of street food, but dont know if that is a real possibility because I am a slob! I need lots of napkins & wont want to get food on my new coat... Sun Nov 01 15:46:01 -0800 2009 5139269 12175 foster 3 5148702 Some of the threads might be old but still definitely relevant. Most people go to Soho to shop, but it depends what you're looking for. For Soho noshing I like Grandaisy Bakery, Balthazar Bakery, frozen yogurt at Bloomingdale's, or something to go from Dean & Deluca (like a cupcake from Sage American Kitchen or Two Little Red Hens, although the selection can be hit or miss). Mon Nov 02 07:30:05 -0800 2009 5147610 10936 kathryn 1 5150708 For lunch I love Vanessa's Dumpling House (really, can't get cheaper than that- 4 pan fried pork dumplings for $1!!!) or Dumpling Man- plus at both places they make the dumplings in front of you, which is fun. Pizza is always a good/cheap way to go like $1 pizza on St. Marks (although, can't comment on quality since I've never eaten there) or Artichokes ($4 for an Artichoke slice, which, although a little more expensive than your average NYC slice, still not bad). If you don't mind french fries for lunch (and really, who does?) Pommes Frites in the EV is a take out place that makes AMAZING french fries with like 30 different dipping sauces to choose from. Curry hill in the 20s on Lex. is a good place for relatively inexpensive (and often vegetarian only) Indian/Pakistani food for dinner- there are TONS of restaurants there so it's easy to compare prices since their menus are posted outside. Hope this helps. I'm a recently graduated grad student, so cheap food is my specialty :) Mon Nov 02 17:38:11 -0800 2009 5138627 1107592 daisy326 2 5152077 I am planning on going to Dumpling house this weekend. I haven't been there since they remodeled a couple of years ago. Do they have any tables or just a counter? I have a party of three. Tue Nov 03 09:28:24 -0800 2009 5150708 87366 ganache123 3 5156855 They still just have the counter but it's cozy enough for 3 people. Any time I've been in there it's never been that crowded. I recommend the green curry dipping sauce- it's super, super good! Wed Nov 04 18:29:19 -0800 2009 5152077 1107592 daisy326 1 5152047 I wouldn't count on the subway, it is terrible on the weekends and as you love to walk I'd plan on that as you're so central you don't have to worry about it. If you're shopping I'd go to Le Train Bleu at Bloomingdale's. All the restaurants on Restaurant Row have fantastic prix fixes and though everyone's snobby about them and says they're too touristy I love going there. You could always go to expensive restaurants and have appetizers! Tue Nov 03 09:18:01 -0800 2009 5138627 66022 bronwen