I'm compiling a list of recommended restaraunts by area for our forthcoming trip to NYC (call me an overplanner!)

The idea is; whichever area we're in when we get hungry, we'll have a list of good value, good food places to choose from.

My problem is - I've only got about 2 places on the westside! We're staying in midtown, just on broadway but I expect we'll be all over the city.

Anyone know of any gems on the westside? We like all food and aren't scared to try something new

Arties deli (Broadway at 83rd) is a good value place. Have a look at the site...www.arties.com.The menu is on there , be warned, the portions are large, my sister and I couldn't even finish a SHARED Jewish Chef Salad!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Service was excellent.

44 and x, 10th ave /44th st--American

Hell's Kitchen, 9th Ave btw 47/46--Nouveau Mexican

Eatery, 9th Ave/53rd--American

Rinconcito Peruano, 9th Ave (53/54)--Dive, Authentic Peruvian

Zen Palate, 9th Ave/46th--Vegetarian

Thalia, 8th/50--American

Pigalle, 8th Ave/48th--24 hour French Brasserie

Marseille, 9th Ave/44th--French Mediterranean


Anything west of 8th Avenue is not as touristy. Anything east of it is embarrassing.

Not EVERYTHING east of 8th Ave. is embarrassing!!! Carmine's, Virgil's BBQ, John's Pizzeria, Osteria Stella, Le Bernardin, Manhattan Ocean Club, Redeye Grill, Trattoria dell'Arte, and about a zillion others are all east of 8th Ave.

Here are some goodies on the UWS -- Ocean Grill, Nice Matin, Pasha, Penang, Gray's Papaya, Fairway Cafe, Ouest, Les Routiers, Barney Greengrass.

See if you can spot the following things @ Carmine's:

*You know that baby that was born in Brazil that weighed 17 pounds? Imagine that baby is liguine. Now imagine it on a plate. That is how much food is involved @ Carmine's. Everything is served on these "family-style" platters that no normal person could ever hope to finish. This in and of itself is fine, but there's more...

*3 Linda Richman types, freshly tanned the color of George Hamilton bc they "just got back from Boca". They will leave their long-suffering Pakistani waiter a miserable tip bc they take the tax from their bill and double it.

*About 20 8th graders on a school trip from a small town in West Virginia. The boys will have on high top sneakers. The girls will wear L'eggs pantyhose 3 shades too dark bc they were told to "dress up for the theatre". Their teacher/chaperone will have an Ogilvie home perm. When finished with their meal, they will wander onto 44th street--helpless, lost, fat.

Oracle is not incorrect. There are some gems on the East Side. But I have personally found Carmine's, Virgils BBQ, Redeye Grill, and Trattoria dell Arte to = embarrassing bc = crammed w tourists. They are places I have been dragged to w visiting out-of-town relatives. Le Benardin is fabulous bc = one of the old guarde, like La Cote Basque (defunct), La Grenouille, 21. But prix fixe dinner there = $135.