I know this is last minute but can any hounds recommend a downtown (West Village, East Village, Chelsea) that's not just brunch or catering to Mother's Day special lunches. Everything but Indian, Thai or Chinese. Not more than $25.00 per person (non-drinkers). Thanks.

Red Hook, Brooklyn

Sarge's Deli on 37th Street & Third Avenue has many Passover foods like gefilte fish, tsimmes, honey cake, etc. You can eat there or take-out at the counter.

Sigh. It was just so great to have a delicious sundae in a beautiful park setting. What were they thinking when they discontinued their sundaes? I hope they bring them back when the weather gets hot.

Say it ain't so. I can't believe the sundaes aren't available anymore. They were so good and sitting in the park eating one of those scrumptious delights was a double pleasure. And there never seemed to be a long line on the B line for ice cream.

I asked one of the servers why it was discontinued and she said to concentrate on their Concrete product. Does making a sundae take so much time?. The sign still lists sundaes as available.

Really disappointed.

Thanks so much. I can't wait to try it. Excellent report.

I read about a shop that serves delicious homemade puddings in all flavors which opened about two Fridays ago. I can't remember the address on St. Mark's Place (8th Street).

Has anyone gone there yet? Do you have the address?

Many thanks,
Beau

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Puddin' by Clio
102 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009

If I worked in your area, I would probably eat at the Cafe Edison at Hotel Edison, located at

228 West 47th Street. The atmosphere is out of the 1940s/50s and probably hasn't been decorated since then. The soups are hearty and delicious. They have everything from burgers to pierogi and it's all good and cheap.

I once saw the great late actor Alan Bates having coffee there before his play began.

It's also known as the Polish Tea Room. This place is the real thing before Disneyland took over Times Square.

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Cafe Edison
228 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

I step away for 45 minutes and the topic is moved or deleted. Did the subject get heated or argumentative? I thought it was pretty interesting.

Some people who dislike their dish but ask for doggy bags might actually want to give it to their dog. I know some people like this - their steak is overdone but still borderline acceptable so they bag it and bring it to Rover.

I love good pumpkin pie that's thick, tastes of nutmeg and other spices. The kind I find taste like cheesecake or flan, are watery and flabby tasting. Are there any restaurants, bakeries or coffee shops that sell excellent pumpkin pie in Manhattan?

Thanks.

No High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)

No reheated stale coffee. If it's been sitting for over 15 minutes, I won't drink it.

No pizza that's not fresh out of the often. No reheated pizza. No fake cheese.

No Irish Coffee with creme de menthe on top.

No smashed up crumbled apple pie gushing out of its crust.. A waiter tried to serve this to me once and I sent it back, He said "it's fresh." I said "it looks like someone sat on it." I got a nicer slice. Why can't stuff like this be simple?

No birthday cakes with buttercream. To me, It tastes like greasy lard.

I did not find Il Buco very comfortable with its hard farmlike chairs. Some people like this kind of farmhouse atmosphere but I didn't think the food was so great either.

For the East Village, Hearth is comfortable and not overly expensive (I find that wine and booze really jack up any restaurant bill). I also like a restaurant called Tree on First Avenue. If it's a warm evening, they have an outside patio that's relaxing. I enjoy their short ribs.

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Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009

Tree
190 1st Ave, New York, NY 10009

Years ago I enjoyed Brasserie at 100 E 53rd Street, (212) 751-4840
The room was very festive and the French food was delicious. What I liked then was the menu wasn't outrageously expensive for New Year's Eve.

What's great is that it's only a few blocks away from your hotel on 53rd Steet between Park & Madison Avenue.

As I mentioned, it's been years since I was there so you might want to call them and ask about reservations and what their NYE prices are - prix fixe and a la carte.

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Brasserie
100 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022

If you really want to discuss this movie click on IMDB.com (internet movie database) and search for Contagion. Please type 'spoiler' in your title so as not to give any of the plot away. I haven't seen the movie yet so can't comment on your post otherwise.

The shrimp in a Chinese restaurant is probably cheaper because there are so many Chinese markets (referring to Chinatown) where the wholesale and retail prices are much lower.

I have friends who make a weekly trip to Chinatown to buy their fish at lower prices than at trendier shops uptown.

Omelets - I like them soft, buttery and eggy the way they are served in France.

In the US, I've never had a decent omelet that didn't taste like a golf ball. They are often overstuffed with ingredients which makes them taste even more like cardboard.

ttoommyy - I disagree that "it can be a gender thing." I know so many women who are very warm most of the time and some guys that always seem to need a blazer or hoodie to keep them comfortable. I believe lots of this may depend on body weight and hormones so let's not generalize. Just my two cents.

"Since I'm not from NY I have to ask about the open doors. Wouldn't that draw in flies?"

Even the flies don't want to go in - it's too hot for them! :-)

In Manhattan, NY my local D'Agostino supermarket puts out bruised fruits and vegies in a plastic bag and I can see the homeless and an assortment of people picking through the bags. I guess it's easier to do that than to try to sell 'imperfect' bruised fruit/vegies. When I've bought them, it wasn't worth the money because I had to throw half the food away.

Also, the stores have to be careful about not selling food past its expiration date.

Here's something you won't find in Scandinavia: Katz's Deli on Ludlow Street (which is close to your hotel) Katz's is a chowhound lover's dream for overstuffed hot pastrami sandwiches and other delicious meats.

Oliva on Allen Street (again near you) has excellent tapas.

There are so many places on the Lower East Side like Stanton Social on Stanton Street, Inoteca for Italian small plates, Here is a link to other restaurants you might like:

http://nymag.com/srch?t=restaurant&am...

Keep in mind that you're also close to Chinatown, the East Village and the West Village. Great neighborhoods to explore.

Sorry, I can't suggest any New Year's Eve parties but I'm sure that your group of 6 women from Scandinavia won't have any problem being invited to New Year's Eve parties! Have fun

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Stanton Social
99 Stanton Street, New York, NY 10002

'inoteca
98 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Oliva
161 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

If the doors were closed and If the air conditioning was on, the room wouldn't be 90-degrees. Here's a link to the best storage of wine and it's not placing the bottles on "racks in a 90-degree dining room." Thanks for that comment, Simon.

http://www.netplaces.com/wine-guide/e...

linguafood, I guess you don't remember the health warnings put out this past July by the New York City Health Department. They advised people to stay cool and hydrated. They even set up emergency centers so people, especially the elderly, could go and cool off.

Some people, like you, don't like frigid air conditioning and I can understand that too. However, this past July, New York City set a record for heat waves yet some restaurants continued to not provide air conditioning. Well, these boots are made for walking.

Restaurants are not supposed to keep their doors open with the air conditioning on. See RGR's post above. It's a city ordinance and people are encouraged to report the restaurant that does this because it wastes energy.

I remember in the good ole days when movie theaters would send out a blast of cool air. It was so refreshing to pass the theater and cool off.

I am so looking forward to October

i would suggest they charge less than market because they're saving $$$ on their electric bill at the expense of diners' comfort.

I do go elsewhere because I'm a 'hound who likes his comfort. It's not my loss at all. We all have choices and preferences.

Oh No! Not on your wedding day. I'm hoping your wedding banquet was air conditioned and your cake didn't melt. Congratulations on your day.

Yes, the East Village is known for keeping their windows open yet charging market prices.

Thanks, RGR. I thought I was the 'only' one who disliked the heat.
Beau

The Mealball Shop was just one example. I know they're very popular and also do a brisk take-out.

What heat wave am I talking about? Well the one we've had this past July where several days were in the 90s with no let-up. Even at this writing, September 4, it's well into the 80s.

When a restaurant is so hot, I wonder how fresh the food is because kitchens are usually hot even when the restaurant is cool. If I want to dine in a sweatbox, I'll eat a sandwich in my gym's sauna. What happened to comfort for the diner?

I cannot tell you how many times during the New York City heat wave I've walked out of restaurants because they won't put their air conditioning on and some don't even use fans. I've wanted lunch on the Lower East Side and thought I'd try the Meatball Shop. It was stifling hot so I left and told the staff why.

This has happened many times at other restaurants and cafes and I just don't get it. Are the restaurants trying to save money? If so they're not making money either because they're not attracting customers who want a nice cool room to relax and have lunch or dinner. I don't think they're doing it to save electrical power so what's the story?

It amazes me that the 90 plus degrees heat doesn't seem to bother some folks.

Sarge's Deli on Third Avenue & 36th Street, Manhattan, makes excellent stuffed cabbage. Just like Bubby used to make.