NYC - First Time

[mudcat100]

Flying up to NYC this week. First time. Will be staying in Times Square. Going to see Eric Clapton at MSG Sat. We'll be walking and using Uber. I would like to try some of the ethnic foods and was told the little non chain places are the best. Any suggestions? And, how safe is it?

 

[bill2000]

Italian at:

Carmine's Italian Restaurant Times Square, NYC | Make a Reservation Now! | Carmine's


Cheesecake for dessert

45th Street NYC / Junior's Cheesecake - Junior's Cheesecake

 

[rkittine]

What Ethnic foods are you interested in? There is a lot more than just Italian.
How long are you staying?
For real NYC feel I would leave Times Square and go to other neighborhoods, unless you like a lot of tourist places.
I live in the West Village on a tree lined street filled with 1840s Brownstones and other 1800s buildings. There are 6 restaurants on my block alone. Spanish, Middle Eastern, French, Italian and Greek. Every block in this area is like that.

Bob

 

[chief38]

If you like Chinese food, take a trip downtown to Chinatown, walk around and stay away from the "genuine Gucci bags" they are hawking on the streets!

Take in a Broadway Show if you have an afternoon, the Empire State Building Observation Deck is nice if you have never been there, and a trip to the Statute of Liberty could be nice - before they remove that too!

If you love steak and can afford a really expensive meal, stop by Peter Luger's Steak House in Williamsburg Brooklyn (not a long ride from Manhattan - right over the Williamsburg Bridge). I don't think you'll be disappointed and is my all time favorite steak house BTW they do NOT accept any credit cards or checks - strictly cash! Don't want you to have to wash the dishes after -

As far as safety is concerned, as long as you stay in the common areas in NYC you should be fine. Stay out of Central Park after dark, carry your wallet and $$ in your front pocket, don't even carry a knife that clips on to your pocket - it's considered "brandishing a weapon" in NYC and you will be arrested.

Enjoy the "freak show" in Times Square! You will certainly have an "experience" and will be hard pressed to believe what you see.

 

[walkin jack]

BE SURE to get a "dirty water" hot dog from one of the many street vendors while you are there. Don't let the name put you off, they are the best.

 

[ladder13]

An entree at Carmine’s is for two people at minimum. They will ask if you’ve ever been there before.
There’s another uptown in the 90’s if you want less of a crowd.

 

[pharmer]

Take the subway down to South Ferry. Take the ferry over ti SI and back. An hour you'll always remember and it's free. Joe.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Ya gotta love NYC.

I first visited that burg in the middle 1960s. I was interviewing there for a human resources manager position at the Arizona branch of a company that was headquartered not far from there (I got the job).

I was billeted at the old Commodore Hotel not far from Times Square. That evening I decided to go out for a walk to get acquainted with the Big Apple.

Just outside the hotel, I was greeted by the sight of cop kicking a down-and-outer in the gutter of the street. "Get up! You can't sleep there." I moved on down the street to a hot dog restaurant. I was hungry so I sat down at the counter and prepared to order.

Next to me was another of the breed mentioned in the paragraph above. He was pleading with the guy behind the counter to let him buy just a hot dog - no bun. The counter guy told him no, they only sell complete hot dogs, buns included. The feckless soul then got all emotional said he already had the bread - a loaf tucked under his arm. It seems a Sister of Mercy had given it to him. Well, they agreed to disagree, and the guy stomped off.

I finished my "complete" hot dog, and decided to wander farther up the street.

Almost right away, I was approached by a young guy who asked me for some money so he could return to his home on Long Island. Said he had just been mugged, and his wallet was stolen. He also said he was an ex-Marine. Well, I knew something about military armament, so I said "So you're an ex-Marine?" He assured me he was. I asked him "So tell me, what's the first step in field stripping an M14 rifle (then current issue to Marines)?"

He stammered around and made some lame excuses - at which point I bid him goodbye, and moved on to Times Square, where I was treated to further revelations too numerous to mention here. Suffice to say that I was impressed (actually shocked and dismayed).

And such was my introduction to New York City. In retrospect, the hot dog restaurant was actually pretty good...

John

 

[Muss Muggins]

The Bomb . . .

Pizza

 

[ladder13]

Italian at:

Carmine's Italian Restaurant Times Square, NYC | Make a Reservation Now! | Carmine's


Cheesecake for dessert

45th Street NYC / Junior's Cheesecake - Junior's Cheesecake

Juniors is fine and well known but the best cheesecake in America, yes comes out of a dumpy looking building in The Bronx. It’s a bakery, you ring a bell and someone comes to let you in.
Used to be $15 for a large cake back in the 80’s( only one was offered back then, NY style) now $47.50 but worth every penny. Yum.

Zagat's #1 Rated Cheesecake, Best Cheesecake NYC, NY Style Cheesecake

 

[bill2000]

Juniors is fine and well known but the best cheesecake in America, yes comes out of a dumpy looking building in The Bronx. It’s a bakery, you ring a bell and someone comes to let you in.
Used to be $15 for a large cake back in the 80’s( only one was offered back then, NY style) now $47.50 but worth every penny. Yum.

Zagat's #1 Rated Cheesecake, Best Cheesecake NYC, NY Style Cheesecake

All well and good but I'd never make it to the Bronx after having a belly-full of Carmine's manicotti! Stumbling over to Juniors would be the best I could do.

 

[ladder13]

All well and good but I'd never make it to the Bronx after having a belly-full of Carmine's manicotti! Stumbling over to Juniors would be the best I could do.

The first time I ever went to Carmine’s, we’re looking at the menu on the wall deciding.
I’m going with spaghetti and meatballs, I always do that the first time. Should a restaurant botch that I’m not going back.
My wife says, I want the penne ala vodka.
Waitress comes over....first time? Yeah, we looked confused, obvious eh? She says order one entree trust me.....we did spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were fantastic.
We went back a few times with family and friends, to the uptown locale and also Atlantic City. We enjoyed every visit.
We had desert only one time when we had a group of eight.

 

[bill2000]

I miss good Italian. Maine is a desert for Italian and deli.

 

[chief38]

BE SURE to get a "dirty water" hot dog from one of the many street vendors while you are there. Don't let the name put you off, they are the best.

There was a time I actually would eat them but I think the water has gotten dirtier (the vendors certainly have).

 

[chief38]

An entree at Carmine’s is for two people at minimum. They will ask if you’ve ever been there before.
There’s another uptown in the 90’s if you want less of a crowd.

Every time I've tried to get into Carmine's they were packed! I don't get to NYC very often any longer (maybe every 3-4 years) so when I do the last thing I have patience for is waiting! I have heard it's very good though......

 

[ladder13]

Every time I've tried to get into Carmine's they were packed! I don't get to NYC very often any longer (maybe every 3-4 years) so when I do the last thing I have patience for is waiting! I have heard it's very good though......

I think they take reservations. At least they did when we went uptown with a group of six.

 

[jag312]

I haven't been there in a long time. Try Lombardi's. To the best of my recollection, it is on Mott Street on the corner of Spring Street. When it comes to pizza, it don't get any better.

 

[rwsmith]

A lot cleaner...

It' a lot cleaner and safer and the people are even more easy to get along with than back in the 80s when I first went.

 

[walkin jack]

You must make time to visit the 9-11 memorial. It is a very emotional experience. One that will stay with you from now on.

 

[bill2000]

It' a lot cleaner and safer and the people are even more easy to get along with than back in the 80s when I first went.

,
The change in NYC, especially the Times Square area since the 70's and 80's is nothing short of miraculous.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Long ago, a friend recommended a Cuban place when I asked about someplace to eat before seeing a play on Broadway. Ever since that first time, we have made it our tradition to go there before every show we see, even though my brother owns a steak house in the same area (597 10th Ave.), where we eat free.

Victor's Café, 236 West 52nd Street

Make reservations. 212-586-7714

Victor's Caf'e: Cuban Restaurant NYC

 

[LoadedRound]

You must make time to visit the 9-11 memorial. It is a very emotional experience. One that will stay with you from now on.

You really don't want to miss this. I would recommend you do a guided tour. Look for a guide who was there that day. For me the museum wasn't as big a deal as the memorial. While you're there, you may as well go the top of the Freedom Tower.

Enjoy your trip

 

[LoadedRound]

Cruise

I would also recommend you consider a harbor cruise.

We took this one:

Best of NYC: Our Complete Manhattan Island Cruise | Unforgettable Views: Circumnavigate The Island Of Manhattan & See the Best Of New York, Full Circle | Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

Our guide was absolutely outstanding. The upgrade to Premier tickets is more than worth the cost. You get better seating / wait service to your seat / VIP boarding (You go to the front of the line).

ETA:

This cruise departs on the Hudson adjacent to the Intrepid. You can walk from the Times Square area easily. We stayed at 43rd and 9th and it was a very nice walk.

It does appear that the route may be altered due to bridge construction. You may want to ask.