New York City Restaurant Tips by sue_stone

Restaurant Name: Comfort Diner

The Comfort Diner is a 50's style diner located between some office buildings on East 45th Street.

We had 2 fabulous breakfast here during our stay in NYC.

Slide into a comfy booth and order one of the breakfast specials - guaranteed not to disappoint!

Favorite Dish: We had the full breakfast, with unlimited coffee and more toast than you could imagine eating.

YUM!

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Theme: Diner
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (212) 867-4555
Address: 214 East 45th Street, near 3rd Avenue
Directions: Just off 3rd Avenue - look for the small silver polished steel diner.

Restaurant Name: Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station

We were excited to be dining at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station because:

1. It is in NYC!!
2. We love oysters
3. Had read good reviews

We were disappointed.....

The Oyster Bar has been opened since 1913 and has a really good name in New York Restaurant circles.

We had dinner here on a Thursday night. We arrived around 9pm - not late you would think in the "city that doesn't sleep", and our whole meal was very rushed.

In fact we were still eating our entree when our mains arrived.....and when we wanted to order coffee we couldn't get anyones attention - seemed they had all knocked off for the night. It couldn't have been much past 10pm when we left...so much for a nice leisurely meal at a top restaurant....

Favorite Dish: We had an oyster platter for entree, and they were some of the most unpleasant oysters I have ever had.

Main course was fish - sorry can't remember the details, but it was average quality.

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: (212) 490-6650
Address: Grand Central Station, 42nd Street
Directions: Lower ground floor in Grand Central Station
Website: http://www.oysterbarny.com/oysterbar/html/index2.htm

Restaurant Name: Katz's Deli

Katz's Deli is a fabulous New York institution that dates back to 1888.

While it is not glamorous, it is one of those must go places in New York for lunch - but make sure you are hungry. Their pastrami on rye is HUGE!

Katz is also famous as being the location for "that" scene from 'When Harry Met Sally', and has also been used as a location for numerous other films.

The walls are lined with photos of the owner with the various celebrities that have dined here.

Favorite Dish: Drop by for a pastrami on rye - I like it with mustard - YUM - you won't be disappointed!!

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Theme: Deli
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 212-254-2246
Address: 205 East Houston, NYC 10002
Directions: On the corner of Houston & Ludlow Sts.
Website: http://www.katzdeli.com/

Restaurant Name: Ellen's Stardust Diner

Ellen's Stardust Diner is a very busy and fabulous 50's style diner.

What makes it so fabulous is the singing waiting staff!!

We had a big breakfast here and enjoyed continual entertainment - each of the waiting staff took it in turns to sing to the diners - either solo or a duet - think tunes from the 50's/60's.

It was great fun - but not the place to go to for a quiet meal!!

Favorite Dish: We had eggs and bacon with home fries and plenty of coffee, all washed down with a song or two!!

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Theme: Diner
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (212) 956-5151
Address: 1650 Broadway Corner of 51st Street, New York, NY
Website: http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/
Other Contact: ellensstardust@yahoo.com

Restaurant Name: Brooklyn Diner

The Brooklyn Diner is another of those excellent New York 50's style diners.

But the food here was something else - Y.U.M. is an understatement!!

We had breakfast here one morning. They were packed out, but they managed to squeeze us into 2 seats on the counter, where we could watch the action.

Favorite Dish: We had one of the tastiest breakfasts I have ever had - scrambled eggs with hickory hardwood smoked bacon and challah toast - just FAB!!!!!

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Theme: Diner
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (212) 581-8900
Address: 212 West 57th Street
Directions: Between Broadway and 7th Avenue - close to Central Park
Website: http://brooklyndiner.com/

Restaurant Name: Da Gennaro

We had lunch at Da Gennaro which is one of many many Italian Restaurants in Little Italy.

It was hard to choose where to eat, as they all had similar menus and prices. We ended up chosing Da Gennaro as they did not have spruikers on the street.....

Favorite Dish: We had a pretty average lasagne - one of their lunch specials, and a carafe of house red wine.....which tasted like and had the same affect as cordial.....

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: crn of Hester & Mulberry Streets, Little Italy

Restaurant Name: Central Park Boathouse

The Central Park Boathouse is located by one of the lakes in Central Park.

After a long morning of sightseeing and walking, walking, walking, we made it to the Boathouse.

After finding out that the waiting list for dining in the restaurant was at least an hour, we were lucky enough to secure an outdoors table right by the lake in the bar area.

It was the perfect place to relax on this sunny spring afternoon and soak up the atmosphere.....and watch the gondola float by!

Favorite Dish: We relaxed with an ice cold glass of white wine and some fresh prawns.

Very rah darling!

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Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 212-517-2233
Directions: Central Park Lake (Upper East Side)
Park Drive North at East 72nd St.
Website: http://www.thecentralparkboathouse.com/sections/food/menu-bar.htm

Restaurant Name: Top of the Tower

Top of the Tower is a fabulous restaurant and lounge bar which is located on the 26th floor of the Beekman Tower Hotel.

It has spectacular views of Manhattan and the harbour, and is a very romantic place for a meal and/or drink.

We sat by the window and had a great meal here. The lights of the harbour and bridges almost made me feel like I was back in Sydney!

The piano music just added to the glamorous feel of this art deco gem.

Favorite Dish: All the food we had was really tasty and we washed it down with some Californian red wine.

A great night!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (212) 980-4796
Address: 49th Street & 1st Avenue
Directions: Located on the 26th floor of the Beekman Tower Hotel.
Website: http://www.affinia.com/6_2_6_bee_top_of_tower.cfm

Restaurant Name: Cipriani Dolci

Cipriani Dolci is an Italian restaurant located overlooking the main concourse in Grand Central Station. It is part of the famous Cipriani chain.

We had dinner here one night during our stay, mainly because it was close to our hotel and we were worn out after a long day sightseeing.

Although it looked like an expensive place to eat, the food was not too pricy by New York standards.

We enjoyed a meal and were also entertained by our waiters tales of all his ex-wives!

Favorite Dish: We had lasagne and a steak - average, but edible. And a huge amount of house red...

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (212) 973-0999
Directions: Grand Central Terminal, West Balcony (overlooking the main concourse)
Website: http://www.cipriani.com/cipriani/Locs/ciprianidolci.htm

Restaurant Name: Macy's food hall

When you are doing a marathon shop in Macy's you will need to stop for some nourishment. And it is closer than you think.

Macy's has a fabulous food hall, with all sorts of delicious delights. Just pick up a tray, order your food, pick up drinks and cakes and krispy kreme donuts and pay up before sitting down for some mid-shop tucker.


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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: in the basement of the store at 151 West 34th Street
Website: http://www.macys.com/store/service/index.jsp