I'm shooting for June 5-7.

Checking in on Thursday and out on Saturday?

June 5-8. Thursday -Sunday. The W looks very nice. Thank you.

In other news, a couple of weeks ago I discovered a favorite NYC thing to do: brunch at Landmarc (in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle; there's another location in Tribeca that I haven't visited). I had seriously the best omelet I've ever had. The eggs were perfectly cooked, solidified but not browned at all. The fillings were oysters and grape tomatoes. I'd never seen oysters as an omelet option and was intrigued. They had a very subtle flavor and paired nicely with the grape tomatoes for a fresh, light breakfast.

I also had a mimosa, which seemed slightly pricey at $12. However, it came in the form of a small carafe of fresh squeezed OJ and a single-serving bottle of champagne, enough to fill the flute twice. So, really, it was two mimosas for $12 (the only way to start your Sunday).

Highly recommended.

Also, N.B. early riser alcoholics: you can't serve alcohol in New York restaurants before noon on Sunday.

I second Landmarc as a great pick. It's one of my favorite places to go for a moderately priced steak, and the octopus chorizo appetizer is fantastic. Another plus is guests usually can't get enough of the home made caramels at the end.

Another place to try for brunch, if you like seafood, is Aquagrill in soho. Its hard to beat oysters and champagne on a nice sunday morning.

I ate at Landmarc, the original in Tribeca, two years ago and it was very disappointing. Undercooked risotto, middling burger. Cheap, smart wine list was the only saving grace. Also, the bone marrow doesn't hold a candle to the original at Blue Ribbon.

I highly recommend getting a big group for Momofuku Ssam and getting the Bo Ssam (fed 10.5 people with leftovers and Thanksgiving-like food comas):

DaveR,

i found the sea salt on the olive oil gelato gave this crunchy texture combined with this almost earthy flavory of the oil. i passed it on after a few bites but nobody else like it either. but the olive oil gelato gets crazy good reviews.

out of the batali restaurants, i find otto consistently disappointing and it's probably the reason getting last minute reservations are no problem. but it's also huge especially compared to lupa and even babbo so that probably has something to do with that.

I saw El Diablo was not a fan of Mesa Grill. Anyone else been there? Have heard good things about it and am going on Saturday.

nutswith6s,

mesa grill is middle of the pack for manhattan restaurants.

oyster/clams/shrimp cocktail lovers,

Lune Bar at Mercer and Spring serves $1 oysters and very cheap little neck clams from 5-7PM during the week.

last time they were serving barron points.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who added to this thread. I stumbled upon it a few days before I went to New York (I'm here until Sunday) and have followed some of the tips in this thread. It's made my visit much more enjoyable so far. Thanks so much.

I've had a great couple of meals at Landmarc in Tribeca.

Two other restaurants in the east village that have surpsingly not been mentioned Frank (Italian) @ 5th and 2nd (I think), and Mercadito (Mexican) near Tompkins Square Park.

Hate to pour negativity onto this thread, but I've had mediocre experiences at Landmarc in Tribeca and Mesa Grill, and the appearance of Teriyaki Boy in this thread is...a surprise. If you want supercheap meals, there are much better places, like any of these guys: http://streetvendor.org/vendies/finalists.html.

good cheap drunk food from years of experience being drunk and a teenager with limited funds in manhattan.

there is a diner called big nicks on like 77th and broadway that is open 23 hours a day. i think they stay closed from 5am-6am. my friends and i would very often go there after a night of drinking. it has an enormous menu and is very cheap. order a medium rare cheeseburger.


there's also a chicken sandwich stand on the southeastern corner of 43rd and lexington. he stays open very late. another excellent cheap post drinking food option.

a 3rd drunken food choice is mamoun's on 3rd and macdougal. i get a falafel with baba ganush. another place that's open extremely late, but they're often crowded and a lot of nyu kids go there. im sure other people have passionate opinions about alternative options for falafels.

met a hot chick and need a good first date spot with good drinks, comfortable seating, not too loud, not too hip anywhere below 14th street.

any recommendations?

nsj, Frank's is terrific. The guy who owns it also owns Lil' Frankie's (excellent individually sized pizzas on 1st Ave and like 2nd), and Supper. I recommend all three.

jck8,

decibel - grungy underground sake bar by NYU
barrio chino - afternoon margaritas
stanton social - the bar upstairs serves tapas as well
b flat - by wall street.
tailor - super expensive, super good drinks.
allen and delancy - more of a restaurant.
graffiti - nice cozy small place.

can anyone tell me something about Per Se? i really wanna go during my visit late may... its $275/cover + wine $, but **** it, u only live once...

heh, hope its worth it, booked it for may 28

great thread. few things to add off the top of my head:

for the most amazing cream of tomato soup on a cold day - the back/deli section of lamarca on 22nd and 3rd

the french onion soup at Artisenal (32nd and park i think) is the best I've ever had in my life. Their cheesecake is also phenomenal - puts juniors' to shame imo

best steakhouse IMO is Del Frisco's in the theatre district, though I do also really love wolfgang's

a little fast food spot I love is Curry in a Hurry on 28th and Lex, their chicken tikka masala owns my soul

the monk burger at The Hairy Monk (24th and 3rd or something like that) is amazing

thinly veiled brag post

I love this place as well. My gf's family goes once in a while for special occasions. They are a cheese-centered place and they have a pretty extensive cheese selection, as well as a huge walk-in cheese thing (not sure what it's called a closet? fridge?) We always get cheese fondue and I usually get the delicious French onion soup as well. And yes, it is on 32nd between Park and Mad (Right down the block from Wolfgang's, actually).

I like this place as well for its cheap, good food. Have you ever eaten there (I mean, as opposed to ordering to go)? At first glance it looks like takeout only, but they have a dining room upstairs where you can sit and eat, all the while being serenaded by Indian music videos in the warm glow of the gaudy neon lights from its signage.

yeah. and not that i'm a big meat eater anymore these days, but their 7 hour cooked lamb or whatever it's called with the goat cheese polenta...sweet jesus!

I've eaten up top inside CiaH yeah, though I prefer to just take it home. I actually only live a couple blocks away and so go there a few times a week usually, one of the guys has gotten to know me and gives me free samosas and spicy vegetable fritters

Nice pic, I've been wanting to try that for awhile but having trouble getting a large enough group. Think it'd be worth ordering with 6-8 people or is that a bit too ambitious?

What is this hunk of meat?

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it yet, but Amma (51st and 2nd) is the best Indian food I've ever had. I'm not even a huge fan of Indian, but my dad suggested it one time and I'm hooked now. Amma's menu goes much further than your typically "spicy-as-hell curry" that you see at a lot of Indian places. Very unique, great tasting food.


Also, just wanted to share a somewhat sad story. I recently went sake bombing with friends in the city (Sounkyo at 51st and 1st). Afterward, we all decide to head out to the bars. I'm somewhat familiar with the area, so I suggest one of my favorite places in the city, Fubar (50th and 2nd). It's a pretty chill place, kind of lounge-y but not your typical "lounge" bar. It has a dive-ish feel to it, if that makes any sense.

So I lead this gaggle of drunken 20-somethings to the bar, turn the corner, and see that the building is completely demolished. Remember the huge crane that fell and killed five people a few weeks back? Well, it fell directly on Fubar and destroyed it. It was surreal.

"C'mon guys, it's right here around the............what the ****..........."

The group burst out laughing.