As everyones saying, this is so lovely and heartfelt and moreover it rings so true. The August 1984 edition of monthly downtown arts newspaper the East Village Eyefeatured a cover story on Lou Reed timed to the release of his New Sensations LP. And for a long time there was Diane's, on the east side of Columbus, also good for burgers. In these challenging times of the pandemic, I reflect back on what life was like for me on the Upper West Side, my favorite place in the world, as a budding actor/dancer/director in the late 1980s. Some of these stores may still be in business on the West Side, but I haven't done a Broadway Drive in Years, Maybe I'll do one when I visit next month. Hesitate no more, and lets jump right into the best Upper West Side Restaurants that we have specially picked for you! The sushi and sashimi are traditional-forward at Sushi Kaito, but we promise you, the more basic they prepare the dish, the better taste and texture you can get! He did this along Broadway from the lower Broadway all the way up to the North End of Manhattan. With a blizzard of cayenne and paprika, and a twice-fried, flaky exterior, the sandwich is like a combination of Nashville version flavor and Korean fried chicken texture. Eat a bagel with smoked whitefish or nova from their takeout area on the corner of 80th Street and Broadway. And four months later, another big one: Peter Meehan of the New York Times stopped by , for the outlets $25 And Under vertical . 1. I loved that picture of the woman hovering over the NY skyline. I hope she will see this. What to order: Banh Mi O.G, Bun Bo Bo, Bun Cha, Banh Xeo, Crispy Rice Cake, Address: 942 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025. One more thing to know: Thai Market fuels Columbia students in the same way that Red Bull and late nights do, so youll probably spot a bunch of 20-year-olds here. could that be? This was just a delight. We would all stay till six in the mornings and everybody would be singing under the table at that time. Anyone may read the forums, but to post you must create a freeaccount. The wait staff then would take a Polaroid picture. Stone: I think Ernie's has been gone for a few years; the space became some sort of Latin American place that didn't last long (UWSers, correct me if I'm wrong). first adult apartment was in 1977 w/2 roomates in a one bedroom walk up(now a million dollar brownstone) on W 75th between Amsterdam and Columbus. Keep exploring our best restaurants in New York here! 9. An overstuffed pastrami sandwich on soft rye served with mustard and crunchy half-sours is also a must-try. The dough itself tastes malty and sweet, like it had a daydream years ago about being a dessert. Of course, now it's been Cleopatra's Needle for years, the food is different, and the interior is radically changed from the former groovy but dark 60s style, but it is in the same location. Re Caffe Taci, City Opera, not New York State Opera. Cue the renaissance tune. Indulgent, expensive, and absolutely amazing in every bite! I don't say that I do. I've mentioned some before. I don't know if there was continuity of ownership, but the basic food has always been pretty much the same. New York City in 3D in the Gilded Age made Entertainment Weekly's Must Have list for the week of June 27! Thank you for the memories! As soon as I got to Winsomes name, I too smiled! The Amsterdam Avenue location of this Washington Heights Dominican spot serves dishes like emparedados, mofongo de chicharron, and our personal favorite, rotisserie chicken. No less august a man of letters than Philip Roth extolled the virtues of the lox, eggs, and onion, which the writer called more American than apple pie. That holy trinity fish, allium, zygote has, for years, been an icon of the old Upper West Side, a beacon to which the madding crowd draws every weekend morning for the click-clatter of an old New York brunch. Almost every dish at Senn Thai costs less than $15, and theres a big variety of above-average options involving rice and noodles. The greatest hits of the Upper East Side. A wonderful neighborhood spot! Diane's had BIG (7-ounce) burgers with all sorts of toppings. Even though celebrated on Broadway, my roommate Ascanio wouldnt get picked up by cabs when he hailed them. But rarely are they as memorable as the Nashville Hot Chickwich version at this casual Korean restaurant on the Upper West Side. The menu at this counter-service spot is huge, with everything from ph and spring rolls to lobster curry and steak over ricebut dont leave without a massive bnh m. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. The best things about this French bistro on 104th Street and Broadway are the long list of French wines in the $20 range and the food thats consistently buttery and delicious. Loved every word of this. People love Jacobs Pickles for their signature Catfish Taco with hearty catfish fillet coated with bread crumbs, fried to perfection, and taste surprisingly good. My favorite was Chun Cha Foo, a Mandarin restaurant between 91st and 92nd on Broadway. Settle down with the famous Seafood Soup with salmon, shrimp, and loads of chopped veggies make this chowder a hearty, herby meal-in-a-bowl! Fun memories. Since it opened in the early aughts, the cafe has drawn from the shelves during the day (silver dollar pancakes, tuna melts) and the meat counter at night (skirt steak Toscana, beef Wellington with foie gras, a panoply of burgers). Weighed in a bowl, these ingredients are then whisked into a kitchen in the back and emerge, mere minutes later, as a delicious dried hot pot. In a pizza-mad city, these pies rival anything eaten in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. When youre eating hefty pieces of king salmon and Japanese mackerel, youll really feel like youre getting your moneys worth. I LOVE NY. Once in a while I remembered to eat and since money was tight, Id get a bran muffin or bagel at Fairway below which would last me all day. I lived on the UWS, on 69th and Columbus, from the time I was born in 1969 (or whenever it was that I came home from Mt. Always have yourself a bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen when youre here. You were so adventurous and brave and gained many memories. I once won and got a bottle of champagne. Also, the corner grocery on West End and 72nd is licensed with a name like "San Juan Hill", which makes me strongly suspect it has been there for a long time. Now on its third owner, a guy named Ira, Murrays continues to shine, smaller but no less brilliant. You have to read a book to find a boyfriend? There is no way he could have known the title which I had hidden. Ephemeral New York was featured in a wonderful NY Post story on July 20 on the Gilded Age city. Most such places would have likely been wiped out during the UWS's Dark Ages of urban decline, but surely a few other than Fine & Schapiro stayed in the game through those times. They often appear as ordinary rocks, yet, broken open, reveal true beauty. There can be little doubt that the restaurant with its bow-tied and vested waitstaff, glowing dragons, and elaborately folded napkins speaks to another era, when knowledge of Chinese regional cuisine was limited by the fact that most Americans werent aware China had regions. Not knowing anyone with only $500 in my pocket I came to New York to pursue acting and dancing just like Gene Kelly had done. Thanks for your smiles and happy recollections. I arrived on the UWS in 1989, and remember Cafe la Fortuna well such fond memories. The casual set-up makes this place perfect for a meetup with a friend or a date near Amsterdam Avenue and 107th Street. Caf la Fortuna was one of my favorites. 17. When you stop by Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, an employee behind the counter might shout something like, I got that cornbread, and the whole team will reply with Oooooooh in unison. Thanks to Sam Roberts for featuring New York City in 3D in the Gilded Age in his Bookshelf column on Sunday, August 24. This Israeli restaurant is also open for dinner, and its a great option for a nice, casual night out. Our favorite spots in a neighborhood packed with great places to eat. Jean Georges. )and vague memories of the China Club LOL. The spread is astonishing. Jacobs Pickles must be the star of the show by serving huge portion of brunch dishes in a spacious, casual, easy-going ambiance! 22 Restaurants That Show Off the Upper West Side. (Do you think they were dropping Acid when they named it? ) Before there were juice bars and millennial cleanse joints like, waaay before there was Ayurveda, an ancient Hindu medicinal system. Adam Pally Is His Familys Short-Order Cook, The Best Way to Stop Taking Chicken for Granted. People are usually here for one thing: the Hot Chicken Sandwich! Fish. Thank you, Marianne. But hes not fooling anyone. WebDaniel is known for its lobster bisque soup and filet mignon. Though future scholars may debate the true victor of the hot dog wars an argument can be made that Papaya King reigns supreme Grays famous Recession Special (now two hot dogs and a drink for $6.45), first introduced in the 1980s, is as delicious as it is sadly eternally timely. They only serve Omakase with the Classic option (13 courses) and the Premium option (17 courses). Great spot for an espresso and biscotti. Boy do I miss a lot of those places. The Milling Room446 Columbus Ave., nr. Thanks for the lovely article. I still love the people but those places and people were special. Broadway; 212-595-1313. Ephemeral New York in THE NEW YORKTIMES! But theres never been a better time to eat in the neighborhood. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. WebCaf des Artistes. Like a swan, it glides above the furious action (and jostling old ladies) of the supermarket below. I loved this story, made me cry. 4) 282 Grand Street. I came to NYC (and the UWS) one year after you 1989 and am also here still. It fell into disrepair -- no surprise here -- in the early 1970s and closed in 1974, to be reopened by Warner LeRoy (at the time best known as the creator of Maxwell's Plum) in 1976. A Special Edition of Pupper West Side: Remembering Mr. PWS A Little Dog Who Led A Big Life, See Shakespeare in the Parks This Weekend Like You've Never Seen It Before -- Masked and Socially Distanced, Openings & Closings: Zaad, Kissaki, La Terrine, How Local Cops Broke the E-Bike Case: I Floored It, Captain Says. They were not alone; I think the average age of the customers was about 75. The big booths and midnight closing time make this a good option if you want to eat some pancakes for your second dinner. They had delicious burgers. Nice Martin has been You cant believe how delicious and soft the texture is until you actually try it! Welcome to the eG Forums, a service of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters. 103 W. 77th St., nr. Great reminder of the wonderful things that bring us together. Brooks Headley Loves Every Inch of the New Superiority Burger. Trust us, the portion is huge! At the time, raw fish was a relatively new concept and I was a bit squeamish about it but was won over once I tried it. I just have east side versions of the stories. On Broadway I can think of none. No extra cost is added to you. The thick-cut slices of pepperoni turn into little cups that hold drops of precious grease, glistening like pork nectar. All of the food is served on bright-colored trays, so we like to think of this place as a cafeteria for people who have fun and enjoy enchiladas. rely on virtuosically prepared product, from silvery iwashi (Japanese sardines) and tuna otoro, to ikura (roe) cured in-house and a tangle of uni tongues from Hokkaido. A great read! There was an Italian restaurant, Caffe Taci, with opera singers performing arias as we dined; you had people from the Met, New York State Opera, Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard, and a little old Russian lady accompanied them on the piano, her feet never touching the ground. Shun Lee West43 W. 65th St., nr. Or thin slices of fatty beef? Great story and love these throwback memories/articles which you folks at WSR should do more often. The space at Boulud Sud gently curved ceiling, colorful banquettes in harlequin stripes, white tablecloths radiates monied calm. A yakitori exploration of the discarded parts of Americas most overlooked protein. Herbed Eggs are no less mouth-watering when wholesomely seasoned with parsley, cilantro, and scallion. A few years later I moved to 71st Street into an old brownstone budding with a crooked staircase in which a friend had built a wooden platform where I could tap dance I would time it so I wouldnt bother my downstairs neighbor Ned Eisenberg, a fine Broadway actor, and jumped only during his matinee and evening performances. , Hey neighbor, you sound like a beautiful person. Web1980s1990s: Boy Bar (15 St. Marks Pl.) 7 elevated And I saw it all; thank you dear, for letting us in on such a precious, shimmering & deeply felt treat, one that swirled & spun until my eyes fairly brimmed with tears of joy and sadness. Loved this! There must be a bunch of them around, since there are so many pre-WWII buildings in the neighborhood that were obviously designed for well-to-do people to live in. Absolute Bagels is a filthy little store with sublime bagels. And if theres any chance that duck gizzards and braised tripe can make it on the Upper West Side, this is their best shot. And let us not forget Tip Toe Inn, beloved by my grandfather and his wife when they moved to the UWS in the 1970s. What to order: Nova Scotia Salmon Scrambled Eggs, Pastrami Sandwich, Chicken Liver, Address: 541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024. Thus has it been for the last century at this Upper West Side institution. Munificent and nebbishy, a portrait of Barney Greengrass, the original Sturgeon King, keeps watch as a brisk trade is done in Jewish appetizing: silken sheets of nova, sturgeon, chubs, whitefish, sable. What a great article, and what a great place to have been for three decades! What pizza place is Lou Reed posingbeside? Japanese place where Blockbuster is on the corner of 69th and Amsterdam? I look forward to seeing her again and telling her how much I appreciated her memoir. We also love the ribs, collards, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. Anyone remember the Larmen Dosanko (sp?) Read on. The Upper West Side doesnt always get the restaurant credit it deserves. Mamas Too!2750 Broadway, nr. Your palate will thank you for having this! From classic Jewish delis and traditional Japanese restaurants to some of the citys high-end French restaurants, from a fancy menu to the most casual one, this neighborhood always has a spot for you. If you live on the Upper West Side, then your answer is easy: Viand Cafe. He used the 3 Brand Names because he sold the store with restrictive convents about no other stores with the "Brand" being allowed to open within a certain amount of blocks from the store. Thanks to the Rag for publishing this fine story. Construction at 282 Grand Street is nearing completion. I did, and they remembered him (and treated me better because of it). Brass plaques in the bar for seriuos regulars, and one of the inspirations for Cheers. Director, New Media Studies, International Culinary Center (take my food-blogging course). Shake Shack (366 Columbus, 77th) great burgers, fries and shakes with a huge NYC following.. Alices Tea Cup (102 W 73rd, Columbus) Bakery View ephemeralnewyorks profile on Facebook. Thanks for this. What a treasure it is to live here! Much to my surprise, Fine & Schapiro turns out not to be in Zagat. 11. Blog at WordPress.com. The menu reads like a Sondheim revue of bistro classics, but the greatest hits here are truly great: a perfectly executed steak-frites with an exoskeleton of char, a silky au poivre sauce, and salty fries; garlicky moules marinires; and a crock of French onion soup that, like the aproned waiters, has a warm heart under a crusty exterior. During a past visit, some of our favorite pieces were the lightly seared sea bass, striped jack with smoky yuzu sauce, and flaky, sweet unagi. Chick Chick is a casual Korean restaurant on the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 90th Street that serves surprisingly good fried chicken sandwiches, or any dish made from chicken. 6. I hope she gets to see what all of her fans have to say It was personal and made me melancholic. 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