First Time Visit - New Year's Eve - HELP

[HTownCowboy]

Hey gang.....I will be making my first ever visit to NYC this year. My gf (who has been a couple of times) plans on showing me the basic tourist sites (Rockefeller Center, Statue of Liberty, Empire St Bldg, a few museums, a Broadway show, Little Italy, SoHo...whew!) My job is to plan most of the meals, and this is proving to be a difficult task with all the great restaurants you have up there. I was hoping you could offer your best suggestions (the Central Cali Chowhounders helped greatly when we visited there). Here is our general plan/likes/hopes/limitations.......

No cuisine is off limits, but we generally don't like Indian, places heavy on fish (tho we probably need to open our minds on this one), Mexican (we are from Houston and eat it A LOT). I would really like to include one of the nicer restaurants as a special treat - never have done a tasting menu before and think this would be the city to try it in) - Jean Georges, maybe EMP, I think Per Se would break my bank account. We love Italian by the way, and are interested in trying one of Batali's restaurants, but don't see a lot of love for him on the board, so maybe my funds would be better spent elsewhere (Scarpetta, Convivio, Locanda Verde)? Want to try the famous street food as well, and I have seen a lot of good prix fixe lunch and dinner deals on the board and interested in those too. My gf loves sweets and has targeted a few cupcake shops, and I have seen a few places mentioned on the board for sweet treats - Chikalicioous, Pinisi, La Maison du Chocolate. Oh...and David Chang seems to be the hottest guy going now, so toss his restaurant empire into the "hope-to-see" category. Our food budget for the whole trip is probably about $1100 for the both of us over the 4 days, so I know our choices will be limited.

We arrive Wednesday, Dec 30th at 1pm.....staying with friends in Queens Wed & Thurs. I know we will be headed to Brooklyn (got to see the bridge!) Wed evening for a "Pizza Crawl"! Our friends are leading the way, but I've heard good things about Di Fara, Franny's, Lucali, and Totonno's....any advice on these or others? Will also need an idea for a light lunch on Wed in Queens.....something to tide us over till we hit the pizza places.

Thursday is NY's Eve.....not sure how to handle this one, but will need ideas for all 3 meals (and maybe a good snack for later that night post-celebration). I know a lot of restaurants push their prices up on holidays, so maybe this is a good day to avoid the trendy and the touristy. Will be in Queens for breakfast.....lunch and dinner will be spent in Manhattan near the museums I think.

On Friday morning, we are watching our crazy friend jump in the ice cold river as part of his Polar Bear Club.....will need a warming breakfast after this! After this, headed back into Manhattan to check into our hotel near the Grand Central terminal....good lunch spot nearby would be appreciated. Dinner in Manhattan some place....wish I could tell you more.

On Saturday, I know we have tickets to tour the Statue of Liberty at 11am, and we will probably go see a show that evening. Any good food spots near these areas?

On Sunday, we will have time for a nice brunch and that's about it before we head to the airport.

I know this is a lot of info, so if you made it through....bless your soul :) NY has a lot to offer that I have never ever experienced and I don't want to miss anything....but time and dollars will limit my ambitions. I would appreciate your suggestions on how to fit in as much as possible given my constraints. I'll be sure to let you guys know how it went. Thanks!

[kathryn]

> i've heard good things about Di Fara, Franny's, Lucali, and Totonno's....any advice on these or others? Will also need an idea for a light lunch on Wed in Queens.....something to tide us over till we hit the pizza places.

Di Fara, Franny's, Lucali, and Totonno's are all in Brooklyn. For tips on Brooklyn and Queens, you'll need to post on the Outer Boroughs board. (I've eaten at 3 of the 4 and that's a pretty good itinerary, but quite ambitious given the long waits at Di Fara and Lucali.)

Totonno's in Coney Island is currently STILL not yet reopened, after they suffered a fire earlier this year, BTW. The latest target reopening date is sometime in November.

> Thursday is NY's Eve.....not sure how to handle this one, but will need ideas for all 3 meals (and maybe a good snack for later that night post-celebration). I know a lot of restaurants push their prices up on holidays, so maybe this is a good day to avoid the trendy and the touristy. Will be in Queens for breakfast.....lunch and dinner will be spent in Manhattan near the museums I think.

For breakfast in Queens (what neighborhod, Queens is BIG), you'll need to post on the Outer Boroughs board.

WHICH museums for lunch/dinner? Natural History is on the Upper West side, Guggenheim/The Met are on the Upper East side, and MoMA is in Midtown. Have you checked on their operating hours for this day? Some museums will close early on NYE.

These are three pretty different neighborhoods and I would avoid going ANYWHERE near Times Square starting in the late afternoon because it's jam-packed, the police start blockading people in (and don't let them out until post-midnight), and you often have to walk very far out of your way just to cross the street. The blocks will be closed off as they fill up northward, street-by-street, as the police deem necessary, from 42nd to 59th, which can add a lot of extra time to your itinerary and make you late for reservations, etc.

The trains will also probably be VERY crowded. I try to avoid anywhere between 34th and 59th starting around 3:30-4ish. (I used to work in the area and on NYE they would close the office at 2pm.)

Also since it's NYE, lots of places will be doing timed seatings (such as only at 6, 8, 10pm, etc.) with prix fixe menus and champagne toast. Hard to say a dollar figure without knowing how much their actual prix fixe menu for dinner will cost and many restaurants don't figure this out until after Thanksgiving.

> On Friday morning, we are watching our crazy friend jump in the ice cold river as part of his Polar Bear Club.....will need a warming breakfast after this!

IIRC, this happens in Coney Island, in Brooklyn, so, again, you'll need to ask on the OB board. Last year, the club met at noon, swam at 1 p.m., so breakfast will be before the swim, yes?

Given the Polar Bear club, it more likely will be dinner in Manhattan. This might be a good night to try one of the Momofuku restaurants (Ko is impossible to get into, Ssam Bar and Noodle Bar will both be open New Year's Day, but Milk Bar will be closed) or one of the Italian restaurants you listed, assuming they are open.

NB: Many restaurants treat New Year's Day as a weekend day and do brunch service instead of regular lunch service. And, as with many major holidays, some restaurants are closed.

For Saturday:

Spots near Statue of Liberty...this is not that easy. There's only a single concessions stand on the statue grounds itself, but you can bring a picnic lunch or dine beforehand/after in nearby Battery Park/Tribeca area. If you do a picnic lunch I like the market inside Grand Central for some meat, bread, cheeses.

See also:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/617926

Spots near theatre district (I like db bistro moderne, Marseille, West Bank Cafe, and Esca):
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/624889
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/628687
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/630678
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/613705

Sunday brunch, I would reserve at Locanda Verde, Balthazar, Five Points... really depends on whether you want sweet or savory options, whether or not you care to wait outside in the cold, etc.

See also:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/598414

[Gelaine]

You should also check Open Table. Plug in 12/31 and the location where you think you'll be. Right now it's bringing up many options.

[tharned]

For your splurge meal, I would recommend Eleven Madison Park over Jean-Georges. I've eaten at both in the past month and found the experience at EMP more enjoyable. The 11 course tasting is incredible and the service outstanding. The meal at EMP is one I will remember for the rest of my life.

I do recommend you check out J-G for lunch - the lunch prix fixe is a good deal for great food. Also I like Landmarc in Tribeca, you might want to check this out for lunch the day you go to the statue of Liberty.

On Thursday if you are at museums in midtown, check out the Bar Room at the Modern. Or, hop on the train down to the Flatiron - Craftbar is excellent as is the front room of Gramercy Tavern (they don't take reservations but I've never had to wait long for lunch). I also just had lunch at the Breslin in the Ace hotel on 29th street and enjoyed my food there as well. Another dinner suggestion is Bar Boulud, near Lincoln Center.

As far as David Chang's restaurants, I like Ssam Bar over Noodle Bar. If you want to try ramen head to Ippudo, also in the east village. Milk Bar is also fun - I love the cookies! And do check out Chikalicious and/or Chikalicious Dessert Club across the street - dessert club has an amazing smores cupcake. Black Hound Bakery is also nearby and I love their mini cakes.

Since you are staying near Grand Central you should check out the hidden bar inside - the Campbell Apartment. Its easiest to find if you enter from Vanderbilt street on the west side of grand central. There is a dress code (no sneakers, no shorts), and it's a great excuse to get a bit dressy.

[chickenluv]

I second EMP over J-G; but then again I never like J-G. Also, on the same level and worth a try: Craft.

Instead of Bar Bouloud I would go from DB Bistro Moderne; one of the most under-rated places in the city and while it is not cheap, by any stretch of the imagination, the quality is equal to more expensive places. BTW; a couple years ago I heard they had an awesome NY's Eve party. We were at Daniel that year and after speaking to a couple of the folks who work at DB Bistro we wished we had been at DB Bistro instead. I would call and ask if they are doing one this year.

[rrems]

I would also go for EMPover J-G. The tasting menus are exceptional, and I think the space is more spectacular, while the service is warm and caring. For New Year's Eve dinner, we have been going to Chow Bar for several years. It is lively, the food is great and IIRC last year they offered a choice of prix-fixe or the regular menu, but of course check to see what the deal is this year. We also liked the dinner at Perilla a couple of years ago. The problem with NYE dinner is that many restaurants prepare the food in advance and reheat it so they can close quickly after the late seating. Both Chow Bar and Perilla prepare the food to order. Wherever you go, it's a good idea to find out whether they cook to order (if you can get an honest answer). For lunch or dinner on New Year's Day, I like to go to Lupa for a late lunch or early dinner. They serve continuously with the same menu for lunch and dinner, and I've found it easier to reserve than other days.