Best moderately priced italian in the city

In addition to Sorella, Peasant, or L'Artusi, I would suggest:
Osteria Morini
Lavagna

Or, go for pizza:
Focella
Rubirosa

monab in Manhattan

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Thanks Kauma - I'll look into it.

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

alright then. i guess i have my answer.

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Thanks again for all the reccomendations!
I have one more question - I will be in LA on cinco de mayo - and I am wondering if, like in NYC, it is just used as an excuse to get drunk on cheap margaritas, OR if there is anything that happens in LA (food, event, etc.) that would be worth checking out - or even an area that would be "festive"? (assuming that that really happens in LA...)
As I said previously, I'll be with my parents, so large crowds and long waits are not really an option.
Thanks in advance for your opinions!

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Thanks for the Jitlada recco - always looking for good Thai food!
(Also, in case you are visiting manhattan anytime, I am happy to report that the availability of good Thai food has improved exponentially in the 6 years I have been living here - Zaab Elee (issan), Real Thai Shophouse (bangkok), Kin Shop (modern), Betel (aussi-thai), Pok Pok Wing (err, wings!) - are all great!)

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

I can see my post has lead to some heated discussion!
I certainly did not want to spark NYC vs. LA comparisons, just find the best of LA - and I would like to really thank all of you who have posted reccos.
I am truely grateful!

So far, for the 4 evenings, I am deciding between:
Red Medicine
The Spice Table
Animal
Son of a Gun
Gjelina
Park's BBQ
Picca
INK.

The lunches are less fixed but, thanks to all your reccomendations, will involve a LOT of tacos, Mexican seafood, maybe some persian, and maybe some beachside seafood too.

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Just one add on:
i know that LA has a sizable iranian/persian community - would anyone have any reccos for restaurants from that region?
A long time ago, my parents lived for a few years in Iran and speak farsi - I'm sure they would love to eat some of the dishes they remember.
Thanks!

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Thanks! Are the open on Sundays? - might be a good idea for lunch before heading to the airport

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

humm... that's what i was thnking - although it does look delicious...

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

This place is exactly the sort of thing I had in mind!
Thanks for posting the review!

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Thanks to the link Servorg!
I should have known that I couldn't possibly out-"food geek" this board!
And I definitely mean that as a compliment :)

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

I LOVE Okonomiaki!!! And, I have'nt found a decent on in NYC.
The Dutch do a fancy one for brunch, but it was a hugh disappointment :(
Do you have a recommendation and - not to be a total food nerd, but - do you know if they do osaka style or hiroshima style?
Thanks!

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Not vegetarian and would LOVE to get some Vietnamese - we lived in HK for a few years, and went to Vietnam 4-5 times - and I have yet to find vietnamese food that even comes anywhere close to what I had there, so would love reccos if you have them!

Not sure about Indian as my parents eat indian at home every day, and area they live in the UK (west yorkshire) has an enormous indian and pakistani population, so great indian restaurants.

That being said, they will probably have a craving for it by the end of the trip, so if we wanted to go somewhere that's great but not just standard north indian/pakistani/pujabi food, where should we go? (PS i am not a big fan of dosas, idllies etc.)

Thanks!

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Thanks wienermobile!
Seem like Park's BBQ is universally recommended on this board. Just one question - my parents don't eat beef (Hindus) - is it still worth going?

And - Gjelina sounds incredible! I will try to get a booking.

Thanks!

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Thanks - I will do!
But, just for my reference, if you have favs in any of the above categories, I'd love to hear them :)
And - I'm intrigued by "the rules".
I will research right now!

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

First of all thanks everyone for your recommendations - I will do more research on the board to find which regional mexican places to go to!
As for what i would recommend to and Angelino visiting NYC - a small sampling:
low end:
- x'ian famous food
- keste
mid:
- savoy (now back forty west)
- buvette
- osteria morini
- mailino
- momofuku saam bar
- aldea
- red cat
- red egg
- market table
- po
- kuma inn
- sorella
- txikito
- torrisi
high end:
- eleven madison
- le bernadain
- marea
- SHO

monab in Los Angeles Area

Visiting from NYC - what's the "best" of the things that aren't great here?

Hi all,
I am starting to trawl through this board, but wanted to put the question out there, in case someone has been/entertained someone in my position and has a hit list...

The Situation:
I will be visiting for 4 days in May.
I will be with my husband (who is Italian) and my parents (who are Indian but live in the UK - I am also originally from the UK)
We will be staying in a hotel in Beverley Hills, but will have a car and are definitely willing to travel for great eats.
We ate and enjoy all types of food and different cusines.
We don't have any budgetary restrictions and would be just as happy in a roadside shack as a 3 Michelin star type of place.
It will be my parents' first visit to LA.
I am looking for the best of the stuff that is not available, or not great, in NYC.

The Ask:
So, that would mean that I do NOT really need reccos for Italian or French (unless someone disagrees!), BUT do need reccos for Mexican and Korean (before anyone says anything, I know that these are getting better and better in NYC!).
I would also LOVE reccos for other restaurants that you think are outstanding - especially if it is the kind of food/type of place/kind of atmosphere that I would be hard pressed to find in NYC.

All tips and reccomendations will be most gratefully recieved!

monab in Los Angeles Area

Why isn't Rouge Et Blanc getting more attention? It's great!

Love this restaurant! - and disagree about the portion sizes - atleast on my visit, we ordered 2 apps and 2 mains and left very much full, and I thought that the prices were actually on the low side for Soho.

It was a bit empty - probably due to the lack of attention it is getting int he food media - hopefully they'll get a couple of good reviews soon. would hate to see this one leave my neighbourhood.

monab in Manhattan

Eastern Shore first-timer - Where to eat???

thanks everyone for your suggestions.
We are staying one night in Annapolis and one night in Easton.
i have norrowed in down to either Robert Morris Inn or Bartlett Pear Inn for dinner when we are in Easton.
Which should I choose?
And in Annapolis, the consensus on the boards seem to be O'Leary's Seafood - does anyone have any better ideas?
Thanks again!

monab in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Eastern Shore first-timer - Where to eat???

We haven't yet decided where to stay - that we in some part depend on what y'all recommend in terms of places to eat (we are totally food obsessed!)
@Roland Parker - sorry to hear your opinion that the dining scene is not amazing...although we are not necc looking for fine dining - just really, really great food.
Thanks!

monab in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Eastern Shore first-timer - Where to eat???

Hello!

We are heading down to the Chesapeake Bay area from NYC this coming weekend, and we're looking for the best eats in the region.

We love all types of food and don't care if we have to go to dives or fine dining - price is not important, really great quality food (esp. seafood) is!

All reccomendations will be most gratefully received.
Thanks!

monab in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Eastern Shore - Long Weekend

Hello!

I am heading up to Chesapeake Bay from NYC over Memorial Day weekend.

We're ooking for the best eats - price is unimportant, quality food (especially seafood!) is.
We are will to travel wherever it take to eat well, so please pass on your suggestions.

Thanks!

(I'll also post on the DC board)

monab in Mid-Atlantic

Restaurant/bar good for book club meeting (for 6-8 people at 6:30-7pm)???

we usually meet from 6:30-7pm to 9-9:30 pm.

yeah, it's a tough one - we've been trying to think of a replacement for Cafe Deville since it closed...

thanks for your suggestion though, I'll be sure to check it out.

monab in Manhattan

dell'anima vs. Market Table (West Village date)

Go with Market Table. Dell'Anima is good but you're right in that it is "trendy" so it will be loud and hectic. Plus it's closer to Lottle Branch, which I'm sure your date will appreciate if she is wearing heels. :-)

-----
Market Table
54 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014

Dell'Anima
38 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10003

monab in Manhattan

Recs for fine dining for one vegeterian, one pescetarian

You might want to try one of the high-end Indian places - Tamarind TriBeCa, Junoon and Tulsi are all great and have tons or veggie and seafood options.
Same goes for most Italian restos (low or high end).
As someone who used to be vegetarian, l've found that in general, most restos in NYC have at least one veggie option.

-----
Tamarind
99 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013

Tulsi
211 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017

Junoon
27 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010

monab in Manhattan

Restaurant/bar good for book club meeting (for 6-8 people at 6:30-7pm)???

I'm looking for a place that fits the following criteria:

- is below 23rd street, preferably on the east side, but west would be ok if the place is great
- not too busy, so that we can get a table for 6-8 without waiting or booking
- has good, inexpensive food (entrees under $20), but doesn't mandate that everyone at the table has to eat (so bistro/bar type of place would probably work best)
- has a happy hour until at least 7pm, although until 8pm would be ideal (or ladies night on Wednesdays!)

I know its like looking for the holy grail, and we haven't had much luck find a place that we really love...

Just to give you a bit more guidance:
- we used to go to Cafe Deville until it closed down, and that suited us perfectly
- right now we go to Dublin 6, where the food is not that great (we have also tried Viceroy, which was abysmal)

Any suggestions will be very gratefully received.

Thank!

-----
Dublin 6
575 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

monab in Manhattan

Corton or The Modern

Agree the Croton is much more special n

monab in Manhattan

East Village/ Lower East Side Rec

If great wine is interchangable for great cocktails then how about Terrior?
And if appitites are truely light, how about the follow AMAZING cocktail bars?
- PDT
- Cienfuegos
- Mayahuel
- Death & Co.

I agree with whoever said that Vandaag's cocktails are great, but the food is truely mediocre.
Aldea is wonderful, but not really a "fun" atmosphere...

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Death & Co.
433 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009

Mayahuel
304 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003

Aldea
31 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011

Cienfuegos
95 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

Vandaag
103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

monab in Manhattan

Young Couple on a budget May 13-19th

Salumeria Rosi is really really great, but the food is not Tuscan, it is mostly from the region of Emiila-Romagna, specifically Parma (have no idea where the chef is from).

-----
Salumeria Rosi
283 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10023

monab in Manhattan