New to the Upper West Side

[mboxermd]

Will be renting an apartment on the UWS and looking for restaurant recommendations. Interested in all cuisines, places for breakfast, lunch and dinner from the West 60s to the West 100s. In addition, any great take out places and bakeries. Thanks for your help.

[hyde]

if your way uptown,
Kutis place, @355 W. 116th St. at Manhattan Ave. does a lamb shawarma that i dream about,

bagels at Absolute bagels , 2788 Broadway, (between 107th St & 108th St), still kill.

and a couple of slices at Sal and Carmines, 2671 Broadway (nr. 102nd St.) cant hurt.

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Sal & Carmine's
2671 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

Kuti's
355 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

[rose water]

We had dinner recently at tangled vine, and liked it. Sauteed escarole, a pasta special with mushrooms and truffle butter, and a risotto topped with roasted Japanese turnips, salsify, and something. I appreciated the seasonal veggie choices, but was less impressed with the wine choices and prices.

[foodwhisperer]

Sorry if I repeat others, there's too many posts to see if this place is mentioned. Big Nick's is a definite, for burgers especially but they have just about anything you can think of. They do what Shopsin's does with soup for every dish imaginable. An insane variety of food. Broadway near 76th

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Big Nick's
2175 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

[jaba]

Patty's Tacos is now parked on the west side of Broadway and 86th. They are there until about 6 when they move back the UES. I'm hoping if he stays busy enough, he'll stay late into the evenings some nights.
I think the tacos here are superior to those at Super Taco at 96th and Broadway.

[alfredo_garcia]

are there any good middle eastern or arabic food strores in UWS?

[CatoUWS]

Add:
Fred's, Amsterdam at 83 (burgers, salads, pastas, fireplace)
Cafe con Leche, Amsterdam at 80th ("Latin" / Dominican / Cuban -- *love* their pure garlic salsa!)
La Vela, Amsterdam around 77th (nice, competent, sometimes creative Italian)
Saigon Grill, Amsterdam at around 92nd (what else -- Vietnamese -- and amazingly fast delivery)
Niko's, Bway at 76th (same block -- and owner -- as Big Nick's) -- excellent Greek

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Saigon Grill
620 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

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

La Vela
373 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Big Nick's
70 W 71st St, New York, NY 10023

[kelea]

haha agreed with saigon grill's delivery. I feel like it's almost impossible at that speed

[coasts]

What have you had at Niko's that was good? We went once and did not enjoy it. If I'm angry with Ms. Coasts, I threaten to take her there.

[boredough]

I agree with you, Coasts. We were very disappointed at Niko's.

[Chris loves food]

Sorry, Cato - I'm with Coasts. Stay away from Niko's. Last summer was the third strike for Niko's (I believe no restaurant can be judged fairly on one visit). I truly believe it's one of the worst restaurants on the UWS if not in all of NYC. All three dishes we got there last time were inedible. Absolutely nothing about the place is appealing, from the service to the decor to the food. Stick with Big Nick's - it's not fancy, but it's good. Rosa Mexicana for the guac & cocktails.

mboxermd - I'm a fan of Salumeria Rosi - best place to buy focaccia. And I love Sarabeth's for a relaxing lunch/brunch. Her tomato soup is legend.

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Salumeria Rosi
283 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10023

Big Nick's
70 W 71st St, New York, NY 10023

[CatoUWS]

Sorry to hear all this. We've been to Niko's many times and never been dissatisfied. Lamb dishes have been great, also various chicken and pasta dishes. My son is devoted to their roasted whole fish (type depends on the market). Last weekend I felt like lobster -- I hardly ever order lobster in a restaurant, much prefer it at home -- so ordered the lobster tail special. They were splendid -- soft and buttery, not chewy as amateur lobster cooks can render. Freshly roasted fresh vegetables as a side, not frozen or pre-cooked. And so on. Given how crowded it nearly always is, I don't think we're alone in liking it, either.

[Pan]

I just noticed that Jerusalem Restaurant hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread. I went there for takeout for lunch again yesterday. It's not a place to take a special trip from downtown or something, but for a neighborhood place, it's damn good! Their babaganouj is too salty, but they have very tasty falafel, grape leaves, and shawarma.

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Jerusalem Restaurant
2715 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

[Miss Needle]

Sigh -- haven't lived on the UWS in a while and it's been getting better and better for food these days. A few more suggestions:

Freda's -- Caribbean
Sookk -- Thai, especially Yaowarat
Hampton Chutney -- dosas -- I know there's better and cheaper in Curry Hill, but this is the only dosa place on the UWS that I know of; and where else can you find grilled chicken with your dosa?

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Sookk
2686 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

[harrison]

I hear you MN - I moved 2 years ago and the list is so much different now

I'm going to add Celeste on Amsterdam/83rd&84th. I stil hold it's a notch above Gennaro. Cash only. Stick to pastas/pizzas

And Fairway cafe was mentioned. Stick to breakfast - miss those pancakes!

[kelea]

I still heart Celeste the most for the neighborhood italian. Another reco for Five Napkins - i LOVE their burgers. I want to add:

Calle Ocho - 81st and columbus for brunch and unlimited sangria
Cafe Frida - 77th and columbus Huevoes Racheroes at brunch as well
Tenzan - 74th and columbus sashimi
Charm Thai - 95th and amsterdam Thai food & AMAZINGLY quick delivery
Gabriela's - 94th and columbus best affordable mexican in the nabe in my opinion. but that's based only on fish tacos and their salsa
Hummus place - on 75th and amsterdam
Obento - 92nd and columbus this place isn't all that great but they are the only place on the UWS with tonkotsu (white pork broth) ramen
Sunburnt calf - 79th and broadway for aussie brunch and AYCD

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Charm Thai
722 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

Hummus Place
305 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023

Celeste
502 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

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

Calle Ocho
45 W 81st St, New York, NY 10024

Cafe Frida
368 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Tenzan
988 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022

Obento Delight
210 W 94th St, New York, NY 10025

The Sunburnt Calf
226 W 79th St, New York, NY 10024

[punto]

Obento Delight is actually on 94th, east of Bway. I assume that we are talking about the same place, but apologies if I'm wrong.

FWIW, it recently changed management and has expanded it's menu into Thai and Hakka style Chinese. I can't say if the old Obento fare is better or worse than before (I actually liked their noodle dishes, even if they were hardly a revelation), but the Hakka Chile Chicken I had yesterday was very good and very interestingly laced with coriander and other fresh green herbs and scallions.

[rteplow]

Great suggestions so far. I don't think these places were mentioned:

Bakeries: Silver Moon (Broadway at 105th) and Georgia's (Broadway at 89th)
Coffee (non-Starbucks): Joe at Columbus near 85th
Takeout smoked fish, etc.: Murray's Sturgeon on Broadway near 89th
Takeout comfort food (good burgers): Harriet's on Amsterdam near 84th
Indian: Indus Valley on Broadway at 100th.
Mexican: Noche Mexicana at 2 locations on Amsterdam near 101st/102nd and the taco place on Amsterdam near 107th (forget the name).
Peruvian (esp. roast chicken): Pio Pio on Amsterdam at 94th.
Hummus: Hummus Place: Amsterdam nr. 74th & Broadway nr. 98th
Upscale: did anyone mention Dovetail? 77th west of Columbus
Belgian/Mussels: B Cafe (Amsterdam near 87th)

Definitely not a wasteland. Bon appetit!

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Murray's Sturgeon Shop
2429 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

Noche Mexicana
852 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

Indus Valley
2636 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

Pio Pio
210 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016

[Pan]

In addition to all the recommendations you've gotten, there's a worthwhile tapas bar on 95th between Amsterdam and Broadway called Buceo 95, and you can get very tasty Dominican rotisserie chicken and soothing chicken soup at El Malecon, Amsterdam between 97th and 98th. Flor de Mayo on Broadway, a Peruvian-Chinese restaurant between 100th and 101st, also has tasty rotisserie chicken, and their beans are better if you want a side.

[CatoUWS]

Also a Flor de Mayo on Amsterdam at around 82nd Street.

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Flor de Mayo
484 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[mow mow]

and for breakfast of coz there is Good Enough to Eat...amsterdam 83th - 84th

[morningsidelisa]

Try Gennaro for wonderful pasta, meats, other Italian and mediterranean specials. Top-notch food, very reasonable. Amsterdam and 93rd.
Asiakan--very good Japanese. Not exciting atmosphere but perfectly pleasant. Also Amsterdam, 90's.

[calconscious]

love Cafe Frida - on Columbus btw 97 & 98 - excellent fish tacos
agree Luke's Lobster is a really welcome addition.
Grandaisy Bakery has the best pizza (my bf hates it) - i recommend the cauliflower.
think the new place Atlantic Grill - is very good and somewhat reasonably priced - don't know that it is a destination place if you live in another part of the city - but for a nice consistent meal - we've had great success there.
- to each his own - but Nice Matin always seems to be recommended - so plenty love it, but I have never what I would consider good food there and the atmosphere is excessively loud - don't get that place at all.
... have fun!

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Grandaisy Bakery
176 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023

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

Atlantic Grill
1341 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10021

Cafe Frida
368 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Luke's Lobster
426 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[squid kun]

Second the cauliflower pizza at Grandaisy (and before that at Sullivan St.). I also like the mushroom and potato varieties, which I usually get at the Tribeca shop. Good walking-around food, at least when the wind chill isn't minus-8.

[coasts]

Welcome to the neighborhood. You're coming in at a good time. New places are opening regularly and some are quite good.

check out:

Grand Sichuan on Amsterdam and 75th
Ditch Plains, opening soon on Columbus and 82nd
Luke's Lobster on Amsterdam and 81st
Shake Shack on Columbus and 77th
B Cafe on Amsterdam and 86th maybe
Nice Matin on Amsterdam and 79th
Burrata on Amsterdam and 76th

Mike Psilakis has two places up here - Kefi and Fish Tag. Daniel Boulud has Bar Boulud, which is currently expanding to a mediterranean grill, i think.

we've got Barney Greengrass, Zabar's, H&H Bagels, Grandaisy Bakery, Levain, and Jacque Torres.

i'm anxious to try Recipe...haven't made it yet, but it looks nice.

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Barney Greengrass
541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Grandaisy Bakery
176 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023

Kefi
505 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

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

Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

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

Luke's Lobster
426 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[boredough]

also Graffit for tapas on 69th (at Broadway)
Telepan on 69th (at Columbus)
Aged Steakhouse on Broadway (at 88th)
Artie's Deli on Broadway (82/83rd)
Big Nick's on Broadway (at 77th) - best to wait for nice weather & eat outside
Fairway Café
Amber on Columbus (at 70th)
Earthen Oven for Indian on Columbus (at 70th)
Five Napkin Burger on Broadway (at 84th)
Fatty Crab on Broadway (76/77th)
Rosa Mexicano on Columbus (at 62nd)

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Earthen Oven
53 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023

Telepan
72 W. 69th Street, New York, NY 10023

Rosa Mexicano
61 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023

Big Nick's
2175 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

Fatty Crab
2170 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

Five Napkin Burger
2315 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

Gastroarte
141 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023

[mow mow]

and salumeria rosi on amsterdam & 73rd

and if you count also columbus circle, of course there's everything...(Per Se, Jean Georges, Masa, Blue Ribbon, Picholine)

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Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023

Picholine
35 West 64th St., New York, NY 10023

Masa
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019

[Riverman500]

Adding Marea to Columbus Circle recs...

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Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[uwsister]

Just tried Recipe a week or so ago and liked it. My husband was super impressed with their fish entree - forgot what kind of fish (maybe sea bass?) but he said it was one of best fish entrees he's had in recent memory. Definitely a great addition to the neighborhood!