<p>Pizza: John’s in the Village</p>
<p>deli: I vote fro teh Stage (what can I say, my wife’s great uncle Max was the founder but it is no longer in the family.)</p>
<p>concerneddad, I love the Stage Deli, too. It’s right across from the hotel we always stay at while in the city, and we often stop there for their delicious cheesecake after a show. The only problem I have with them is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to eat their sandwiches! ;)</p>
<p>Does Little Italy still exist? I was under the impression that it has been absorbed by Chinatown. The reason I ask is that a cousin from the west coast wants to meet for Italian food in Little Italy this coming weekend. Can anyone suggest a place? Not overly expensive and not so loud that our extended family won’t be able to catch up with one another. I had suggested an Italian restaurant near their downtown hotel but she has a romantic notion about Little Italy. Help!</p>
<p>Best meal we’ve had hands down. Cafe Boulud near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If you go for lunch it isn’t too outrageously expensive. Or you can go all out and go to Daniel Boulud’s three star restaurant. [Daniel</a> NYC](<a href=“http://danielnyc.com/]Daniel”>http://danielnyc.com/)</p>
<p>Other end of the spectrum we really like Blue Smoke for Barbecue. (Or RUB, or Dinosaurs or Daisy May’s - we’re working on trying them all!)</p>
<p>Pepolino [url=<a href=“http://www.pepolino.com%5Dpepolino%5B/url”>http://www.pepolino.com]pepolino[/url</a>] <— click the link 
281 West Broadway (betw. Canal & Lispenard)</p>
<p>This is a small Italian restaurant my son and I found for lunch while we were wandering in NYC. It’s on the expensive side, but worth it! The staff is very friendly and attentive without being overbearing.</p>
<p>Go to New York Magazine website.
Click on restaurants.
Search on Manhattan, then Little Italy.</p>
<p>A bunch listed are Asian…but…there are still a number of Italian restaurants.</p>
<p>I’ve been quite lucky a ones the magazine has suggested in other neighborhoods. Especially the “critics choice” restaurants that have a red check next to them.</p>
<p>Trattoria del Arte, Tao, and Serafina are three of our must go to…</p>
<p>Near Columbia University, I like to eat at the Ethiopian restaurants. </p>
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<p>I have been going to these three for 30 years and they’re still great.</p>
<p>Benito II …163 Mulberry St. in Little Italy</p>
<p>[Benito</a> II Italian Restaurant in New York’s Little Italy](<a href=“http://www.benito2.com/]Benito”>http://www.benito2.com/) </p>
<p>After Benito II walk up and across the street to Ferrara’s for dessert and cappucino</p>
<p>195 Grand Street between Mulberry & Mott St. </p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.ferraracafe.com/nyc/]Ferrara”>Local Delivery - Ferrara NYC]Ferrara</a> Bakery & Caf</p>
<p>Olieng on 10th Avenue for Thai. Pam Thai is good too.</p>
<p>Yum.</p>
<p>Katz’s Deli, LES
Congee Village: Chinatown
Caracas Arepas Bar: East Village
Island Burgers and Shakes: Hell’s Kitchen</p>
<p>Thanks so much, 2boysima and eadad! I’ll check out your recs.</p>
<p>Sunday brunch at Ouest on Upper West Side or Brasserie 8-1/2 on 57th Street (reservations a good idea for both).</p>
<p>Yonah Schimmel on the LES. Houston Street. Have a kasha knish and glass of soured milk for me. Stop into Russo’s and droll over the lox, dried fruit and nuts, etc.
De Robertis Pasticceria on 1st Ave and about 9th Street for dessert.<br>
These places are just as I remember them in the 1950’s, very old world. I can recall the aromas just writing about them.</p>
<p>Sarabeth’s for brunch…if you can get in.</p>
<p>If $$ isn’t a deciding factor, I’d go for it. Would second the recommendation for Le Bernardin (best seafood in the US) and also for Daniel. The other high-end restaurants that I thought were wonderful: Per Se (Thomas Keller–French Laundry guy) and Bouley. Mario Batali’s Babbo is great too (even though he doesn’t get the Michelin stars like the ones above). I’m married to a foodie who works with foodies, so I’ve just tagged along on their outings in NYC and all of these were superb (but not cheap).</p>
<p>Don’t feel like reading through all the posts…but…</p>
<p>Il Mulino (in the village)
Sullivan Street Bistro (for brunch.lunch-cash only)
ditto Tao
Buddakhan…</p>
<p>Sarabeth’s isn’t always worth the wait; it’s good but not that good–and tables are really cramped. (If you end up at one of the tables toward the front of the one on the UWS you really feel you are in a very pricey luncheonette). If you (the OP) are in the mood for a grownup-feeling Sunday brunch with some lunch-y options (it is prix-fix) see my earlier recommendation of Ouest (or some other place where you can make a reservation).</p>
<p>We have been VERY lucky everytime we have gone to Sarabeths. Because we were a larger party 5 or more we were put into a round table. But absolutely not worth an hour wait.</p>
<p>I had a Yonah Schimmel kasha knish last week! They taste the same as they did 50 years ago when I used to visit my grandma who lived at 4th and D. Looks the same too! We do a ravioli run in from NJ a couple of times a year to Raffetto on West Houston and Thompson–simply the best anywhere–and we always go to Yonah’s and bring some home. I believe you can order on line and get them sent in dry ice. Pricey, but you’re worth it!</p>
<p>I have several favorite NYC places, all little joints with great food and reasonable prices. Turkish Cuisine on Ninth and 45th, Otto on Fifth Ave at 8th St (olive oil gelato, don’t knock it til you’ve tried it), Lenny’s Sandwiches (various places and delicious and well-priced, especially before the theater on Ninth and 43rd. Amarone, Italian home made pasta on Ninth and 48th. As you can see, I am a theater geek, all of my joints are in the theater district. If you love to wait on line, the Shake Shack–do not miss the frozen custard flavor of the day. Ah, food!</p>