Inexpensive and Terrific Places to Feed Us?

[Lori in PA]

You all have been so helpful in the past and have pointed us to some great meals during our short forays into the city. This time we'll be there for a couple of weekdays/nights. We need:

cheap

high-ish protein (not dieting, just a health challenge)

delicious

We love to experience the best of the city, just with a tight budget. Do we ask too much?

Give us your ideas (and contact info/addresses if possible) for:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Dessert/Snacks

Coffee!

Thank you very much.

[Lori in PA]

You all have been so helpful in the past and have pointed us to some great meals during our short forays into the city. This time we'll be there for a couple of weekdays/nights. We need:

cheap

high-ish protein (not dieting, just a health challenge)

delicious

We love to experience the best of the city, just with a tight budget. Do we ask too much?

Give us your ideas (and contact info/addresses if possible) for:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Dessert/Snacks

Coffee!

Thank you very much.

←

Did I forget to say "please"? Please???

[Daniel]

I dont know the area too well.. I would have more suggestions if you were willing to travel a little.. For proximity you are close to my least favorite branch of grand sichuan and you also have

Wu Liang Ye

338 Lexington Ave | Btwn 39th & 40th St

Another Sichuan Restaurant that have both been discussed on Egullet by a lot of people..

Many people have said great things about :

Menchanko Tei

131 E 45th St, New York 10017

Btwn 3rd & Lexington Ave

Which is a Japanese Noodle House..

For bagels you are close to:

Ess-a-Bagel

831 3rd Ave | At 51st St

I really like there white fish salad.. I dont like there pickled lox..And they happen to have really good tofu cream cheese.. Dont ask me how I know that

[cdh]

You're asking a very tough question. 42 & Lex is the middle of the midtown office tower zone where nothing is cheap and the good stuff is extra double not cheap. The Dartagnan restaurant used to be in that neighborhood, and it was very good and high in protein (and duck fat) content... but it didn't survive.

That is not a neighborhood where you'll find artisan bakeries and pastry shops unless you walk at least 10 blocks south. In the high 20s on Lex there is a confusingly named german pastry shop run by a real character, called Chez le Chef... German stuff, german owner, french name, not exactly cheap but yummy pastries... A little further will get you into Murray Hill/Curry Hill where lots of good cheap indian food can be found... but much of the best is vegetarian, so not high protein.

You might consider hopping into the subway at Grand Central and taking the 7 train out into Queens, where you'll find a patchwork of neighborhoods with good cheap asian foods...

You're not going to find cheap in midtown Manhattan. Good is tough there if you're not willing to spend. And high protein and cheap rarely intersect except at BBQ joints and Rodizio places. Thinking of BBQ, Virgils is on 44th over on the West side near Times Square, so is walkable from where you are... Not dirt cheap, but tasty.

Edited October 14, 2006 by cdh (log)

[tommy]

given the chance, i'd eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at Wu Liang Ye, on Lex and 39.

The Amish Market has excellent brick oven pizza. They also have a lot of other options for lunch.

Chipotle is probably my favorite chain (43rd or 44th btwn lex/3rd). The carnitas is outstanding.

There are a bunch of Starbucks all around there. not sure if that fits your definition of "cheap" or "coffee".

You could jump on the 6 train and get down to the The Shake Shack within a few minutes for their very tasty roadside stand-style burgers.

Darbar on 45th has a very good 10 dollar (indian) lunch buffet.

[raji]

cheap

high-ish protein (not dieting, just a health challenge)

delicious

We love to experience the best of the city, just with a tight budget. Do we ask too much?

Give us your ideas (and contact info/addresses if possible) for:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Dessert/Snacks

Coffee!

←

You know, I live in Midtown West, work in Midtown East, and think Midtown's got a bad rap on here. Per city block there are just as many great, secret, cheap, gourmet, and any other positive factor that you would find in other great dining 'hoods like Tribeca, but there's just tons of bullshit mixed in because you have huge throngs of tourists, workers, and human traffic from Penn, MSG, GCT, etc.

It's too late, you can find every place I mention on newyork.citysearch.com or on Google.

But I'm not gonna even get into it until you tell me what your budget is, and then your radius. I WILL tell you you will find some of the best, and cheap, korean, japanese, indian food in the metro area within your immediate area, so I hope you like food from the Asian continent.

[Lori in PA]

You know, I live in Midtown West, work in Midtown East, and think Midtown's got a bad rap on here. Per city block there are just as many great, secret, cheap, gourmet, and any other positive factor that you would find in other great dining 'hoods like Tribeca, but there's just tons of bullshit mixed in because you have huge throngs of tourists, workers, and human traffic from Penn, MSG, GCT, etc.

It's too late, you can find every place I mention on newyork.citysearch.com or on Google.

But I'm not gonna even get into it until you tell me what your budget is, and then your radius. I WILL tell you you will find some of the best, and cheap, korean, japanese, indian food in the metro area within your immediate area, so I hope you like food from the Asian continent.

←

The dear federal government allots The Husband a per diem of $64 per day. Can two people eat well in NCY (breakfasts and lunches in different locations) for that?

For breakfast, I'll bring our ubiquitous hard-cooked eggs for a protein component, so a later-morning "snack" of a bagel or a muffin or something is ok. We like the Asian food we've had very much, though we are from a Tiny Town, so our knowledge/experience is almost certainly more limited than yours. The tricky thing I've found re eating cheap with plenty of protein is that the cheapest meals involve lots of noodles/rice/grains, which my body can only take in small quantities. I would be indebted to you if you can give me specifics on your favorite places in that area. Please imagine you are directing a small child and feel free to suggest specific dishes, even, medium heat and down.

As an aside, one of the people The Husband will be meeting with kindly offered to email a list of his favorite inexpensive restaurants. It includes:

Caviar Russe

The Sea Grill

One By Land Two If By Sea

Balthazar

Bravo Giannis

(Hmm, there seem to be a lot of levels that define "inexpensive"...)

[Lori in PA]

I dont know the area too well.. I would have more suggestions if you were willing to travel a little..

←

We are willing to travel a bit -- we've (I've) mostly overcome the subway's intimidation on previous trips. It's just that our schedule is a bit uncertain (Husband very busy and me at leisure) and I at least need to know where I can eat (my desire for great eating experiences are greater than The Husband's.) while I'm on my own.

What I really wish someone would do is to give me advice about a "Perfect (Rainy) Day" in NYC for a not-too-energetic almost-forty-year-old woman who loves good food, good coffee, bookstore and museum browsing, and just plain people watching. For example, I've always wished to go to Zabar's, but look at the address and think, "So, if I go is it going to take half the morning to get there or would that be pretty easy?" You see my level.

Edited October 16, 2006 by Lori in PA (log)

[Lori in PA]

There are a bunch of Starbucks all around there. not sure if that fits your definition of "cheap" or "coffee".

←

Starbucks is fine if there aren't other good options, but I'd like to try something else. You see, I come from an area where Starbucks is the best thing available, but the egulleteers lead me to believe there are better places...

[cdh]

For example, I've always wished to go to Zabar's, but look at the address and think, "So, if I go is it going to take half the morning to get there or would that be pretty easy?" You see my level.

←

Just remember that Manhattan is really pretty small. 20 north-south blocks = 1 mile. From 42nd (where you are) to 80th (where Zabars is) is is a pretty short walk, even accounting for the need to cross the park you're looking at 2.5 miles maybe. You could walk up Madison Ave window shopping, cross the park in the 70s to catch the beautiful Bethesda Fountain, and then visit the holy trinity of grocery stores on the Upper West Side: Fairway at 74th and Broadway, Citarella next door to Fairway, and then Zabars at 80th and Bway.

Or you could walk 40 blocks south by way of Madison Square and Grammercy and the Flatiron building to explore Greenwich Village and its eastward expansion into the Lower East Side, which has lots of nice cafes and such. Particularly good on the East are the MudSpot on 9th St just off of 2nd ave, Podunk on 5th between 2nd and Bowery. Down in that neighborhood, you could visit legendary NYC classic spots like Russ & Daughters (for smoked fish) or Katz's Deli for Pastrami (and I'd bet that one $13 pastrami sandwich will keep you fed for several meals... ), or any number of restaurants. The Village is where NYU is, so there are plenty of student-budget sorts of places, many moreso than you'd find in midtown. Then you could follow Broadway down into SoHo and wander around there.

Edited October 16, 2006 by cdh (log)

[Lori in PA]

Thank you, CDH -- that is exactly the sort of information I need. You are kind to provide it.

Edited to add:

I have had a pastrami at Katz's. I was able to eat approx. 1/2 of the meat by really trying and none of the bread -- good!

Edited October 16, 2006 by Lori in PA (log)

[cdh]

Well, if you've had the pastrami, you should try the corned beef or the hot dogs... mmmm mmmm mmmm.

Glad to be of service.

One bit of advice for you: if the weather is reasonably nice, walk everywhere. Manhattan is very disorienting if your point of reference is emerging from a hole in the ground. When you walk you'll get a feel for where neighborhoods change character, and where they are in relation to each other. Taking the subway is great for getting to a specific spot, but very bad for giving you a sense of how the whole place is layed out. Second best solution is taking the bus, since you'll still see the scenery, but you won't get to feel what's going on in the neighborhoods you're passing through.

[zoe b]

If you do the uptown food trip, which I highly recommend--and they aren't touristy places, everyone is just doing some shopping, you'll see all sorts of different foods and cooking equipment.

And you can pickup great things for picnic meals and snacks--also, Zabars generally has good and really cheap chocolate bars up front near the registers that make great dessert with some fruit

there are also still a few cheap places to eat in that neighborhood.

Apparently, La Caridad (72nd & Broadway) is open again. Now it isn't fabulous food--it's Cuban Chinese--and really a mish mash of both those cuisines--but you can get cheap protein there--although I love the beans and rice and plantanos--and it's a neighborhood place with good people watching opportunites--no decor, though.

Also, there's a Gray's Papaya stand down by the subway station at 72nd St--the cheapest and most filling meal --a hot dog and their smoothie--I haven't eaten there for awhile, so I don't know how much they charge now--$3?

Another great area to visit is Chinatown--you can wander around here for an afternoon and get something to eat almost anywhere.

[raji]

(Hmm, there seem to be a lot of levels that define "inexpensive"...)

Yeah I'm confused. That's $64 for 2 people for Breakfast and Lunch? What are you going to do for dinner? Or, is that $64 for one person for all 3 meals? I'm confused!

Edited October 16, 2006 by raji (log)

[bigbear]

Although we haven't been there in a while, we have always enjoyed Via Brasil at 34 West 46th Street. Make sure that you try the caipirinhas.

[Lori in PA]

(Hmm, there seem to be a lot of levels that define "inexpensive"...)

Yeah I'm confused. That's $64 for 2 people for Breakfast and Lunch? What are you going to do for dinner? Or, is that $64 for one person for all 3 meals? I'm confused!

←

That's $64 for the day -- all food. I'm accompanying my husband, who is on a business trip. We'd like to feed both of us for the per diem amount, but obviously may have to go over that figure.

[raji]

(Hmm, there seem to be a lot of levels that define "inexpensive"...)

Yeah I'm confused. That's $64 for 2 people for Breakfast and Lunch? What are you going to do for dinner? Or, is that $64 for one person for all 3 meals? I'm confused!

←

That's $64 for the day -- all food. I'm accompanying my husband, who is on a business trip. We'd like to feed both of us for the per diem amount, but obviously may have to go over that figure.

←

OK now I've got you -

Well I think that means a bagel in the morning, a lunch special, and then dinner, or going to a nicer restaurant for lunch, and a cheap dinner...

And no booze...

I'd go to:

Japanese -

Katsuhama

Aburiya Kinnosuke (teishoku lunch is cheap)

Saburi

Indian -

Madras Mahal, Udipi Palace, take your pick

K-town -

Gah Mee Ohk

Woo Chon

GCT breakfast/lunch -

Many good options in the dining concourse, unlike Penn Station

Deli -

Eisenberg's

OK that should start you off...

[daisy17]

Sip Sak has very good Turkish food, is near where you'll be, and is not expensive. Times review

Wu Liang Ye, mentioned upthread, has excellent Chinese food and is not too expensive.

As an aside, one of the people The Husband will be meeting with kindly offered to email a list of his favorite inexpensive restaurants. It includes:

Caviar Russe   

The Sea Grill

One By Land Two If By Sea

Balthazar

Bravo Giannis

←

No offense to your husband's connection, but I don't see how any of these places could be characterized as inexpensive. Or even good, other than Balthazar. Balthazar can be fairly inexpensive for breakfast for brunch, and it's a fun place, but it's definitely not inexpensive for dinner.

If you're free all day and curious, I would hop on a subway and explore neighborhoods on food. Zabars is an institution. The Lower East Side, which was mentioned by cdh in his Russ & Daughters/Katz's recommendation, is a terrific choice as well. (I would add Yonah Shimmel's knishes to that list, they're all on Houston.) The LES is just a heartbeat away from Chinatown - I like Big Wong for roast pork ($5, get some ginger scallion sauce on the side) and Thai Son for vietnamese. And Soho, the East Village and the Village are all right there; you could make that one day and would not be bored for a minute. There's a tiny greek place in Soho that I love called Snack, it's not expensive at all. One of my favorite food blocks is Bleecker between 6th and 7th - Murray's Cheese, Cones, Johns Pizza, Ottomanelli's. And right around the corner is Pearl Oyster Bar, which is great for lunch and while not super cheap, the food is fantastic. Same goes for Mary's Fish Camp further west.

I am personally a big fan of taking the bus (especially in new cities) - you can get an understanding of where things are in relation to each other, and you can always hop off if something looks interesting.

Enjoy.

[Daniel]

Let me show you this website that will make traveling around New York a lot easier.. Hopstop.com... This is point to point directions either walking, or using public transportation.. Its very helpful and you can plug some things in now to give you a feeling.. http://hopstop.com/

[Gina Suk]

For a delightful snack, I recommend you try Beard Papa, substantially sized Japanese style cream puffs.

Cafe Zaiya, 18 E 41st St (between Madison and 5th) sells them for under $2 each.

Zaiya also sells other Japanese style sandwiches, lunch boxes, pastries, and snacks for budget prices.

Edited October 16, 2006 by Gina Suk (log)

[raji]

For a delightful snack, I recommend you try Beard Papa, substantially sized Japanese style cream puffs.

Cafe Zaiya, 18 E 41st St (between Madison and 5th) sells them for under $2 each.

Zaiya also sells other Japanese style sandwiches, lunch boxes, pastries, and snacks for budget prices.

←

I was gonna recommend Zaiya too... it's the best of Japan in one little spot, and so cheap too!!! You can get curried filled pastries for $1.50, or a big wedge of a sandwich for $1.75. I hope they never realize how cheap they are selling things at. It's just the Japanese price control infection... Anyway, those are actually sold by Parisienne but it's all in the same place

Beard Papa is great too

[Sneakeater]

I always figured it was that the exchange rate is so crazy that they never could figure out how to charge in dollars. The curry pastries are certainly a ridiculously cheap lunch.

Edited October 16, 2006 by Sneakeater (log)

[Lori in PA]

Thanks, all -- will report back...

[raji]

I always figured it was that the exchange rate is so crazy that they never could figure out how to charge in dollars.  The curry pastries are certainly a ridiculously cheap lunch.

←

nono

Don't quote me on these, but from recollection...

Japan

Cost of Pet Bottle of Pocari Sweat, 1996, ¥120

Cost of Pet Bottle of Pocari Sweat, 2006, ¥120

US

Cost of Coke 2liter 1996, $.99

Cost of Coke 2liter 2006, $1.99

Todd36's gonna swoop in and debate me, but Japan may be the world's only example of a truly successfuly socialist, controlled economy. The prices, on the whole, don't change!

Edited October 16, 2006 by raji (log)

[tommy]

the Midtown Lunch Blog might be a good resource. lots of places listed.