Its NYCs response to the Philly cheesesteak, with a medley of grilled meat, cheese, tomato, and shredded lettuce. Lovely and loving. I have to say that was the most beautiful, specific, and colorful article Ive read in a long time. Dallas In NYC, soul food is often linked to Harlem, a neighborhood rich with Black heritage. Your email address will not be published. Copy the link below and paste onto your website or blog to display badge. 3 years later we moved on up to West 53rd off 8th which was also like the wild west and we spent most nights at, conveniently, Studio 54such good times and not much money needed. I agree with your love of the neighborhood. I never got his wrath as some other staff members have. Image via WikiCommons A new dine-in movie theater is opening inside a luxury residential building inMidtown next month. Melbas offers Southern comfort food with hearty and healthy choices. Great management team who were quick to resolve any "concerns". Loved Teachers,too (and Teachers). Hannah Albertine. What a great article, and what a great place to have been for three decades! It was his hobby and passion. Over the years Ive made two feature films on the UWS inspired by the stories of people I met here. The Upper East Side is known for its affluent residents and luxury lifestyle. And if you brought a group then treat yourselves to their Peking Duck, the best you'll get in these woods. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. Some spaces reach 6,000 square feet or more. Learn how your comment data is processed. My roommates were a black Cuban Shakespearean actor named Ascanio Sharpe and the now-famous actor Jeffrey Wright who taught me slang and would crack up at my European accent. I have lived on the Upper West Side all of my life, remember so many of the things you wrote about so beautifully. Wow! I always asked my dad to bring some home after work. Favorite hangouts were Cafe La Fortuna lined with pictures of opera singers and opera music playing non-stop as you could enjoy a small European slice of cake, Cafe Mozart, on West 70th Street. Lombardi opened the still operating Lombardi's, a coal-oven pizzeria, in 1897. CARMINE'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - UPPER WEST SIDE - 1763 Photos & 1704 Reviews - 2450 Broadway, New York, New York - Italian - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Menu - Yelp Carmine's Italian Restaurant - Upper West Side 1704 reviews Claimed $$ Italian, Desserts, Seafood Closed 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM Hours updated over 3 months ago See hours I cant imagine what thats like, to get to shake James Bonds hand after you stroll into the bathroom where you work?! The wait staff then would take a Polaroid picture. Thank you to one of Teachers owners, Ernie Bogen (of Ernies) for passing this on to me. We also love the ribs, collards, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. Ive lived in UWS/Morningside Heights since 1999 (21 years, my god) and apart from my beloved hometown Budapest never felt home anywhere else. These photos, from the early 80s into the late 90s, give glimpses of what it was like at iconic clubs such as the Limelight and Wetlands Preserve. Owner Braxton Nolte said it's a combination of atmosphere and an ever changing menu that sets his restaurant apart. tridimwest.com. Youll find them in Midtown Manhattan. Eddie & Ernie were an American soul duo in the 1960s, comprising Eddie Campbell (December 23, 1940 - July 10, 1994) and Ernie "Sweetwater" Johnson (October 22, 1943 - August 20, 2005). Culinary trends ranging from the cronut a croissant-donut hybrid by Dominique Ansel to tried-and-true dishes like hot dogs, bagels, pizza, and pastrami. For Puerto Rican cuisine, try the mofongo (a dish of fried plantains that get mashed and seasoned with salt, garlic, broth and olive oil plus and shaped into a ball with pork rinds or bacon inside) at Casa Adela in Manhattans East Village. What we now know as the steakhouse in NYC came from two 19th-century predecessors: beef banquets, which were male-only political fundraisers, and the chophouse, an offshoot of an English tavern. exit 20. A diner from Abington, PA tried it, liked it, and rated it and who watched your kids while they ere sleeping? Thanks for sharing this made me nostalgic, omg totally forgot about the Cherrys pass through and of course Grossingers! 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. "HUGE portions of excellent fare. We would all stay till six in the mornings and everybody would be singing under the table at that time. How about the older lady who roamed Columbus with a red wagon loaded with her many small (virtually identical) dogs, all with colorful bows in their hair? Los Angeles You have logged out from ExperienceFirst. Order their short ribs, known as kalbi. Does Ernie's Mexican Restaurant have outdoor seating? In 1997, I moved to the city and I chose the UWS largely because I loved the vibe of the people I met at Teachers Too that night. While homes for sale come with a high price tag, renters who do some digging can actually find some pretty good deals on apartments. At Steps I would see Bill Murray take a beginner Jazz class, an aging Rudolf Nureyev showing off in ballet class dressed in bright red outfits, robocop actor Peter Weller, Brooke Shields and many others. Be the first to get expert restaurant recommendations for every situation right in your inbox. Grossingers was the bakery- LaRochelle was on the corner with phone booths in the window & Cherry Restaurant had a pass through to 60 West 76th St. for food. The space is bright and pleasant, with big windows and some leafy vines scattered throughout, and theres a bar in the back in case you want to dine solo. This ritual is clearly part of the deal if you work at this counter-service spot, and itll make you smile. There was a lovely cashier who made it to Cashier of the month with the fastest grocery bagging. I just remembered the first sushi restaurant I went to down the block and around the corner on Amsterdam Avenue Nishi. The best burgers,best eggs Benedict and best fried zucchini on the planet. I felt the same way when I was growing up and always knew I wanted to live here. Great reminder of the wonderful things that bring us together. Try the daikon cakes sauted in a sticky soy sauce with bean sprouts, eggs, and scallions, or the Thai Market egg crepe filled with shrimp, hot peppers, tofu, and sweet coconut sauce. If youre in Brooklyn, visit Puerto Viejo Restaurant, a Dominican bistro in Prospect Heights that serves up a killer mang al puerto (mashed plantains with muenster cheese). Having said that, you could order the French onion soup and a martini and be perfectly satisfied by your meal here. The Opera co-op offers residents a 24-hour doorman, concierge service, a live-in resident manager, and a bike and storage room. Anne and Jerry and Ben and Amy ate there most Sunday nights and many other notables. I was a fairly Regular at the original Teachers. Something went wrong. I have walked by a few times and seen the old teachers too signage but initially assumed it was a book store or something like that. Uncle Dussys, a blue Greek food truck that can be also spotted in Midtown, is your go-to choice for a fabulous gyro. Beautifully told of greatest of times NYC of preforming Artists. )and vague memories of the China Club LOL. The Club Kids, led by impresario Michael Alig, turned places like the Limelight into backdrops of drug- and techno-induced drama, while live music dens like the Village Gate presented stages to some great jazz musicians. Peking Duck Roll. Richmond Ri Ernie T's, 1219 Main Street 4 to 7:30pm Jaffery Nh . Thanks. Even though celebrated on Broadway, my roommate Ascanio wouldnt get picked up by cabs when he hailed them. Teachers and Teachers Too were the best all purpose Whats perhaps most surprising is that there is a strong sense of community here, says Lisa Chajet, a broker for Warburg Realty and resident of the Upper West Side. Chains out, individual in. Like when my dad got to meet so many different movie stars while working there. They liked the food, liked the service, and liked the ambiance. Choice of bagel, English muffin, or our fresh baked bread; bacon, sausage, egg and cheese. This was just a delight. We still order it for special occasionaand its We recommend this neighborhood spot for anything from a date to dinner with your family, just show up on the early side if you dont want to wait for a table since they dont accept reservations. My girlfiend who became my wife and mother of my child was a long time waiter at Teachers and Teachers Too. Thank you in particular for mentioning my FAVORITE cashier at Fairway, Winsome.SUCH a lovey person, and her name suits her. The eastern wing is home to the homes primary bedroom suite, which offers Central Park views, direct terrace access, a wood-burning fireplace, and two walk-in closets. Went there at least once a week for years, and yes, everbody knew my name. See all 145 photos Henry's (Now Closed) American Restaurant $$$ $ Upper West Side, New York Save Share Tips 54 Photos 145 Menu See what your friends are saying about Henry's. By creating an account you are able to follow friends and experts you trust and see the places they've recommended. 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. 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. 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. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, the duo sang in gospel groups before working as backing vocalists from the early 1960s. . still is actually.). Interesting bar crowd of neighborhood business owners as Bloomsday Books, Writers and Editers, and average UWS neighbors at that time. This upscale Japanese spot operates out of the bottom floor of Korean restaurant Boka, and with its high-quality sushi and nice garden patio, it's one of the most impressive dining options on the Upper West Side. my dad was strict as hell. Although I am new to the neighborhood, after decades in Washington Heights, this sweet, lovely essay captures so much about what I love about the West Side (my sons used to call the top of Washington Heights the real upper west side) and New York City more generally. One of them would wear a Mozart wig and the birthday guest could wear the Mozart wig as well. Do you have your fathers recipe for peanut sauce? The Upper West Side is a great place to live: beautiful prewar buildings, Central Park to one side and Riverside Park to the other, Zabar's. It's one of the most popular residential areas of Manhattan and it's also a hotbed for celebrities. I don't know what he was doing with the photos other than meticulously putting them in boxes. Oh, and Allan and Suzi that vintage store on 80th and Amsterdam where I purchased a crazy designer skirt with mirrors and horse hair. An Italian food lover from Austin, TX tried it. Wine Enthusiasts Sip of South America Tasting Event, 25th Birthday Celebration of Everett Childrens Garden, Bombay Sapphire Saw This, Made This Installation, Mayor, wheres my car? It was where I met the wonderful Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and I ended up cooking for their family at their UWS apartment. You beautifully described why this frequent visitor loves visiting NYC. Ernie's Pizzeria ($$) 4.8 Stars - 29 Votes Select a Rating! Location interest A shame it had to close with the sale of the property. actually I would love to re-open Teachers Too if I had the means to do it. I once won and got a bottle of champagne. Breaded Chicken - Pan-Fried to a Crispy Golden Brown Topped with Melted Mozzarella & Romano Cheese & Served Over Marinara Sauce - Feeds 2-4. For Jamaican food, Miss Lilys has two convenient locations downtown; a diner, jerk shack and juice bar in Manhattans. A husband, a father, a full time driver, and a botter. Sounds like it was a great institution in the neighborhood and I enjoyed everyones recollections! Soul food is rooted in the south, but it came to New York City as many African-Americans relocated to the north in the 20th century. In the homes western wing is a uniquelofted bedroom with Hudson River views. I have a sneaking suspicion I know the author from one of my favorite coffee shops. Tompkins Square Bagels in East Village is known for its creative seasonal bagels, from French toast to rainbow-colored. Personal preference for where to go for the best pizza in New York can be up for heavy debate. Your access to this page has been blocked. Have one with cream cheese (we call it a schmear), or opt for a lox and bagel sandwich. He just moved to Thailand for retirement Aug 4th, 2015. This email address is already subscribed, thank you! This wing also offers threemore bedrooms, views included, as well as two loft spaces and a laundry room. Some say that the Manhattan neighborhood ends with Central Park at 110th Street, while others include 111th to 125th Streets. The dough itself tastes malty and sweet, like it had a daydream years ago about being a dessert. In 2000 I used to venture uptown to 110th St. and Broadway. Teachers Too was my first taste of Thai food, and I was hooked. I was visiting a friend in NYC in the early 80s who took me there, and the Chicken Gai Yang opened a new world for me. Nothing truly comparable today. The best thing are the people, my neighbors, from all walks of life, a tolerant colorful mix of ethnicities, orientations, families, artists, intellectuals, business people, kooks and homeless. What a treasure it is to live here! After 42 years on the UWS, I will never leave, come what may. As a teenager I made my dream come true. Ive been here 30 years too and have watched all of those fabulous places close down and not much has taken their place. Thanks to a 17th-century tradition where travelers kept their favorite long-stemmed pipe at a local tavern, the ceiling is covered with churchwarden pipes that once belonged to club members like Theodore Roosevelt and Babe Ruth. Thank you for the memories! I agree/ would love to time travel back, but sometimes when im visiting UWS now, if i walk with my eyes closed for even a few seconds to shut out the present, i find that the smells and the sounds are just the same as when i was 24, and in love and dancing down Broadway after a night of drinking at the WestEnd Bar. 69,892 were here. Amsterdams. their closings were our greatest losses. Some of you must remember his cod Dijonnaise. Thanks for your smiles and happy recollections. Before reading these lovely comments, the only view I had of the old Upper West Side was from Youve Got Mail. Even Murray with his crotchety ways is missed. Then take on eating a mile-high stacked pastrami on rye. Pick up a sandwich, then take it back home or walk two blocks east to the park. This year Ive been working in DC and cant wait to go back!!! There are the noteworthy residents as wellfueling the cultural scene that has long been at the heart of New York's vibrancy. Sam Won Garden, which has been featured in the 2020 Michelin Guide, was first founded in Seoul. How do you get Grossingers Praline Cake now? Then his son took over Teachers Too. Today, this culinary treat can be found across the citys five boroughs.