Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
Home I Singers Websites I Jazz News I Jazz Ezines I Jazz Photography I Jazz Clubs I Jazz Resources I Contact Me
ggg

New York City Restauraunts
From The New York Daily News-Originally published on January 19, 2003

New York gets a rap for being expensive, but when it comes to food, the city's a cheapskate's paradise. There are hundreds of great, inexpensive restaurants offering every kind of cuisine  Asian, Mediterranean, soul food, Latin, you name it.

So we sent out a bunch of food-loving writers to all five boroughs to scout some of the best cheap-eats restaurants. We were looking for places that had a little character, something beyond the usual diner or coffee shop. Every place had to have tables (if not table service), and most of the entrees had to cost $10 or less. (Restaurants often listed one or two entrees above that amount.) Here's what we found.

Brooklyn's clean-plate clubs

Park Slope

  • Coco Roco, 392 Fifth Ave. between Sixth and Seventh Sts. (718-965-3376). All Peruvian dishes here are excellent, but only the recipe for marinated, rotisserie chicken remains top secret. A second, fancier-looking location opens next month on Smith St.

  • Judy's Place, 69 Seventh Ave. between Lincoln Place and Berkeley Place (718-622-6840). Judy Wong has created a homey, wood-filled teahouse where locals gather for dumplings (15 for $5!), shrimp siu mai, noodle soups, pork buns, almond cookies and red bean cakes.

  • Mr. Falafel, 226 Seventh Ave. between Third and Fourth Sts. (718-768-4961). Egyptian specialties include falafels, fava bean salad and stuffed grape leaves, but there is also kibbeh, tabouleh and sandwiches brimming with grilled meats. Freshly painted walls and tiled floor add to the appeal.

  • Smiling Pizza, 323 Seventh Ave. at Ninth St. (718-788-2137). Watch the world go at this bustling corner spot where baby pizzas are layered with fresh mozzarella. Sausage heros, ziti with meatballs, veal cutlets and eggplant parmigiana fill the void.

    Lisa Amand

    Boerum Hill * Carroll Gardens * Cobble Hill * Brooklyn Heights

  • California Taqueria, 187 Court St. at Bergen St. (718-624-7498). Besides an enormous array of tacos, tostadas, quesadillas and burritos ("East L.A.-style"), this festive corner place makes corn, pumpkin and black bean soups, and healthy sides like spinach and hominy corn.

  • El Nuevo Portal, 217 Smith St. between Butler and Baltic Sts. (718-246-1416). A cozy counter and table service for hearty plates of porkchops, ribs, baked chicken, beef or goat stew, all served with choice of Spanish rice and beans, or green or yellow plantains. Open for breakfast, lunch ($4.50 specials) and dinner.

  • 3 Bow Thais, 278 Smith St. between Sackett and Degraw Sts. (718-834-0511). Diners can check out the changing exhibit by Brooklyn artists as they fill up on bounteous plates of spicy (on request) pad Thai, fried rice and crispy Long Island duck.

  • Moroccan Star, 148 Atlantic Ave. between Clinton and Henry Sts. (718-643-3042). Crepes, curries, couscous and kebabs are offerings at this sweet spot where Middle Eastern dishes outnumber French ones. Waiters bring fragrant cups of mint tea to anyone waiting for takeout.

  • Zaytoons, 283 Smith St. at Sackett St. (718-875-1880). Platters of chicken shawarma are loaded up with rice, salad, pita bread and hummus or baba ghanouj. Pitzas, pizza on pita, are topped with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes or sliced lamb.

    L.A.

    Sunset Park

  • Gia Lam II, 56-06 Eighth Ave., between 56th and 57th Sts. (718-567-0800 or 567-8952). A huge menu with the usual Vietnamese favorites such as pho (11 kinds, $4-$5), bun and exotic drink concoctions (like tri-colored sweet bean and coconut milk iced beverage, $2) keep this stereotypically decorated (heavy on the bamboo) restaurant hopping.

  • Nyonya, 53-23 54th St. at Eighth Ave. (718-633-0808 or 972-2943). Malaysian cuisine is a wild, spicy fusion of Chinese, Indian, Thai, European and Malay influences, so ask your server for advice. But don't be put off by claims that "you won't like it" since everything is well-executed and delicious.

  • Ocean Palace Restaurant, 54-32 Eighth Ave., between 54th and 55th Sts. (718-871-8080 or 871-8081). A longtime neighborhood favorite, this no-frills, efficient Chinese family-style spot lives up to its reputation for fresh seafood and appetizing dim sum. Things can get hairy on the weekends.

  • Usuluteco Restaurante Salvadoreno, 40-17 Fifth Ave., between 41th and 40th Sts. (718-436-8025). On the edge of bustling Hispanic Fifth Ave. is this gem of a Salvadoran place, which serves such specialties as pupusa, a corn pancake stuffed with cheese or pork ($1.25!). Entrees, which come with choice of two sides, are big enough to make wonderful leftovers.

    Lan N. Nguyen

    Brighton Beach

  • Cafe Shish-Kebab, 414 Brighton Beach Ave., between Brighton Fourth and Brighton Fifth Sts. (718-368-0966). Short on atmosphere but tall on value (the biggest wallet-buster is only $8.50), this Russian spot skewers everything from quail to pork tongues. A wide variety of soups and simple entrees are also available.

  • Cafe Glechik, 3159 Coney Island Ave., between Brighton Beach Ave. and Brighton 10th St. (718-616-0494). Expect home-style comfort food served in Crockpots, and well-lit, cozy surroundings. The friendly staff offers tasty borscht, variations on vareniki (think pierogis) and a range of meats including rabbit and lamb.

  • Primorski Restaurant, 282 Brighton Beach Ave., between Brighton Second and Brighton Third Sts. (718-891-3111). Bring your family, friends or a good-natured date to one of the oldest Russian restaurants in the city. The salyanka (Georgian-style lamb ribs) and stuffed veal are succulent, and every night from 8 o'clock to midnight (later on weekends), they dim the lights and provide live music.

    Rebecca Louie

    Flatbush

  • Gloria's In & Out II, 1148 Nostrand Ave. (718-493-2183). Reggae and dance-hall music plays inside the small green shop, which is decorated wall-to-wall with colorful newspaper clippings of Carnival festivities. Entrees of stewed chicken or beef, and many types of curry including chicken, beef, goat, shrimp and conch, are served with two sides (black-eyed peas, callaloo, pumpkin and more).

  • Dital Shack, 989 Nostrand Ave. (718-756-6557). West Indian vegetarian food, such as rice and peas or vegetables and rice with four sides (callaloo, curry chickpeas, potatoes, vegetarian duck or tofu snow peas). Vegetable burgers and sandwiches cost only $1.50-$3 and patties filled with peas, soy and ackee (a fleshy, tangy Jamaican fruit) are all priced between $1.50-$2.50.

  • Boucanier Restaurant, 1368 Flatbush Ave. (718-434-6270). The long line of Haitian regulars tells the story. Entrees of stewed chicken, fried chicken, goat, pork, mixed vegetables, meatballs and okra, served with rice and fried plantains, are spicy and savory.

    Chrissy Persico

    Bay Ridge

  • Soup as Art, 8321 Third Ave. (718-680-3334). Owned by "Sopranos" cast member Joe Gannascoli (Vito Spatafori), this small soup shack offers 16 varieties a day, from tomato-y tomato basil with fresh mozzarella balls ($3.50 for 10-ounce cup) to lobster bisque ($4.25). Yummy slices of olive-oil-drenched toasted bread accompany the soups, and sandwiches are available.

  • Mykonos, 7616 Third Ave. (718-491-0622). Tiny green joint features platters such as lamb gyro and chicken shish kebab with bacon and peppers, and appetizers such as taramosalata and eggplant salad. Next door is Omonia, a dessert cafe affiliated with the restaurant.

  • Grass Roots, 8505 Third Ave. (718-745-9679). Behind the counter, a friendly lady presses carefully assembled panini one by one. Try the $6.75 chicken with pesto or the $6 portobello mushroom and eggplant.

    Amy DiLuna

    Manhattan: Savory & stylish

    Lower East Side n Nolita

  • aKa Cafe, 49 Clinton St. at Rivington St. (212-979-6096). The casual kid brother of 71 Clinton and Alias, this is a place where trendies go for large drinks and small plates of sophisticated fare.

  • Cafe Habana, 17 Prince St. at Elizabeth St. (212-625-2001). Pan-Latin quesadillas and Cuban sandwiches on the coolest corner of Nolita.

  • Congee Village, 100 Allen St. at Delancey St. (212-941-1818). It takes a Village to make 29 kinds of congee, or rice porridge, plus steamed rice in bamboo pots and superb Cantonese seafood.

  • Dumpling House, 118A Eldridge St. at Grand St. (212-625-8008). Nothing but Chinese pork and chive dumplings still sizzling from the wok. What else do you need?

  • Lombardi's, 32 Spring St. at Mott St. (212-941-7994). The first — and some think still the best — New York pizzeria. No slices, just pies, but you won't have trouble finishing when it's this good.

    I.S.

    East Village

  • B&H Dairy, 127 Second Ave. at St. Marks Place (212-505-8065). Vegetarian borscht, blintzes and French toast at a lunch counter built when the East Village was still the lower East Side.

  • Brick Lane Curry House, 342 Sixth St. at First Ave. (212-979-2900). This stylish newcomer to Sixth St.'s Little India serves curries in seven degrees of heat, from mild to agonizing.

  • Itzocan Cafe, 438 E. Ninth at Avenue A (212-677-5856). Superb and sophisticated Mexican food for less than you'd spend at your local burrito joint.

  • Lil' Frankie's Pizza, 19 First Ave. at First St. (212-420-4900). Brick-oven pizzas, pressed sandwiches and roast chicken in this nostalgic spinoff of the mega-popular Frank's.

  • Rai Rai Ken, 214 E. 10th St. at First Ave. (212-477-7030). This 14-seat counter cafe serves steaming bowls of soy, seafood and miso broth dense with Japanese ramen noodles.

    I.S.

    Theater District

  • Afghan Kebab House No. 3, 155 W. 46th St. at Sixth Ave. (212-768-3875). Charred kebabs, rice pilaf and vegetable dumplings make this more than a pre-theater bite.

  • Azuri Cafe, 465 W. 51st St. at 10th Ave. (212-262-2920). The hearty soups and falafel sandwiches at this tiny kosher spot make up for its lack of decor and sometimes grumpy welcome.

  • Cafe Edison, Hotel Edison, 228 W. 47th St. at Broadway (212-840-5000). A retro Jewish-style deli popular with theater people, who call it "The Polish Tea Room." (Neil Simon celebrated it in "45 Seconds From Broadway.")

  • Margon, 136 W. 46th St. at Sixth Ave. (212-354-5013). There are no frills in this popular Latin lunch place, but you can't beat the octopus salad, roast pork, rice and beans.

  • Pam Real Thai Food, 404 W. 49th St. at Ninth Ave. (212-333-7500). Home-style Thai cooking in a simple spot that's easily one of the best places in the city for this fiery, complex cuisine.

    I.S.

    Midtown East

  • Ali Baba, 206 E. 34th St. at Second Ave. (212-683-9206). There's always a line outside the door of this now-elegant Turkish restaurant, once a pizzeria.

  • Better Burger, 565 Third Ave. at 37th St. (212-949-7528). "No grease, no guilt" at a burger shop connected with Josie's healthy food restaurant.

  • Dosa Hut, 102 Lexington Ave. at 27th St. (212-725-7466). Thin crisp dosa, or chickpea pancakes, enfold savory vegetarian dishes from southern India.

  • Phi Lan, 249 E. 45th St. at Second Ave. (212-922-9411). Folks from the UN squeeze into a minuscule space to eat refined Vietnamese food.

  • Thady Con's, 915 Second Ave. at 48th St. (212-688-9700). An atmospheric pub that serves classic Irish food and splendid Irish beer and whisky.

    I.S.

    Upper East Side

  • Mocca Hungarian Restaurant, 1588 Second Ave. at 82nd St. (212-734-6470). The four-course prix fixe is only $15.95 at this tiled restaurant, a cozy fixture in what was once a Hungarian neighborhood.

  • Luke's Bar & Grill, 1394 Third Ave. at 79th St. (212-249-7070). Regulars eat grilled chicken and mammoth burgers and fries at this family-friendly bistro.

  • Pio Pio, 1746 Third Ave. at 90th St. (212-426-5800). Succulent spice-rubbed chicken and sangria are the things to order at this golden-walled Peruvian spot.

  • Trattoria Bella Donna, 307 E. 77th St. at Second Ave. (212-535-2866). Share a salad and a pasta and BYOB to this local favorite, where portions are huge and prices rock bottom by neighborhood standards.

    I.S.

    Upper West Side

  • Tamarind, 424 Amsterdam Ave., between 80th and 81st Sts. (212-712-1900). You'll get attentive service and good food at this cozy masala mecca (no relation to the fancier Flatiron Indian). Check out the chicken muglai ($6.95), which comes in a creamy tomato and onion nut sauce.

  • Dinastia China, 145 W. 72nd St., between Columbus and Amsterdam Aves. (212-362-3801). This Chinese-Latin joint is totally plain-Jane, but it's also clean and the portions are big. The $9.75 Chicken Crackling gets you eight chubby boneless chunks perfectly seasoned, floured and deep-fried, with salad and plantains.

  • Silk Road Palace, 447B Amsterdam Ave., between 81st and 82nd Sts. (212-580-6294). Got a craving for good and cheap Chinese chow? This is the place to go, judging from lines that form nearly every night. (Free wine with dinner.)

    J.D.

    Harlem

  • Charles' Southern Style Kitchen, 2837 Frederick Douglass Blvd., between 151st and 152nd Sts. (212-926-4313). Comfort-food dishes (think smothered porkchops, short ribs or oxtails) come with two vegetables and corn bread, all $8.50 or less. If you're in the mood for all-you-can-eat buffet, Charles' offers one for $11.99.

  • Miss Maude's Spoonbread Too, 547 Lenox Ave., between 137th and 138th Sts. (212-690-3100). Start your meal with a warm smile from your waiter and warm corn bread from the kitchen. Can't decide what comfort food to order? Try Miss Maude's Sampler (a smorgasbord of shrimp, ribs, chicken and vegetables).

  • Toast, 3157 Broadway, between LaSalle and Tieman Sts. (212-662-1144). Columbia students have wised up to the fact that it doesn't take a lot of bread to get a steak dinner — $13.95 gets you a New York strip aux poivre and frites. The place gets noisy, bring earplugs.

    J.D.

    Downtown

  • Bread, 20 Spring St., between Elizabeth and Mott Sts. (212-334-1015). Stylish, European cafe-like setting for bargains like panini ($7-$8.50) filled with goat cheese and shiitakes or pesto chicken and avocado, or huge bowls of flavorful pastas and salads (mostly $8.50).

  • Thai House Cafe, 151 Hudson St., corner of Hubert St. (212-334-1085). Friendly and unpretentious, with house specialties such as seafood in a sweet and spicy chili paste topping out at $11.95, and a wide choice of less expensive noodle dishes.

  • Lupe's East LA Kitchen, 110 Sixth Ave., corner of Watts St. (212-966-1326). Pink and blue booths and funky wall decor provide a welcome setting for some tasty Mexican dishes, like red snapper Vera Cruz and shrimp chipotle.

  • Cafe Gitane, 242 Mott St., between Houston and Prince Sts. (212-334-9552). The tightly packed tables and simple salmon, cream and pale-green decor reinforce the casual French Moroccan flavor of the menu: couscous with Meguez sausage, spicy shrimp with garbanzo beans and roasted salmon with oranges.

  • Hoi An Cafe, 135 W. Broadway, between Duane and Thomas Sts. (212-233-1339). Colorful silk lanterns, dark-wood fretwork and bamboo trim create a very pretty setting in which to sample amply portioned Vietnamese dishes. A silk-covered photo album serves as the menu.

    Isabel Forgang

    West Village

  • Wild Ginger, 51 Grove St., between Seventh Ave. So. and Bleecker St. (212-367-7200). You won't believe a place this atmospheric, with food and service this good, could be this cheap. Noodle dishes with a choice of chicken or beef are $7.95; ginger chicken is $8.75, and Java beef is $8.95.

  • Havana Village, 94 Christopher St., between Bleecker and Hudson Sts. (212-242-3800). Ceiling fans, palm trees painted on the walls and pale-green booths set the tropical mood, while empanadas, adobo chicken and spicy "Latin American style" steak won't break the bank.

  • The Pink Tea Cup, 42 Grove St., between Bedford and Bleecker Sts. (212-807-6755). Have fried chicken with apple fritters, Yankee pot roast, barbecue beef or pork, or a ham omelet with grits anytime, day or night. Dinners come with two vegetables, soup, salad, hot bread, Jell-O or bread pudding at this pink- and brick-walled bastion of Southern hospitality.

  • Risotteria, 270 Bleecker St., corner of Morton St. (212-924-6664). Have your fill of risotto partnered with the likes of shiitake, green beans and sweet corn, porcini, or soppressata and parsley. There are about 45 versions, but there are also pizza, panini and salads.

  • Sammy's Asian Gourmet, 301-303 Sixth Ave., corner of Carmine St. (212-337-9888). Attractive contemporary Asian restaurant with 124 menu offerings, such as basil chicken and shrimp.

    I.F.

    Gramercy

  • Chat 'n' Chew, 10 E. 16th St, between Fifth Ave. and Union Square (212-243-1616). Dishes such as "The Boss' Favorite," a grilled steak sandwich on garlic bread with tomatoes, onion and grilled mushroom, are skillfully prepared and substantial.

  • Pongal, 110 Lexington Ave., between 27th and 28th Sts. (212-696-9458). Long brick walls brightened with colorful masks create an attractive setting for the flavorful, well-prepared south Indian vegetarian dishes served at this popular certified kosher restaurant.

  • Tamarind Tea Room, 43 E. 22 St., between Broadway and Park Ave. So. (212-674-7400). Sandwiches on Indian breads, which include a delicious lamb marinated in yogurt and spices, are the stars here.
  • Galaxy Global Eatery, 15 Irving Place, corner 15th St. (212-777-3631). Offbeat ambience and a menu that circles the globe: Try the root-vegetable ragout or miso-glazed bluefish with kelp noodles and Japanese mountain vegetables.

  • Curry in a Hurry, 119 Lexington Ave., corner of 28th St. (212-683-0900). Cheerful blue-and-white dining room for low-priced fare such as chicken curry and beef vindaloo. There's takeout downstairs.

    I.F.

    Chelsea
    Pepe Giallo    , 253 10th Ave., between 24th and 25th Sts. (212-242-6055). With its amusing rows of paper-bag lights overhead, this is a fun place to enjoy the excellent pasta (capellini with zucchini, tomato, goat cheese and olives is a special favorite) and fresh, sizable salads.

  • Wild Lily Tea Room, 511 W. 22nd St., between 10th and 11th Aves. (212-691-2258). Artfully composed dishes, such as pear salad with sugar-glazed walnuts, mushrooms and baby spinach, free-range wasabi chicken with purple potatoes and shrimp baked with tarragon complement the tranquil surroundings.

  • Mama Cassie's, 765 Sixth Ave., between 25th and 26th Sts. (212-807-0061). Have a chicken pesto, tomato and mozzarella sandwich or the chicken Caesar salad and a piece of homemade cake while you check out the schedule of (almost) nightly live jazz performances.

  • Cast Iron Cafe, 641 Sixth Ave., between 19th and 20th Sts. (212-462-2244). Savory toppings on slices of freshly made brick-oven pizza, salads and filling sandwiches such as the roasted eggplant with goat cheese, sun-dried tomato and olive tapenade on ciabatta are featured at the self-serve food counter. Take your selections to one of the marble-topped tables in this high-ceilinged former Portuguese bakery.

  • Trailer Park Lounge and Grill, 271 W. 23rd St., between Seventh and Eighth Aves. (212-463-8000). There's a busy bar and a menu limited to well-made burgers (regular, turkey, vegetable), grilled-cheese sandwiches, served with sweet-potato fries. You'll also find kitsch galore, old road signs, advertising memorabilia and plastic Laundromat chairs.

    I.F.

    Queens, Bronx, Staten Island: Cuisines of all nations

    Flushing

  • Buddha Bodai Vegetarian. 42-96 Main St. (718-939-1188). Sophisticated Chinese, strictly vegetarian meals enjoyed both by Buddhists and glatt-kosher adherents.

  • Gou-Bu-Li Bun Restaurant, 135-28 40th Road (718-886-2121). Steamed stuffed buns and homemade noodle dishes good enough to make you forsake the Atkins diet.

  • So Gong Dong America or BBQ Soft Tofu, 136-17 41st Ave. (718-661-6655). Stoneware bowls of chili-red, chili-hot soup and sizzling hot rice star in this wood-paneled Korean cafe.

  • Restaurant Malaysia, 135-17 40th Road (718-353-2901). It's not much to look at, but the cooking has soul and the service is friendly, even when you're a newcomer to this rich and spicy cuisine.

  • Spicy & Tasty, 133-43 Roosevelt Ave. at College Point Blvd. (718-939-7788). A Spartan, brightly lit restaurant with peppery food that will make you remember why you fell in love with Szechuan in the first place.

    I.S.

    Sunnyside n Woodside

  • Chips, 42-15 Queens Blvd. (718-786-1800). Tiny Mexican spot right next to the Center Cinema serves up rich smoky moles, juicy marinated steaks, orange-seasoned braised pork and the usual Tex-Mex suspects.

  • Romanian Garden, 46-04 Skillman Ave. (718-786-7894). Stroll in, from along this leafy Queens thoroughfare, for garlicky mitetei (beef sausage), mamaliga-brinza-smintina (polenta topped with Bulgarian feta and sour cream) and papanasi (huge doughnut covered with sour cream and jam).

  • La Pollera Colorada, 41-20 Greenpoint Ave. (718-729-8586). This Colombian restaurant is one of the busiest of many Latin spots along Greenpoint. Here's why: succulent rotisserie chicken, heaping "mountain platters" of grilled meats and excellent service.

  • Sripraphai, 64-13 39th Ave. (718-899-9599). Woodside hole-in-the-wall Thai has become justifiably known for its fiery curries and pungent, delicious soups (the spicy pork noodle soup is outstanding). You just can't miss here.

    Paul Schultz

    Astoria * Long Island City

  • Balkh Shish Kabab House, 23-10 31st St. (718-721-5020). That fantastic aroma under the N train comes from this Afghan grill. The marinated kebabs are great, but try the aushak and manto — vegetable and beef dumplings served with yogurt sauce.

  • Dhaka Cafe Jhill, 35-55 33rd St. (718-937-4200). Authentic Bangladeshi cuisine, with the emphasis on fish such as talapia, pomphret and carp. The less adventurous can try curries, tandooris and biryanis.

  • El Sitio de Astoria, 35-55 31st St. (718-278-7694). Homey Cuban restaurant serves up hearty steaks, pressed sandwiches, picadillo and ropa vieja.

  • Uncle George's Greek Tavern, 33-19 Broadway (718-626-0593). A perfect neighborhood restaurant on a superbusy corner in Astoria, it specializes in spit-roasted chicken, lamb, fresh fish, pastitsio and other Greek standards.

    P.S.

    Jackson Heights

  • Anand Bhavan Restaurant, 35-66 73rd St., between 35th and 36th Aves. (718-507-1600). With so many Indian restaurants to choose from, don't overlook this vegetarian haven, noted for its humungous, delicious dosas and uthappams, and a long list of appetizers that turns any meal into an adventure.

  • Bienvenidos a Hornado Ecuatoriano, 81-10 Roosevelt Ave., at 77th St. (718-651-6162). Don't let the typical diner decor turn you off. For a taste of home, Ecuadorians flock to this and a sister location down the street in Elmhurst for the caldo de pata (beef foot soup), caldo de bola (green mashed plantain ball soup) and chaulafan (fried rice).

  • Elmhurst Famous Pizza, 75-12 37th Ave., between 75th and 76th Sts. (718-205-5000). It may have started elsewhere, but Jackson Heights is proud to claim this classic pizza joint — with its signature 10-inch crusty, Chicago-lite pies — as one of its own. Fearless souls can try the Hawaiian Delight or the Indo-Pak (topped with fresh garlic, jalapeρo peppers and onions).

  • Jackson Diner, 37-47 74th St., between Roosevelt and 37th Aves. (718-672-1232). Long touted as one of the Indian places to try if you are in the area, it lives up to the hype. The attentive service, large pitchers of ice water, extensive menu — not to mention the terrific food — continue to bring in the crowds.

  • Thai Friend Restaurant, 37-57 90th St., between Roosevelt and 37th Aves. (718-429-8239). Not in the mood for the neighborhood's better-known Indian or Latino offerings? Opt for fresh tasty dishes, like chicken with chilies and basil, at this minimally decorated space. You'll be happy to call them friends.

    Lan N. Nguyen

    Bronx

  • Sam's Soul Food Restaurant and Bar, 596 Grand Concourse at 150th St. (718-665-5341). Serious soul food here, brothers and sisters — and Caribbean, too, mon. And don't forget takeout. Live jazz Wednesdays, R&B Fridays.

  • Feeding Tree, 892 Gerard Ave., off E. 161st St. (718-293-5025). "Bonfire of the Vanities" meets West Indian cooking as this restaurant and takeout draws judges, lawyers and "customers" from the nearby Bronx County Courthouse, plus just about everybody else in the nabe, from breakfast to dinner.

  • Willie's Steak House. 1832 Westchester Ave., near Taylor Ave. (718-822-9697). After you've looked at the autographed pictures of Jimmy Smits, Tito Puente, Dave Valentin, Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony, sit down to some serious Puerto Rican cooking, or stretch the budget on a steak.

  • Patricia's, 1080 Morris Park Ave., two blocks off Williamsbridge Road (718-409-9069). Knowing Bronxites head to the familiar green awning for the popular brick-oven pizza, but don't let that stop you from the regular Italian menu.

  • Crab Shanty, 361 City Island Ave., near Tier St. (718-885-1810). Why spend a fortune on a classic? Good old-fashioned lobster special with the regular side fixin's in this cozy City Island restaurant runs $12 at lunch, $14 at dinner.

    Bob Kappstatter

    Staten Island

  • Dairy Palace Kosher Restaurant, 2210 Victory Blvd. (718-761-5200). Service is a bit brusque, but business is brisk at this popular kosher dairy and vegetarian spot. Try the pastas, Chinese dishes and more traditional Jewish fare like cheese blintzes.

  • Diwa, 1407 Richmond Ave. (718-370-3336). Staten Islanders don't have to drive to Jackson Heights or New Jersey anymore. The naan is as light as air, the chicken tikka masala wonderfully spicy and the malia kofta scrumptiously creamy.

  • Joe and Pat's Pizzeria & Restaurant, 1758 Victory Blvd. (718-981-0887). Fabulous thin-crust pies as well as delicious pastas and heros. Be patient, it's staffed by a contingent of high-school students.

  • New Asha Sri Lankan Restaurant, 322 Victory Blvd. (718-420-0649). Conveniently located near the ferry, this spot offers Sri Lankan comfort food like appams (rice pancakes), string hoppers (steamed rice noodles) and assorted curry dishes. Friendly service, too.

    L.N.N.

    Prix Fixe: Crackerjack meals for peanuts

    Just because you're watching your dining dollars (and who isn't?) doesn't mean that all the city's best restaurants are out of reach. Thanks to increasingly popular prix-fixe menus, you can sample and savor the good life without jeopardizing your bottom line at many of the classiest places in town.

    "People like to know what they're getting and what they're spending in advance," says Paul Vicino, chef and co-owner of Five Front, a new Brooklyn restaurant that serves a $19 midweek prix-fixe menu. "It helps bring people in the door," he adds. "It's nice to give people a deal and it helps me out."

    In the past, prix-fixe dining (complete meals for a preset price) has been scorned by some foodies, as if people who take advantage of the deals are unadventurous eaters or cheapskates.

    "Those days are gone and so is the stigma," says Vicino. New Yorkers have grown accustomed to set-price menus, which have become synonymous with Restaurant Week.

    In fact, prix-fixe menus are ubiquitous and can be found at most restaurants, from Aureole to Zitoune — and, in between those alphabetical extremes, at L'Impero, Montrachet and Union Pacific. At Kitchen 22, Charlie Palmer's new restaurant, prix-fixe dining is downright de rigueur, since ΰ la carte dining isn't available. Every customer pays $25 for three courses chosen from a menu of five appetizers, five entrees and five desserts.

    At restaurants such as Becco, in the Theater District, Capsouto Freres, in Tribeca, and La Petite Auberge, in Gramercy Park, prix-fixe menus are available throughout the evening. However, some places offer special prix-fixe menus during pre-theater hours. At La Boite en Bois, near Lincoln Center, for instance, the prix fixe is served 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. It's a savvy way to put bottoms in seats early in the evening when restaurant traffic is sluggish.

    Prix-fixe menus tend to feature easy-to-make dishes, which can still translate to delicious dining. Just go to RM, star chef Rick Moonen's highly praised seafood spot, where such delights as duck confit with sage vinaigrette, pancetta-wrapped striped bass and brandied pear crisp have made up the three-course $58 prix fixe.

    Joe Dziemianowicz

    Hotel Dining: Inn with the budget crowd

    Thrifty eaters stay away from hotel restaurants, most of which are priced for business travelers on expense accounts and vacationers with Devil-may-care attitudes. Now a few Manhattan hotels are giving us a break by opening lower-cost dining spots. It's not quite a trend, but we sure hope it becomes one.

    In a corner of the lobby of Le Parker Meridien at 119 W. 56th St. (212-245-5000) is a spot that has come to be known as the Burger Joint. (The hotel not only hid it behind a floor-to-ceiling curtain but didn't give it a name.) It serves only burgers, fries, brownies, soda and Sam Adams beer, but the quality is excellent and the prices couldn't be better, at $4.50 for a burger, $5.50 for a cheeseburger and $1.50 for the fries and brownies. A real bargain for midtown shoppers and anyone heading to Carnegie Hall.

    On the eighth floor of the Marriot Marquis at 1535 Broadway (212-398-1900) is the recently renovated Broadway Lounge. Here, theatergoers can fill up on small plates of tapas such as oven-roasted Manila clams in saffron broth, grilled spicy andouille sausage with curried rice and beans, or Peking duck salad, all of them priced at $2.95. A classic root-beer float is $6.95, and then you're off to the show, knowing that no matter how much you paid for tickets, you didn't overspend on the meal.

    Irene Sax

    Chinese buffets: Sino-smorgasbords

    You'll pile your plate high with cashew chicken, Szechuan tofu and stir-fried bok choy at a Chinese buffet, the newest and biggest thing in New York Asian dining. Some, such as East Buffet & Restaurant at 42-07 Main St., Flushing (718-353-6333), charge a flat fee for all you can eat in 90 minutes, offering a selection of more than 100 dishes. Others, including Central Buffet at 195 Centre St. (212-226-2905) and its offspring Buffexpress at 15 Division and 106 Delancey Sts., charge a set amount for soup and five dishes, one of them a huge mound of white rice.

    What do you get for your money? At East Buffet, it's anything from scallion pancakes and sesame chicken to big-ticket items like crabs, lobster, Peking duck and amazingly good sushi; even lasagna and fettuccine Alfredo. At Central Buffet, the food is simpler, homier and more authentic, with trays of tripe and beef tendon on the counter, next to fried rice and chicken with peanuts. (The price is also simpler and homier: $4 for five dishes until 5 p.m., when it drops to $3.) And at East Manor at 46-45 Kissena Blvd., Flushing (718-888-8950), a server stands behind a lunchtime soup buffet, ladling chicken broth into bowls, to which you add your choices from among simmering hot plates.

    Chinese buffets are springing up all over because they're fast, cheap and good. Even though the food sits out on steam tables, trays constantly are being refilled during busy hours with freshly made hot dishes. And they make sense. At the buffet, a single eater can re-create the traditional Chinese meal pattern of rice that is flavored by tastes of several other dishes.

    Irene Sax

    www.nydailynews.com

    Are you a jazz vocalist without a website???

    Try It Now!!!
    10 Days Free    		 Build your own website - Easy as 123 - build in 5 minutes. Over 200 templates!!!
    There's never been an easier or more affordable way to get your own professional website. Forget spending thousands of dollars on a website designer or learning complicated website software.  You can quickly and easily get your own full-featured website Now For ONLY $8.88 per month - Hosting AND Website Included! That's only pennies a day!

     

    		•