Where can we get a nice meal in Manhattan without breaking the bank?

Question

My boyfriend and I are taking a trip to NYC in April for a few days. We're not cheapskates, but we know dining in New York can cost a pretty penny. We're planning to get the CityPass to save on admission to the museums and such, and we know that part of that is a discount to certain restaurants in the Patina Group. But that's only going to cover a couple meals at most.

We're trying to find some good, inexpensive, casual restaurants where we can eat dinner without spending $100 and don't have to dress up - we're planning to travel fairly light, which means other than our outfits for The Lion King, khakis are about as dressy as we'll be packing.

Our hotel is located on W. 31st Street, a couple blocks away from Park Avenue (I believe that's part of Midtown?). It doesn't include breakfast, so if anyone knows of any places in that area where we can get breakfast for cheap, that'd help too. Also lunch suggestions around Manhattan, particularly near the MET and the MoMA, etc.

Answer 1

There is a great French Bistro on West 55th Street called LaBonne Soup...its more of a neighborhood hangout. check out their web site at labonnesoup.com. For breakfast, one day if you are up toward the park go to the Brooklyn Diner...its got great and huge breakfasts...you may want to split. And there are a ton of great restaurants on 9th avenue between the 40s and 50s....Uncle Nicks, Amy's Bread which is a bakery and also has fantastic sandwiches...El Centro has great Mexican....and my favorite Italian is Amarone's ...

absolutely wonderful food, friendly, reasonable...

Check out the web page  Chow.com you can put in where in New York you are going to be and have a bunch of foodies make recommendations....alot of them locals that will steer you in the right direction. If you join you can  post questions that people always answer.  If you really want to splurge one night....my favorite restaurant in Brooklyn is called the River Cafe...its on an old barge near the foot of the brooklyn bridge so you are facing the New York Skyline....which is the best view....Oh and I just thought of another good restaurant...moderate to expensive by midwestern standards....its The Boat House in Central Park...best time of day to go - lunch....the view of the Dakota and the high rises that rim the park and great when your sitting outside or by the window in this beautiful park at the restaurant by the lake...and the food is very good....lunch there would be quite reasonable...

Answer 2

There are hundreds of places to get a cheap breakfast and lunch all over Manhattan -- delis, coffee shops, bagels shops. I can recommend Miss K's deli on 30th and Madison. (Tables upstairs)

For dinner theres's a place called the Crooked Knife on 30th between Madison and Park that is Very Reasonable.  A pizza place called Bella Napoli on Madison near 31st. And Another one called Venuzzio on 31st and Lex. You can also walk over  to Third Ave. There are two or three restaurants on every block between 34 and 14. La Giara near 34th  is a good cheap Italian.

Also. I don't know if  you like Indian Food -- there are lots of cheap Indian places on Lexington around 28th. Also, every Chinese restaurant has a lunch special from 5.96 to 7.95. and there is one on almost every block.

If you want to be a little more adventurous try Greenwich Village or the East Village -- just walk around.

The Cafeteria at the Met is good and Cheap.

Answer 3

http://www.nyc.com/search/find.aspx?seci...

Answer 4

Juniors.  We were in Ny in Feb and were looking for a place to eat near The Lion King.  It is a 2 minute walk from the show and the food was great, cheap, and came out fast.  By the way do not take any food or drinks into the show in your purse, they check and make you get rid of them.

Answer 5

My favorite restaurant in the City is Cafe' Espanol on Houston and Carmine street. If you're taking MTA - Take the #1 train to Houston and its a block away. You can get a lobster dinner for $27. If you're into vegetarian food there is a vegan restaurant called the Red Bamboo in the village. You can take the A,C,E,D trains to West 4th.

Answer 6

Check out Film Center Cafe on 9th Avenue in h**l's Kitchen.  The atmosphere is fun, the food is great and the prices can't be beat.

Answer 7

You do not have to dress up for most restaurants in NYC.  I recommend a Thai restaurant called Spice on 10th Avenue and University Place (train to Union Square)  Appetizers are generous and about $5 and you can get an entree from $9 to $17.

I have dined at the Blue Water Grill - more fancy food and good quality for under $100 - if you want to experience a typical NYC upscale restaurant.  These days to do this you might want to share an appetizer and order a non-alcoholic beverage and dine in the downstairs dining room which has a Jazz band at night.

For other places check Zagat.com or citysearch.  Meals with a 20+ rating are pretty good.  Also check the link below, they have the menu of NYC restaurants with prices and user ratings.