Tips 1 - 10 of 25 New York City Restaurants
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SEA: Great Food And Eye Candies In Brooklyn
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Tip Rating:  Satisfaction: 
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Restaurant Name: SEA
There is nothing typical about SEA (SouthEast Asia) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This is not just any Thai restaurant, not in decoration, not in ambience, not in food, not in drink, not in music.
Walking through the door any evening and the first thing that greets you would be the dancing light and the trance music. The light comes from the disco ball and the music from a live DJ.
Behind the circular red bar, the bartender pours out drinks with deft hands. On the spinning opaque colour bubble chair, a young couple whisper secret in each other's ears. On the other bubble chairs scattered low on the floor, an older couple sipping drinks while waiting for their table.
In the front room, there is a long, black table with a reflecting pool, on which sit a statue of Buddha and a boat draped with orchids. The smaller tables are bench-like, and the chairs are ergonomic. The bathroom has curved stalls, with a mosaic basin in the middle for washing. It is separated from the bar by a delicate veil of bead curtains. The low-lit back room has a long communal table and many smaller tables, plus another bar at the end of the room.
This place is slick and flashy, no doubt about it, but it's a good kind of slickness and flashiness that attracts everyone from every age group, every occupation, and every lifestyle. Grandkids and grandparents, young and old couples, individuals and groups, heterosexuals and homosexuals, hipsters and square pegs, they all have a good time at SEA.
The food is another thing about which to praise heartedly. It’s not 100% authentic, but it's also not americanised and it’s not nouveau cuisine for the yuppies. It is simple and good Asian food goes fun. More important, it's not pretentious. And the best deal: the seriously low price.
Favorite Dish: Almost everything. Everyone in our family likes it a lot. Even for an Asian food purist like myself, I enjoy the little tweaks in the ingredients, which are just enough to make the difference but not enough to ruin the taste.
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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20
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Phone: (718) 384-8850
Address: 114 N. 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Directions: Take the L to Bedford Ave.
Website: http://www.spicenyc.net/williamsburg.html
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Restaurant Name: Grimaldi's Pizzeria
There are many good pizzerias in the city, but Grimaldi is the best, hands down.
The most important element in making a good pizza is the oven, and what Grimaldi has is not just brick oven, but coal-fired brick oven. Coal-fired oven blackens the crust in places, making it very crispy while giving it the charcoal taste and smoky flavor. Gas-fired and wood-fired brick ovens cannot imitate the taste, the flavor, and the look.
Second, expertise is required in turning out one good pizza after another, and this is something that is passed down from one master to another, meaning one has to find a master to learn the trade, a master who is willing to part with the secret. In New York, master pizza makers are dwindling in number.
Next are fresh ingredients.
Last and often not mentioned is the relationship between the man and the oven. This is not a laughing matter. A coal-fired oven is a tempestuous device that requires an understanding partner. Not everyone can handle the heat, not everyone know by instinct the exact second to pull a pie out of an 850-degree oven.
There you go, where in the city can you find a pizzeria that can compete against Grimaldi? No wonder the line is long especially in the weekend.
Favorite Dish: No reservation accepted, so unless you must sit in the restaurant, call ahead for a take-out, then have a drink in the courtyard of the bar next door. When your pizza is ready, you can eat at the bar's tables. Some people take their pizza to the pier to eat, however, I would not recommend it unless you are a neat and quick eater. The pie can be messy, and certainly would cool down too quickly in the open air and the wind, and worse yet, the dust picking up from the crowd walking around you would not be a pleasant added ingredient.
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Theme: Pizza
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20
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Phone: (718) 858-4300
Address: 19 Old Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY
Directions: The restaurant is located under the Brooklyn Bridge, next to Fulton Ferry Landing and between Water St and Front St.
Take the A or C to High St. or the F to York St.
Website: http://www.grimaldis.com/greatpizza.htm
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Restaurant Name: Carnegie Deli
After years of listening and reading people's comments about Carnegie Deli, below is a list of helpful advices I thought you may want to know before your first visit to this NYC institution:
-The line is long but it moves fast.
-Everyone in your party has to be there before you can be seated.
-Don't expect leisure eating and intimate seating. If you want to have your own table, come with enough people (7 or more) to occupy one.
-Don't expect a normal sandwich style with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. This is a true NY Deli with only meat on rye bread and no fillers.
-The portion is huge and you'll have leftover for the next few days (not an exaggeration), but the house rule is $12.50 minimum per person and $3 fee for sharing, so even if you decide to share, you still need to spend $25 for two including drinks.
-Order extra bread to make extra sandwiches out of the leftover. Your order has enough meat for three sandwiches: one to eat, two to take home).
-Don't complain about the amount of food. Yes, there are about 2lbs of pastrami on each sandwich, but that's the way it comes.
-Don't complain about the thickness of the sandwich. No one thinks you should bite right into it. Cutlery was served so you can use it to divide the food into smaller portions.
-This is my pet peeve: please, don't ever mention there are starving people in China on the same sentence with "There is so much food that goes to waste". Nobody asks you to throw the leftover away. In addition, if you feel so strongly about starving people in the world, don't go out to eat. The money you spend on a meal anywhere in the US can easily feed a family in a third world country for a week or so.
-Don't expect to make friend instantly with your waitstaff. This is NYC, you order food, food is served, you eat food, you pay, and you leave. Life is fast here and no one wants to slow it down.
-Last but not least, there are many other dishes on the menu, but since deli is the specialty, order accordingly so you would not risk being disappointed.
Favorite Dish: Charles likes the potato knishes but I don't.
If you like a little or a lot of fat on your pastrami (I do), let it be known, otherwise the meat would be served very lean.
Cheesecake, blackforest, and seven-layer chocolate are to die for.
The best drink in a deli is Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray, not beer. You can drink beer everywhere else and with everything else, don't ruin a good sandwich with it.
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Theme: Deli
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20
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Phone: (212) 757-2245
Address: 854 -- 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Website: http://www.carnegiedeli.com
Other Contact: Fax: (212) 757-9889
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Restaurant Name: Tom's Restaurant
The southern façade of this restaurant on the Upper West Side served as a cutaway shot in Seinfeld, although in the show, it was called Monk’s Restaurant where Jerry et al. hung out. In reality, all scenes inside the restaurant were shot on Stage 9 at CBS Studio Center in Studio City.
Both food and price are average, however the restaurant is filled almost at all time with college students, and packed in the weekends with tourists and participants of Kramer Reality Tour.
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Theme: Diner
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10
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Phone: (212) 864-6137
Address: 2880 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Directions: The restaurant is located on Broadway at 112th St. Take the 1 or 2 train to 110th St.
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Harry's Burritos: Cal-Mex In The Village
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Tip Rating: Satisfaction: 
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Restaurant Name: Harry's Burritos
Good food and big serving, this is a restaurant that has been around for a long time in a neighbourhood that boasts many good ethnic restaurants.
Yes, it is true that they do not serve authentic Mexican food here, but everyone should know that before entering the restaurant. The sign on the window stated clearly that this is a Cal-Mex, and not Cal as in Southern California -- which is nearer to the border -- but Cal as in San Francisco, which is all the way up north. What that means is this is San Franciscan idea of what a Mexican food should taste like, and unless you are a purist, that should not stop you from joining the young and fun crowd that pack Harry's every night.
It did not stop us, and we enjoyed both the food and the crowd.
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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10
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Phone: (212) 260-5588
Address: 76 W. 3rd St., New York, NY 10012
Directions: At Thompson St. Take the A, C, E, V, or S to West 4th St.
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Cuba (Con Sabor y Alma): In The Village For A Taste Of Havana
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Tip Rating: Satisfaction:
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Restaurant Name: Cuba (Con Sabor y Alma)
We were at Cuba on a Friday night, the place was packed and we didn't have a reservation. Don't ask me why we didn't walk in and placed our name on the list when we were there earlier in the day. We also had their telephone number; we could easily call them from our cell. I guess it just skipped our mind about the weekend’s crowd in The Village.
Forward 6 hours later. The children joined us and now our party was five people. I walked in and asked for a table. The hostess told me she will try to find me one, and then she disappeared. Another staff told me to wait, and then he also disappeared. The line started forming. The group behind us was in; we were still outside. Our daughter stepped up, using her charm, and we were shown in immediately. Tables were available; we just had to know how to ask. And no, our daughter did not grease anyone's palm.
We were seated downstairs in Hemingway's Hideaway. The room exuded an intimate atmosphere, the lighting soft, the music was not too loud, and the décor was offbeat.
The service was excellent, and it surprised me later when I read a mix of reviews from other people. We were treated with courteous and everything was prompt without rush.
The food was excellent, and I was glad other reviewers were with me on this. The serving was of decent size but since the food was not heavy, we did not feel stuffed.
In short, we all liked Cuba. Good food, good atmosphere, good service, good location, and good price. Next time, however, I will make sure we have a reservation in advance.
Favorite Dish: Rabo Encendido, Lechon Asado con Mojo Campestre, Paella Marinera, Cazuela Marinera, Arroz con Pollo Criollo,
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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20
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Phone: (212) 420-7878
Address: 222 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012
Directions: Between Bleecker and W 3rd Sts. Take the 6 to Bleecker, the 1, or 9 to Christopher Street, the B, D, F, or V to West 4th.
Website: www.cubanyc.com
Other Contact: Fax: (212) 420.7830
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Camille's: Eating Well For Less On The Upper West Side
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Tip Rating: Satisfaction:
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Restaurant Name: Camille's
The restaurant is below ground level, with the take-out part on the right side and the sit-down on the left. The sit-down part has a good feel to it with small tables, tasteful decorations, and soft lighting.
The menu is simple, the food is reliably good, and the price is very reasonable. The only way you can eat better for a less, especially at breakfast, is to cook at home. The location is another winning element, near the quiet Morningside Heights, and since it's below ground, the street noise is muffled. Clientele are students and faculties, some of them look absent-minded and all of them linger after meals perusing their books.
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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10
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Phone: (212) 749-2428
Address: 1135 Amsterdam Ave at 116th St
Directions: Take the 1 to116th St/Columbia University.
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Pluck U.: Chicken Humor In The Village
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Tip Rating: Satisfaction:
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Restaurant Name: Pluck U.
I loved buffalo chicken wings and I missed not having it living in Italy. Pluck U. helped to ease that feeling when we were in NYC.
Their buffalo style wings are good, and their sauces are even better. They even have Zero-Carb sauce but I didn't try it. I figure if you order food from a place like Pluck U., you probably were not the type who thinks too much about a good diet, so who cares if the sauce has a million units of carb?
Favorite Dish: Buffalo wings, of course.
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Theme: Fast Food
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10
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Phone: (212) 582-2468
Address: 768 -- 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Directions: Between Bleecker & W 3rd Sts. Take the 6 to Bleecker, the 1, or 9 to Christopher Street, the B, D, F, or V to West 4th.
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R.U.B or Righteous Urban Barbeque: Kansas City BBQ Outpost In Chelsea
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Tip Rating: Satisfaction:
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Restaurant Name: R.U.B or Righteous Urban Barbeque
This is not a place for a romantic date but it's a perfect place to bring your family for a good plate of ribs, or to meet your friends for a drink while watching the game on the two big screen TVs in the front room. We enjoyed the latter one night when USC played at Notre Dame. The Trojans bashed the Fighting Irish's hope for a come back and then continued on with their winning streak. The game was excellent (not for the Irish fans but for us), our food was good, our beer was fine, and the weather was just right.
In short, almost everything was perfect. Almost, because there is only one toilet in the restaurant, and it's a co-ed with a door that cannot be closed properly.
Favorite Dish: Deep fried Oreos is incredibly good, even for one who doesn't like sweet stuff.
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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20
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Phone: 212-524-4300
Address: 208 W. 23rd St. New York, NY 10011
Directions: The restaurant is located at 23rd St between 7th and 8th Aves in Chelsea. Take the A, E, F, V, 1, or 9 to 23rd St.
Website: http://www.rubbbq.net/
Other Contact: rubbbq@yahoo.com!
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Destinations near New York City- Chinatown, 0.85 km / 0.53 miles
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» See all locations nearby» Popular New York State locations» Popular United States of America locations» Popular North America locations |
 Comments for Ciambella about New York City | | | | |
serindipityhaters Wed Jun 10, 2009 15:25 UTC
DON'T spend your money at Serindipity!!!! It is not for a family on a budget. The service is horrible and,staff is very rude! You have to spend at least $8.50...PER PERSON!! Do not spend all day waiting to eat here because it is not worth it! | Rourky Wed Oct 1, 2008 16:30 UTC
I agree about the staff it's ridiculous (or just stupid) that people who rely on tips would behave in such a manner. The food in gereral was only average but the desserts were really good it's just unfortunate that the service didn't match up! | jo104 Tue Mar 4, 2008 09:11 UTC
I really enjoyed your NYC tips very informative, London is trying to improve its skyline with new type buildings. Our statue of Peter Pan in Hyde Park was revealed at night so kids would think it arrived there by magic so interesting with the bronze bull | emilesc Mon Oct 8, 2007 19:32 UTC
Love your no-nonsense tip on the Carnegie Deli! |
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