Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nyc and restaurant

Hotel and food recommendations for a solo traveller to NYC

une_heure_pleine — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:52:42 -0800

Visiting New York for the first time (from Australia) in a couple of weeks. Will be travelling solo, and am looking for hotel and food recommendations. (I did search, but the answers are a few years old now, or aimed at different budgets)

I'm perfectly happy with my own company most of the time, especially during the day. Even so, I'd like to meet a few people to go for a drink or dinner some nights, as I'll be there for two weeks. In the past when I've travelled solo, I've stayed in dorms. I'm a bit older now (late 20s) and have less tolerance for all-night boozing and general grottiness.

So, any suggestions for either a hostel with private rooms that's friendly but not party-central, or a budget hotel with a sociable common area where I might meet people? Budget is ideally no more than $80 per night but could stretch for the right place. Private bathroom is nice but not necessary.

Alternately, suggestions for other places to go/things to do where I might meet some people to hang out with for a night?

Also, I'm interested in checking out a couple of the better restaurants in town. I'm expecting to have to do this alone unless I randomly meet another foodie. Any ideas for restaurants in $30-for-a-main-course bracket where I'll be treated like a human being despite being there alone? My preference is for high quality, innovative food, rather than just wherever is hot right now.

NYC folks: What happened to the BAMN! automat?

querty — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:26:23 -0800

NYC folks: What happened to the BAMN! automat? I'm curious why it didn't work out for them... Wikipedia says it's been closed since March, but I just saw them featured on a TV show the other night (it could've been a re-run though); have they re-opened or re-located?

If they're totally done, then I wonder what happened to them/what went wrong. Maybe the lack of customer service? I think many fast food restaurants can be turned into vending machines, but at the same time, people want customer service; a face, a smile, a real person in front of the machine.

NYC Restaurant Recommendation

ruwan — Mon, 25 May 2009 06:11:50 -0800

NYC Restaurant Filter: Looking for a nice restaurant very close to Carnegie Hall for dinner on Wednesday night. (Or walking distance from Madison Sq Park would also work.) - Reservations a plus (we have a group of 6).
- One of our party is vegetarian, so should have some options for him. (aka no steakhouses unfortunately.)
- ~$25 entree range
- Asian, Thai, or Indian would be nice but isn't a requirement. Any recommendation would be helpful, thanks!

Upscale Sports Bars in NYC

jameslavelle3 — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:19:40 -0800

Looking for a nice place in Manhattan to watch the Duke/Villanova basketball (Sweet 16) game tonight, and maybe grab some dinner at the same time. I'm trying to avoid going to one of the many over-crowded sports bars for something a little bit more upscale, intimate, or at least quiet enough to be conversationally feasible. It looks like the conflicting Missouri game has the CBS TV slot, which makes viewing the game from a smaller venue more uncertain and leads me back to the undesirable raucous of an over-crowded sports bar. Any good idea from the hive? Preference for midtown or east side Manhattan, but anywhere on the island is fine. We are a group of 3 or 4 people, in case that matters

It's not even clear to me what channel (if any) the Duke game would be aired on, or if the only source is snippets from CBS during breaks of the Missouri game.

Help me with my dirty 30.

sneakin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:38:30 -0800

Plan my 30th birthday in NYC. Dizzying amount of parameters within. For my 30th b-day I'd like to have a pretty special night out in NYC. I already spend a decent amount of time in the City as it is, so I'd like to find some extra dynamite destinations. I am looking for interesting, eclectic, fun places to spend the night and here is what I have in mind for the whole event:

1. Go on a 5ish mile run with a couple friends. Do you have a favorite route?

2. Get pre dinner cocktails.

3. Eat a delicious dinner (Outstanding, interesting, eclectic sushi preferred. Otherwise, exceptional other kinds of restaurants are great, too. Just not Ethiopian).

4. Hang out in a bar after dinner with friends.

My only real restrictions are geography and that things are fairly affordable. On the geography front, I'd like to be in either Manhattan or Astoria, Queens for the whole event.

Moneywise, we're all willing to splurge somewhat, but as a barometer, bars that offers only $15 cocktails and restaurants with main courses upwards of ~$25 ain't happening. At the pre-dinner bar I'd like to be able to sit, relax, and get decent whiskey/bourbon and/or interesting cocktails. The after-dinner bar, as long as a group of 8ish can fit, sit and hear ourselves talk, divey is totally fine, if not preferred.

I realize I'm asking a bunch of things in one question, which may not be kosher. If you have suggestions for any of the four above, that's cool, you don't need to craft my whole b-day package or anything.

Thanks!

Dining solo in the Big Apple

bill the tinman — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:55:49 -0800

Where are the best places for dining solo in Manhattan? I'll be in the city for a few days starting tomorrow and was wondering if anyone could suggest good places for when you're eating alone? I'll mostly be on the east side (from 1st to about 80th) and would love to find some great, cheaper ($10-15) places to grab a quick lunch or dinner. I'm open to any ethnicity and just mostly looking for anything that's a step from pizza or hot dogs, though sitting a lunch counter or bar is perfectly fine.

Also, a big plus if at least one of the places will be open tomorrow (New Year's Day).

Interesting restaurants near W44th Street?

lonemantis — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:44:30 -0800

RestaurantFilter: Restaurant Recommendations for NYC on Saturday evening (13Dec2008), around the Broadhurst Theatre - near W44th St. (more inside) My wife and I are lucky recipients of two free tickets to see Equus this Saturday, in NYC. To thank the couple who are so graciously giving us the tickets, we are going to buy dinner before the show. Any ideas on interesting and tasty restaurants (moderately priced) around the Broadhurst Theatre near W44th Street? They're an older couple who we'd rather not inundate with the too exotic. A nice place with some character, and food which isn't too bland would suffice. Preferably within walking distance (a few city blocks at the most) to the theatre. Thanks!

Yet another NYC restaurant request, but with details!

anthill — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:53:21 -0800

Yet another NYC restaurant recommendation request: Taking ~15 colleagues out to dinner, walking from Times Square (46th&Broadway), looking to spend $20-30 per head, and be able to make a same-day reservation. Tall order, but bonus points for an NYC experience not available in Toronto/Montreal. Recommendations so far include Wu Liang Ye (48th between 5th-6th)... but even that's right on the edge of walking distance. I know it's lame and we should go to Downtown/Brooklyn/Uptown/anywhere else, but please help!

Amazing, impossible-to-get-into NYC restaurants?

meerkatty — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:44:08 -0800

Amazing, impossible-to-get-into NYC restaurants? I have the opportunity to have a great dining experience in NYC through someone who can get me in almost anywhere. I'm looking for great food, great atmosphere, not necessarily trendy (ie. Nobu). It will be my 60 year old parents and me. Last time I had this opportunity, I picked 21 Club and loved it. Suggestions? Thanks!

Family is meeting in New York City... advise me!

smalls — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:10:24 -0800

Help me find a gathering spot in Manhattan for a small first-time family meet up that will occur after our private wedding ceremony. I'm specifically looking for some nice dinner spots, as well as some possible activity suggestions within walking distance of Grand Central and Penn Station. Our family is located throughout the tri-state area, so everyone will be traveling to either Grand Central or Penn Station for an evening out. Some of us have met each other, but a few have not. I would like everyone to meet up for some sort of activity and then head out to a nice dinner. There will be around 10-14 of us in total, so locations within walking distance are crucial.

The ideal place for dinner would be something that requires at least business casual dress, somewhat intimate, and preferably under $50 per person (not including drinks). I have looked at the nicer restaurants in Grand Central itself, but I am not certain of their quality, so any help you can give me here is appreciated.

For activities, I am looking for something that would potentially be a little distracting in case awkwardness occurs (this is a very good possibility given my mixed family). We have all been to NYC many times, so uber-touristy is to be avoided, although I am not opposed to kitschy or semi-cheesy group activity suggestions. The group varies in age from 26-66, so it should be something on the mellower side. If it helps to know this, the future hubby and I are sporty, outdoorsy, and crafty. And we love good food and good beer.

Two straws. One glass. Lots of tequila.

goingonit — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:55:54 -0800

Do you know of anywhere in New York City where they serve margaritas in huge novelty glasses, like where multiple people drink from the same glass? My girlfriend really wants to find a place like this, and Google hasn't helped (neither has walking around). Any ideas? Thanks!

Event-type restaurant in Greenwich Village

lockedroomguy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:24:12 -0800

Greenwich Village NYC EVENT restaurant recommendation. We're looking for a restaurant in the Village that is an experience to go to. Not because of the food--the food doesn't even have to be that good. More looking for an experience or extraoridinary atmosphere. We have guests coming in to the city that will probably go to a lot of other areas in the city over the next few days, but probably not to the Village. So what ideas are there for an experience, as opposed to a great meal, in the East or West Village, or walking distance? Examples that don't work for the crowd we have in mind would be Jekyll & Hyde (for kids) or Lips (a little too crazy.)

Grange Hall would have been good, but it's closed. Its replacement, Commerce, would work, but is too expensive, as we expect the guests are going to try to treat us, and we don't want to blow their budget. Chumley's would have been good, but it's closed for renovations.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Affordable dinner in NYC?

LittleLisi — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:09:03 -0800

Help me find a nice BYOB restaurant in NYC for a 12-person celebration. My sister's boyfriend is proposing to her on their vacation next week. (Exciting!) My job is to find a restaurant in Manhattan to celebrate when they get back next Sunday.

My dad is treating for 12 people... to save money for the future nuptials, we're trying to keep it affordable.

Requirements:
- Room for a party of 12 (private room a plus!)
- BYOB
- Preferably downtown

Suggestions? Advice?

all this art is making me hungry!

shothotbot — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:33:28 -0800

Where is a nice place for lunch near the Brooklyn museum?

Romantic (lacto-)vegetarian-friendly places in Manhattan on the UES?

NucleophilicAttack — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:51:36 -0800

I'm trying to book dinner reservations on Valentine's Day in Manhattan, as the really nice places are filling up fast. Suggestions for romantic (lacto-)vegetarian-friendly places on the UES? Budget of ~$100 per person, pre-tip. A restaurant with lots of mixed drink and cocktail options would be preferable. So far I've found this and this question, but I'm looking for places that are not hardcore vegan (milk products open up a great many options!), and a place somewhere uptown and probably a bit fancier.

Thanks!

Heed the call of the fire pit

jujube — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 05:43:11 -0800

Help me feed my inner Midwesterner. . . recommend a grill-your-own-steak place in the NY/Philly area? As the weather turns cold, I've been hearing the call of a communal fire pit. Anyone know of of a grill your own steak house in or near NYC, Philly, or anywhere in between?

Best tapas in Manhattan?

yt — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 18:58:56 -0800

Where can I find the best tapas, in Manhattan, on a Monday? I'm looking for the best tapas bar / restaurant in Manhattan. Specifically for this Monday night.

And what should I order there? My preference is to non-seafood, less-meaty dishes.

Help me amuse my relatives!

silverstatue — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:39:45 -0800

tomorrow night I'm taking out a couple relatives who are visiting from Italy. they like the whole tourist scene, so i was thinking of taking them to some theme restaurant. much as it kills me to go to one of those cheesy places, i suspect that's what they'd like best. someone suggested the Mars 2112 place.... Is that at all fun? Or can anyone suggest anywhere else? I'm at a total loss. We need a dinner/drinks place that will also have some sort of entertainment. Bear in mind that A. I will be paying and I dont have much money! and B. one of them does not speak English, which knocks out any interactive theater type place. Also, they're not really the club/dancing/drunken crowd type. Um... in case it matters, they are two girls in their late twenties. As am I, and my cousin (from queens) who is coming along.

NYC Italian restaurants?

Flakypastry — Tue, 15 May 2007 08:42:31 -0800

Italian restaurant for a celebratory dinner in NYC? My oldest daughter is turning 16 this summer, and wants to go to Manhattan to visit. She has requested an Italian restaurant for her birthday. Can anyone recommend a great Italian place for a celebration dinner? Upscale/dressy is okay, food quality is most important.

I'm taking my parents out do dinner in Williamsburg Brooklyn! But where?

lucidreamstate — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:00:33 -0800

Folks are coming to visit from out of town and we'll be in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Saturday night. Where should we take them for dinner? A nice place where our parents from the midwest will feel comfortable. Good food and relaxed atmostphere. I'd like to show them the neighborhood a little bit, but I don't want to subject them to non-stop "Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah" during the meal.

Where do hipsters take their parents when they come to visit? Do hipsters even have parents? Or are they born fully grown in small pods buried beneath the Sea (the Thai restaurant)?

Thanksgiving Dinner served in NYC

onalark — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 08:58:14 -0800

Feed me and my sister Thanksgiving Dinner in NYC. Barring that, you could, you know, point me in the direction of a restaurant I can get reservations at that would be doing turkey and the trimmings. I live in the city but I don't know any good references yet ('cept you guys!) for looking up something like this.

Any other cool ideas for Thanksgiving Weekend are also appreciated. We're already seeing the G-Love concert and a musical the next night.
I'm in Upper West Side, I'd prefer a buffet, and my budget for dinner is up to $100 for the two of us.