Hello,

I am wondering if there are any remarkably excellent restaurants you insist a "foodie" tries while I am in New York this weekend & next week... I have made reservations for 2 of my evenings, however would love to hear of your favorites!  

I admit I most often spoil myself with fine-dining, however I also love great little finds that are neither famous nor high-end.  Small family owned restaurants with great food always have a certain charm I can appreciate...

My favorites include Italian, Spanish (after all, I'm of Mediterranean heritage), Japanese, Greek, Latin American, Caribbean......... oh who am I kidding?  I love ALL foods.

Lastly...... any great Chinese Dim Sum places you'd recommend?

 
Thanks very much for your advice!

xo, Mia

NYC has a vast array of options.  A few suggestions:

Dim Sum:  the best Dim Sum in Manhattan is  Jing Fong, 20 Elizabeth St, between Canal and Bayard in Chinatown.  Go in the late morning or early afternoon, extraordinary Dim Sum at very inexpensive prices in a huge place, you take an escalator to the second floor dining room.  Just choose from the various carts.

Italian:  Maialino, 2 Lexington Avenue, one of Danny Meyers restaurants, not cheap but wonderful.  

You might enjoy going to the Gotham West Market, 600 11th Ave, were you can graze at a number of counters including Ivan Ramen.

Enjoy

 

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I've never been disappointed by Cafe Mogador in the East Village. Awesome Moroccan food
Cocoron in the Lower East Side or soho - hole in the wall type place for delicious Japanese noodles
Thai Cookhouse in hell's kitchen - I love thai takeout but this place beats all the thai american joints that are usually found in the city

i, thanks very much for your suggestions!

I celebrated a friend's birthday at Maialino once and loved it.  I haven't yet tried Jing Fong and it looks excellent!  I will certainly be giving that a try for lunch while I am in town next week.

Thanks again!

xo, Mia

have to admit that most of the Moroccan food I've had has been from my mother's kitchen!  I will absolutely have to give Cafe Mogador a try!

Also, I am so glad you specified the quality of Thai Cookhouse as compared with "all the Thai American joints."  Thai is among my favorite styles of cuisine and it's so great to find a gem of a restaurant that stands out from the rest.

Thank You for your suggestions!

xo, Mia

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There are sooo many good restaurants out there that most visitors never try. SriPraPhai in Woodside is a great Thai place.

In Flushing there is a Chinatown that surpasses Chinatown in Manhattan. The food court in the basement of the Golden Shopping Mall on Main Street has to be seen to be believed. Serious Eats wrote a comprehensive guide some years back, although you can expect a few businesses have come and gone since then: http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/08/what-to-eat-in-flushings-golden-shopping-mall.html. There are many other great restaurants in Flushing. One of my favorites is Hunan House on Northern Boulevard.

Rego Park has some good Bukharan joints, especially Cafe Arzu on Queens Boulevard. I mention it because not only is their food really good, but it's hard to find outside New York. Check their hours before heading out -- they observe Shabbat. Also, BYOB.

If Queens is too far out of your way, try Xi'an Famous Foods in Manhattan: http://xianfoods.com/locations

SriPraPhai in Queens would be my top suggestion for hole in the wall ethnic food. The soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai in Queens too, but they also have a location in Chinatown. Jing Fong is a great place for dim sum, totally agree with that one. Pio Pio for Peruvian (I think?) chicken & an amazing avocado salad. Awash for Ethiopian, they do a version of beef tartare that's really interesting. Eataly is a big Italian supermarket, touristy, especially on weekends, but really fun and there are a few casual restaurants inside. The NoMad restaurant in the NoMad Hotel is really good and beautiful, more of a fine dining experience. Gramercy Tavern never disappoints IMHO. STK downtown is a pretty good steakhouse with a lively atmosphere. Balthazar is a French bistro classic. Bar Boulud if you'll be seeing a show at Lincoln Center. I LOVE a haute cuisine vegetarian restaurant called Dirt Candy. If you can swing it then you should try Bar Masa and/or the Per Se Lounge just for the experience. Finally an app called Urban Daddy gives good recommendations for trending restaurants based on your mood and the company you're with.

I used to think Pio Pio was the best Peruvian restaurant until I went to Chimu (which has a huge menu of seafood dishes).
A 'hole in the wall' that doesn't look much from the outside....but it extends to a big backyard with many tables.
Their ceviches are delish and they have some unusual dishes that you might want to try (if you're brave enough).
But, their seafood selection is great and no matter what you order, it will be a delectable meal.
Highly recommended. They are in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Worth the ride from Manhattan.

I'd suggest Mas Farmhouse.  You can tell the chef your likes/dislikes and he will create a tasting menu for you.  You don't know what's next, but will enjoy it.