Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

So I'm headed out with a few friends tonight to celebrate a couple of birthdays and say bye to someone headed off to Australia for a month.

We have sort of a "Friends" situation, where some of us could afford a nicer meal, while others can't as much, so we require a decent meal at a good value -- $10-15 for an entree + a couple drinks.

Location is pretty much anywhere between 3rd and 9th, 34th to 59th. The whole strip from the 40s and 50s on 9th Ave is a likely target. Food of any kind is fine...top of the list is probably American/Mexican/Italian, followed by Thai/Sushi then other.

Examples that I've been to:

Azteca (Mexican), 53rd and 9th
Pam Real Thai (Thai), 49th and 9th

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

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34th to 59th;

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$10-15 for an entree + a couple drinks.

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I'm having trouble coming up with a suitable choice.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

erm, expand your grid to East Village, and you'll find a lot more. I went to Cucina di Pesce last weekend, and very solid food. For its price, I'd give it a solid 8.5 out of 10. $10-15 entrees (fish and seafood), with pasta sides, and very affordable bottles of wine ($20 - $35 for decent wine).

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

I'm willing to expand my grid a bit, but not that far. It sounds nice, but I'm not headed to the East Village when I commute back into Grand Central and live in Wash. Heights.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

I've been to NYC a few times, from the UK, and I'd say an entree + drinks for $10-15 is pure naivete.

double it and try again...

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

the "few drinks" part is going to be a problem. entrees in nyc are in my experience less expensive (i.e. you can go to some pretty good places with 9-15 entrees) than most places, but alcohol tends to be more.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

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I've been to NYC a few times, from the UK, and I'd say an entree + drinks for $10-15 is pure naivete.

double it and try again...

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Thanks for the tip. Now read my post again and tell me where I said dinner + drinks for $10-15.

And I'm well aware that tourist responses will likely be of no help to me. You obviusly wouldn't be expected to know of Azteca, Pam Real, etc., so this is directed much more at New Yorkers.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

I know its a bit out of your range but Celeste on Amsterdam between 84th and 85th is an excellent, cheap Italian place.

If you go get the cheese plate. All obscure, mostly homemade Italian cheeses the owner goes and gets himself in Italy.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've been to NYC a few times, from the UK, and I'd say an entree + drinks for $10-15 is pure naivete.

double it and try again...

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the tip. Now read my post again and tell me where I said dinner + drinks for $10-15.

And I'm well aware that tourist responses will likely be of no help to me. You obviusly wouldn't be expected to know of Azteca, Pam Real, etc., so this is directed much more at New Yorkers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh, you said "$10-15 for an entree + a couple drinks". Sarcastic [censored].

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Ok...perhaps I wasn't clear. Forget the comment about drinks. I live in NYC. I know how much drinks cost. Concentrate on the $10-15 entrees, of which there are a billion places.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Right, which would limit me to McDonalds. And the spirit of the thread clearly indicated otherwise.

Hornacek clearly understood.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've been to NYC a few times, from the UK, and I'd say an entree + drinks for $10-15 is pure naivete.

double it and try again...

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the tip. Now read my post again and tell me where I said dinner + drinks for $10-15.

And I'm well aware that tourist responses will likely be of no help to me. You obviusly wouldn't be expected to know of Azteca, Pam Real, etc., so this is directed much more at New Yorkers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh, you said "$10-15 for an entree + a couple drinks". Sarcastic [censored].

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Try Patsy's. It's a pretty decent NYC Italian chain. Sinatra loved this stuff. There's a good one on 60th and 3rd, but the famous one (the one that Sinatra went to) was 56th and 8th. They give HUGE portions for family size plates (around $30). I went with 4 people last weekend (2 guys 2 girls), got a family portion salad for $20, and a family style seafood pasta for $30. Relatively cheap.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Not exactly hidden, but Lupa (Mario Battali's trattoria) is an awesome value.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

They have a John's (which is a pizzeria on Bleecker St. that has pretty good pizza) on 44th St. on the West side. I've never actually been to this one, so I don't know if it's worse or better, but the John's on Bleecker is pretty good.

-Tik

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Not hidden, but awesome pizza, great salads, and no one will go broke.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7183400/

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Finally, a little above your range, but Park Avenue Cafe on 63rd and Park still has their Pay Your Age deal after 8:30 PM.

3 course meal for $25 (if you're under 25), can't be beaten.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

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Finally, a little above your range, but Park Avenue Cafe on 63rd and Park still has their Pay Your Age deal after 8:30 PM.

3 course meal for $25 (if you're under 25), can't be beaten.

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Tx, I had no idea...I just want to add, that im starving.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

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[ QUOTE ]
I've been to NYC a few times, from the UK, and I'd say an entree + drinks for $10-15 is pure naivete.

double it and try again...

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the tip. Now read my post again and tell me where I said dinner + drinks for $10-15.

And I'm well aware that tourist responses will likely be of no help to me. You obviusly wouldn't be expected to know of Azteca, Pam Real, etc., so this is directed much more at New Yorkers.

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Your original post wasn't exactly clear, no need to be a total douchebag in your responses.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

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Not hidden, but awesome pizza, great salads, and no one will go broke.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7183400/

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It may be time to set up the OOT NYC Pizza Challenge. Grimaldi's, John's, Joe's, etc...

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Via Emilia rocks.
Their price range ought to work for you.

Its located at Park & 20th. I'd call to make sure its not closed, since it says "CLOSED" next to the name of the restaurant. FWIW, I was there ~4-5wks ago and it was obviously open. One thing to note, is that they don't take reservations over the phone, so you might have to wait to be seated for a little bit ... but there are plenty of places to grab a drink at in the vicinity while waiting for your table.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

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Your original post wasn't exactly clear, no need to be a total douchebag in your responses.

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Douchebaggery is pretty much his MO.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

My apologies for the 'tude.

My OP wasn't as clear as I had thought it was.

Although, IMO, the initial douchebaggery came from some guy from the UK saying "I've been to NYC a couple times...double it a try again."

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Esca

This is a little over your price range but but there are plenty of entrees for less than $20 abd its excellent.

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
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Not hidden, but awesome pizza, great salads, and no one will go broke.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7183400/

[/ QUOTE ]
It may be time to set up the OOT NYC Pizza Challenge. Grimaldi's, John's, Joe's, etc...

[/ QUOTE ]

Can we just all get drunk and get pizza?

Re: Hidden NYC restauarant \"best buys\"
 

Thalia

Another really nice place with entrees under $20. I like the atmosphere here. Classy but not stuffy.

This is also a great place to go for lunch. Their burgers rock.