What is the story behind this place? I've never had their food truck burgers.

It looks like Shake Shack for grownups, with a liquor license.

Ambiance looks more like something you see downtown and the burgers look very tasty.

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Go Burger
1448 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021

Le Pain Quotidian and Eli's are okay. Jamba Juice is decent for a franchise.

Any other suggestions?

There's a Spanish restaurant right next to Wa Jeal. I think it's New Spanish. I've been meaning to try the paella.

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Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

I don't know how to describe it - here it is in pictures:

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/1...

Thanks for the tips. WLY makes mean pork dumpings. Any dish suggestions?

I eat at both often and agree they are good. Wa Jeal - I think they hired some chefs who worked at the 86th street Wu Le Yiang.

Still waiting for a Trader Joe's to come to the neighborhood. Will that ever happen?

When is the UES Shake Shack least busy?

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Trader Joe's
142 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003

Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

How about picking a restaurant you like regardless of wifi and asking them if they have wifi and if you could use it in this one-off instance?

I'm guessing some places have wifi, they just don't make it known and available, but will give you the password for a one time instance since you are bringing a group.

I'm always jealous of people who live downtown or other neighborhoods with more inspired food choices that aren't too overpriced, but some not so staid places opened up around my neighborhood recently:

Cascabel (Nuevo Spanish)
Luke's Lobster Rolls
Hummus Kitchen
Farinelli Pizza (not yet, but soon)
Shake Shack
Whole Foods???

Any others that I missed?

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Hummus Kitchen
768 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Luke's Lobster
93 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

I really like Spoon, although it's more of a brunch/lunch/breakfast place. Are there any other places in the city that are similar? Thanks in advance.

http://www.spoonnyc.com/

Hummus Place has great whole wheat pitas. Their falafel is more crispy on the outside. Hummus Kitchen's falafel has thinner skin, a bit more tender and oval. Still haven't tried HK's hummus yet. Anyways, nice to have the extra choice.

Not sure how new it is, but nice to see another falafel/hummus place in the UES. Love the pickles in the falafel. Anyone try it yet?

Last time I had the JG Melon burger it was nothing special. Actually, very disappointing. Stale bread, ordinary meat, ordinary dressings. I had a takeout order - perhaps the eat-in burger is better.

In all fairness, the soup at Eli's is reasonably priced. I used to buy bread there too - they used to sell a heath loaf for a very good price, but not anymore.

I can go to separate stores to get everything I need, but it's convenient to get everything in once place. Produce, I go to the smaller stores or the Union Square green market, but if I were to buy rice, eggs, milk, pasta, bread, cheese, some canned food, cereal, I can spend half the money at TJs than in a typical UES store.

Whole Foods is nice, but I'd rather have a Fairway or TJs. I'm tired of schlepping crosstown for reasonable prices.

Don't know if this is still true with all that's happening with the economy (WF @ E57&2nd):

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/...

If this is been covered before, can someone point me to the thread?

The UES has Eli's, A&V, Gourmet Garage - all overpriced. Why are there no stores like Fairway or Westside Market? Reading the UWS TJ thread, I don't understand why there isn't more of a market for TJs on the UES. We're so starved for a store like Fairway's.