Looking for a great Jewish Deli in Midtown go to Ben's on 38th between 7th and 8th. Typical atmosphere (noisy and hurried) but great portions and not priced too badly either.
Calle Ocho 446 Columbus Ave. (Upper West Side) at 81st St. 212-873-5025
Latin American Spanish/Tapas
I took my girlfriend to this place for her birthday. I was a little skeptical because she was the one to suggest it but from the time of arrival I was extremely pleased with the restaurant. The decor is inviting, food was delicious and the service was excellent. Great place for couples or groups. Lots of singles in the lounge area. I had the cuban steak w/ yucca fries, and it was perfect. I will go back to this place again and again.
Esashi 32 Avenue A (2nd and 3rd streets) New York, NY
This is my very favorite sushi in NYC. I've been eating there (as often as possible) for the past 20 years, and I've never, even once, been disappointed. The service is excellent, the atmosphere is pleasant, there's an early bird special, but the best part is that the fish is so, so, very, fresh. The flavor is intensely wonderful. Not a huge selection of fancy rolls for people who are into that, but if you want very good traditional sushi and sashimi, this is the place.
Frankie & Johnnie's Steakhouse 269 W 45th St New York, NY 10036 (212) 997-9494 Cross Street: Between Broadway and Eighth Avenue »www.frankieandjohnnies.com/
Steak was "ok", but I was expecting better. Service was great, you could tell they were pros. Was a little pricey as to be expected. If you're in the mood for a great steak, this is the not the place to go. Seems to attract a much older crowd.
Grey Dog's 33 Carmine St. Between Bedford & Bleecker St New York, NY 10014
Homey coffeehouse in Greenwich Village. I haven't tried their breakfast options but have heard its the absolute rave. What I have tried though were there jumbo sandwiches and soups.
You can order combo cold cuts with fresh homemade bread like 9-grain, rosemary-garlic, whole wheat, et cetera. You can also try their Cobb Salads (for the veggie lovers). Combine that with a cup of java and a cookie the size of of your briefcase (okay exaggerating just a tad but nevertheless, fairly big) and you're good to go.
Eat-in or Take-out. Word of warning though, the place can become packed fast.
Il Laboratorio del Gelato 95 Orchard St. between Broome & Delancey New York 10002
I would say this place rivals Ciao Bella for the best tasting gelato in town. However, like Ciao Bella, you don't know if they're going to have any "cool" and exotic flavours that day or not.
Kitchen/Market 218 8th Ave between W 21st St. & W 22nd St. New York 10011
Probably one of the best burrito shops in the city. Also one of the few places to grab California-style burritos. Be prepared to spend though as they charge close to $7 per burrito. However, they are filling since they overstuff. They also sell condiments, drinks native from Mexico.
This is the best steakhouse in NYC, end of discussion. It was started by the head guy from that "other" steakhouse accross the river (Peter Luger). They have literally the exact same menu items at almost the same prices. YES, they have those milky 5 ounce slices of bacon. YES, they have that world famous "Luger Style" steak sauce. NO, you dont need to go to Brooklyn for diner! I have been to both restaurants a number of times and I can honestly say that if the food was laid out side by side NOBODY could tell the difference. MarkJoseph's gets the same priority choice at the meat market that Luger's does, so you know how good it will be. If you happen to live in Manhattan, or if Manhattan is closer to you than Brooklyn, then go to MarkJoseph's instead. I can say with conviction that they serve the best bloody slab of cow that you can sink your incisors into. Get carnivorous and eat here tonight!
1633 Broadway, New York 10019 At 50th St Phone: 212-582-2112
Mars 2112 is an out of this world dining and entertainment experience. Travel to the planet Mars is still generations away, but Mars 2112, is the next best thing for anyone longing to visit the Red Planet; or for anyone else looking for great food and a good time unlike any other, whether here on Earth or elsewhere in the Solar System. This one-of-a-kind 35,000 sq. ft. bi-level, immersible environment provides an all-around atmosphere (with continuous big screen video projections of life on Mars), wherein you can enjoy a Marstini at the Starbar, dine on Terraforming Tuna tostada or Ziggy Stardust's Spaghetti in the Crystal Crater, stroll down CyberStreet, or shop in the Martian Retail Galaxy.
Sapore Cucina Italiana 55 Greenwich Ave (at Perry) New York, NY 10014 Phone: 212-229-0551
This is a great inexpensive italian resturant. The food is fresh. From inexpensive pastas to moderately priced meat and seafood items. Lunch is a rare treat: pasta dish, soup or salad and soda or coffee for $6.95. The place is small but with the warm weather comes outdoor seating.
Steve's Pizza 110 Trinity Pl. near Cedar St. New York, NY 10006
In my opinion, tastier than Lombardi's and Grimaldi's. It's located near WTC, and one of the favorite spots for good pizza. It's also a small establishment so you may consider just ordering take-out.