After pushing in our chairs at the end of a long day of typing e-mails and making deals, New York City awaits us with Michelin-starred restaurants, exclusive shows, and more bars than Starbucks (is it possible?). It was never cheap to begin with, but going to Nobu for dinner or Tailor for the most elaborately engineered cocktails ever conceived were some of the city's ways of reminding us why we still live here. Budgets got tighter, so we passed on dessert. Then we shared appetizers, went out on weekdays because of Ladies' Night or half-off happy hours, and began cooking more at home than we ate out. Well, cooking at home should never feel like a punishment, but if it does, get back out there. You can still go to brunch, get a sandwich under $5, be full after dinner, see shows, see a second show that week and buy drinks there, and go to the museum. And after all the money you saved, go ahead, have that one more martini.
La Esquina |
Eating out all the time requires a bit of resourcefulness and creativity. Satiate your craving for Chanterelle, but go for lunch--it's cheaper. Celebrate birthdays at family-style restaurants and you'll be amazed by how little you owe. Take advantage of BYOB places--not only will you spend half as much on drinks, but the spots that generally host BYO offer good food for cheap. Be adventurous, try new things, and please don't trust everything Yelpers post.
If you are a quiet afternoon café dweller, finish your stroll through the West Village at Tartine (253 W. 11th St., near 4th st.), where the company sits close but the French bistro fare is unfixed with Quiche Du Jour, provides just what you crave with Croque Monsieur or French Onion Soup, and offers a scrumptious array of custard-filled tarts or Chocolate Marquise. Completely full with your sweet tooth satisfied, but curious about the rest of the menu? Go back for brunch with another bottle of wine. Just don't forget it's cash only--for all meals.
A Casa Fox |
Just off the F train A Casa Fox (173 Orchard St., near Stanton St.) offers an at-home coziness in the form of mismatched dining decor and a fireplace! Owner Melissa Fox understands empanadas, offering traditionalists their fillings of Spiced Beef with Tomato and Pulled Pork with Caramelized Onions, but knows her Portobello Mushroom and Smoked Gouda empanadas won't take long to become favorites, too. Empanadas are $5 each but the Bocaditos (Small Bites $8 and Small Plates $14) and the Clay Pot Dinners are not to be overlooked. Order the Spicy Garlic Shrimp with Cilantro and Lime ($8) with Plantain Chips ($4), or go hungry to savor the Carne Chorizada ($18), a slowly simmered Nicaraguan stew. Whatever you choose, you'll enjoy it in a living room that remind you of your grandma's (in a good way). Be sure to stop in at September Wines & Spirits around the corner (100 Stanton St., near Ludlow St.) where the knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect B for your BYOB.
Chinatown is the best for cheap, family-style eating, but when your occasion calls for a place party-prepared, go to Milon (93 1st Ave., btwn. 5th and 6th streets) where the host is happily awaiting your next birthday with confetti and multi-colored lights already on the walls. Also BYO, Milon serves most NYC Indian staples like Chicken Tikka Masala or Lamb Kori under $7 and naans for $1.50. These guys are so nice, it's likely that you'll leave the party palace with a new best friend, maybe two.
La Esquina is delicious, so consistently perfect, but there’s always room for another favorite. Before riding the L train any further into Williamsburg, stop for a brunch, lunch, or dinner taco ($2.50) at La Superior (295 Berry St). Here the brunch menu is exactly what your hangover has been asking for. Try to decide which you want more: Huevos Motuleños (Sunny side eggs, with spiced ham, split peas, mild tomato sauce and black beans, $8), Enchiladas Suizas (chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, topped with melted cheese, $10) or Carne Asada Arrachera (Grilled Skirt steak served with potatoes, poblano peppers and refried beans, $12). Perhaps just stick with the tacos and get one Hongos (sauteed mushrooms with epazote and garlic) and one Carnitas (pork confit), or one Tinga de pollo (shredded chicken in chipotle tomato sauce). If you weren't in the mood to BYO, the Aguas Frescas (watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, prickly pear water, $3) or fresh squeezed O.J. will most likely make you feel better than a mimosa, anyway.
Fat Hippo |
Further down the road in South Williamsburg, a great stop by is Moto (394 Broadway at Hooper St.). This tiny gem is nestled under the JMZ Hewes stop and can be spotted by the bicycle hanging outside. Comfortable and cute, the small menu offers treats such as 'Aepler Macronnen' Swiss Alps mac & cheese ($12.50), a selection of paninis (all $9.50) and grilled donuts ($4) to die for. There is also a regular program of music. Drop in on a Sunday evening and enjoy The Mad Jazz Hatters - a bonus to your already inexpensive dinner.
Fat Hippo (71 Clinton St., near Rivington St.) just opened in the LES with its menu appetizingly priced for these times. Serving Chili and Chocolate Glazed Spare Ribs for $8, Burger Fondue ($10), and so much more. Fat Hippo is the perfect example of how to make the most of cyclical BYO. When restaurants first open their doors to the public it's common their liquor license is still on it's way, so for the first few weeks they offer BYO. This is a fantastic way to check out all the new spots and save a few bucks on drinks. But those few weeks will pass and they'll start serving drinks as promised (as Vinegar Hill House did)—but don't worry, other haunts will open with a delayed liquor license. Just keep note of new restaurant openings and call ahead to know their liquor status before rolling in with a 6-pack.
Staying indoors this winter to avoid the face-numbing wind and surprise snowfall is to be expected, and supported, really, but if you were in your pajamas at 10 p.m. watching The Real Housewives of Orange County only to save a buck, consider extending your weekend outings to free museum days (heed our warning, though, they can be crowded) or your evenings to cheap music shows at DIY spaces like Less Artists, More Condos (West Village), Death by Audio (Williamsburg), or Surreal Estate (Bushwick) where community gatherings for history club, book club, readings and art shows take place. Check out trivia nights at The Gutter in Greenpoint (where the prize is money to spend at the bar or bowling alley), Crocodile Lounge in the East Village, where every drink comes with a voucher for freshly prepared individual pizzas, or The Bell House in Gowanus for music trivia night. Just like BYO restaurants, these events pop up here and there, so either keep a good look-out or set your Google Alerts.
