Restaurants in NYC, Boston, Chicago and between

Parent Cafe
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NYC: Chelsea Market, plenty of inexpensive artisan food and right off the hi-line, which you should also do.

Los Tacos #1was always my favorite place there, even with no place to sit…

https://www.lostacos1.com/

…until they opened Los Mariscos a few feet away, with seating and booze!

https://www.losmariscos1.com

Spicy Shrimp taco best in NYC, followed by LT#1 Adobada.

John’s Pizza is a great suggestion but I would recommend the original one on Bleecker.

Carmines is fun and cheap and family sized huge portions but if you are an Italian food aficionado you may be disappointed. Country Style Rigatoni best item.

If you want a high-end lunch splurge, the 3 course $48 Maialino Prix-Fixe, including tax and tip, can’t be beaten.

Momofuku is awesome, but hard to get in as they don’t take reservations. Momofuku Peche in midtown almost as good. Pork Buns not on the menu but you can order them. And you should!

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I agree that Carmines may be a disappointment if you are a foodie. It is fun and noisy, good for large crowd.

43

Roberta’s in Brooklyn is very good but the original location on Flatbush Ave closed last year. John’s Pizza in the theatre district is fine but usually very crowded, no reservations so you have to get on line and wait. Dinosaur Barbeque in Syracuse/Rochester are fine and fun but not amazing. In Niagara Falls, I was at a convention a few years ago and there is a fine restaurant in the complex across from the Convention Center that is run by the culinary arts dept at Niagara County Community College. They also have a deli and a bakery in the same building. If you are going to Rochester I can give you a few other suggestions. I can also give you plenty of other NYC restaurants depending on where you will be and what kind of food. Right near John’s Pizza but over on the corner of 9th is Marseille.
For old world experience of a certain sort, Bamonte’s in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn is awesome.

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Where are you staying in Chicago? I have about 50 favorite restaurants.

Splurge:
Gibson’s for steak/Hugo’s Frog Bar for fish. These share a kitchen and everything is terrific, including the people-watching.
Topolobampo: the fancier sibling of Frontera Grill and DOES take reservations

Moderate:
Le Colonial for French-Vietnamese in a beautiful atmosphere
Mon Ami Gabi for French bistro

Cheap:
Tank Noodle for Vietnamese street food
Sun Wah BBQ for Chinese BBQ

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@Hanna I have been wanting to go to Topolobampo as I watch Rick Bayless’ cooking show, and while he kinda creeps me out the food looks amazing!

Chicago has some of the best Mexican food I have had. But my favorite food in Chicago is the Polish at Murphy’s.

http://www.murphyshotdogs.com

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@Hanna we’re actually staying in Evanston, will also visit UChicago and downtown.

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Second the recommendation for Toplobampo. H is a fan of Rick Bayless. When we were in Chgo visiting my cousin in March, we all went to Toplobampo for dinner. Loved the food. We went to Frontero for lunch the next day—sat at the bar so we didn’t have to wait.