New York City Restaurant Tips by vanessadb

Mandoo Bar: Delicious cheap Asian on the go!

Mandoo Bar, located very near the Empire State Building and Penn Station, is a spiffy little eatery specializing in an array of dumplings. I walked in becasue I liked the fact that they have the cooks in the window... I did not regret it as the food was delicious, the service quick, and the prices cheap!

Favorite Dish: Definitely the fresh dumplings (they have all sorts of them, depending on what you are in the mood for: mandoo, korean, vegetarian, seafood, steamed, pan fried, etc...) 10 of which can be had for around $7.

Also on the menu are hearty soups, noodles and rice dishes.

Address: 2 W. 32nd St

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Between Broadway and 5th Avenue

Phone: (212) 279-3075

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

Pipa: Great tapas in beautiful setting

Pipa is part of my favourite store ABC, and serves delicious tapas in a romantic beautiful atmosphere... the tapas are not exactly the typical Spanish dishes (for those of you who are not familiar with the concept, they are best described as an assortment of appetizers), but they are excellent.

The picture gives you an idea of the atmosphere, however the light is much dimmer usually and thus much nicer and romantic......

Count $31-40 per person.

Address: 38 E 19th St

Comparison: about average

Directions: corner of Broadway

Phone: (212) 677-2233

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 0

Theme: Other

Gnocco: Nice Italian in the East Village

Nice homemade Italian food served in a very nice atmosphere. It gets even better: the prices are affordable!

Service is a little on the slow side though....

Favorite Dish: The homemade pastas.

I don't recomment the house specialty on the other hand: fried dough called gnocco, served with prosciutto and cold cuts.

Address: 337 E 10th St

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: btw avenues A & B

Phone: (212) 677-1913

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 0

Theme: Italian

Cafe Asean: Romantic delicious Asian

On top of being cute and small with a romantic atmoshpere, this restaurant also serves delicious asian cuisine at quite good prices: entrees are $5-$7 at lunch and $9-$12 at dinner time. Their selection of wine is limited but quite good. Great place to bring a date....

During the summer months, they also have a cute little garden/patio in the back.... not that it is not open in winter time as well, if you want to freeze though.

Reservations recommended, as the place is small.

Favorite Dish: The steamed dumplings, the crabcakes, and the green curry shrimp in clay pot.

Address: 117 West 10th Street

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: 10th & Bedford

Phone: (212) 633-0348

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

Cafe Le Gamin: French bistro

The atmosphere is one of a typical little French bistro, charming and cozy. Great place for brunches...

Favorite Dish: The crepes are wonderful (my favourite the salmon one) and the cafe au lait is served just like in France, in a big big bowl =)

Address: 183 9th Ave

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: btw 21st and 22nd St

Phone: (212) 243-8864

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: French

Jing Fong: Great typical chinese

You can't miss Jing Fong: it's the only restaurant in Chinatown that has an escalator that takes you to the gigantic dinning room. It is so big that the hostesses have walkie-talkies! Once you sit and if you decide to go for the dim-sum (which I would recommend you to do) there will be old chinese ladies (who tend to not speak English) passing by with trays of steaming fresh chinese food.
All the food we ate was great: typical home-made chinese dishes. Proof of that: 99% of the costumers are chinese.
It was definitely a unique experience and a place I will go back to!

Favorite Dish: The vegetable steamed dumplings and all dim-sum shrimp dishes.

Address: 20 Elizabeth Street

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Between Canal and Bayard in Chinatown

Phone: (212)964-5256

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum