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A Nervous Diner's Mad Lib
- by guidess
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- July 09, 2008
(3)
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" I need reservations for ______ (#) at ______ (time) in the ______(cardinal direction) ______ (neighborhood); preferably serving _______(cuisine)for under _______( $ amount). This dining experience needs to impress my ________ (hard to please relative). Please make it ______ (adjective) or I will hang my head in shame for not picking the ______ (adjective) spot in town!" Entertaining friends and family in New York City may be one of the most daunting tasks I face on a regular basis. In one meal, one drink, one dessert, a dining selection can make or break the ridiculously high expectations that many visitors set for their New York City weekend. In the city that literally offers every cuisine, how do you narrow down your dining and drinking options to a workable shortlist?
First Look
Both New York Magazine online and Citysearch offer a great macro view of dining options and easy-to-navigate systems to narrow down your dining options by neighborhood, cuisine, best of…etc. Visit www.nymag.com for an easy to navigate listing of restaurants featuring overview, menu, reviews, and contact information. Citysearch is one go-to guide for some general ideas for specialty occassions or needs, i.e. group dining, outdoor dining, fireplace. Another place to “get started” on your dining search is www.Gayot.com. It offers a random selection of “Top 10” lists that are helpful in idea generation (Filed under Restaurants/Top 10 lists).
DISCLAIMER: These are good for ideas, but dig a little deeper, check out sister restaurants, other places in the vicinity, etc for some more unique options.
Detail Oriented
Its not enough to come up with a fantastic idea or list of ideas – do the research or you could end up at a $$$$ and romantic setting when you were expecting $$ and late night food. A good place to find some honest commentary, www.yelp.com.
TimeOut magazine subscriptions are an affordable way to do weekly research on hot new openings and read reviews on restaurants all over town. Staffers recommend a couple food and drink spots for each neighborhood. TimeOut mag is offered in most major cities and offers seemingly honest commentary.
On the Run
“Worst case scenario: guideless on the street” trying to meet up with an old friend for “a satisfying bite” that “beats your Mom’s meatloaf and mac’n’cheese in a comfort food cookoff”. Best “handy guide that fits in your purse” is the timeless Zagat. Better than its online self, I prefer the “classic, thin paperback” for a “quick dining fix in transit.”
Must Eat, Will Not Travel
Isn’t Google amazing? Great way to find a dining spot in your vicinity – type your address in the search bar of www.google.com. When your location pops up on the map, click the light grey option of “search nearby” for coffee shops, Thai food, whatever you fancy. Quick listing of walking distance locations at your fingertips.
Order In
For an easy way to locate restaurants that offer delivery in your ’hood turn to www.Menupages.com for quick map access selection to delivery-only spots serving your zip code. For full service, take it one step further and hit www.seamlessweb.com for menu and ordering options that will bring dinner to your door.
Pencil Me In
Not yet accessible for all restaurants, www.opentable.com is a relatively user friendly site to not only make your reservations and rack up points toward a free meal, but they offer contact info and links to some useful reviews and official websites.
You Be the Guide
After spending the greater part of my “work day” researching and planning meals to impress my weekend guests, making and breaking reservations, and selecting a locale for post dinner drinks (try www.sheckys.com) I like keep my own book of restaurants in an Excel spreadsheet (read: supernerd) with my own ratings, contact info, likes/dislikes, etc. Check out www.foodistcolony.com to save an online book of faves. Also, keep a running tab of “to try” spots.
I’ve been known to dole out recommendations to friends, because in the end, no guide, no review from a foodie blog, no restaurant review can beat a tried and true personal recommendation.
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This is perfect! It seems that this is a common issue for us New Yorkers—out of towners. This will definitely help. Thanks, Guidess!
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As part of the family (picky Mother) that Guidess treats to NY eateries, I can vouch for her ability to always find the great places that you would miss. Be brave and follow the “crumbs” of those who have searched, researched and found some of the best of the otherwise unknown places for great food.
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Going to NYC in September… Love love love this guide!
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