DO stop at as many restaurants and bars for drinks or appetizers before your final dinner destination. The amount of restaurants in NYC is overwhelming and all of them are spectacular – this strategy ensures you get the most out of NYC’s nightlife.DON’T go to Carnegie Deli and sit next to a woman named Celeste. If you do, you’ll understand why I don’t need to explain.
DO go to Carnegie Deli and order a giant sandwich. The novelty of the sandwich is exciting and it will be so filling that you’ll be set for a day of shopping – another NYC must.
DON’T go to Gospel Uptown in Harlem for brunch. Unless you like fried chicken for breakfast followed by red velvet cake, save your reservations for dinner when it’s likely to be busier and when you can catch the gospel singing performance.
DO visit Caracas in Greenwich Village and try their Argentinean arepas (like a small soft taco). I recommend ‘La Mulata’ which has grilled white cheese, jalapenos, peppers, fried plantains and black beans – it’s spicy enough to keep your lips burning but luckily the sweet plantains are there to cool off your tongue…a little.
DON’T listen to your hotel concierge if he or she advises you to eat at Ray’s Pizza. The meat was questionable and the next morning our friend became quite ill (although we have no proof her sickness was due to the pizza). To sum up our experience Ace Burpee called the pizza “a major fail.”
DO visit the Blue Ribbon restaurant in Soho and try the beef marrow and oxtail marmalade appetizer and the barbequed ribs appetizer. I made the mistake of not trying the beef marrow but it received rave reviews around the table. The barbequed ribs were sweet, tender and literally melted in your mouth – plus it came with its own campfire in the event you need to reheat anything!
DON’T get stuck in a snow storm in Times Square. You’ll never find a cab willing to take you to your restaurant of choice, thus leaving you one option: drinks, drinks, and more drinks – possibly on an empty stomach too!
DO budget for expensive meals. They’re worth it and you’re in NYC baby, so live it up like you’re loaded!
Great tips. The Blue Ribbon will make my list for the next time I go.
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I've got another one to add: For a quick bite, DON'T avoid "street meat" in mid-town just because it's not a restaurant. The halal food vendors on 6th, 7th & 8th Avenues and Broadway sell great pita sandwiches and meat/rice/veg plates to go -- and they're cheap, which you can't say about much in Manhattan!
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