Must try food/bars in NYC???

[uclaLabrat]

I like that place a lot.

speaking of the Theater District, Delta Grill also has really great cajun food.

personally, I'd take 5 Napkin Burgers over Shake Shack, though, unless you want your friends to experience an hour waiting in line as part of the "experience" (or if you can go there for an early lunch right as they open)

5 napkin is pretty awesome, they're also a bourbon bar, which I found exceptional. Haven't had a bad meal at 5 napkin, that place is really damn good.

I don't know what the big 4 is for Pizza, I know about Lombardi's and Grimaldi's, I'm pretty sure John's is one of them. John's is hands down the best pizza I've had in my life. Best location is theater district on 44th between 7th and 8th:

http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/

It's an awesome place, old converted church with a giant open ceiling and mezzanine and murals on the walls. Check it out if you haven't been.

I don't know if any trip to NYC is complete without hitting up the Comedy Cellar, but it's an awesome venue in Soho off bleeker. Call for reservations on the weekend, the Olive tree cafe above it is where the comedians hang out in between shows and sets so you can go introduce yourself. I almost said Hi to Greg Giraldo and Dave Attel but I didn't want to bother them, I'm kicking myself now. I did go up and introduce myself to Dave Attel afterwards, and I had a great time.

 

[LegendKiller]

5 napkin is pretty awesome, they're also a bourbon bar, which I found exceptional. Haven't had a bad meal at 5 napkin, that place is really damn good.

I don't know what the big 4 is for Pizza, I know about Lombardi's and Grimaldi's, I'm pretty sure John's is one of them. John's is hands down the best pizza I've had in my life. Best location is theater district on 44th between 7th and 8th:

http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/

It's an awesome place, old converted church with a giant open ceiling and mezzanine and murals on the walls. Check it out if you haven't been.

I don't know if any trip to NYC is complete without hitting up the Comedy Cellar, but it's an awesome venue in Soho off bleeker. Call for reservations on the weekend, the Olive tree cafe above it is where the comedians hang out in between shows and sets so you can go introduce yourself. I almost said Hi to Greg Giraldo and Dave Attel but I didn't want to bother them, I'm kicking myself now. I did go up and introduce myself to Dave Attel afterwards, and I had a great time.

John's is better than Grimaldis. Besides the pizza, it has a better atmosphere, is more accessible, and is cheaper.

 

[Stifko]

The only must do thing when I visit NYC is the halal cart. Then eating leftover halal the next morning.

Yes but which one? There are so many of them. I like the cart on the South East corner of 43rd and 6th.
I have not been there in years but their food was always delicious.

There is a little hipster steak house on Metropolitan Avenue and Havemeyer Street in BillyBerg called St. Anselm.
Go there to eat. The food is amazingly good.

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/st-anselm/

 

[Jay5]

I have to ask... Why would anyone think that someone visiting from Germany would want to dine at American versions of either a French or Italian restaurant? Think about it.

because new york pizza is really good?

 

[Ns1]

because new york pizza from one of the big 4 is really good?

ftfy, cuz some of those NY pizza joints sucks ass.

 

[Carson Dyle]

because new york pizza is really good?

Um... Did you fail to read the rest of my response? New York pizza would probably be a good bet. Precisely because it's typically not very Italian. And the typical American pizza joint is a far cry from an Italian restaurant. I'd expect someone from Germany who does even a moderate amount of travelling to be familiar with real Italian food, which is why I'd say skip the visits to Italian restaurants in New York. It would be a lot different if the visitor was from Kentucky or Texas.

 

[Carson Dyle]

ftfy, cuz some of those NY pizza joints sucks ass.

There are a hell of a lot more great pizza joints in NYC beside some four places written up by some food critic.

 

[Ns1]

There are a hell of a lot more great pizza joints in NYC beside some four places written up by some food critic.

maybe, but it's most certainly not every place.

went to two pizza joints heralded by locals and both were very "meh". i was most certainly expecting every place to be dropping gold nuggets cuz there's supposedly something in the water (no there isn't).

 

[uclaLabrat]

maybe, but it's most certainly not every place.

went to two pizza joints heralded by locals and both were very "meh". i was most certainly expecting every place to be dropping gold nuggets cuz there's supposedly something in the water (no there isn't).

The hell there isn't, it's usually e coli or syphilis

 

[Fern]

Um... Did you fail to read the rest of my response? New York pizza would probably be a good bet. Precisely because it's typically not very Italian. And the typical American pizza joint is a far cry from an Italian restaurant. I'd expect someone from Germany who does even a moderate amount of travelling to be familiar with real Italian food, which is why I'd say skip the visits to Italian restaurants in New York. It would be a lot different if the visitor was from Kentucky or Texas.

Seeing Germans on vacation in Europe I'd say there is a good chance the Italian food they know is "tourist food" and not "real Italian". Some of the worst Italian food I've ever had was in Italy (e.g., pizza in Venice). And it's not just me, my wife is Italian (Basilicata region) and she'd say the same thing.

Fern

 

[Carson Dyle]

Seeing Germans on vacation in Europe I'd say there is a good chance the Italian food they know is "tourist food" and not "real Italian". Some of the worst Italian food I've ever had was in Italy (e.g., pizza in Venice). And it's not just me, my wife is Italian (Basilicata region) and she'd say the same thing.

Not sure what "tourist" food would be, other than cheap. Cheap food tends to be very hit or miss, no matter where you go.

But it also sounds a little like the situation of someone from South Carolina visiting Kansas City and hating the KC BBQ because it's not like he gets back home. That would probably be especially true of Italians who have very different regional cuisines (and language dialects and ... just about everything else).

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Ramen:
Ippudo hands down. Morimoto can't touch this.

What is your take on Momofuku noodle bar? Last time I was in NYC I went there for Ramen and it was great.

 

[fstime]

NYC seems like it's mostly overrated, overhyped, and incredibly expensive. But you cannot blame the restaurants when they are paying tens of thousands in rent every month. I mean, when a bottle of water costs $5 at a bar, you know something is up.

 

[gotsmack]

Don't take your friends to a steak house. They have steak houses in Germany and really, there's not much you can do to a steak. The skill is in the aging, not the cooking.

Take your friends to eat some unique food. Like Soft Serve Fruit Co right by Union Square Park. Maybe right after you go to the Saturday Green Market.

Maybe the Meatball Shop. It's not great, but it's fun and unique.

 

[LegendKiller]

NYC seems like it's mostly overrated, overhyped, and incredibly expensive. But you cannot blame the restaurants when they are paying tens of thousands in rent every month. I mean, when a bottle of water costs $5 at a bar, you know something is up.

I would kinda agree with this, however, there are some *really* good restaurants. Ones like Blue Ribbon that aren't really these huge to-dos are pretty good places.

to me the smell, crappy quality of life, and expense, wasn't worth it. Especially since I found a company willing to pay me my NYC salary in MN.

 

[Dari]

NYC seems like it's mostly overrated, overhyped, and incredibly expensive. But you cannot blame the restaurants when they are paying tens of thousands in rent every month. I mean, when a bottle of water costs $5 at a bar, you know something is up.

Compared to where? The same places where people dress up to go to Walmart? Or where Applebees or a mall is like the place to be?

I would kinda agree with this, however, there are some *really* good restaurants. Ones like Blue Ribbon that aren't really these huge to-dos are pretty good places.

to me the smell, crappy quality of life, and expense, wasn't worth it. Especially since I found a company willing to pay me my NYC salary in MN.

Depends on what you're looking for. There's nothing like New York City. A place where there are so many cultures and people is incredible in and of itself. Then there is the intellectual and competitive experience. Some of us enjoy that more than being around the same old same old where everybody knows everybody's business. I could never live in a small town again. Ever. If I want some greenery we'll just get another home in Connecticut or somewhere close by. Who knows, maybe I'll grow out of the city life but I doubt it.

 

[Jay5]

Compared to where? The same places where people dress up to go to Walmart? Or where Applebees or a mall is like the place to be?

and guess what? those people who dress up to go to walmart are alot happier then the dumb liberals who cant drink a certain size of soda or be able to enjoy their 2nd ammendment rights in a dump like new york city

 

[Dari]

and guess what? those people who dress up to go to walmart are alot happier then the dumb liberals who cant drink a certain size of soda or be able to enjoy their 2nd ammendment rights in a dump like new york city

They better be happier. Even a dog is happy when you throw a ball at it. WTF else is he going to do? And I wouldn't go about bragging about the intelligence of Cletus and Jethro or the fine folks at Liberty University. Fact is, New York is the intellectual, political, commercial, financial, cultural, entertainment and media capital of the world. Nothing else comes close. And the City's population is increasing. You can take your gun and stick it up your asshole. There are better things to do and experience than shooting animals or people or cans.

 

[MrSquished]

and guess what? those people who dress up to go to walmart are alot happier then the dumb liberals who cant drink a certain size of soda or be able to enjoy their 2nd ammendment rights in a dump like new york city

YEEEEEEEHAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

hey, that strip mall nearby you is surely amazing.

 

[alkemyst]

nothing about women on that list OP.

fail.

 

[Carson Dyle]

NYC is a nice place to visit. Just not for very long and not very often.

Wouldn't live there if it was the last place on this planet, though.

 

[Dari]

NYC is a nice place to visit. Just not for very long and not very often.

Wouldn't live there if it was the last place on this planet, though.

Yeah, some people just like things slow. Or they just weren't cut out for a competitive environment.