Where to Eat

Anywhere.

It is very normal to eat in the Delis. They are food shops ran mainly by Hindus. You can eat here too although the norm is to take away. In Manhattan it is normal to see people eating in the street, in squares or in parks, don’t be afraid to do the same but respect the environment and don’t leave any litter. A word of warning: Indian food has a lot of spices and American food in general is flavoured with a lot of cinnamon. It is a good idea not to go too overboard with spicy food.

Contrary to what you may think, hamburgers in New York are made with prime quality meat. The typical hamburger is a quarter-pounder. On the way out of the Intrepid Sea-Air Space Museum, situated on the aircraft carrier, you can pass by the Diner which is located on the corner of 43rd and 11th. It is the typical cafeteria straight from the scene of a film, situated in the middle of nowhere but at the same time in the heart of Manhattan. It’s an ideal place to rest after visiting the Museum. Ask for the buffalo burger, you won’t regret it.

On 739 Broadway, you will find the Cozy Soup Burguer where they serve some of the best burgers in town and is open 24 hours a day.

If you want to try something exotic, try the Turkish food in the Dervish Restaurant on 146th West of 47th street, right in the middle of Times Square, perhaps you will be able to watch a European league football game at the same time, or perhaps you may like to try Afghan food in the Khyver Pass Restaurant, situated at 34 Saint Mark Place, on 8th Street, between the 2nd and 3rd Avenues.

If you want to give your stomach a rest after all the spices, try eating out in Tad´s Steak House . There are various Tads’ Steak Houses in Manhattan; one of them is just in front of Macys. They are places that are frequented by Cubans, where they serve meat cooked on the griddle, without spices. You can accompany it with salad, corn on the cob or mashed potato. It tastes great!

Sylvia´s Restaurant is an interesting place to visit. It is found in 328 Lennox Avenue, between 126th and 127th Street and where they mainly serve "Cajun" food from Mississippi or from the Deep South in general.

Another great place to try is Francisco Centro Vasco (Francisco’s Basque Centre), in 23rd Street between the 6th and 7th Avenue. Surprisingly enough, and despite its name they do not actually serve Basque food, but we recommend it highly.

If you fancy a drink in elegant surroundings then try the Penn Top Bar , it’s a bar situated on the roof terrace of the 22nd floor of the Hotel Peninsula, number 700 on the 5th Avenue, next to 55th Street. It’s a good chance to have a drink in a high class hotel that has an added advantage: there aren’t many places like this where you can have a drink and be surrounded by skyscrapers.

If all you want is a coffee and a doughnut or pastry then the place to try is Esperanto, situated in MacDougal Street. You will find it has a very bohemian atmosphere and the added advantage of internet connection, although you need to take your own laptop. In the same street is Café Wha, a bar where Bob Dylan used to play when he was starting out.

If you are looking for a more fashionable venue then the Hard Rock Café or Planet Hollywood , both found in Times Square, are worth a visit, especially if you are a fan of the great rock legends. You probably already know that a lot of memorabilia from many famous cinema stars and musicians are on display here on the walls or in showcases that are full of photographs and curious objects. Anyway, it’s always a good excuse to have a rest in Times Square to recharge your batteries.

Chinatown is full of restaurants, any one of them being a good place to eat, and you can try eating with chopsticks.

For Italian food, go to Little Italy . It is probably one of the few opportunities you will have to eat at a restaurant with a table cloth and for a reasonable price.

In the rest of Manhattan you will find a bit of everything, but the great majority are cafeterias. Eating out European style can prove to be a bit more expensive. Check out your guide books and the information on offer at your hotel reception, but above all don’t forget to have a good look around the streets for yourself, this is the best way to get a true feel for Manhattan.