Brian W's Profile
Best way to re-heat Fairway rotisserie chickens?
We strip the white meat off the bone but keep the leg and thigh as one piece. Wrap all together in foil and refrigerate. The next day or so you can take out the foil package and put it in the oven at 350 for about 15 or 20 minutes. That way they usually retain the juices.
Schaefer's Beer?
You can try Food Emporium. I believe I saw Schaefer cans at the one on 3rd Ave at E84 Street. I tried a six pack last year and it must have been old stock - not very good. But a few years ago I was drinking it and it was ok. I miss Reingold which someone attempted to bring back a few years ago. I think they were brewing it in Hudson, NY. That stuff was very good and very much like the original Reingold.
My wife just said we saw it at Pioneer on Lexington Ave near 91 Street.
Lombardi's vs Patzeria
I apologize, kzerom. As you see, no one here ever heard of Patzeria so it seemed as if someone at the restaurant might be trying to create some buzz.
I also am a fan of Patsy's in East Harlem and John's of Bleeker Street. My take is that the crust at John's is not a s flavorful as at Patsy's. But then John's is what most good pizza tasted like in New York in the 1950's. In those days it was normal to discard the end crust of each slice.
Is there any really good bread out there?
My older sister's mother-in-law baked bread every day and she said that bread was denser on rainy days. The humidity in New York must have an effect on the lack of lightness in the local breads. It certainly makes Irish Soda Bread denser when it's very humid. But in that case it's a good thing.
Lombardi's vs Patzeria
IMHO this post is a bit off-the-wall. Does it smell fishy to anyone else?
Looking for "old school" restaurants with old fashioned American comfort food
Stopped in Eisenberg's for breakfast late one morning. The eggs were ok but I had to ask for jelly for the toast. The packets were all dried out. I must have been the first person to request jelly in ten years.
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Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop
174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
Looking For Unique Inexpensive Place to Have Lunch with Daughter....
We're all different. My wife and I find the metal chairs at Fairway to be quite comfortable. It's the wooden ones that we try to avoid.
Looking For Unique Inexpensive Place to Have Lunch with Daughter....
If you are considering Chinese food and would like to stay close to Radio City I would suggest Wu Liang Ye on W 48 Street across from Rockefeller Center. The food is really good but I don't think they are in the "free wine" category. I think you may have to make a lunch reservation as it always seems full at that time.
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Wu Liang Ye
36 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
Looking For Unique Inexpensive Place to Have Lunch with Daughter....
I think you might like the Cafe Upstairs at Fairway Market on Broadway at 74 Street. It's down to earth yet the food is cooked expertly. The man who runs it is Mitchell London who used to be the chef at Gracie Mansion when Ed Koch was mayor. Actually we see Ed Koch there occasionally, and the odd New york actor every once in a while. It certainly isn't fancy but it is a real NYers in-the-know place, at least for West Siders. The prices are in the "diner/luncheonette" range and they do serve wine.
If you go just walk into the market and ask someone with a red apron where the elevator is to the Cafe Upstairs. Or look for the neon sign for the Cafe and walk in that door and take the stairs.
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Fairway Cafe
2127 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
A surprising disappointment-Second Ave Deli
I had the corned beef at Pastrami Queen - it is terrible. Haven't been back for anything else yet.
A surprising disappointment-Second Ave Deli
Are you referring to the new Second Ave Deli on 1st Ave on the UES?
Best Pizzeria in Midtown ?
I agree that Angelo's is your best bet as long as you want to stay in Midtown.
Lansky's
In my experience a business that suddenly stops taking credit cards is preparing to close.
italian restaurant for group
Whoops. Ciao Piero was padlocked tonight when we passed by. That's not a good sign.
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Ciao Piero
1608 1st Ave, New York, NY 10028
italian restaurant for group
The UES location has been closed for at least a month. The 43 Street place is one of the noisiest joints I ever ate in, but the food fits the OPs bill.
If they want to talk and linger they might look into Ciao Piero on 1st Ave at 83 Street. Competent standard NY Italian food and if the weather is still nice in Oct the outdoor garden is perfect for their needs.
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Ciao Piero
1608 1st Ave, New York, NY 10028
Best Pizza place (by the Pie) to take visitors?
Patsy's in East Harlem is still excellent. We were there last Friday and as usual you can always be seated as soon as you walk in. A good basic meal for two is to split a house salad and a regular pizza. You can get wine and they keep the beer nice and cold.
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Patsy's Pizzeria
2287 1st Ave, New York, NY 10035
something like Carmines - 1st time USA chinese tourists - loud, big, italian american, family style place?
My wife always wanted to go to Marchi's because she is from that neighborhood. We did, but I doubt we will go back. A couple of items on the fixed menu were really quite good but overall it was not worth the money. But it is a consideration for the original poster as he is not that concerned about the food. The night we were there we were the only party in the room, not exactly a big, boisterous evening out that has been asked for.
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Marchi's
251 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016
Good italian restaurant near 45th street and 8th avenue?
Our last experience at Becco was similar to RGR's.
Good italian restaurant near 45th street and 8th avenue?
For a date I really don't think Trattoria Trecolori is appropriate. The place is full of parties of eight and grandmas treating their 12 year old granddaughters to dinner and a show. A smaller place that's family run and does a lively business is Basilica on 9th Avenue between 46th & 47th. If you are early enough for the pre-theater special it's quite a deal.
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Basilica
676 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
UES Red Sauce Italian Fans
I grew up in this city on red sauce places and in my experience no one ever ordered anything with a red sauce except veal parmigiana served in a piping hot baking dish (where the hell can I get that now?). Anyway, we tried a new place on 1st Avenue at 84 Street tonight called Ciao Piero. Now this is not what a red sauce place looks like, but I had Veal Marsala and my wife had Linguini with white calm sauce and both meals were delicious. These are two standby meals in any NY red sauce place. The Salad Trecolori was terrific also. You won't find any 2nd Ave hipsters here, this is where the too-old-to-be-a-hipster crowd is, the ones who won't walk up to 2nd anymore.
This is a nice looking room, not a mom and pop atmosphere but the menu seems to be right out of 1950s New York Italian, done with care.
www.ciaopiero.com
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Ciao Piero
1608 1st Ave, New York, NY 10028
Italian comfort food from the 60's please? NYC
Haven't been able to get back to Frost in quite a while but I have to say it was one of the best red sauce places I ever ate at.
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Frost
193 Frost St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Hungry teens/cheapskate husband. Can this vacation be saved?
Since you have a party of pizza lovers you should try Patsy's Pizza on 1st Ave at 117 Street. I don't think you'll find pizza like this on the Coast. It's a restaurant, not a slice place and you can get beer or wine. My wife thinks it's the best pizza in NY and I agree. She says it 's not the same as what she got as a little girl on 2 Ave and 28 Street and that's a good thing. Same goes for me. We never had this in Queens when I was growing up. Don't get fancy, just get a regular pie and maybe another one with a topping if you like. If your still hungry get another pie, the prices are cheap. The house salad is delicious and it feeds two, and the place is real old fashioned. I've brought Italian relatives from Queens there and they raved about it. Same goes for my cousins from Ireland.
You can ride an M15 bus up 1st Ave to 116 Street or just take a cab. if you are going from an UES museum a cab would be under $10. If you feel taking transit from Patsy's is daunting just walk one block or so East on 117 Street to Costco where there is a car service at the entrance to the garage. Or ask if Patsy's has a car service they use.
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Patsy's Pizzeria
2287 1st Ave, New York, NY 10035
Itinerary for Out-of-Towners
I suppose John's is ok if you have to stay downtown, but I would prefer Patsy's on 1st Ave at 117 Street. It's very old fashioned and the pizza is better. At John's the end crusts are throw-aways for me, whereas Patsy's makes a pie you can devour completely.
P.J. Clarke's has been a disappointment the last few times. The burgers are not what I remember from just a few years ago, and the fish and chips was dripping with oil. Nevertheless, if you have to go stay with the original on 3rd Ave. The other outlets are a sad joke in comparison.
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P.J. Clarke's
915 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022
REAL San Marzano canned tomatoes
I'll keep that in mind. I tried a can of Carmolina tomatoes from Fairway once, when they were out of La Valle, and they were not very good.
food shopping ideas 76th and FIrst
Even more...the bagel store on the corner of 78 Street and First has pretty good bagels, not the best I've ever had but good. Across 78 Street from them is a Korean deli that generally has the best flowers in the area (best on Thursdays when delivered). My wife also suggested "You Don't Know Produce" on 84 Street and York Ave. That's getting a bit far from you but they really do have great produce and much cheaper than Agata.
As far as Agata's prices go, when produce is generally twice the price of Fairway I consider that expensive especially when the quality is equivalent. I will buy there but only when it is out of the question to go to Fairway. Also, the house Tuscan olive oil at Agata can be had at Costco for nearly half the price. Nevertheless I love the grated Parmagiano/Romano mix from Agata.
food shopping ideas 76th and FIrst
If you're looking for a diner my first choice would be Peter's on First at 83 Street. Absolutely the best home fries in NY and they can cook eggs properly. Lunch is pretty good too - I have had the burger, the patty melt and (Surprise!) the corned beef sandwich. Some of the dinner plates are quite good also. The owner and staff are very nice and the place does not have a diner ambience.
My second choice (if the weather makes it too hard to get to Peter's) is Gracie Mews on First at 81 Street. Blah home fries but they make a great waffle. Not a fan of the dinner specials or the soups. But the place is nice, with big booths and a good staff. Line out the door on weekends.
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Peter's
1606 1st Ave, New York, NY 10028
Gracie Mews
1550 1st Ave, New York, NY 10028
food shopping ideas 76th and FIrst
Morton Williams on First Ave is pretty decent. They carry a good selection of your everyday stuff not available in the high-end markets. That's the closest place to me where I can find my Bromley Teabags. First rate tea (for a teabag) at a cheap price. It's as good as any of the English brands available but I usually brew it a minute longer than those.
food shopping ideas 76th and FIrst
For making sandwiches the ciabatta rolls at Agata & Velentina are not to be believed. If you go there for cold cuts then get your bread there too.
food shopping ideas 76th and FIrst
We ordered from Chicken Festival Saturday night. Still there as of then.
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Chicken Festival
1584 1st Ave, New York, NY 10028
food shopping ideas 76th and FIrst
Produce and prepared are good at Agata & Velentina but the place is expensive. We use them for a few items we particularly like there like their Brooklyn Blend Coffee. We still rely on Fairway on Broadway but then we have other chores that take us to that neighborhood a few times a week so it's not out of the way.
Once a month or so we make a trip on the M15 bus to Costco and Target at 117 Street. Costco has some frozen potstickers, also frozen ravioli that are both delicious. They also have the world's best chicken salad.
