My friend doesn't want to eat at the Olive Garden in NYC; can you suggest some affordable places to

[SPKrazy]

eat in NYC?

:shrug:

[siouxsiecreamcheese]

1. If you like BBQ

Virgil's on west 44th st is pretty good and fairly priced for NYC.

[SPKrazy]

3. thanks!

i'll bookmark this thread and send them the link

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

2. Affordable food? In New York City? Are you kidding?

Try a Sabrett's Hot Dog from a street vendor. If you feel OK four hours later, then you're probably just fine.

:sarcasm:

Signed,

The Ex-Olive Garden Phantom Patron of Times Square

[SPKrazy]

5. haha!

:rofl:

Yes, i remember that!

:D

[Radio_Lady]

8. You know what's really funny? We ate mostly sandwiches all across Europe.

The food in Paris, Brussels, London and Scotland was pretty pricey, and we would have breakfast at the hotels (for free) and take a couple of yogurts and a piece of fruit for lunch, which we ate in many beautiful parks.

For dinner, we'd find a little shop or supermarket, and buy sandwiches or small salads. We either eat there or brought them back to the hotel. Our food bill for the 27 days was VERY low.

In Great Britain, every pound was equal to almost TWO dollars. Thus, if you went to a dinner and had an entree for up to 12 pounds, plus just ONE drink... it could easily add up to $50 or 60 bucks. We just don't do expensive food.

[Radio_Lady]

9. One of the best shops is PRET A MANGER (also supposed to have locations in NY)

Read about them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pret_a_Manger

New York City website:

http://www.eatpret.com/new_tour/about.htm

[Radio_Lady]

10. OK. Here's a list of NYC locations. You'll find the stores clean and reasonable.

Their sandwiches are delicious, and they make a chocolate mousse dessert TO DIE FOR...

Pret A Manger (READY TO EAT) but definitely NOT FAST FOOD!

39th and Seventh
530 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10018 646 728 0750

40th and Madison
287 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017 212 867 0400

41st and Lexington
380 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10168 212 871 6274

42nd and 3rd
205 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 212 867 1905

42nd and 5th
11 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 212 997 5520

50th and 7th Avenue
135 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10020 212 489 6458

54th and Lexington
630 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017 646 497 0510

54th and Park
400 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 212 207 4101

55th and Sixth
1350 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10019 212 307 6100

Broad Street
60 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004 212 825 8825

Rockefeller Center (The Rock)
30 Rockefeller Center, Concourse Level, New York, NY 10012

[SPKrazy]

13. Thanks Radio Lady

that's very nice!

:pals:

[Radio_Lady]

24. "No problem," or as they say in the UK, "No worries!"

We don't have plans to go back to NYC, but surely we'll get there again sometime.
Have a great visit!

[SPKrazy]

11. That sounds smart

When i was in Europe I shopped for stuff like that too

and we could buy a whole case of sparkling mineral water for next to nothing at that time

[KitchenWitch]

18. I love you!

:hug:

[SPKrazy]

21. yeah

but what about ME!!!!

mememememememe!

:eyes:

:hug:

[AlCzervik]

4. does it have to be italian?

i love Persian food and i really liked this place, my BIL took me there and it was really good.
http://www.persepolisnyc.com/

[SPKrazy]

6. sounds good!

thanks

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[pagerbear]

7. A lot depends on where in NYC s/he'll be

...and what kind of restaurants s/he likes. I would say stay away from tourist restaurants, so stay away from Times Square!

[SPKrazy]

12. i think that is a given

they know NYC pretty well, but not the restaurants well

[rug]

14. 71st St and Broadway

[SPKrazy]

15. mmmm

grays papayaa

:hi:

thanks

[Elidor]

16. The nice thing about New York is that you don't have to plan where to eat

The trick is where not to eat. I ate 6 meals a day when I was there, just stumbling randomly from one great food encounter to another. Calzones, falafel, gyros, kabobs, samosas, sausage, pizza, sushi, tempeh. My buddies and I would walk down the street in an alcoholic haze, taking up residence temporarily wherever the food looked good. Then a short walk down the street to work it off, until the exercise made us hungry again. We spent more on food than lodging over a one week period. One of the best weeks of my life. Yummmm.

[SPKrazy]

17. lots of eating

:rofl:

[Hissyspit]

19. I DID NOT EAT THERE! It's a dirty lie...

Hi, Radio Lady!

Pret A Mangers are good. Also, there are food bars all around Times Square to pick soemthing up. A pizza slice is always good, too.

[Radio_Lady]

22. Hi Hissyspit! Don't know when we'll be back in New York again...

but I wouldn't hesitate going to another Pret A Manger -- hence, my posting of the list of locations. Our next stops are San Francisco and San Raphael, California, in August, followed by southern Utah in October.

Thanks for your comments.

Nice to see-you on the DU!

In peace,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[ironflange]

20. If (s)he is still looking for Italian. . .

There's always Pizza Hut!

[EstimatedProphet]

23. I hear there's this Scottish place

McDon- something or other

[SPKrazy]

25. ah yes, i've heard of them

mc, er, donald's?

:rofl:

[EstimatedProphet]

26. Yeah, that's them. Some kind of beef house I believe

On edit: I've heard they do serve fish and chicken too.

[AndreaCG]

27. Good for your friend!

On 2nd Av and 4th St there are two restaurants, Frutti de Mare and something Pesce that are very affordable and good. I haven't eaten there in a while but they used to give you salad and garlic bread when you sat down. Good salad too not iceberg.

My favorite diner is called the Renaissance Diner on 9th bet 51 and 52 St. Eat in the back room, it''s spacious and feels less like a diner. The menu is HUMUNGOUS and the things like lasagna and eggplant parm come with salad and soup. You'll take half your entree home. This is near Times Square and there are many other good and reasonable restaurants on 9th Ave. There is also one on 46 St between 8 and 9 closer to 9th I forget the name but it has handwritten menus outside with MANY specials and all very reasonable and they give you a free little turnover kind of thing with your meal. The inside is very charming.

Not to slam Pret au Porter but it is a sandwich shop, not a restaurant.

[AngryAmish]

28. Spotted pig

Burger is only about $15. (get the devil's on horseback)