BEST CHEAP EATS ON UPPER WESTSIDE?

[SJ.JE]

got friends comin in this weekend...i live on the upper westside...got reservations at db bistro..planned to take em to one of the momofuku's...i just need another option for a great but not overly expensive meal on the upper westside...HELP ME OUT HOUNDS....im not talkin dirt cheap...just looking for something really good but not gona break the bank...
thanks
SJ

[CBCebulski]

I second the recos for Fatty Crab (amazing sliders!), Kefi, Luke's Lobster (but maybe not the best for a sit down), B. Cafe, and Pio Pio (where everything is good, but with high noise levels at times.) If you do feel like sushi, I recommend Momoya over Haru. Enjoy!

-----
Pio Pio Salon
702 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

Momoya
427 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Kefi
505 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Fatty Crab
643 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

Luke's Lobster
93 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

[slindroth]

Highly recommend you try Gennaro's or Celeste. You'll love on of them...(Mine's Gennaro's)

Kefi is a great place to go for budget nom noms.

Oh! And you have to go to Land Thai. I LOVE this place. And the lunch special is perfect.

-----
Kefi
505 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Land Thai
450 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[LNG212]

A little further up from those already mentioned ...

Pio Pio
Gennaro
Gabriela's
Buceo
B. Cafe

-----
Gabriela's
688 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10025

Pio Pio Salon
702 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

Gennaro
665 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

Buceo 95
201 W 95th St, New York, NY 10025

B. Cafe
566 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[Pan]

Buceo 95 is excellent, but the tapas and wine can add up quickly. I have yet to have a sit-down meal at Gennaro's, but we've been getting great takeout and delivery from them. I've also had very good experiences at Kefi, which has been mentioned a bunch of times in this thread.

One place that hasn't been mentioned so far in this thread is Gazala Place. The only reason I might hesitate to recommend it is that other hounds have had some bad experiences at their uptown location; I haven't, but I went shortly after it opened. I prefer their Midtown location, which is cheaper but was more cramped (but they've reportedly put in more tables at the uptown location since I was last there). The food has always been great when I've been to either location, but I don't think I've been to the uptown location more than once.

[LNG212]

Yes, you are right - Buceo can add up quickly.

We just recently sat at the (relatively new, expanded) bar at Gennaro for some wine and a little bite. It was perfect. The creamy polenta with roasted mushrooms was absolutely delicious. DH enjoyed some red wine (don't recall what he ordered) and as it was NYDay, I had a lovely glass of prosecco. The bartender was very nice and helpful too. Definitely give Gennaro and eat-in or bar-in try.

I didn't want to mention Gazala because I've not yet been to the UWS location. Good to know there's been some mixed experiences before I make an effort to go there. Thanks.

-----
Gazala's
380 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024

[jaba]

I think the food (i've only had takeout and delivery) at Gazala UWS is awesome. Really good falafel, hummus, and salads.

-----
Gazala's
380 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024

[Pan]

Gazala's uptown location is significantly more expensive than their Midtown location.

[peter j]

Fish Tag just opened in the old Gus & Gabriel space on west 79th. Same owner as Kefi.

-----
Kefi
505 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Fish Tag
222 W 79th St, New York, NY 10024

[AubWah]

Take them to the Original Big Nick's its a classic NY experience

[CatoUWS]

Absolutely second! Not as "classy" as Niko's, on the same block, but run by the same guy and definitely a "classic NY experience".

[AubWah]

And the burgers are great! Big Nicks Special pizza hits the spot as well!

[Pan]

Repeat: The original one, on Broadway. I found the other branch not worth going to, though maybe an experience from 3 or more years ago should be discounted.

[CatoUWS]

Depending on what you're looking for and how far Up on the UWS you are, I would add some of our family favorites (in the upper 70's to mid-80's):

Cafe con Leche (Dominican / "Latin")
Haru (sushi)
Niko's (Greek)
Fred's (burgers / salads / soup / pasta / etc.)

Not fancy, consistently good, reasonably priced.

We haven't been to the new Grand Sichuan (Amst at 74), but have ordered in and the results have us looking forward to the chance to eat in.

-----
Cafe con Leche
424 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[Pan]

I gave up on Cafe con Leche maybe a year and a half ago - boring, mediocre, overpriced. But I'm referring to the branch on 95th St. Maybe the slightly less uptown branch still hasn't gone downhill; I wouldn't know.

[XerxesAB]

I would add Tolani, Recipe, and the Tangled Vine.

-----
Tangled Vine
434 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Tolani
410 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[Riverman500]

Some Upper West Side options, with prices ranging from cheap to somewhere along the lines of DB Bistro and Momofuku:

Salumeria Rossi
Nice Matin
Kefi
Luke's Lobster (mostly take out)
Fatty Crab
Sushi of Gari
Dovetail
Ouest
Bar Boulud

-----
Gari
370 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Kefi
505 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Nice Matin
201 West 79th Street, New York, NY 10024

Fatty Crab
643 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

Luke's Lobster
93 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009