nyc restaurant suggestions

[fizzgig]

hey all

i'm going to be in the city for a week later this summer and am looking for some reasonably priced veggie-friendly places to eat. we're going to be hitting the met/cloisters and the museum of natural history and i'm hoping to make it down to the village/soho.

many thanks in advance :hi:

[HamdenRice]

1. The best food is far from where it seems you'll be hanging out

It sounds like you are going to be centered in mid town and the upper west side. Mid town is the business center and tourist area, so it's not likely you are going to find good food at reasonable prices there.

Right now, the best, most creative and diverse food is in the outer boroughs. I myself have been on a multi-year mission to eat my way down Northern Blvd. and Kissena Blvd. in Queens -- Korean, Japanese, Indian, Afghan, Indian, Pakistani, Ecuadoran, etc.

If you are going to be in NY for a week, I would implore you to spend as little time in mid town as possible and get to the fringes of Manhattan (East Village (put a fork in the West Village it's done), Lower East Side, Soho, Tribeca, Harlem, Washington Heights) and Brooklyn (especially Park Slope, Fort Green, Clinton Hill) and Queens.

[Fredda Weinberg]

2. don't overlook our "street meat"

the pushcarts are licensed and the cuisine has expanded ... feel free to try what you may not see at home. knishes, souvlaki ... yummy on a park bench during a busy tourist day.

[bettyellen]

3. in midtown the kiosks in bryant park-behind the 42st mail library are just great

they are run by the resturant guy who hosts Top Chef and a bit pricey for fast food, but the quality tatse and surroundings make them a steal.

[KurtNYC]

4. In Union Square and a couple other locations:

Zen Palate - excellent vegetarian fare and very reasonably priced:
http://www.zenpalate.com/locationList.php

In the veggie-friendly category I would put Mario Batali's Otto. It is pasta and pizza with many options for meat-free meals. Fun atmosphere and a great location right above Washington Square Park. Pasta dishes are $9 and have never disappointed the visitors that I take there:
http://www.ottopizzeria.com/menu.html

There are very few eating options within a block of the Met. The Cloisters is on the north end of the island and I don't get up there much but the Natural History Museum is in my neighborhood. And if you like semi-spicy Asian fare then Rain is just one block away:
http://www.rainrestaurant.com/menus.htm

Whole Foods has many locations and is a good option for healthy low cost chow. Hope you enjoy your visit to NYC!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

5. seconding zen palate. definitely go there.

also Kate's (i've heard) and Caravan of Dreams (more normal veggie fare).

[Infomaniac]

6. NYC Vegetarian Restaurant Guide

I also recommend Zen Palate and HamdenRice's suggestion concerning the outer boroughs and ethnic restaurants.

I did find this online guide to vegetarian restaurnats in NYC, which gives locations and cross streets, reviews and how heavy on the wallet informaiton.

http://www.happycow.net/north_america/usa/new_york/new_york_city/index.html

I briefly checked the list and the closest place to the Met I could find was Candle Cafe.

Some of the Tibetan, Himalayan and Nepalese places tend to be very vegetarian friendly.

Here's one of my favorite Tibetan places in the City. This one is on East 9th btw 2nd and 3rd. You can check out the menu too.

http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=66&restaurantid=4920&home=Y