New York City Dining

Yum Yum Yum; things to eat in NYC

These are the highly recommended places to eat from tourists and locals alike, so if you do miss out on that reservation, you can always move down our list and hit up one of the other cheaper ‘non booking essential’ places (and by that we mean hot dog joints).

Let’s start off with the expensive stuff and move our way down…

It might be expensive, but Craft (right) on 43 East 19th Street is worth the money and the advance booking. The food is known for always being delicious, and countless rave reviews agree. Reviews also note the good service and layout of the restaurant, which has a romantic and contemporary feel.

The Gramercy Tavern is similar in nature, if not a New York treasure. Pay a little extra and see for yourself the cozy atmosphere, extravagantly designed meals and the dedicated and knowledgeable service. Don’t be fooled, there isn’t an ounce of snobbery in this restaurant and the staff are friendly and welcoming. You’ll find it at 42 E. 20th St. Make sure you book ahead, this one fills up fast!

Moving onto Freemans Restaurant (right) found at the bottom of Freemans Alley (funnily enough), off Rivington Street . The wait for a table is lengthy after 7pm, but grab a bottle of wine and wait it out. The food is great, the atmosphere is chic, hip and perfect for a Friday or Saturday night. Make a booking, Freemans gets pretty busy most nights.

If you want to try something a little different (very different), head to Lips at 2 Bank St. a great meal is served alongside a great show. To be specific, the meal is served to you by a fully decked out drag queen and the show is an energetic drag show. Sounds kitsch, but the show is amazing, even drawing out laughs from the most conservative of straight men. Have a go, you really won’t regret it! Make a booking, just to be sure you don’t have to wait.

Luke’s Bar and Grill is a happy medium between the expensive and the cheap. You’ll get good food, in a nice restaurant for decent prices. The meatloaf here draws a big crowd, so if you’re stuck for choice, stick with this known winner.

Now we get down to the stuff that’s easier on your wallet (if not your stomach). Pommes Frites is a traditional Belgium eatery, cooking up traditional Belgium fries with traditional sauces on the side. Their burgers are a great feed and you’ll probably feel overwhelmed when making the choice for a sauce on the side. You can find these great, fresh fries rolled in newspaper at 123 2nd Ave.

Last of all (no, we are not going to endorse McDonald’s) is Gray’s Papaya, a New York legend. Gray’s arguably have the city’s best hot dogs ever. And that’s a pretty big deal in New York. Gray’s has three locations, 539 Eighth Avenue at 37th Street, 402 Sixth Avenue at 8th Street, and 2090 Broadway at 72nd Street.

At Gray’s you can savor a truly fantastic hot dog 24- hours a day, for a ridiculously cheap price. The meal deal for two hot dogs and a drink will set you back only $3.50, and you won’t regret this purchase, it almost rivals the filet mignon from those other posh restaurants above. If you’re ever stuck for a quick bite, do yourself a favor and try one of Gray’s Papaya’s hot dogs.