walk the extra few blocks to melt shop for tots

I like Tamarind (original Gramercy) and view it as the best fine dining Indian in NYC. The Tribeca location can be spotty service (it may have gotten better, I just haven't gone back since shortly after opening). Certainly Tribeca over Junoon (I was at a horror show of a celebration dinner there, although the food isn't bad and I really liked the cocktails and wine list). As a memo, I'm ethnically North Indian.

For tapas, perhaps ABC Cocina?

Nobu would be worth the time. The money is a separate question.

Normally I'd say Gotham over Park Avenue but the current greatest hits Summer menu may tip the scales in favor of Park Avenue.

pop burger is pretty bad for a burger focused place. some pub and diner burgers can be bad too but that;s to be expected

Note Petrossian bakery generally runs out by 2pm, noon on weekends.

Having traveled solo myself, happy to help.

Assuming you will be in midtown and don't want to spend time in sports bars, I would go for well-regarded restaurants with bar/tap room seating, both for the atmosphere and the food. Craftbar, Bar @ the Modern and Tamarind's Bar Room all come to mind, depending on the cuisine. If you like sushi and don't mind price, I tend to find Omakase a great solo experience as well (Gari in the mid range, Nobu at the high). If you are a guy looking to make friends and still have decent food/cocktails, try the bar at a place like Fig & Olive on a Friday or Saturday night. Also, in Chelsea near the high line is one of my favorite dining alone gems, Porteno (Argentine steakhouse) for the friendly food service at the bar and the solid selection of half-bottles of Malbec.

Colicchio & Sons fits the bill. Tap or main room depending on how they will be dressed.

Most of the places in http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/875878 have great lunch deals. Also Ed's Chowder House and Atlantic Grill if you want seafood.

Single cup pours are not hard to do yourself at all. If you prefer them to, say espresso, consider yourself lucky as you can get your caffeine fix with minimal equipment investment.

But second blue bottle in Rock Center.

Bit late to the party, but this list has been invaluable for me, as a recent neighborhood transplant. I would add PJ Clarke's and Seasonal Weinbar as well.

Looking for dinner with light drinks (wine/beer) at 6pm. Want to be able to get in an out in an hour, as we need to make it to the Barclay's Center by 8pm, so that excludes set menus at places like Ssam bar.

I was thinking Tapas or Japanese in the midrange (~$75 pp with maybe a drink each) but am open to anything. Being on the 4/5/6 in the E. 40s, 50s or 60s is a big plus as it cuts travel time.

Thanks chowhound.

Really? Gramercy for sure.

Breakfast:
Balthazar. Petrossian Cafe is good for smoked salmon and caviar as well as the almond croissant.

You should try to do brunch if you are here over the weekend. Generally the food tends to mediocre, but places like Penelope's and on the non-traditional side Ssam bar are great for weekend noon meals.

Lunch: Katz Deli. Also City Harvest at Le Bernadin. I personally think Luke's is slightly overrated but I spent a lot of time in New England (still better than Red Hook though). Minetta's is good as well, but Gramercy is another option for that kind of burger. I love Don Antonios for pizza but its a bit different and some are disappointed. Also would try a Soho square slice at Prince Street. Blue Smoke is also interesting, but I would skip if you are from the South or get out there relatively often, as it doesn't compare.

Dinner:
Good luck with Brooklyn Fare, your best bet might be to convince a Chowhound to accompany you, but that still leaves the reservation problem. Luger's is great if you have a reservation, remember cash only. Otherwise Keen's if you like scotch, Wolfgang's otherwise. If you like sushi at the high end might be worth trying Yasuda (unless you can afford Masa) just to compare. I personally have not been to Red Rooster yet because I would prefer to go in the summer when its still light out as I finish eating, so be careful of your personal safety. A Voce for Italian. I like Craft but personally prefer Craftbar for lunch.

Bakeries: If you are on the UES then Yura for seasonal pies. Best in the city in my opinion. Also try Wafels & Dinges truck (you'll probably be at Columbus Circle at some point anyway). I like Ess-a-Bagel but given how much you are eating you may not want the calories, you might want to get a mini bagel at Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee (which is actually in Chelsea).

Public transport in Detroit is a joke, why can't you just drive from Dearborn? Many of the decent places are in the casinos now. Honestly I prefer to have my nice meals in the suburbs and my fat Midwesterner food in Detroit when I'm there.

No way you can go to union square park? SO many more options there. SD, Union Park, Tamarind, etc.

31st and 3rd should be saved for after midnight activities.

I have an old friend from the Midwest visiting the city this weekend, and we are looking for a dinner option. Looking to eat around 7:45pm so we can make 9:30pm jazz @ Dizzy's. Would want to be on the west side if not in midtown, but midtown east is fine as well. Good beer/cocktails are more important than wine list. We will have a 3rd friend joining us as well.

Generally looking for a midpriced casual option. I was thinking Colicchio's Tap Room, but no reservations are available. Bar Room @ Modern is likewise booked. Craftbar is open and would be an option, but I just ate there. David Burke Kitchen is kind of far (I've booked it as a backup). Likewise was just at Ma Peche, although the other Momofoku locations might be an option. Gramercy Tavern is booked as well. Any other options along those lines that you would recommend? Again, I know Per Se is right there, but not looking to do the Michelin thing, more casual craft beer, meat and spreads.

These kinds of situations are how you judge the caliber and discretion of a nice restaurant. At a neighborhood place, you might expect the hostess to try something this cute. Your meal sounds nice though, which means its a place where one might be reasonably expected to to for a date, with an out of town friend or with a client. In that case, that kind of interruption is absolutely unacceptable, more-so if you are a regular. It puts you in a position where you either comply (seem like a pushover) or decline (seem like a dick). An actual cash offer would be even more gauche. The customer doing the "normal thing" is more right than the customer trying to buy the table, with the exception of actual nightclubs. The staff's role is to protect your experience.

They actually exist? I thought they were delivery only for seamless web (not a joke).

So I have a family member (20 something) in town this weekend. They were excited for restaurant week (I explained its overrated, but the marketing apparently works), however I can't make our reservation at Park Avenue Summer tonight and Sunday isn't really an option. I'm trying to make it up to them and need a rec, I live just south of central park, so Norma's is the backup, but its completely the wrong ambiance given their personality. Same with Petrorussian, etc. I also don't have a ton of time and would prefer avoid waiting. I don't like Sarabeth's and refuse to funnel any more tourists into Rue 57.

Ideally I'm looking for a Penelope's with less of a wait located 20 blocks to the north.

arabia makes some quality stuff and is widely available. I find its difficult to chip and they will make the same stuff forever.

burger joint in the mandarin is an experience. the is a place called margaritas in the theater district, i've never ordered an entree there but the drinks and starters are decent.

tamarind (indian fusion) has no problem with loud large parties (i'll admit to being obnoxious there) and an attached bar. 22nd and madison so you can walk to banc or wherever you are going after, or 1 stop on the 6.

thanks, will try next week. good delis, thai, sushi, burgers etc. is exactly what I'm looking for.

chicago clark and division pj's has decent beef. but no oyster bar.

Just moved out to the west 30s. all I can find when I start walking are tourist trap diners, which is kind of frustrating. I survived Murray Hill with a couple staples like Penelope's and Tamarind, there has to be an equivalent near the fast developing Hudson Yards, right?

Primarily looking for weekend brunch and weeknight dinner options. I know there is decent stuff further southwest once you make it to Chelsea proper, but I'm looking for casual stroll post-work not a culinary adventure.

the modern? not exactly casual but if everyone's in work attire it should be fine.

I'll be in Vieques for a week at the W Resort next week. Was wondering was restaurant options are worth checking out. Has anyone eaten at the W's MiX and actually enjoyed it?

I found this list here: http://www.vieques-island.com/rest.shtml but I don't think the infrastructure and options are anywhere near as developed as San Juan.

On a side note, I'm coming into San Juan and staying in OSJ for a day, anybody have a recommendation between Marmalade and Dragonfly for a fine dinner? I want to do either Baru or the museum restaurant for lunch depending on whether we see the fort or the museum.

I'll be living in Back Bay near the Pru through September, and wanted to get summer restaurant recommendations. I enjoy almost all types of food and am looking for good food appropriate for a variety of situations that is reasonable enough that I could sample many of the recommendation over the weekends (i.e. not Clio or L'Espalier, although I will probably try one or the other). I've had good experiences at several of the places mentioned this board, but wanted to ask about summer favorites, as all the Newbury patios are similar looking but (as I found out) vary widely in quality.

Already been to: Lucy's, Back Bay Social Club, Kashmir, Charley's, Legal, Lucca, Champions, Boloco, Abe & Louies, Asana. Bottega Fiorentina, and Boston House of Pizza. Will definitely do: Island Creek Oyster Bar, Douzo, either L'Espalier or Clio, B Good, Stephanies. I feel the list is missing high-end Chinese and small plates places, as well as brunch, so those recommendations would be especially appreciated.

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

Douzo
131 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

Lucca Restaurant
226 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113

Bottega Fiorentina
264 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Abe & Louie's
793 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

Asana
776 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

House of Pizza
206 Division St, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Boloco
82 Water St, Boston, MA 02109

Island Creek Oyster Bar
500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Back Bay Social Club
867 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116