We are arriving into NYC on Sunday evening, March 27th, probably around 7 or 8 pm. Will be staying at the Travel Inn at 515 W 42nd St. Please advise me on a few choices for dinner, at reasonable prices. I%26#39;m looking for the first meal to really show me New York City at it%26#39;s best....whether it be a hot dog or a great sandwich...Thank you.
Awesome NY food the 1st night
Unfortunately, no ';one'; restaurant will show you ';New York at its best';--whatever that means...and NY at its best is DEFINITELY NOT about ';reasonable prices';!!!! Gotham Bar %26amp; Grill in Greenwich Village is a great example of a great NY eatery (about $70 a person); Notaro on Second Ave. bet. 34th and 35th Sts is a great example of a neighborhood Italian restaurant with very modest prices; any Au Bon Pan is a great example of an upscale fast-good-food quick stop sandwich shop (and there are many sprinkled around the city); any of the quaint bistros/cafes in the Chelsea section (8th Avenue from about 17th to 23rd St) are great examples of non-pretentious hip spots to brunch/lunch/or have dinner. Or you could just wander over to Sixth Avenue (formerly ';Avenue of the Americas'; which only a tourist would refer to that way), across from Radio City, around lunchtime, where half a dozen or so carts ply their culinary wares--from Greek to Italian to Kosher to Chinese! (THATs the NY City experience that many workers enjoy daily!) Hope this is all of some help. Would you be able to answer the question easily if I asked the same one about Louisville, say?
Awesome NY food the 1st night
I just posted this in response to a query from someone else staying at the Travel Inn --
Chez Josephine is always recommended here, though I haven%26#39;t been lucky enough to eat there. For a nice casual meal, the West Bank Cafe is good. They%26#39;re both on 42nd St. between 9th-10th Avenues. You%26#39;ll also find the Westway Diner on 9th Ave. and 43rd St. Though you won%26#39;t see it on ';Seinfeld,'; this is the real diner that was the inspiration for the one used as a setting on the show. (The exterior of the show%26#39;s diner set is Tom%26#39;s, on the UWS.) That might be interesting if you%26#39;re a fan of the show.
There are a couple of nice bistros on 43rd St. %26amp; 9th Ave. too. I prefer Le Madeleine (www.lemadeleine.com) but Marseille is also good (www.marseillenyc.com).
For a real ';New York'; experience, I%26#39;d probably recommend Joe Allen%26#39;s on Restaurant Row. www.joeallenrestaurant.com
You%26#39;ll need a reservation though. Typical (though good) American food and very good burgers, this popular theater district restaurant is a hang-out for actors and others involved in theater. And probably the best-known celeb spotting place.
Seems as though I have offended you geohab...not sure why, I guess my wording was what it should be. I have heard so much about New York, I just wanted a restaurant that says, You can only get this in New York...that%26#39;s all. Louisville? It%26#39;s pretty much the same as Indianapolis, St. Louis...in a lot of ways I guess. I thought this forum was to ask New Yorkers about their city.
Bettina_NYC didn%26#39;t seem to have a problem or attitude answering it. Thank you Bettina. Hope I meet New Yorkers nice like you.
I%26#39;m a REALLY big Chez Josephine fan and as I%26#39;ve said on numerous occasions that%26#39;s not because it%26#39;s cuisine is the best money can buy but because of the owner Jean Claude.
If there%26#39;s a more gracious, charming, and endearing restauranteur in New York than Jean Claude I haven%26#39;t met him yet
He has that rare ability to make you feel like a dear friend who has dropped in after long years of seperation. When he drops by your table on his nightly mission to charm the world, it is as if you are the only person in the restaurant. Donald Trump could be at the next table and you would still have all of Jean Claude%26#39;s attention.
These snippets came from Menu Pages. I have not purposefully excluded any poor reviews:
Posted by jane lord on 11/23/2004
My first visit to new york
My first visit to new york was made especially fabulous by an evening at Chez Josephine. We only happened upon it because it was just across the street from our hotel but we went for a special birthday meal for my mother. Jean-Claude had greeted us earlier in the evening and although we were tired and dishevelled from our exertions during the day he was so warm and unpretentious he would have seated us immediately. However we returned later having scrubbed up o.k. and his wonderful staff made it a fabulous night to remember with their attentive and humourous service-- just wish the night could have lasted much longer! Merci Pierre and merci Jean-Claude! You are first on my list on my return.
Posted by Greg M. on 09/20/2004
Magnificent evening at Chez Josephine
What an absolutely amazing evening at a wonderful bistro! This was my first visit to Chez Josephine. We arrived almost 45-mins early and were seated immediately by the gregarious Jean Claude. The staff is courteous and attentive. We had been to a 4 p.m. matinee that afternoon and walked into the middle of the evening pre-theatre rush. We let our waiter (Jarry) know we were in no hurry and spent a wonderful, relaxed evening enjoying the food, wine, music (live piano bar) and most of all, the atmosphere! Three hours later as we ordered our coffee and dessert Jean Claude sent over a round of dessert port wine with his compliments! Thank you, Jean Claude, I know there will be many more visits to Chez Josephine in the future!
Posted by Booozoo Miller on 08/31/2004
A must see on Broadway
I have been to Chez Josephine dozens of times and it is always a delight! Jean Claude is the best host in New York City.
Posted by frequent theatergoer on 08/01/2004
Never a disappointment
A charming and friendly host, attentive waitstaff, a varied and interesting menu that isn%26#39;t ';too wayout';, and well prepared food at reasonable prices. What more could you ask for! We return again and again and are never disappointed.
Posted by Marty on 06/08/2004
Fabulous
This is a place you must visit. Jean Claude, the host and son of legendary performer Josephine Baker, makes you feel wonderful. Whenever me and my wife are in the city, our first stop is Chez Josephine. And let me not forget that the food is excellent.
Posted by jessi on 02/02/2004
One of our absolute favorites
Warm, friendly greeting and service. Wonderful piano bar. Excellent food, especially the lobster bisque soup and the desserts! Delightful tributes to Josephine present throughout.
Posted by Anonymous on 01/19/2004
excellent food, excellent value
Visited this small French restaurant with another couple. We all ordered different meals and were all very pleqsed with what we ordered. The prices were very fair. Have recommended this restaurant to other visiting NY City.
I would also consider Balthazar for a late-night, can%26#39;t-miss dining experience. It%26#39;s legendary.
That sounds great Carpenter. Thank you so much!
Sorry you mis-read the tone of my message! I meant all of what I said in a friendly, helpful way....OUCH! Re-reading my message, I see how you could have misinterpreted it to reflect an ';attitude';...I am, of course, humbled and apologetic. I am, as my wife and son will tell you, a REALLY, REALLY nice guy! My reference to Louisville was by way of suggesting that YOU would be as hard-pressed as we are in giving you a simple answer to your apparently simple request to find the ';real'; NYC at its best. From your answer, I guess you would NOT be! Enjoy!
I disagree with geohab....you can experience NYC food at reasonable prices, with a real NYC vibe.
Besides, he lives on Long Island, not NYC (no offense).
And yes, you will meet lots of nice New Yorkers.........you will have a great time.
Thanks for responding geohab...maybe I was asking a lot, but I just want to come back to KY and say, WOW I ate at this place and it was so NEW YORK! I believe you that you are a nice person, otherwise you wouldn%26#39;t have responded! NYCgirl..thanks for your response as well...I am sure there are wonderful people in NYC and I look forward to our trip and meeting them...We are so excited!!
Chez Josephine is an excellent idea with a fun atmosphere. Joe Allen%26#39;s is another great idea for good, reasonably priced American food. Hell%26#39;s Kitchen has very good Mexican. Virgil%26#39;s BBQ has great ribs (although maybe not as good as you%26#39;re used to). 44 southwest is supposed to be good Italian. I haven%26#39;t been.
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