March 4, 2009 - 10:42am
NYC for a week....suggestions for bakeries and eateries ? ...
My husband I and I will be at my brother's place in Manhattan for a week starting Friday 13th. Yikes that had better be a good omen. I go there often but have only scraped the surface of great places to get bread/deli items and restaurants. Any suggestions most welcome. Caroline
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Uptown, downtown, east side, west side? Do you want to or are you comfortable traveling to different neighborhoods? I grew up and lived in NYC for most of my life, have been gone a few years now but I can ask friends still living there for some places. For bagels I always went to H&H on 80th street and Broadway and for a big variety of other kinds of breads I went accross the street to Zabars....lots of bread making stuff and other cooking stuff upstairs at Zabars too. Hubby calls my house "Kitchen by Zabars", it's usually my first stop as soon as I get off the plane or as soon as I can park my car if I drive back home.
Yes I love Zabars ! That is where I got the farro that I used for a soup the other night. My brother is on 7th Ave in midtown. I keep a bicycle there so I go all over all the time. I belong to 2 cycling groups and get out to Piermont and Nyacc regularly also.
We are looking for a good Italian place that is really neighborhood -like. Not in Little Italy...they are so over run by tourists now that we weren't impressed. So that is mainly what I am wanting...little hidden away places that the folks in the closest area like as a special "gem". Hope this helps...will look forward to suggestions. Caroline
Now you're speaking my language......ran an Italian restaurant up on the east side for a number of years, it closed just a few months ago. One of my old time favorites is Il Vagabondo, on east 62nd street, been there since I was a kid more than half a century ago. Old traditional italian classics done right, plus the added attraction of the original bocce ball court out back, the restaurant I ran is right around the corner on first avenue, it re-opened now as an italian place called Cafe Espresso I think, owner of it was a former staff member of the place I ran and from what I hear they are doing pretty much the same menu........but I digress, try Il Vagabondo. I am trying to remember the name of the place around the corner from my apartment......began with an S....eighty third street and East End Avenue..maybe Sirabella....you would think I would remember the name of the place I ate at on average of 5 times a month for years. Another old goodie, Carina's, Second Ave at around 88th street, again old world italian. For old rustic european/polish food try down on second avenue at 11th street Little Poland, great soups, roasted meats and hand rolled pierogies, or try Veselkas also on second ave at I think 9th or 10th street. Starving in the middle of the night.......down to Chinatown for Hop Kee until the wee hours, Mott Street 2 blocks off Canal. Deli foods Arties Deli 82nd, on Broadway, after a trip to Zabars. Got a whole group together and want italian, try Tony Di Napoli's 83rd st and second ave, family style plates and decent to boot. Pizza, the original Patsys up on first avenue between 117th & 118th or downtown I like Totonnos, John's on Bleeker St or Arturo's on Houston. Can you tell I miss living back home in NY?
Dan Leader's store (Bread Alone) sets up a booth at the southern end of the farmer's market at Union Square each Saturday and possibly Tuesday. Some breads aren't there but you can call the main store to have anything special you want brought down.
Meryl
While I haven't been there recently, this was my favorite restaurant when I lived in Manhattan. It has a bocce court and great food. At that time there was no "menu" per se. Just a chalkboard on the wall stating what was available that day.
It did have the most wonderful oil, vinegar and garlic salad dressing I've ever tasted, which I've never been able to replicate.
Here's the address
Carnegie Deli has great sandwiches and awesome cheesecake.
Bakeries: Amy's Breads, Sullivan Street, and wherever Jim Lahey is right now....
Mattie you are a treasure of info ! Thank you so much. You and Lindy both love Il Vagabondo so that is a definite "GO". I will make a note of all the other ones too and we will be in the areas you mentioned so that should work out very well. What are you doing now that you aren't in NYC anymore ? I am sure you do miss it. I love going. In the summer I especially love the music venues outside. I had a ball last summer for 2 weeks listening to Brazilian music at the free concerts. It was sponsored by AmX.Very nice.
Lindy we get the cheese cake at Carnegie...it is directly across from my brother's apt. Very bad temptation ! We always make our own sandwiches to save money. I go to Sullivans as it is right by my bike shop. I am going to definitely try Amy's at Chelsea Sq.
Meryl: I do get bread there on Sat. didn't realize it was his place. I am glad to know that. I have a vendor that I always get upstate NY wine from and a goat cheese lady too. They all always say " here is Miss Alabama " when they see me. I love NYC ! c
I sent you a private message..............
I missed Mattie's post and didn't realize she had recommended Il Vagabondo! Small world.
I'll second her recommendation for H&H Bagels as well. Mattie, you have excellent taste.
Yes, trailrunner, having Carnegie directly across the street would be very tempting indeed. My willpower is weak so once in a great while I'll order a small cheesecake from Carnegie and have it on my doorstep the next day.
Have a great time!
I also used to frequent Tal Bagels on East 86th street, they were only about 3 blocks from my apartment and they had the best salads to put on those bagels......my sister loved their shrimp salad, made with whole shrimp and no fillers, I usually got the checken salad, again fresh with no fillers. They also had another branch up on Broadway and 92nd street. For Bialys, which are really my favorite, I used to go down to Orchard street and there was a little hole in the wall place that had the best I ever found, in all the years I went to them I never did find out their name and no one in the shop spoke english either! I don't know if they are still there as the neighborhood has undergone a major renovation that has forced many of the old timers out now, and thats a shame....but this isn't the place to go into that. And yes the name of the place around the corner from my apt is called Sirabellas and they are still open, its on East End Avenue between 82nd and 83rd street. Zabars carries the Kai Komachi knives that people here use to slash their loaves and is the place where I bought my bannetons quite a few years ago. If you will be making dinner at your brothers place let me put in a good work for Brunos Ravioli they are over on 9th avenue near your brothers place, we also used to eat at Manganero's over on 9th ave, but the last time I went it had changed a lot and the food wasn't as great as it used to be. I miss the street fairs that I frequented every weekend, especially the 9th ave International Food one that usually occured the end of May and sort of started off the street fair season. If I think of any other places I will update you before you leave. I almost forgot about Orwashers Bakery over on the east 78th right off First Ave, Mr Orwasher had the place forever and has now sold but the new owners say they are going to continue with his recipies and procedures, you may want to take a run over there for some great breads if they are indeed following his lead. mattie
We just need to get you into the city and start walkin'. You are great ! I had planned on Orwasher's and I had heard that they had sold out but were supposed to be still good . I will let you know. I am going to do my best to get to all of these. We are free during the day but the nights are full. Jazz rules at night. I also only eat 1x a day when I travel so gotta make it count !
I love the scones at the Boathouse in Central Park...we go there after our Tues AM ride. The chocolate chip are so yum.
Please do keep me posted. I will have e-mail at my bro's place. THANK YOU !!
Do you ever go exploring up in upstate NY? We had moved up near the Washintonville winery back in 1971 and friends used to love to come up to visit and go on the tours, it's not too far from the city and you can hop a bus from Port Autority. Also if you are in the shopping mode on your visit you might want to hop the bus at Port Autority and take the trip up to Woodbury Commons, it's one of the largest outlet centers in the country and they are forever expanding it, my oldest son lives not too far from it so I always take the grandkids shopping when I am up visiting.......lots of places like William Sonoma (their sales are rock bottom, got a couple of AllClad pans for something silly like under $20 each) they also have lots of stuff not in their regular stores and catalog, there are also other cookware stores, also the bookstores in the complex are great. The bus ride takes a little under an hour and in nice weather is packed with tourists mostly from Asia but it is so bog it is rarely crowded except suring holiday seasons like Christmas when the wait for a parking spot can take hours if you are driving. Let me know if I am piling on too much info. Mattie
Just getting back to the forum...have been taking advantage of the great weather this week and painting picket fence ! NO you are not piling on too much. My brother and his wife love outlet malls so I will see if we can get out there. Sounds like fun and a nice ride too.
I have made a long list of all the suggestions and will look them all up and see how much we can do. I will let you know how much we accomplish. THANKS so much. c
I hear you about the weather, it is an absolutly beautiful day down here today. I was out in the yard just soaking up the bright azaleas that are in full bloom, I got the smoker and the grills set up for the season and put my herbs back out in the bright sunlight, I am so surprised they held their own throughout this winter. Next weekend if the weather holds we will have our first big BBQ for the kids and grands, so this week I'll try making some burger buns.........maybe Norms onion rolls, a burger would be fantastic on them. If your brother and his wife love outlet malls they probably have already been to Woodbury Commons, I think they have a website too so you might be able to check it out that way to see if you want to make the trip. Whatever you do, have a great time and enjoy the food! mattie