Walkabout #2 Authentic NYC Restaurant List

Where the locals eat:

Near Times Square / Theater District / Midtown

In no particular order:

• Turco, 609 9th Ave. – amazing Turkish food. Don’t neglect to sample the condiments in the squeeze bottles on the table, home made and the best!
• Souvlaki GR (there are two in the neighborhood.  Really good Greek food.
• Lazzara’s Pizza Cafe (upstairs) – hard to find hole in the wall family Italian with great food (not just pizza).
• 5 napkins Burger. Family run and fun in the middle of the theater district.
• Upside Pizza (it’s different and very good) or Joe’s pizza (if you want Joe’s pizza go to the one on Carmine Street in the village, it’s much better).
• *Main Noodle – 6th avenue and 37th street.  Decades old family Chinese – authentic New York, great food.  If you go in there a second time they’ll remember what you ordered the first time.
• La Masseria, 235 W48th st, upscale authentic NY Italian
• Mighty Quinn BBQ – local chain all around the city, quick and very tasty.
• Turntable Chicken Jazz, 20 West 33rd. just west of 5th avenue, open late, chill place to hang out for a late meal. there is also a
• Turntable Chicken Rock, 290 5th Avenue – same concept, different music.

How’s that for a start for authentic NY ethnic food from an authentic native New Yorker?

DINERS: (these are authentic NYC diners, leave the ones with the big flashy signs to the tourists).

Near Times Square / Theater District / Midtown

• Westway, 614 9th Avenue @43rd street. popular with broadway show people.
• Skylight, 402 W34th st., great food
• Flame, 893 9th Avenue (formerly the Olympic Flame before they got sued by The Olympics)
• Red flame, 67 W44th st.
• Galaxy diner, 665 9th Avenue

Below Midtown:

• Waverly Diner, 385 6th Avenue
• Washington Square Diner, 150 West 4th Street
• *Hectors Cafe & Diner, 44 Little West 12th Street (meatpacking district, Law and Order filmed around here). Great Place for breakfast / lunch if you’re in the meatpacking district/Highline QNY
• *La Bonbonniere, 28 8th Avenue THE place to go for breakfast QNY
• Empire Diner, 210 10th avenue (famous EAT sign)
• *Edwards, 136 West Broadway (TriBeCa) American Bistro, GREAT weekend brunches, i LOVE their huevos rancheros.

If you want more creative restaurants NOT near Times Square i got those too:

• Shabu Tatsu for Shabu Shabu on East 10th street (east village) is my favorite go to to take out of towners – incredible experience, then go around the corner to Veniero’s cafe for dessert.
• B&H Dairy on 2nd avenue in the East Village  for soup or breakfast, they bake their own Challah bread fresh all day every day and it comes with your meal for free.  OUT STANDING and quintessential NY.
• *Mamouns Fallafel   College student territory (NYU’s-ville) Cheap eats with lots of flavor. best falafel in The City, best Tahini too. extra Tahini for free, just ask!
• Saigon Shack on MacDougal Street, right across the street from Mamouns, great Pho.
• *Pesce Pasta on Bleecker street, my go to family Italian restaurant.
• *Miznon, or anywhere in the Chelsea market (there is a lobster place in there two among myriads of other fun foods) don’t forget to check the eateries in the basement.
• *Old Homestead Steakhouse, in continuous operation since the civil war days. Outstanding and reasonably priced (for a NYC steakhouse!)
• Buddahkhan, just outside the Chelsea Market, high end asian fusion.
• *Asuka, high quality full menu Japanese, 8th avenue and 23rd Street.
• Veselka, authentic Ukranian in a unique East Village setting, excellent food, been there for generations!

If you want Jewish deli with a complete menu, not far from there without the Mishugana lines and prices of Katz’s:

*Sarges Deli. Better food than Katz’s too. Best Kreplach Soup in The City. Midtown East 3rd Avenue and 36th street.

Lexington Avenue Candy Shop, 83rd and Lex, grab a burger, fries and a coke, Old fashioned luncheonette (the last place that mixes coke with syrup, just like they did 100 years ago)

Home on e84th street, an unknown treasure.

Stage door deli in FIDI. An Oasis in a sea of tourist traps. If you’re in the world trade center financial district this is really the only reasonable place around to grab a quick breakfast or lunch.

The newest to my list:

Nona Dora’s (grandma Dora’s) recently opened, grandma is there HAND MAKING all kinds of pasta and authentic italian sauces and dishes, 32nd st, and 2nd avenue (Near NYU Langone hospital).

Isabel’s on park avenue south, excellent and creative Italian, a bit upscale, try their Lumache.

Minetta’s Tavern, Macdougal street. consistently rated best burgers in NYC, been there for generations – you’ll need a reservation.

Carbone (barely makes my list because you need reservations far in advance. 1920’s speakeasy / restaurant.) West village on Thompson Street. celebrities like this place and the food is usually excellent. you’ll be going back in time when you walk through the door. good luck getting reservations.