New York City Restaurants

Reasonable Prices for Light Lunches
Hungry in New York but not ready to spend $35 for a salad and drink? The best place to find reasonably priced lunches is in a bookstore. Cafes at Borders, and Barnes & Noble have tasty sandwiches for $6 to $8. You can even ask for tap water since New York City water is quite fine to drink. Millions do it daily. Some places offer salads as well, plus croissant, muffins, great coffee and desserts. And, these bookstore/cafes are all through the city. Happy Lunching.

Eat at the Met
Not only can you get good art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you can get good food. The cafeteria on the first floor is certainly a no-frills place, but on a recent visit the roast beef dinner got rave reviews, and so did the salad bar buffet (priced per ounce). There's two cafes providing a wonderful view of Central Park. And, for a truly New York experience, the Great Hall Balcony Bar (overlooking the Great Hall) offers live classical music, cocktails and appetizers on Fridays and Saturdays (check for hours).

Romantic Restaurants

Abboccato Ristorante
136 West 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
212-265-4000

What do you expect from a fine Italian restaurant? A delicious offering of breads and cheese? A superior wine list and elegant goblets? Do you prefer an atmosphere as tempting as the menu? True to the intimate nature of the Blakely Hotel, its outstanding restaurant--Abboccato Ristorante-offers all of this in a romantic and comfortable environment that puts you at ease for a mouth-watering, belt-loosening feast. The decorative touches such as the clay colored brick walls on one side and luxuriously upholstered ones on the other compliment an equally divine meal. Sip on a strawberry rhubarb bellini or ask one of the helpful servers to assist you in picking the perfect wine from the extensive list. Inspired chef, Jake Addeo, has created such fantasies as pasta with Valrona chocolate served with morel mushrooms, white asparagus and parmesan areggiano finished with Umbrian black summer truffles. Reluctant to leave such an intoxicating evening? Spend the night in The Blakely's beautiful penthouse, complete with a balcony and an enchanting view. Reviewed by Sheree Bykofsky -- a literary agent and freelance travel writer

Upper Eastside

Kurio
338 East 92nd Street
Between 1st & 2nd Avenues
Phone: 212-828-1267
A small upper west-side gem with turquoise walls and pin point lighting. There’s a small bar and less than a dozen of the black wood tables. But this family restaurant offers an eclectic menu and unique presentations.

First thing to do when you come in – order one of their lovely, and potent, mojitos. A rum and mint drink, many places find it hard to balance the intense taste of mint, which can often overpower. But here it was perfectly balanced and surprisingly potent. Four of us sat down. Four of us drank mojitos. Four of us became a very happy group.

For starters we tried the chick pea fritters which were deliciously spicy. The crispy spicy tuna rolls and the delectable salmon fritters with red pepper were also winners. The hunger for Italian was sated by bacala (salted dried cod fish). This may well be an acquired taste, but if you love bacala, you’ll truly go for Kurio’s version. It was served in a light tomato broth with capers and came with rice seasoned with cilantro. They also have a well-executed twist on their lasagna. Their excellent Polenta Lasagna with Sausage and Beef is served with a center of perfectly cooked light polenta surrounded by a ring of sausage and beef sauce and everything covered with a layer of mozzarella cheese. The braised lamb shank with gnocchi was tender and delicious.

Choosing was tough, with main plates like spicy shredded pork burrito, spinach and okra stew with fresh crabmeat, and loin of pork in adobo sauce. Comfort food was present with Kurio’s Mac & Cheese Casserole, steak fried chicken and Mom’s homemade meatloaf. Vegetarians could also find wild mushroom ravioli in pink cream sauce, filet of tilapia in a soy glaze topped with spinach.

Upper Westside

Edgar's Cafe
255 West 84th Street
Phone: 212 496-6126
Although you can get yummy salads and sandwiches you'll probably want to come for the desserts. Profiteroles with whipped cream, lemon tarts, flourless white and chocolate mousse cake, flourless chocolate truffle, strawberry rhubarb pie, and much more. Varieties of coffee and tea. And a bit of interesting history. Named Edgar's in honor of Edgar Allan Poe who lived at this location during 1844 - 1845. At that time, it was pretty much a farm house and not a New York City apartment building, but it's still a cool connection.

SoHo (South of Houston - pronounced HOWston -- Street), Tribeca, and More

Colors Restaurant
417 Lafayette St., Astor Place
Phone: 212-777-8443
This could also be called the phoenix of restaurants in Manhattan. Opened in January, 2006, it is New York City's only restaurant cooperative -- partially owned by the workers -- and many of those came from Windows on the World, the restaurant that graced the top of the Twin Towers. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attack, and with much work and perseverence, it arose from the ashes to become a role model, and a delicious place to dine.

The sophisticated bar catches your eye, then the translucent world maps etched onto glass and covered with a layer of ribbed glass. It's a physically comfortable place with mohair banquettes, rich mahogany wood, warm earthtone colors and subtle highlights of brass, light fixtures invoke a sense of the 1930s and an art deco feeling about the interior.

And happily, the food is eclectic, delicious, and reason to visit. The menu, under executive chef Jean Emy Pierre, changes seasonally. The dishes on the extensive menue are arranged by country. Starting with the tapas, the delectable Pam Thai (Asia) featured chunks of moist chicken with string beans and papaya in a chili lime dressing. Albacore tuna (Europe) was a joy -- minced, smoked, and served with capers and topped with roe seasoned with wasabi. The (North America) crabcake was rich and creamy served with apple and jicama slaw. Another winner. There were also dishes from South America -- the Pozole Verde is a Mexican shrimp soup with tomatillos, radish, red onions, and Chihuahua cheese, green with cilantro. We could have happily eaten our way through the tapas, but the entrees are similarly enticing and well-prepared. Braised short ribs were tender and served with a rich and meaty gravy. The New York strip steak was another delicious winner with chimichurri butter. Other globe-spanning dishes included pan seared rockfish filet (Asia), herbs de provence crusted filet mignon (Europe), pork tenderloin with sweet plantain and spicy mango salsa (South America). Leave room for deserts -- they were equally delicious, and some just plain fun. The molten chocolate cake was perfect with rich cake and a heart of molten chocolate. The warm spiced doughnut came filled with dulce de leche, a raspberry dipping sauce, and a chocolate milk. Eat and enjoy in this ground-breaking restaurant.

Snack - a Greek Restaurant
105 Thompson Street
New York, New York 10012
Tel: 212-925-1040
One of the joys of going to dinner with food-loving Dave (see his review of Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas) is that there's always a new and unusual place to try. Walking through SoHo gave us an appetite, so we headed to a tiny 10-people Greek restaurant with the decidedly non-Greek name of Snack. Clearly a 'local' restaurant, you could easily walk right by without even seeing it. It's Greek like you'd find in Greece. "Someone's mother has to be cooking in the back," observed my dining companion. But someone's mother who is one fine cook. We loved everything we tried, and we tried quite a lot including: skordalia, the potato and garlic spread, Cretan bread salad made with lettuce, tomatos, peppers, big hunks of yellowtail tuna, herbs, and bread, baked feta as an appetizer, whole branzino, and boneless lamb rib.

Cones Ice Cream
272 Bleecker Street
New York, New York 10014
Tel: 212-414-1795
Remember when places made their own ice cream? Well, Cones still does. Tasting several samples convinced me to try the ginger sorbet (with pieces of ginger) and the double rich chocolaty ice cream. Also excellent was the creamy ginger ice cream. The consistency was softer than most ice creams. We've been told that because they don't completely freeze their ice cream. Luscious, and lip-licking good.

Murray's Cheese
254 Bleecker St. between 6th & 7th Ave.
New York, NY 10014
Murray's is the place to go for cheese. Let's just say that you've never seen a selection like this. Founded in 1940 on Cornelia Street in the heart of Greenwich Village. Murray started out selling butter and eggs, but over the years (and different owners) it's evolved into one of the city's leading cheese shops with over 250 domestic and imported cheeses. You'll also find specialty groceries, fresh breads, olives, and more.

Midtown

There could be more restaurants in midtown Manhattan than we could eat our way through. On the other hand, everyone needs to have a goal.

Papillon Bistro & Bar
22 East 54th Street
Phone: 212 754-9006
When people enter this handsome and warmly decorated restaurant they probably have no idea that the three owners of a French bistro are either Irish or Moroccan. Yes, it's seems unusual, but it works. The food is continental with French overtones and the beer is Guinness (as well as other brands). The general manager, Mohamed Hafid Elbroji, is the charming Moroccan part of the trio. Tony Shek presides over the kitchen as the chef de cuisine.

The eclectic menu includes dishes such as a roasted half of a free-range chicken with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach, moules frite mariniere with white wine and herbs or provencale, and penne with chorizo sausage and broccoli rabe. Their grilled Norweigian salmon served with braised fennel, leek and thyme was fresh and delicious. The roast Long Island duck breast served with cranberry, apple and pear relish was also excellent -- gently smoked and tender. Add a side of their hot and perfectly fried pommes frites which comes with a delicate mayonnaise-based dip. Or, have it as a starter. And speaking of starters, the watercress, endive and pear salad with walnuts, delicately dressed to bring out the flavors, was a hit as well.

Chinatown

Vibrant with street artists, fruit and vegetables sellers, tea shops, noodle shops, quirky stores, and tiny restaurants, Chinatown thrives. It's even managed to expand into what had been the Lower East Side. Certainly Mott Street is the quintessential Chinatown, but there's certain many places to eat and shop on the other streets as well. Perhaps the cheapest dumplings in town are found on the tiny Mosco Street in the little dumpling shop that sells 5 for $1.

AjiiChiban
37 Mott Street
The Mott Street branch is one of several locations scattered throughout lower NYC. Enjoy the dried fruit sold loose as well as other Asian delicacies. They have small dishes with samples. Lemon plum, mango with chili, dried shrimp and more. Fun to browse and buy.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
65 Bayard Street
212 608-4170
Owned and run by the Seid family for almost 30 years, you'll want to skip restaurant desserts in favor of their creamy delicious ice cream and sorbet. They offer a full range of flavors such as banana, chocolate chip, peach and more as their version of exotic flavors, as well as what they call their regular flavors such as almond cookie, black sesame, red bean and wasabi. My favorite is the ginger ice cream with the sweet piquant flavor heightened by actual pieces of ginger.

New Green Bo Restaurant
66 Bayard Street
Phone: 212 625-2359
Shanghai dishes are the lure in this tiny, often communal dining restaurant. That and their delicious soup dumplings. Instead of dumplings in the soup, with these appetizers you get the soup in the dumpling. Care must be taken in eating them or the soup will run out and be lost. Bite off the top carefully, then suck out most of the soup, and nibble your way through the filling and the dumpling skin, slurping up a bit more of the soup along the way. Delicious and fun. This is a popular spot with a wide variety of choices on the menu.

Green Tea Cafe
45 Mott Street
Phone: 212 693-2888
A local tea house with a bit of atmosphere, it offers almost 50 forms of tea, including the newest rage, tea with black pearl tapioca (sometimes called bubble tea). Tea, mixed with milk, made chewable. In addition to the bubble tea, they have flavored teas, black teas, green teas, flower teas. You can get your cold beverage to go in a container with a sealed top. Puncture with the end of a pointed straw and no worries about sloshing your drink as you walk.

Great N. Y. Noodletown
28 Bowery
Phone: 212 349-0923
And this is indeed Noodle Town, not an elegant establishment or one with any kind of atmosphere, it just offers delicious food. Lots of noodle dishes pan fried, wide noodles cantonese style, and lo mein -- but they also have rice congee (porridge), rice plates, and some beef, chicken and pork entrees. Definitely try the soup with dumplings. The shrimp dumplings were small whole shrimp in a delicate dumpling skin. The plate of roast pork was lean and tender with a hint of sweetness, and the pea sprouts were lightly seasoned green pea sprouts.

Mandarin Court Restaurant
61 Mott Street
Phone: 212 608-3838
This is a great dim sum restaurant, with those tasty tiny morsels served between 11:30 am and 4:00 pm. Varieties include steamed shrimp, pork and chicken dumplings, stuffed bean curd with oyster sauce, fried stuffed eggplant with oyster sauce, curry beef dumping and more. There's specials such as snail in black bean sauce, and walnut jumbo shrimp dim sum as well.

Ten Ren Tea and Ginseng Co, Inc.
75 Mott Street
79 Mott Street
Several locations including Flushing Queens, and Brooklyn offer the most incredible selection of teas. Not only delicious drinking teas, but preparations with health properties. Prices range from reasonably priced to "is this shaved gold?" at this upscale shop.

Nyonya
194 Grand Street
Phone: 212 334-3669
Malaysian cuisine on the edge of Little Italy. Their roti canai with curry chicken dipping sauce a bit of heaven which we got to go and slurped with enthusiasm. They translate it as a pancake, but it's translucently thin and the perfect sop for the spicy flavorful sauce. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes. A pretty place with really good food.

Little Italy

The border of Little Italy is smack up against Chinatown but it's clear when you cross it. In addition to the switch in language and cuisine, Little Italy has decorated the streets with hanging banners of the red, white and green colors of Italia.

Di Palo's
206 Grand Street
Phone: 212 226-1033
You might think heavenly smell of cheese to be an oxymoron, but walk into Di Palo's and take one whiff and you will become hungry for cheese, even if you weren't a moment before. Their aged pecorino is addictive. An institution since 1910, this long narrow shop is always jammed with shoppers. The people behind the counter happily hand out slivers of their delicious offerings. They also sell fresh-made ravioli. Visiting is an education in the varieties of cheese, and quite a delicious way to learn.

Piemonte Ravioli
190 Grand Street
Started in 1920 this tiny shop specializes in pasta, in the traditional red, white and green colors and all the shapes and sizes. They're noted for their variety of delicious fillings.

All Around the Town Favorites

We asked friends, family, acquaintances, and complete strangers to tell us their favorite places to eat.
In alphabetical order... here's what they said:

August
359 Bleeker Street
Phone: 212 929-4774
An ethereal slice of peace and beauty in the West village. Baked Eggs En Croquette are divine.
Reviewed by Wendy Knight, Host and Co-producer of Travel Snapshots on ABC News Now.

Bar Americain
152 West 52nd Street
Phone: 212 267-9700
This is a Bobby Flay restaurant with an open kitchen located in midtown Manhattan. The wines are numerous choices from around the globe and the food is a combo of seafood - skate is my favorite - to broiled meats. Busy at lunch and dinner, it is a lively crowd.
Reviewed by Doug MacKenzie, Director of Communications, Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau

Bill's Gay Nineties
57 East 54th Street (near Madison)
Phone: 212-355-0243
I recently went to a this wonderful small restaurant, which is also a piano bar. The current owner for the past 22 years, Barbara Bart Olmsted, took it over from her father, who ran it for many years. Try the Shepard's Pie...YUM.
Reviewed by Anita Finley www.BabyBoomers-Seniors.com

Carmine's
200 West 44th Street
Phone: 212-221-3800
I grew up in Wooster Square in New Haven, home of the best pizza and Italian food on the East Coast. Enjoying the new year in NYC's theater district, we stumbled into Carmine's. Noisy, crowded, it was Wooster Square, squared. We ordered an appetizer plate the size of a bicycle tire, with hot antipasti, pasta, eggplant, stuffed squash, spinach, broccoli rabe, sausage, peppers, cheeses and more. We shared a bottle of Chianti and did some world-class people watching through the steamy plateglass window. Mama Mia, Carmine's hit the spot.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Margolis-Pineo of Portland Maine MargolisPineo.com

Carnegie Deli
854 Seventh Ave. (at 55th Street)
Phone: 212-757-2245
It sure impressed us when we were there. The sandwiches were so big, and so good, we could have eaten on it for a few days -- if we'd had a refrigerator in our hotel room! (Ample portions, delicious deli food -- especially for those of us that don't have ready access to such riches in our everyday life). Would be nice to have a sandwich from the Carnegie Deli RIGHT NOW, for lunch!
Reviewed by Naomi Shapiro, travel & outdoor writer from Madison, Wisconsin

The competition that evolved years ago to the then famous Stage Deli that had given a new meaning to corned beef/pastrami combo sandwiches where one could feed a party of four. It is now a tourist destination that was originally intended for the locals. No reservations and, happily, just a few blocks from the Stage. Take your choice. A must to have something to talk about when you get home.
Reviewed by Mickey Charles is President and CEO of The Sports Network

Craft Restaurant
45 East 19th Street
212-780-0880
We found them on OpenTable.com, a service we have been using for years. We enjoyed the menu and you can order small portions to be shared. They also have a great wine list with wines from Washington state--our favorite!
Reviewed by Nancy & Steve Ross, awardwinning photographers and writers from Washington State

Dos Caminos Park
373 Park Avenue South, New York
Phone: 212 294-1000
Dos Caminos has captured the true spirit of genuine south of the border cuisine. You won't find mass produced, Tex-Mex, cheesy fried concoctions here. Executive Chef Scott Linquist, and Executive Sous Chef Ross Gill, prepares authentic regional Mexican cuisine with a more sophisticate twist. Guacamole is prepared tableside according to your taste - ours was perfectly "heated" with fresh crushed jalapeno peppers. The wild mushroom tamale was a great mix of earthy mushrooms and roasted cornmeal filling, while the chipolte beef taquitos were full of tender braised meat with a crispy tortilla shell and covered in rich mole sauce. Tacos run the gamut from ancho red snapper, roasted chicken and pork, to Maine lobster or achiote grilled shrimp. The chile relleno is hall-of-fame worthy. This fire roasted pepper is stuffed with sautéed chicken and manchego cheese and coated with a pancake like batter, keeping the outer crust soft, the pepper al dente and radiating just enough heat to create a wonderful taste sensation. Grilled items (a la parilla) show off the chef's knowledge of various Mexican spices, marinades, and sauces. The large space (over 250 seats) is energized with burnt orange and chocolate brown colors, hand carved wood (think tree stump) lighting fixtures, and cozy booth seating. There are over 150 tequilas available - just in case you were interested.
Reviewed by: Linda Pernice Kavanagh writer and restaurant reviewer

English is Italian -- NOW CLOSED
622 Third Avenue
Phone: 212 404-1700
As a food writer I am admittedly spoiled when it comes to partaking in tasting menus. We love lingering over course after course, paired with this wine and that. Fortunately, this style of dining is no longer just for us lucky writers.

English is Italian was introduced to us by some friends who brought us there for a three-hour lunch! This Italian style restaurant concept is designed around three courses: antipasti, pasta, and fish and meat. The beauty of it all is the fresh, daily changing menu, multiple dishes per course, the combination of contemporary and classic preparations, and its stylish décor and great service. The bi-level interior is sleek and sexy. The display kitchen is not overpowering to the room and there’s a peacefulness that allows you to melt into your surroundings.

While this is a Todd English restaurant, it is Executive Chef Robert Gonsalves and Chef Isaac Carter that lead the kitchen with precision and creativity. There is an option for two courses ($34), but we went for the three courses ($39). Crispy crostini bread with chicken liver pate, carrot tapenade, and artichoke guacamole set the stage for the night. A series of “insalata" dishes (eggplant caponata, braised fennel, and roasted beets) are scooped onto your plate alongside plates of antipasti which included a torte rustica (think Easter pie minus the prosciutto) with pear salad, delectable lamb ribs with green olive and goat cheese creama, and deep fried mushroom arancini (rice balls) with Calabrese aioli. All were tasty and rather decadent. For a special surprise for your loved one, I recommend ordering the house made buffalo mozzarella, prepared (and pulled) tableside and topped with sautéed sun dried tomatoes, garlic, and basil.

Next is the pasta course. Baked Bolognese lasagna was very good but I’m glad I saved room for the broccoli rabe risotto with calamari fra diavalo and chickpea cream. It was a mouthwatering combination. Butternut squash agnolotti with brown butter and sage was feather light and silky, and the carbonara tagliatelle with mushrooms and peas had a wonderful woodsy flavor, well reserved from the mushrooms. We forged ahead with the third course (after a small breather – also known as wine) with pan-seared salmon with crispy skin topped with apple butter. “Forty clove chicken” was simply baked like my Mom’s, and the braised fall-off-the-bone lamb shanks were served with a spicy cabbage slaw. Refreshing homemade Gelato and sorbets are a perfect ending as anything more is overkill. Word to the wise: You’ll be tempted to eat it all, but don’t. Meet your sweetheart at the fridge at midnight for leftovers…
Reviewed by: Linda Pernice Kavanagh writer and restaurant reviewer

Fiamma Osteria
206 Spring Street, New York
Phone: 212 653-0100
Upon returning from Italy after several years of cooking, eating, watching, and learning what Italian culture and food was all about, Chef Mark White joined restaurateur Steve Hanson of B.R. Guest Restaurants and opened Fiamma Osteria as Executive Chef/Partner of this sexy SoHo trattoria. White says, "I believe that with Italian cuisine, less is more. I look at what I can get out of a dish, rather than what I can put in." And what he puts into his dishes are the freshest of Italian and American ingredients. The two-story space is a chic mixture of rustic dark wood furnishings, black leather, and orange and red tones. Wine bottles frame the restaurant with numerous wine racks and rare vintage presentations. A temperature controlled fromage case is featured in the dining room, and boasts creamy imported and domestic farmhouse cheeses.

A few of my favorite dishes include the blue fin tuna carpaccio with salty capers, olives and citrus oil, Muscovy duck salad, and sautéed sea scallops with baby artichokes and black trumpets. For a pasta course, I gravitate towards the "stracci," wide ribbon spinach pasta with braised rabbit Bolognese and the garganelli with prosciutto, spring peas and truffle butter. Out of the wood-burning oven come a sage scented veal chop, rosemary-roasted squab, and a mouthwatering breast of chicken with morel mushrooms. All dishes are served with wonderful al dente vegetables, as seen in the wild striped sea bass with fava beans, fennel and brussel sprouts and the East coast halibut with braised red chard and asparagus. Pastry Chef Elizabeth Katz prepares classic Italian desserts. Semifredo, tortas, and sorbetti vary in flavors according to the season, as fruit is a major component for most Italian desserts. Another major component at Fiamma is their wine list. We rely on Master Sommelier Greg Harrington to guide us through the diverse list of family-owned, artisanal vineyards as well as the more popular or unique wine selections.
Reviewed by: Linda Pernice Kavanagh writer and restaurant reviewer

Fig & Olive Uptown
808 Lexington Avenue (between 62nd and 63rd Street) Phone: 212 207-4555
A recent visit to the Fig & Olive Uptown was a dining highlight of that NYC trip. We had inadvertently arrived at that location, only to find that our reservation was actually at the new restaurant in the Meatpacking District. Despite this, the host welcomed us warmly and we were quickly seated. I love olive oil, so Executive Chef Pascal Lorange’s concept of featuring it in every dish needed no selling to me. Rather than ordering entrees, my companion and I selected a variety of tapas-style smaller dishes. Fennel with Lemon and Rosemary, Crostini with Goat Cheese, Bresaola and Olive Tapenade, the selection of different olives, and especially the Manchego Cheese with Fig Spread and Almond were all wonderful, especially paired with the dry rose offered on the extensive wine-by-the-glass menu. The uptown F&O is the original location, and while crowded with diners along its long, narrow configuration, never reached the “shrieking level” of conversation that makes eating in so many restaurants very uncomfortable. Artwork on the walls is charming, lighting flatteringly low (but not so low you can’t see your plate), and service prompt and well informed. I will definitely be back. Reservations highly recommended.
Janis Hashe is a freelance travel journalist currently living in Chattanooga, TN. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Sunset Magazine and numerous AAA magazines, among others

Oyster Bar -- Grand Central Terminal
I eat in the Oyster Bar each time I am in NYC so I can have the oyster pan roast. But the huge menu changes daily depending on which oysters and fish are available. Oh and being in Grand Central makes the people watching great too.
Reviewed by: Jim Reikowsky, Communications & Film Liaison, Vallejo Convention & Visitors Bureau and Solano County Film Office

Pete's Tavern (Gramercy Park)
129 East 18th Street at Irving Place
Phone: 212 473-7676
How can you improve on a place that is the oldest bar in the city and has a booth where O.Henry sat down one day and wrote The Gift of the Magi a story that will probably still be required reading in high school a century from now.
Reviewed by: Rich Grant, Communications Director, Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau

Rosa Mexicano At Lincoln Center
61 Columbus Ave, New York
Phone: 212 977-7700 Located almost right across the street from Lincoln Center, this is not the usual Mexican joint serving food made from unidentifiable ingredients. Instead, at this sophisticated, charmingly decorated, chic establishment, with two floors of eating space and a lively downstairs bar, the food is upscale Mexican with plenty of choices that will even suit the pickiest American consumer. One of three Rosa Mexicanas in Manhattan (the others are at 9 East 18th St.; and 58th St. at First Avenue), the uptown location is in the perfect spot for concert or opera attendees who have long faced a dearth of good restaurants in the area. Almost everyone begins with a huge Marguerita and a bowl of world-class guacamole, made from scratch starting with whole avocados, on a rolling cart pushed next to your table, but there are many other tasty choices. My favorite entree is roast duck served with mashed sweet potatoes but the menu includes such dishes as quesadillas, grilled shrimp marinated, rare tuna, pan-seared sea bass, filet mignon or hanger steak with a wonderful mystery sauce, and enchiladas filled with crabmeat and tomatillo sauce. If you sit upstairs, you'll have a view---if you get there early enough to get the table of your choice---of Lincoln Center and bits of Broadway. Be sure to make a reservation or you won't get in most nights unless you're willing to wait.
Reviewed by Joan Rattner Heilman -- a journalist who writes primarily for the older traveler. She is the author of UNBELIEVABLY GOOD DEALS AND GREAT ADVENTURES THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T GET UNLESS YOU'RE OVER 50, McGraw-Hill, 2007.

Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse
157 Chrystie Street (at Delancey)
212-673-0330
Proof positive that you do not have to be Jewish to experience the epicurean delights that await at Sammy's. Jars of chicken fat that you can "shmeer" right on to the bread. Portions that could feed entire third world countries, cosmic cholesterol ecstasy and a delicisiously delectable day with 911 at the ready. You might be Jewish when you leave.
Reviewed by Mickey Charles, President and CEO of The Sports Network

San Martin Restaurant
143 East 49TH Street
Phone: 212 832-0888
This elegant but cosy little restaurant features an eclectic menu featuring Italian and Spanish food is to die for. As you might expect, they serve really tasty pastas (especially the Penne Artista), but also excellent seafood and some delectable traditional Spanish dishes as well. The tiramisu is the best I've ever had and the wine list is impressive. The staff is attentive, friendly and right there when you want, but not pushy or intrusive. Sometimes a waiter / musician strolls around, playing a guitar at individual tables.
Reviewed by: Maureen A Hennessy, writer

Stage Deli
834 7th Avenue (Between 53rd & 54th Street)
Phone: 212 245 7850
The "original" that gave a new meaning to Delicatessen or, as it has evolved, "the Deli." It was the place where all the locals that were appearing on Broadway used to go - sit down and discover every comic playing NYC and the Catskills at the next table. Hell of a big table! The place over which Mickey Mantle had an apartment when he come to the city to play for the Yankees. The stars are gone but their photos adorn the walls and the food is sensual, sybaritic and the height of self-indulgence. Loosen your belt.
Reviewed by Mickey Charles is President and CEO of The Sports Network

Tomoe Sushi
172 Thompson Street (between Bleecker and Houston)
Phone: 212 777-9346
It's a tiny unpretentious sushi joint with the best Toro sashimi in the city. It's likely that you'll have to stand in line it being winter, spring, summer or fall but it is always worth the wait and the likelihood ending up chatting with people next to you is pretty high. The green tea icecream at Tomoe is incredible the perfect balance between bitter, sweet and creamy.
Reviewed by: Mariana Velasquez

Ukrainian East Village Restaurant
140 Second Avenue @ 9th Street
Phone: 212 529-5024
A quiet Old World-savored restaurant featuring Eastern Euiropean cooking. While pirogi, blintzes, borscht, and other Ukrainian-Russian-Polish favorites inspire the menu, American fare is also available in ample portions. Adjacent room hosts parties and meetings.
Reviewed by: Jack Goldfarb, Manhattan-based Travel Writer

Uncle Nick's
747 Ninth Avenue (between 50th and 51st)
(212) 245-7992
Fresh, Fresh, Fresh Greek Family Style Food. Delicious!!!!!
Jeff Shinaman Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Katie Camarro Owner/Founder Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce

Wheeltapper Pub & Restaurant
Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel
141 East 44th Street (at Lexington and 3rd Avenue)
Phone: 212 351-6800
One of my favorite Manhattan hotels is the Fitzpatrick Grand Central, one of the best bargains in the city—if you can get a room. The Wheeltapper Restaurant features a spacious, exposed-brick outdoor dining area, which is a very popular after-work meeting place. The unfeigned Irish hospitality that distinguishes the hotel also characterizes the Wheeltapper, and we found it the perfect place for a quick pre- theatre dinner of fish and chips and Guinness. The Wheeltapper’s food is slightly upgraded pub grub, so don’t expect five-star cuisine, but service is excellent, the atmosphere (which includes railroad memorabilia collected by Fitzpatrick himself) is fun and free of attitude.
Janis Hashe is a freelance travel journalist currently living in Chattanooga, TN. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Sunset Magazine and numerous AAA magazines, among others

Late Night Eats

Amy Ruth's
113 West 116th Street
Phone: 212 280-8779
Open until 11pm Sunday to Thursday but 24 hours Friday and Saturday.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
646 West 131st Street
Phone: 212 694-1777
Open until midnight Friday and Saturday serving ribs, macaroni, live music.

Balthazar Restaurant
80 Spring Street
Phone: 212 965-1414
Serves French fare until 1am Monday through Thursday, 2am on Friday and Saturday and 12am.