New York City Eating All the Things Filter
October 7, 2014 8:37 AM Subscribe
My group will be in NYC for the weekend of the marathon (on November 2nd). We need to eat and I would like to get restaurant recommendations for two meals in particular, the night before the race and dinner after the race.
Four of us are travelling from southern Ontario. Two of us are running the marathon. This is our make-up year for 2012. In that case, it was to be my friend's first standalone marathon (she's completed Ironman but this is different). This year will still be her first standalone official marathon (she ended up running 26 miles in Central Park the last time). This will be my sixth road marathon, my second NYCM and my birthday.
We and our respective partners will be staying on the Upper West Side, near W 92nd St and Amsterdam. I used Google to find some pasta places nearby for dinner, early, on the Saturday evening.
Gennaro
Carmines
Bella Luna
Pre race, we would prefer a quieter place that can give us a low key meal, so opinions about the above or other recommendations would be much appreciated.
After the race though, we will want to celebrate (yay, unlimited calories post race!). We lean more towards interesting beer and casual dining than fine dining. Meat is good. An added twist is that my southern US-based sister will likely be visiting her sister-in-law in Woodmere and they will come out to cheer and eat dinner as well, so something in between would be nice. That means Queens or Brooklyn? And ice cream cake would be awesome. Maybe a separate dessert place nearby or a short train ride away?
Four of us are travelling from southern Ontario. Two of us are running the marathon. This is our make-up year for 2012. In that case, it was to be my friend's first standalone marathon (she's completed Ironman but this is different). This year will still be her first standalone official marathon (she ended up running 26 miles in Central Park the last time). This will be my sixth road marathon, my second NYCM and my birthday.
We and our respective partners will be staying on the Upper West Side, near W 92nd St and Amsterdam. I used Google to find some pasta places nearby for dinner, early, on the Saturday evening.
Gennaro
Carmines
Bella Luna
Pre race, we would prefer a quieter place that can give us a low key meal, so opinions about the above or other recommendations would be much appreciated.
After the race though, we will want to celebrate (yay, unlimited calories post race!). We lean more towards interesting beer and casual dining than fine dining. Meat is good. An added twist is that my southern US-based sister will likely be visiting her sister-in-law in Woodmere and they will come out to cheer and eat dinner as well, so something in between would be nice. That means Queens or Brooklyn? And ice cream cake would be awesome. Maybe a separate dessert place nearby or a short train ride away?
Best answer: Carmines is extremely delicious but it is really the opposite of quiet and low-key (that is, loud and mobbed). Truly great pasta though.
posted by Mender at 8:53 AM on October 7, 2014
posted by Mender at 8:53 AM on October 7, 2014
Trattoria L’incontro in Astoria, Queens would be an amazing pre-race meal. Carmines is great, too, although I agree that it is pretty loud and will definitely be mobbed (we went the night before the marathon a few years ago).
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:13 AM on October 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:13 AM on October 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Looks like Woodmere is on the LIRR, which will get your sister to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn in about 45 minutes. The 2/3 also stops there and will get you back to your place on 92nd Street.
Within easy walking distance of Atlantic Terminal are not just one but two German biergarten-style places suitable for celebrating loudly. There's also an excellent BBQ place called The Smoke Joint.
posted by Mender at 9:14 AM on October 7, 2014
Within easy walking distance of Atlantic Terminal are not just one but two German biergarten-style places suitable for celebrating loudly. There's also an excellent BBQ place called The Smoke Joint.
posted by Mender at 9:14 AM on October 7, 2014
You should keep in mind that your runner(s) will very likely want to eat immediately after the race, in Manhattan. It takes a good half hour to get out of the park even using the non-baggage entrance, and every time I've finished a marathon, even New York, there was no way I was going to a borough to eat.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:20 AM on October 7, 2014
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:20 AM on October 7, 2014
Also, if your relatives want to come out early to watch you guys run by, Atlantic Terminal is very near where the race runs through Fort Greene. It's a lovely neighborhood and is always very festive on marathon day, including a high school marching band that assembles on bleachers in front of their school on Lafayette Ave. There's a gorgeous park nearby and lots of shops and bars and places to hang out, if the plan is for them to watch you run by and then celebrate later in the afternoon.
posted by Sara C. at 9:21 AM on October 7, 2014
posted by Sara C. at 9:21 AM on October 7, 2014
Best answer: None of those places are very good.
I recommend either Max Soha or Pisticci (both in morningside heights, but a quick trip on the 1 or a cab ride away). They are sooooooo good and a much better value as well. Both are smaller places, frequented mostly by the Columbia grad student and faculty crowd.
Another choice would be 'Cesca on 75th. It's gone downhill in the past few years, but it still a good meal.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:21 AM on October 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
I recommend either Max Soha or Pisticci (both in morningside heights, but a quick trip on the 1 or a cab ride away). They are sooooooo good and a much better value as well. Both are smaller places, frequented mostly by the Columbia grad student and faculty crowd.
Another choice would be 'Cesca on 75th. It's gone downhill in the past few years, but it still a good meal.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:21 AM on October 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
On shoulda-previewed, though, what roomthreeseventeen says about not wanting to leave Manhattan to eat after the race is a very good point.
posted by Sara C. at 9:22 AM on October 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Sara C. at 9:22 AM on October 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Also, make sure you have documentation of the address of the place you're staying. Not sure if it will be as restricted as last year or extend that far uptown, but I live a half block from the park, near the finish line and last year I had to show my ID (or ID + piece of mail if ID was outdated) in order to get on my block the day of the marathon. The whole neighborhood was really locked down security-wise.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:28 AM on October 7, 2014
posted by melissasaurus at 9:28 AM on October 7, 2014
Best answer: I live in that area, and Gennaro is by far the neighborhood favorite. I've heard nothing but good things. Although, I have to confess, I have yet to eat there. I have eaten at Bella Luna and it is okay, but nothing spectacular. And agreeing with everyone about Carmine's. Good food, served family-style, but super busy.
posted by kimdog at 9:36 AM on October 7, 2014
posted by kimdog at 9:36 AM on October 7, 2014
Pisticci is one of my favorites! Heartily seconded.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:18 AM on October 7, 2014
posted by ocherdraco at 11:18 AM on October 7, 2014
Tre Dici Steak in Chelsea is amazing.
http://www.tredicinyc.com/steak/menu.html
This is one of the best meals I've ever eaten, and my out-of-town guests all agreed. It's an easy train ride to/from upper west side...also has a fun speak easy style entrance (not to be confused with it's parent restaurant downstairs (Tre Dici)). It is pretty quiet/classy but not stodgy and I'd say it's be great pre-race for pasta or post-race for the meat.
posted by PinkPoodle at 12:26 PM on October 7, 2014
http://www.tredicinyc.com/steak/menu.html
This is one of the best meals I've ever eaten, and my out-of-town guests all agreed. It's an easy train ride to/from upper west side...also has a fun speak easy style entrance (not to be confused with it's parent restaurant downstairs (Tre Dici)). It is pretty quiet/classy but not stodgy and I'd say it's be great pre-race for pasta or post-race for the meat.
posted by PinkPoodle at 12:26 PM on October 7, 2014
I live in the neighborhood, and in past years it seems like EVERYONE has the same idea of going to a small, good pasta place the night before the marathon. So once you've picked a place, see if you can make a reservation or go before 6. Otherwise be ready for a long wait for a table.
posted by Mchelly at 2:07 PM on October 7, 2014
posted by Mchelly at 2:07 PM on October 7, 2014
I second the Morningside recommendations above, and also suggest Levain Bakery (just a short jaunt on the train to 72nd) for dessert. It's not ice cream cake, but the cookies are pure magic.
posted by quadrilaterals at 6:18 PM on October 7, 2014
posted by quadrilaterals at 6:18 PM on October 7, 2014
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I don't know why this synapse is firing (possibly because of your southern US sister, and partly because I just like Cajun food) but Delta Grill wouldn't be difficult for you all to meet at post-race - it's one or two subway stops from Penn Station (and is even actually walkable), and is also near the A/C trains so those of you staying on the Upper West Side could get to it. It's also Cajun food which to me always is a party.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:44 AM on October 7, 2014 [2 favorites]