Iconic NYC Restaurants?

[Nopa]

Hello, I seek a list of iconic NYC restaurants. I don't mean "must trys"; I read all those threads. I mean old establisments +50 years. To mind, are Peter Lugers and Carnegie Deli, I know there must be many more. I have never visted NYC. I am from SF and will be in your great city in early May. It is not important to me if they are uneven or touristy. I enjoy all foods and prices.

Thanks in advance.

[Mike C. Miller]

I didn't see Sylvia's on the list.

[mushroomaffairs]

McSorley's

Maybe next time!

[annomy]

Wow, I'm sort of surprised that no one mentioned Pete's Tavern, "the oldest continuously operating restaurant & bar in New York City." Since 1864. Haven't been there in ages, though remember it having good burgers and considering it for some out-of-towners tomorrow. Needs to be near Union Square, and one is veggie & the other meat & potatoes!

[Db Cooper]

Le Veau D'Or

[ndukka562]

++++++++1

[serious]

Shopsins?

[kurtt]

" I mean old establisments +50 years. "

[KenS]

Shopsin's- 40+years

[misnatalie]

One if By Land Two if By Sea
http://www.oneifbyland.com

[serious]

iconic and not so good - Sammy's Roumanian

[Wilfrid]

Word.

[Bob Martinez]

Calling Sammy's "not so good" is like saying Mike Tyson has "a bit of a temper."

[uwsister]

Thanks for the laugh.

[egit]

John's on East 12th Street.

[Nopa]

Hello NYC, I just finished my NYC iconic food trip. I just wanted to follow-up on my gastronomic experience. I prettry much tried all of the suggestions on this thread. Most were very good. The only standout compared to SF was Katz's Deli. I have never had such savory, tender and moist pastrami in my live. I probaly never will until I visit NYC again....

[PesachBenSchlomo]

Is Mama Leone's still there? (don't eat there if it is - honestly.)

[chompchomp]

Prime burger!

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Primeburger
5 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022

[Nopa]

Thanks everyone, I can't wait!

[GoodGravy]

Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop

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Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop
174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

[small h]

Rao's, Sylvia's, Tavern on the Green (closed now, but maybe something will be there by May).

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Sylvia's
328 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027

Rao's
455 E 114th St, New York, NY 10029

[dkstar1]

Agree with most of the others listed so far. Add Lombardi's, Le Cirque and maybe even Babbo as the newest "iconic" restaurant. It's been around and featured or mentioned in enough movies/tv shows to earn that status by now I think. Others may disagree and that's fine.

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Le Cirque
151 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022

Lombardi's
32 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

[kurtt]

I know I'm late to the party but I just want to point out that Lombardi's has only been opened since 1994. There was a Lombardi's on Prince street but not at this location.

[tex.s.toast]

I just listened to an excellent Bowery Boys podcast about the history and cultural significance of Sardi's, which readily acknowledged that its mostly a tourist crowd and no exactly chow-worthy, but certainly full of (broadway) history.

McSorely's for a couple of half-mugs of beer (you can probably skip the food offerings)

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McSorley's Old Ale House
15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003

[Monica]

21 Club whose waiters have been there forever and maybe the Boathouse at the Central park.

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21 Club
21 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019

Central Park Boathouse
Central Park East Drive E 72nd St, New York, NY 10021

[boredough]

also
Fraunces Tavern
Delmonico's
Old Homestead
Russ & Daughters

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

Old Homestead
56 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Delmonico's
56 Beaver Street, New York, NY 10004

Fraunces Tavern
54 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10004

[gutsofsteel]

Russ & Daughters is not a restaurant.

[boredough]

oops you are right! but it is iconic..... sorry!

[Chuck Lawrence]

Four Seasons
Oyster Bar
La Grenouille
Keens
The Palm (the original)
Barney Greengrass
Katz's
PJ Clarke's (the original)
Sparks
Serendipity 3
Il Mulino (opened early 80's)

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Barney Greengrass
541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

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

Grand Central Oyster Bar
89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

Sparks Steak House
210 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017

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

Il Mulino
86 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012

Palm
837 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017

La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022

P.J. Clarke's
915 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022

Serendipity 3
225 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022

The Four Seasons
99 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022

[ttoommyy]

I'd just like to clarify to the OP that it is The Four Seasons restaurant Chuck Lawrence speaks of and not the restaurant at the Four Season hotel. Two very different things.

Here's a link to the web site:
http://www.fourseasonsrestaurant.com/...

[mrskitty]

Smith & Wollensky's (1977) and don't miss Wollensky's Grill. The Grill (entrance on 49th St) is open from 11:30AM till 2:00AM but does not accept reservations. Took my out-of-town husband there on our first date in 1998, we did not have reservations at 11pm so we hit the Grill, fabulous. 797 Third Ave, New York, NY 10022

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Smith & Wollensky
797 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022

Wollensky's Grill
201 E 49th St, New York, NY 10017

[thegforceny]

Iconic NY? It's the lesser part of a chain restaurant.

[wincountrygirl]

It did not start out a chain. It was one great steakhouse that became a chain. Kind of like Il Mulino.............

[uwsister]

But it was started by the guy who founded TGI Friday's (which, incidentally, also had its first and original location in East side of Manhattan) - so most likely it was going to be a chain.

[Pan]

Was TGI Friday's ever better than horrific?

[uwsister]

Obviously I have no first-hand experience. I have a feeling that it wasn't since the emphasis seems to always have been on drinks and the "bar scene."

[Renguin]

Ha, My mom told me about going there in the 70s. I imagine it was prob the same as any of those other mediocre midtown UES bars in the area before the food was made in a factory and frozen and then assembled on site.

[Up With Olives]

In the '60s, the original TGI Fridays was a singles bar.

[foodwhisperer]

Smith and Wollensky's is only in NYC for 34 years. The building however is from 1893, before it was Smith and Wollensky , it was a great steak house called Manny Wolf's. I went there when I was younger.
You folks mentioned most of the Icons. i am amazed 21 Club is still around, most of the Icons I don't like, that includes Old Homestead. If there is still a Chock full o nuts or a Horn and Hardart Automat, those are icons for sure. Sammy's, Katz's Russ and Daughters, Keens, Sardi's, Four Seasons, Tad's Steakhouse is kind of iconic , they used to have steaks for $1.19, I think today they are only $10. , Pete's Tavern, DelMonico's, Gallaghers, Russian Tea Room, Chumly's the old speakeasy, One if by land, Peter Luger, White Horse, Fraunces Tavern, Monte's, Lombardi's, Papaya King is over 80 years old,and a definite Icon. Nathan's in coney island for sure, The Oyster Bar at Grand Central is over 90 years old, B&H Dairy has been around since 1930's and an Icon to vegetarians, Odessa might be iconic, Cafe Ferrara is probably the first italian cafe established in 1892, Veniero's dates back pretty far as well. Lanza's and John's and Patsy's are pretty iconic. Peking Duck House, Wo Hop, Nam Wah, Hong Fat, 4,5,6 i'll call iconic. Maybe Vincent;s and Umberto's and Puglia's.
The ones that could have been but disappeared Orange Julius, Nedicks, Ratner's, Patricia Murphy's, Mama Leone's, Elaine's, Market Diner, Pink Tea Cup, Zum Zum, Sloppy Louie's,