Hidden NYC restauarant "best buys"

[JordanIB]

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

[JBB]

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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.

[Hornacek]

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).

[JordanIB]

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.

[Peter Harris]

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...

[turnipmonster]

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.

[JordanIB]

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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.

[xadrez]

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.

[Homer]

[ 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.

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

[JordanIB]

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.