Manhattan opinions

Hi LTH:

I work for a study abroad organization which is sending several of our foreign faculty to New Jersey (yowsa!) for a teaching conference. They are, however, close enough to Manhattan, so I'm going to organize a nice night on the town for them -- some of whom have never been to NYC before. We'll need to keep an eye on budget, but it's really only one dinner for 5 people..so we can have some fun. There will be a vegetarian or two in the group -- something else to consider. Dinner will be in the 7-8pmish range.

So -- LTH -- i turn to you and your collective intelligence. I keep up on what's good in NYC but I want to know -- if you had this opportunity and got the chance for one night in Manhattan -- where would you like to eat? They'll be training into Penn Station and so I'm figuring we should keep them in midtown or lower manhattan for dinner. I've got some ideas but I want to hear what you have to say, so please let me know what you think. Nothing too fancy schmancy -- no Le Bernadin (which is where I would want to go!), nothing too flashy.

Lay it on me, LTH -- I want to know what you think!

Thanks!

Shannon

Get pizza at Lombardi's. Some of the best brick-oven pizza in the city, great location, and I believe they will take resos for groups bigger than six. Manhattan and other mixed drinks not too shabby either. Otherwise, go to Chinatown.

http://www.firstpizza.com/

earthlydesire wrote:Hi LTH:

I work for a study abroad organization which is sending several of our foreign faculty to New Jersey (yowsa!) for a teaching conference. They are, however, close enough to Manhattan, so I'm going to organize a nice night on the town for them -- some of whom have never been to NYC before. We'll need to keep an eye on budget, but it's really only one dinner for 5 people..so we can have some fun. There will be a vegetarian or two in the group -- something else to consider. Dinner will be in the 7-8pmish range.

So -- LTH -- i turn to you and your collective intelligence. I keep up on what's good in NYC but I want to know -- if you had this opportunity and got the chance for one night in Manhattan -- where would you like to eat? They'll be training into Penn Station and so I'm figuring we should keep them in midtown or lower manhattan for dinner. I've got some ideas but I want to hear what you have to say, so please let me know what you think. Nothing too fancy schmancy -- no Le Bernadin (which is where I would want to go!), nothing too flashy.

Lay it on me, LTH -- I want to know what you think!

Thanks!

Shannon

Take the subway downtown. Rotating street focused dinner.
--Appetizer: Pastrami Sandwich on rye cut into five pieces at Katz's taken out to go (schmear the counterman with a $5 bill when you ask him to cut it, get extra napkins AND extra half-sour pickle);
--Main: Continue the rotating theme in Chinatown by getting dumplings (meat and veg!) and other items. See this blogger, a very trustworthy voice for exc 411 http://www.lauhound.com/category/chinese/
--Dessert in two courses: Chinatown ice cream factory on Bayard st for Cocoanut or Mango, and then walk west to one of the fancy Soho bakeries such as Jacques Torres Chocolate. Depending on your guests' temperments and humours maybe stop for shisha (fruit flavored hookas) along the way.

As a now expatriate native New Yorker, the thing I like to show people is the variety in NYC. Canal Street totally does it as every one goes there from Hedge Fund lords of the universe to bridge and tunnel salt of the earth.

Or, you could go to Tulsi across from Sparks on 47th east of 3rd Ave. Slightly stilted room with exceptional Michelin one star Indian food, figure $50-$60 per person before alcohol.

For a one time visit, I'd shepherd everyone down to Canal St!

Take them to Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village then to Milk Bar for dessert. A little David Chang will wow them.

Steve Drucker wrote:

earthlydesire wrote:Hi LTH:

I work for a study abroad organization which is sending several of our foreign faculty to New Jersey (yowsa!) for a teaching conference. They are, however, close enough to Manhattan, so I'm going to organize a nice night on the town for them -- some of whom have never been to NYC before. We'll need to keep an eye on budget, but it's really only one dinner for 5 people..so we can have some fun. There will be a vegetarian or two in the group -- something else to consider. Dinner will be in the 7-8pmish range.

So -- LTH -- i turn to you and your collective intelligence. I keep up on what's good in NYC but I want to know -- if you had this opportunity and got the chance for one night in Manhattan -- where would you like to eat? They'll be training into Penn Station and so I'm figuring we should keep them in midtown or lower manhattan for dinner. I've got some ideas but I want to hear what you have to say, so please let me know what you think. Nothing too fancy schmancy -- no Le Bernadin (which is where I would want to go!), nothing too flashy.

Lay it on me, LTH -- I want to know what you think!

Thanks!

Shannon

Take the subway downtown. Rotating street focused dinner.
--Appetizer: Pastrami Sandwich on rye cut into five pieces at Katz's taken out to go (schmear the counterman with a $5 bill when you ask him to cut it, get extra napkins AND extra half-sour pickle);
--Main: Continue the rotating theme in Chinatown by getting dumplings (meat and veg!) and other items. See this blogger, a very trustworthy voice for exc 411 http://www.lauhound.com/category/chinese/
--Dessert in two courses: Chinatown ice cream factory on Bayard st for Cocoanut or Mango, and then walk west to one of the fancy Soho bakeries such as Jacques Torres Chocolate. Depending on your guests' temperments and humours maybe stop for shisha (fruit flavored hookas) along the way.

As a now expatriate native New Yorker, the thing I like to show people is the variety in NYC. Canal Street totally does it as every one goes there from Hedge Fund lords of the universe to bridge and tunnel salt of the earth.

Or, you could go to Tulsi across from Sparks on 47th east of 3rd Ave. Slightly stilted room with exceptional Michelin one star Indian food, figure $50-$60 per person before alcohol.

For a one time visit, I'd shepherd everyone down to Canal St!

I like this suggestion - you'll get to see some of the city and experience some great, low-key chow:)