Dinnertime Dilemma
7 years ago by
Super first world problem: deciding where to eat dinner in New York.
With every cuisine imaginable to choose from (Mexican-Korean? Kung Pao Pastrami?!), frustration and hanger are feelings I regularly encounter when trying to last-minute plan dinner for a group bigger than me.
The factors to consider include but are not limited to: Is it 8pm on a Friday? How low is my account balance? Am I with my vegetarian pal? Where am I?*
Also: I like food but I’m no foodie. I much prefer the experience of dining et al (all inclusive of ambiance, service, decor, crowd-factor, noise levels, cost, wait, etc).? Here are my ol’ trusty top options for every price point.
*There are a lot of apps for this but I never use any of them for more than a week.
Pho Grand, $: Lotta bang for your buck at Pho Grand. Big bowls of broth filled with noodles and beef that you can top off with basil and sprouts to your liking. I always get number 6 on the menu but my veggie friends tell me the vegetarian options are yummy too.
Mogador, $$:Yeah, yeah everyone knows about Mogador but what kind of East Village dweller would I be to leave it off the list? Its Moroccan fare is delicious, the waitstaff is courteous (and attractive – not that that should matter??), the price is right and it’s just NICE. Wait is long for brunch but I don’t “do” brunch.
Navy, $$$: I’ve never waited for a table here which either means Navy is still a secret or my timing is perfect. Either way, the food is excellent (oysters! Bluefish toast! Whole Branzino!), the staff are wonderful and the decor is tastefully boat inspired. Good for dates, good for parents.
Kyo Ya, $$$$: Date night special. Kyo Ya is a hidden Omakase spot down the street from my apartment that is beautiful, delicious, and very expensive. But worth it! Sit at the sushi bar and watch as your all of your sashimi dreams come true.
By Anna Gray
There are so many amazing worth-it restaurants in NYC. And even more terrible, disappointing ones. They change so fast. In general, if I aimed at some under-the-radar place, I would usually be pleased and if I aimed at some fancy spot I would inevitably be disappointed.
Mogador looks amazing! Definitely going to try that out, surprised I haven’t pass by yet in East V
I also look at the whole experience when I evaluate restaurants BUT I have also been given the title of, “foodie,” by my friends!
http://www.dressupchowdown.com
Love Navy–it’s the perfect little restaurant!
I am lucky to have a foodie friend who always shows me cool new restaurants in the city. It happened to me a few times that she introduced me to a place that later became very popular. I use her advice every time I have a trouble finding a place to dine :)
http://stylestandpoint.com
We have exactly the same Super first world problem in Beijing…
Love this post thanks for sharing this