NYC Advice Needed-Big 10 tournament

[7spencer]

My wife and I are taking the train from Lewistown and heading to NYC for the first time for the BIG10 tournament. Looking for some insight if we lose early. Our hotel is just south of Madison Square Garden and looking for some advice in some places to eat, drink and whatever other recommendations you may have. Is Keens the place to go or other NYC steakhouse recommended?

Are the coal pizza places worth the effort or overrated? Best Pizza? Also expect to hit the touristy spots that would include the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, Central Park Ride, etc. Is it worth the VIP, priority ticket price?

Any insight to roof top bars in the vicinity.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mjh218]

I think the Empire State Building is a complete waste of time. If you don’t do VIP there be prepared to wait a while and be packed in like a sardine.

The 9/11 memorial is worthwhile.

 

[Relayer]

Hard to beat the Press Lounge for roof top at the Kimpton Ink 48 hotel in Hell's Kitchen.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/lZ0Hw25Y16kbvqG92

Here's a great list of places to eat. This guy is the resident foodie on the NYC tripadvisor forum. His food tours are outstanding! Have already taken the Hell's Kitchen and East Village tours. Highly recommend!

https://eatingwithziggy.com/2015/12/08/introducing-the-z-list/

 

[TangSoo]

The best pizza I've had in Manhattan (thus far, I've been to a lot of the top places but not all), is NY Pizza Suprema. And here's the good news. It across the street from the MSG. Get a regular slice and an upside down (Sicilian with the sauce on top of the cheese). Can't go wrong.
For coal fired, John's of Bleeker Street is good. Bleeker Street Pizza, and Joe's right in that area are good as well (though I don't think they're coal fired).
Prince Street Pizza is my second favorite. Get the Spicy Spring (thick with lots of pepperoni.
Miss Korea (not too far away) for really good Korean BBQ. Another Korean place at the top of a high rise is good with great atmosphere (I'll have to find the name).
Sorry, not a Steak guy (not by choice).

 

[Art]

My wife and I are taking the train from Lewistown and heading to NYC for the first time for the BIG10 tournament. Looking for some insight if we lose early. Our hotel is just south of Madison Square Garden and looking for some advice in some places to eat, drink and whatever other recommendations you may have. Is Keens the place to go or other NYC steakhouse recommended?

Are the coal pizza places worth the effort or overrated? Best Pizza? Also expect to hit the touristy spots that would include the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, Central Park Ride, etc. Is it worth the VIP, priority ticket price?

Any insight to roof top bars in the vicinity.

Thanks in advance.

Not really the time of the year for rooftop entertaining in NYC.

For bars, Tir Na Nog on West 31st, a hop away from MSG. You can also get an excellent meal there.

Can't go wrong at Keens, but Porter House in the Time Warner Center and Sparks on East 46th are better.

For the best pizza, you have you haul over to Brooklyn. Di Fara on Avenue J is fantastic, but a major schlep and an even longer wait (in line, outside) when you get there. In Manhattan, the best place is John's on Bleecker.

Definitely do the tourist stuff (they are popular for a reason) if you've never done it before.

 

[Relayer]

Best pizza we've had includes Capizzi at 547 9th Ave.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vr1dpwGnLawPrdt43

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UpDDG80O0tbwXPN23

Marta at The Redbury Hotel, 29 E 29th St.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dktgBhdrtAEO8D6T2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ow4cqq61axuMAThf1

Also for great Neapolitan pizza check out Don Antonio at 309 W 50th St.

 

[Hugh Laurie]

Agree with Art on Di Fara for Pizza. It is a bit of a schlep but worth the 25-30 minute train ride. It will be a cultural thing too as you'll get to see a little of Brooklyn. Take the Q train from 34th Street-Hearld Sq to the Avenue J stop (17 stops) and its half a block from the J stop. It's a dumpy little place, not the cleanest inside, seating is limited so you might have to wait in line to get in, but their pizza is the best I've had. A full pie will cost you $30.

If you decide to go, be sure to go across the street to Issac's bakery and buy a whole chocolate or cinnamon Babka to take home. Their Babka is to die for.

 

[Fox Chapel Lion II]

Not really the time of the year for rooftop entertaining in NYC.

For bars, Tir Na Nog on West 31st, a hop away from MSG. You can also get an excellent meal there.

Can't go wrong at Keens, but Porter House in the Time Warner Center and Sparks on East 46th are better.

For the best pizza, you have you haul over to Brooklyn. Di Fara on Avenue J is fantastic, but a major schlep and an even longer wait (in line, outside) when you get there. In Manhattan, the best place is John's on Bleecker.

Definitely do the tourist stuff (they are popular for a reason) if you've never done it before.

Art I have never been to Sparks but definitely want to go, for the Big Paulie connection if nothing else. E 46th, that's walking distance from MSG, no?

Spence I already responded in the Den, but definitely do the Empire State Building. And depending on when you are arriving and the hoops schedule, don't forget Wednesday is Matinee Day in the theatre district.

 

[Waltier13]

johns of bleeker st is great for pizza -try Quality meats for steak make sure you try the cream corn brûlée ,the elevator ride up world trade center is cool on elevator walls -shows nyc as it started as a hamlet and as you get to top floor -nyc today -it takes only approximately 60 seconds

 

[Lionguy32]

Art I have never been to Sparks but definitely want to go, for the Big Paulie connection if nothing else. E 46th, that's walking distance from MSG, no?

Spence I already responded in the Den, but definitely do the Empire State Building. And depending on when you are arriving and the hoops schedule, don't forget Wednesday is Matinee Day in the theatre district.

Sparks is excellent, but it is on the East side and is quite a walk from MSG. But that’s what cabs are for. They are everywhere in Manhattan!

 

[Art]

Sparks is excellent, but it is on the East side and is quite a walk from MSG. But that’s what cabs are for. They are everywhere in Manhattan!

Agreed, it is a long walk.

 

[Limestoner]

Tons of good places to eat in NYC but I like the following:
Pizza/Italian
https://www.sorbillonyc.com/
http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/


Steakhouse:
https://peterluger.com/

 

[Art]

Agree with Art on Di Fara for Pizza. It is a bit of a schlep but worth the 25-30 minute train ride. It will be a cultural thing too as you'll get to see a little of Brooklyn. Take the Q train from 34th Street-Hearld Sq to the Avenue J stop (17 stops) and its half a block from the J stop. It's a dumpy little place, not the cleanest inside, seating is limited so you might have to wait in line to get in, but but their pizza is the best I've had. A full pie will cost you $30.

If you decide to go, be sure to go across the street to Issac's bakery and buy a whole chocolate or cinnamon Babka to take home. Their Babka is to die for.

While I love DiFara, I wouldn't take half a day to get pizza if I had other things on my agenda.

Isaac's is wonderful, but unless they've expanded their offerings since I was last there, which I doubt, they do kokosh, not babka (and to call kokosh babka is heresy to a Hungarian Jew). They close early in the afternoon on Friday and all day Saturday. If you want babka, go to Breads in Union Square.

 

[Hugh Laurie]

While I love DiFara, I wouldn't take half a day to get pizza if I had other things on my agenda.

Isaac's is wonderful, but unless they've expanded their offerings since I was last there, which I doubt, they do kokosh, not babka (and to call kokosh babka is heresy to a Hungarian Jew). They close early in the afternoon on Friday and all day Saturday. If you want babka, go to Breads in Union Square.

Isaac's has both the big round Babka and chocolate, cinnamon, and poppy seed kokosh. I've had them all and all are pretty darn good but I like their poppy kokosh the best.

On you're recommendation I'll try Bread's Babka and compare.