Coming to NY - Please review my eating itinerary!!

[premiergirl]

Hi all,

I'm coming to NYC for the a few days at the end of Dec, staying in a hotel near West 51st Street. After extensive research (mainly tips from here!), my food itinerary is below -any thoughts, even on what we simply must order in the places?? !

Any suggestions for breakfasts would be great, somewhere near the hotel. Either a diner, a cafe, or just a takeout bakery. Not overly worried about breakfast, its just something to quickly eat before exploring.

Thurs
Lunch: Angelo's Pizzeria midtown - near to hotel and going to explore that area.
Dinner: Wild edibles or Millesime?

Fri
Breakfast: ?
Shopping, touristy christmas stuff
Lunch: Oyster Roll - thinking Lukes?
Dinner: Trattoria Trecolori - seeing a show and its near the hotel and theatre.

Saturday
Breakfast: ?
Lunch: Minetta Tavern - We are having a late dinner that evening so not sure if we should go to Minetta but its the only time we could get a reservation that suited?
Dinner: Basso 56 - Going to the fireworks in Central Park @ Midnight so would appreciate a recommendation for a bar in that area before or after?

Sunday
Breakfast: ?
Lunch Katz or Russ & Daughter
Dinner: Keens

Monday:
Breakfast: ?
Brunch: Not sure because we will need to leave for the airport around half 4?

As you can see, we are trying to fit a lot into a small amount of time! Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a million!

[coasts]

For what it's worth, the Angelo's on 57th is very near to Seasonal, one of my favorite spots for a nice lunch. they offer a $27 three course meal that could well be worth trying. i don't know every place that you mentioned, but i don't see any "fine dining" places listed. Seasonal could fill that void without breaking the bank. it's also not too formal that you'd feel out of place in nice jeans and a shirt.

Angelo's is really just ok, in my opinion. i prefer Mariella's on 57th and 8th Ave.

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Seasonal
132 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019

[sugartoof]

Minetta is all about the room, and the replicated old New York experience, but I wouldn't expect much with the food, or kill myself to get there. The food is fine, but they're starting to rest on their reputation.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

[uwsister]

I absolutely disagree, based on multiple visits in past few months. I've never been disappointed with their food. Definitely keep it on the itinerary - I've brought several visitors there and everyone loved it, said probably the best meal of their trip.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

[sugartoof]

I was expecting a burger with good seasoned flavor, good meat, and buttery bone marrow with all the hype, but MInetta doesn't live up to that.

It's far from the best meal one can have in the city, but I never regret going, I just think it's best to send people with realistic expectations.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

[City Kid]

Keen's is a great idea -- excellent food and sort of a museum and great place to soak up old New York atmosphere and history. I have a favorite breakfast place right near where you are staying, Certe, 20 West 55th (between 5-6 Aves.). It is takeout in the front and a small dining room where they both prepare catering orders and serve those who wish to eat in. A wide range of breakfasts, from a bite to a meal, including terrific homemade pastries. Very warm and friendly.

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Keens
72 West 36th St., New York, NY 10018

Cer Te
20 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

> I'm coming to NYC for the a few days at the end of Dec, staying in a hotel near West 51st Street.

What are the cross streets of your hotel? It's to make local recommendations without knowing if it's near 11th avenue versus 6th Avenue.

That said, hopefully some of these are near you:
Amy's Bread - 9th Ave and 47th, one of the better bakeries in town
Petrossian - 7th Ave and 58th, try a croissant there
Bouchon Bakery - Time Warner Center, 59th and 8th, Thomas Keller's bakery
La Bergamote - 57th and 10th avenue, also known for their croissants
Sullivan Street Bakery - West 47th between 10th and 11th, try a bombolini

If you're more towards the west side, you can walk to Rockefeller Center, where there is a branch of 'wichcraft, as well as a Jacques Torres, and another branch of Bouchon Bakery.

> Lunch: Angelo's Pizzeria midtown - near to hotel and going to explore that area.

I've also been hearing good things about PizzArte:
http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives...

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Sullivan Street Bakery
533 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

Bouchon Bakery
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019

Angelo's Pizza
117 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019

Amy's Bread
672 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Petrossian
182 W 58th St, New York, NY 10019

La Bergamote
515 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019

Jacques Torres
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

Bouchon Bakery
1 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

PizzArte
69 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019

[premiergirl]

Hi Kathryn,

Thanks for your detailed reply! I am staying at West 51st and 5th Avenue, hope this is more help for some extra recommendations!
Any ideas about the places i have already picked, could make some changes if ye guys think there is better to be had?
That was me on before about New Years, i went with Basso cause we got a reservation and its away from Times Square madness!!
Thanks for those bakery recommendations, there a great help and will definitely try out PizzArte guys.

[kathryn]

Technically the viewing area for the ball drop goes up to 59th Street though. So you won't be avoiding it entirely. Your hotel and Basso 56 are both in the official viewing zone.

[Cheeryvisage]

I recommend that you get out of that entire Times Square area well before 5pm on New Year's Eve and not come back until after midnight. The security zone is roughly 40th to 59th/60th Street, 5th to 8th Avenue.

You may want to eat dinner either in Upper West Side or Upper East Side if you want to be close to Central Park for the fireworks.

[Daniel76]

To be honest, not much is recognizable to me.. Katz is a better option as Russ and Daughters does not have seating.. Minetta Tavern is a good place to go. But Basso 56, Trattoria Trecolori, Lukes, and Angelo's Pizza are all places i have never heard of.. Keens is a steakhouse.. I didn't list your location but, are you somewhere that doesn't have a good steakhouse? Keens is ok. People talk of the mutton. And Luke's I think I have been to. Eh, it's an ok version of a places far better in New England..

So, by your list are you asking for choices for steakhouses and Italian Places?

Just a note: just because i have not heard of something, I am not saying it's bad, I just haven't heard of them.

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Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Keens
72 West 36th St., New York, NY 10018

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

[princeofpork]

The offereings at Kats in way way can be compared to R&D. Might as well compare Pizza to Burgers.

[kathryn]

The OP is from Ireland I think.

Here is the original thread asking for recommendations.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/800662

[Cheeryvisage]

You should put The Modern Bar Room on your list. Maybe for your dinner on Thursday? Easy walking distance from your hotel.

For your Saturday dinnner, why not PizzArte for some nice Neapolitan style pizza? Would be an interesting contrast to your Angelo's Pizza lunch on Thursday. Again, easy walking distance if you're close to Angelo's Pizza.

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The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

Angelo's Pizza
117 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019

PizzArte
69 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019

[Alan Henderson]

I don't think Luke's has any oysters, just lobsters, shrimp and crabs.

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

[premiergirl]

Sorry I meant lobster roll!

[Alan Henderson]

Just didn't want you to be disappointed. They are pretty tasty at Luke's.