I don't think they even exist outside of mall food courts lol

I don't think they even exist outside of mall food courts lol

 

Mall food courts and airports

I don't think they even exist outside of mall food courts lol

 

Mall food courts and airports

and Turnpike rest areas.

I don't think they even exist outside of mall food courts lol

 

Mall food courts and airports

and Turnpike rest areas.

 

And Times Square, which I try to avoid like the plague when I'm in the city, but it amazes me when I do go there and the Sbarro is always PACKED with people.  OMG you are in New York City and the only place you eat is SBARRRO?

 

And Times Square, which I try to avoid like the plague when I'm in the city, but it amazes me when I do go there and the Sbarro is always PACKED with people. OMG you are in New York City and the only place you eat is SBARRRO?

 

Most of the people in Times Square are out of towners. They probably think Sbarro is some NYC only delicacy.

There is one outside of Penn Station I used to see everyday when I'd take the LIRR in..

 

Times Square is hell.. I avoid it at all costs..

I don't think they even exist outside of mall food courts lol

 

Mall food courts and airports

and Turnpike rest areas.

 

And Times Square, which I try to avoid like the plague when I'm in the city, but it amazes me when I do go there and the Sbarro is always PACKED with people.  OMG you are in New York City and the only place you eat is SBARRRO?

 

Soo true! I don't get it. I know everyone feels comfortable knowing what it costs, how good the food is, etc. by going to those familiar places, but if you're going to go to nyc just to eat at some TGI Friday's in Times Square, why bother? I guess I can't blame people for doing it some times.. we ate at a real sh!thole restaurant in Chelsea and the food wasn't even cheap but it really sucked. I'm not a food snob at all but you know it's bad when you order the house wine and it's Carlo Rossi. I saw them pour it out of that giant jug. Oh well, I got drunk off of that sh!t.

 

 

And Times Square, which I try to avoid like the plague when I'm in the city, but it amazes me when I do go there and the Sbarro is always PACKED with people.  OMG you are in New York City and the only place you eat is SBARRRO?

 

Most of the people in Times Square are out of towners. They probably think Sbarro is some NYC only delicacy.

 

It's real NY style pizza! ooh exotic lol

 

And Times Square, which I try to avoid like the plague when I'm in the city, but it amazes me when I do go there and the Sbarro is always PACKED with people.  OMG you are in New York City and the only place you eat is SBARRRO?

 

Most of the people in Times Square are out of towners. They probably think Sbarro is some NYC only delicacy.

 

I agree.  What People buy on Times Square is not really an indicator of what NYers think of pizza.  Sbarro is just a chain.  They're all bad.  The worst location is on Canal Street.

 

People in Brooklyn are very, very particular about their pizza.  when I lived in Downtown Brooklyn, the line out of Grimaldi's was ridiculous.  There is also a place on Coney Island that is insanely good.  The uptown Patsy's is good, but to far east to be of use.

 

One of my assistants is from the East Village/Bowery and one of the manager is born/bred in Little Italy and they will only eat Bleecker Street or John's pizza. 

 

Once when I was coming from a meeting I stopped at Ray's and my assistant said to me, "what is this?  Sh!t on shingle?  Next time you decide to buy pizza for me, dont!!"  Picked up the box and thru the entire thing in the trash.

 

Needless to say, we stopped having pizza in the office.

actually NYC has a lot of average to below average food, generally over priced. you either have to ask around or do some research to get the good stuff (which there is a whole lot of too!)

 

I just talked to a co-worker that went to NYC for the first time. They pretty much ate every night on times square at chains (Arrrrrrg). AT least they hit Carnegie Deli (fine I guess, but Katz's pastrami and sour pickles are nirvana)

 

 

In 2002, we treated our office employees to a weekend in NYC as a bonus - they were most interested in finding knock-off purses and watches, and then in chain restaurant hell.  We dined at Planet Hollywood, the ESPN Zone, and the Hard Rock in the course of two days.  I did drag them to Peter Luger's for the one decent meal we had.  They chose Famous Original Ray's over Babbo. :?

Mmmmm Babbo.  Anyway, back to the topic.  I love Calif Pizza Kitchen.  Gorgonzola pear pizza.  Dee-lish.....for foo-foo food at least.  As for "real" pizza on the list provided?  I'd have to go with Donatos.  None of the listed chains are very good at all.  it's food that fills the void, and in some cases it's barely even food.

In 2002, we treated our office employees to a weekend in NYC as a bonus - they were most interested in finding knock-off purses and watches, and then in chain restaurant hell.  We dined at Planet Hollywood, the ESPN Zone, and the Hard Rock in the course of two days.  I did drag them to Peter Luger's for the one decent meal we had.  They chose Famous Original Ray's over Babbo. :?

Don't forget Bubba Gump's  :wtf:. Every under traveled person has to go there to really feel like they are being exotic

actually NYC has a lot of average to below average food, generally over priced. you either have to ask around or do some research to get the good stuff (which there is a whole lot of too!)

 

I just talked to a co-worker that went to NYC for the first time. They pretty much ate every night on times square at chains (Arrrrrrg). AT least they hit Carnegie Deli (fine I guess, but Katz's pastrami and sour pickles are nirvana)

 

 

 

you really summed it up well. Most restaurants in NY are totally mediocre and aren't worth it, especially when the price of an appetizer is more than what you would pay for an entree in another city. At the same time, there are some good deals that don't involve celebrity chefs charging a hundred dollars+ a head (check out Zagat's), so there's no reason why visitors should confine themselves to large chain/theme restaurants in Midtown. In fact in the Theater District where many of these are located there are lots of alternatives. John's Pizza (mentioned here) has a huge location (a beautiful setting in renovated old church) on 43rd St (maybe it's 44th?); and there's Restaurant Row on W. 46th st and a lot of smaller ethnic places on 9th Ave in Hell's Kitchen, as well as many little places tucked among the large Broadway theaters. Unfortunately people just want the reassurance of getting the same lack-of-quality meal they would get at home.

So there is mediocre food in NYC? The times I was there we just randomly went into restaurants and every time it was fantastic.

So there is mediocre food in NYC? The times I was there we just randomly went into restaurants and every time it was fantastic.

 

Honey YES.  Some of it extremely expensive and BAD.

So there is mediocre food in NYC? The times I was there we just randomly went into restaurants and every time it was fantastic.

 

Honey YES. Some of it extremely expensive and BAD.

 

Including a certain cheesecake in Brooklyn (and Grand Central).

So there is mediocre food in NYC? The times I was there we just randomly went into restaurants and every time it was fantastic.

 

Honey YES.  Some of it extremely expensive and BAD.

 

Including a certain cheesecake in Brooklyn (and Grand Central).

 

...and the theatre district location.

 

Their food sucks and does not warrant the price.  The prices for the food at the Manhattan locations is more than Brooklyn, I'm sure that is due to rent.

 

The draw is the cheesecake and deserts.