New York City Restaurant Tips by morgane1692

Cafe at Ellis Island: Trend-setting Immigrants

Ellis Island today is an incredible and necessary history lesson. You need refueling while you're out there. The US National Park Service and its vendors are happy to provide you with chicken and salads and burgers and sodas, higher in quality and price than the gruel the immigrants had to deal with. Deal with it. ;-P

Favorite Dish: Iced coffee. On a steamy July afternoon, there was no match for it. Aaaaahhhhhh.

Comparison: less expensive than average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Fast Food

IXTA Cocina Mexicana + Tequila Bar: After dinner, walk...then drink...

We wandered by this hip spot a bit after 11p, so the hostess regretfully informed us the kitchen was closed. That's okay, we said, we're just here for after-supper drinks anyway. Come right on in then. We took our beverages out to the sidewalk cafe tables where there was a biiiiit of a breeze, to enjoy along with the talk and people watching. Even at that hour.

Favorite Dish: Oh but the menu looks to-die-for, so next time we'll try to get here earlier in the evening. Then we'll easily spend the indicated $31-$40 per person, no doubt. Just drinks are a good bit less, don't worry, kids.

Address: 48 E. 29th St

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Between Madison and Park Aves.

Phone: 212 683 4833

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Mexican

Website: http://www.Ixtarestaurant.com

The GAMUT Bistro + Lounge: Air conditioning would've been a nice touch...

...on such a steamy, soupy, tropical night as this one. But the great conversation and frosty beers and the whiskies helped us get over the sticky. Sort of. Appetizer choices included Thai Chicken Satay, Steamed Chicken Dumplings, and Fried Calamari. Seriously, these were enough for dinner, but nooooo, onward to the main events themselves. Everyone else had steak, me, I continued in the Asian vein with my Pad Thai Rice Noodle dish. Awesome stuff, this. A seemingly bottomless bowl of translucent noodles, tofu, broccoli, and peanuty goodness.

Address: 102 E. 25th St.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: E. 25th + Park Ave. S.

Phone: 212 598 4555

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Eclectic/International

Stage Deli: Heavenly pickles and so much more!

Sure, it's expensive, but this is New York, so get used to it. Besides, the portions are so monstrous, you can easily justify the prices by explaining the sandwiches and desserts will last you two or three meals each.

Favorite Dish: Besides the complimentary plate of awesome kosher dill and half-sour whole pickles??? The roast beef, chopped liver and onion on rye sandwich costs as much as the latest music CD, but omg, it must have a pound of meat in it, for crying out loud, there's no way on earth you can even eat it without using a fork and knife. Yum with a capital Y!!! Then, the desserts...don't even think of having your cheesecake or coconut cake or carrot cake and actually eating it here in the restaurant. Just get it to take-a-way, you'll enjoy it later...when the sandwich is just a happy memory...;-)

Address: 834 Seventh Ave.

Comparison: about average

Directions: On Seventh Ave. btwn 53rd and 54th Sts...in the heart of the wonderul Broadway theatre district!!!

Phone: 212 245-7850

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Deli

Website: http://www.stagedeli.com