Category Archives: Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan

Day One Hundred and Sixty-Three: Manhattan on Lock Down and Closed for Business April 2nd, 2020

Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring Midtown East in Manhattan, Exploring Midtown Manhattan, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring NYC Parks, Exploring the Entire Length of the Island of Manhattan/Broadway Walk, Exploring the Garment District, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Theater District in Manhattan, Exploring The Upper East Side of Manhattan, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan Experiences, Uncategorized, Walking in the Theater District of Manhattan, Walking the Theater District, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I was watching this video on YouTube that someone took of Midtown Manhattan on the day before the Mayor put the City on a lock down. It is almost shocking how quiet the City was that afternoon. Even in the early morning hours, I had never seen it like this.

The Theater District just before the lockdown. What a difference a week makes!

This was one week after I was at the International Restaurant Show and at The Met!

It looked like the last day on earth!

Here is a copy of the video:

The ironic part was that my next walk was in the Theater District. It is strange how two weeks make such a difference.

I credit this video to YouTuber IURETA and them full credit for this video.

Koronet Pizza 2848 Broadway New York, NY 10025

Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring Manhattan Valley/Bloomingdale/Upper West Side, Exploring Morningside Heights, Exploring Morningside Heights in Manhattan, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Entire Length of the Island of Manhattan/Broadway Walk, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Pizzeria's and Italian Restaurants for the budget-minded, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am featuring wonderful reasonable restaurants in New York City. Don’t miss the huge over-sized slices at this pizzeria by Columbia University.

The front of the pizzeria

The pizzas are huge here!

The pizza is bigger than the plate

Their jumbo slice of sausage is like two meals in one.

jwatrel's avatarDining on a Shoestring in the New York City area and beyond.

Koronet Pizza

2848 Broadway

New York, NY 10025

Phone: (212) 222-1566

Fax: (212) 212-0664

Open: Sunday-Saturday-10:30am-11:15pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d426021-Reviews-Koronet_Pizzeria-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

Koronet Pizza was established in 1981 and is located right on the border of the Columbia Campus in Morningside Heights and is known best for having ‘New York’s Biggest Slice’. I have to admit that the slice is huge.

I stumbled across Koronet Pizza when I was walking around the Columbia campus for my “WalkinManhattan” project and needed a quick lunch. The giant slice is part of their 32 inch pizza that they sell for $38.00. An individual slice of their delicious pizza is $4.75 and is about the size of two normal slices. You only need one to fill you up. When I ate there, customers got a big kick out of downing one of these slices.

The pizza is excellent. Their sauce has a spicy tomato taste…

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Zabar’s Cafe (Inside the Zabar Building) 2245 Broadway New York, NY 10023

Bakeries for the budget minded, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Sandwich and Deli's for the budget minded, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am featuring wonderful reasonable restaurants in New York City.

Zabar's Cafe III

Zabar’s Cafe is great for locals.

Zabar's Cafe

jwatrel's avatarDining on a Shoestring in the New York City area and beyond.

Zabar’s Cafe (Inside the Zabar Building)

2245 Broadway

New York, NY  10023

(212) 787-2000

http://www.Zabars.com

Open: Sunday-9:00am-6:00pm/Monday-Friday-8:00am-7:30pm/Saturday-8:00am=8:00pm

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d948624-Reviews-Zabar_Deli_Gourmet_Foods-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

Zabar’s is one of the most interesting grocery stores in New York City. Back in the late 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, it was the only place to go for certain gourmet items, baked goods and a variety of vegetables. Their cheeses were some of the best in the city and when you needed fresh pasta, it was here or Manganario’s which went out of business about five years ago.

While other stores have gotten fancier or more expensive in their wares and grocery items, Zabar’s stays tried and true to its roots and is still a place for the average person to come and do their grocery shopping while buying high quality at a fair price. New York City has never been cheap.

I had been to the store many times…

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West Side Cafe 218 West 72nd Street (Between Broadway & West End Avenue) New York, NY 10023 (Closed August 2019)

Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Pizzeria's and Italian Restaurants for the budget-minded, Sandwich and Deli's for the budget minded, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am featuring wonderful reasonable restaurants in New York City. The Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich on an Everything Bagel is just excellent!

Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich

jwatrel's avatarDining on a Shoestring in the New York City area and beyond.

West Side Cafe

218 West 72nd Street (Between Broadway & West End Avenue)

New York, NY  10023

Phone: (212) 769-9939

Phone: (212) 769-8815

Fax: (212) 769-9938

Open: Monday-Friday-6:30am-9:30pm/Saturday and Sunday-7:30am-8:30pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d4959470-Reviews-West_Side_Cafe-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

Sometimes you are looking for the perfect little ‘hole in the wall’ restaurant and it just jumps out at you. This is how I found out about West Side Cafe & Pizza. I was looking for a snack and came a across a restaurant that offered well-priced pizza slices. It also offers a whole lot more.

I went into West Side Cafe & Pizza for a slice of pizza. The place around the corner from it had the slices at $3.25 for a slice of cheese and when I walked in here, the slice was $2.50, more on the level of a regular slice.

Even though the slice was warmed over, the sauce was flavorful…

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Malachy’s Donegal Inn 103 West 72nd Street New York, NY 10023

Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, Hot Dog, Hamburger & Fries for the budget minded., My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Sandwich and Deli's for the budget minded, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am featuring wonderful reasonable restaurants in New York City.

Malachy’s at 103 West 72nd Street is a nice place for a drink and for a meal.

Their hamburgers and all their sandwiches are really good.

The burgers here are so well cooked and they serve them with French Fries which seems to be getting rarer

The burgers are so well caramelized

Yum!

The burgers here are great!

jwatrel's avatarDining on a Shoestring in the New York City area and beyond.

Malachy’s Donegal Inn

103 West 72nd Street

New York, NY   10023

(212) 874-4268

Open: Sunday-Saturday=12:00pm-4:00am

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d527768-Reviews-Malachy_s_Donegal_Inn-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

I have been to Malachy’s (See reviews on TripAdvisor) several times when visiting the Upper West Side and just happen to come across it one night when walking down West 72nd Street, a shopping and restaurant row for this section of the West Side. The bar has been around forever and run by the same family.

It really is the “Cheers” of the Upper West Side. Everyone here seems to know one another and as I have sat at the bar, I can see that I was getting ‘sized up’ by some of the regulars, who the bartender really well. I must have made the cut because everyone has been really nice to me every time I have gone there for lunch or dinner. Admittingly, I am not really a drinker so the only…

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New Dynasty Inc.

New Dynasty Inc. 393 8th Avenue New York, NY 10001

Chinese Restaurants for the budget minded, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am featuring wonderful places that are reasonable in New York City.

New Dynasty Chinese Restaurant II

The menu from the restaurant

Sweet & Sour Shrimp

jwatrel's avatarDining on a Shoestring in the New York City area and beyond.

New Dynasty Inc.

393 8th Avenue

New York, NY  10001

(212) 594-9734/(212) 594-0548

Open: Monday-Friday 10:30am-11:30pm/Saturday & Sunday 11:00am-11:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d15061363-Reviews-New_Dynasty-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

This surprisingly good Chinese take out hole in the wall restaurant on 8th Avenue has some of the best Chinese food in Midtown Manhattan. In what still advertises video tapes, New Dynasty Inc. is a real find for customers who want a reasonable lunch or dinner that is large in portions and low in prices. Their lunch specials run between $6.60 to $7.20 for a combination platter that could easily feed two people.

The restaurant is bare bones in décor with only the illuminated signs for decoration. What is lacks in atmosphere it makes up in the quality of the food and the friendliness of the service. The family that runs the place have always been very welcoming to me on my few trips here and…

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Cheesy Pizza 2640 Broadway New York, NY 10025

Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring Manhattan Valley/Bloomingdale/Upper West Side, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Entire Length of the Island of Manhattan/Broadway Walk, Exploring the Farms of Bergen County, NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, Interesting Pizzerias in Manhattan, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Pizzeria's and Italian Restaurants for the budget-minded, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am featuring wonderful restaurants that are reasonable in New York City.

Cheesy Pizza at 2640 Broadway

The food at cheesy pizza is excellent with wonderful lunch specials.

The Cheese Pizza here is wonderful.

The Spicy Barbecue Chicken pizza recently at Cheesy Pizza.

jwatrel's avatarDining on a Shoestring in the New York City area and beyond.

Cheesy Pizza

2640 Broadway

New York City, New York 10025

Phone: (212) 662-5223; (212) 662-6312; (212) 662-0028

Fax: (212) 665-9222

http://www.cheesypizza.com

Open Seven Days a week

Open: Sunday-Saturday-10:00am-5:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d7079166-Reviews-Cheesy_Pizza-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

I came across Cheesy Pizza when visiting Manhattan Valley/Bloomingdale neighborhood (the very Upper Upper West Side) when walking down Broadway for my blog ‘MywalkinManhattan.com’. What attracted me to the restaurant was a big sign in the window, ’10 meals for $5.00 +tax’, so I had to investigate. I am glad I stopped in to check it out, the food is wonderful and flavorful and the service is always friendly.

I tried the Personal Cheese Pizza with a Coke one afternoon ($5.00) and was very pleased with the small fresh pizza that was made expressively for me. It was a nice size eight inch pizza with four nice slices, gooey high quality cheese and a very tasty tomato…

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SheShe Pizza 961 Columbus Avenue & 107th Street New York, NY 10025 (Closed January 2025)

Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring Manhattan Valley/Bloomingdale/Upper West Side, Exploring Morningside Heights in Manhattan, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Entire Length of the Island of Manhattan/Broadway Walk, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Pizzeria's and Italian Restaurants for the budget-minded, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am featuring wonderful restaurants that won’t break the budget in New York City.

SheShe Pizza’s at 961 Columbus Avenue is under renovation.

SheShe Pizza II

Their Cheese Pizza here is excellent.

jwatrel's avatarDining on a Shoestring in the New York City area and beyond.

SheShe Pizza

961 Columbus Avenue & 107th Street

New York, NY  10025

Phone: (212) 222-7201

Fax: (212) 222-7203

Open Seven Days:

Monday-Thursday: 11:00am-12:00am

Friday: 11:00am-3:00am

Saturday: 11:00am-2:00am

Sunday: 12:00pm-11:00pm

http://www.sheshepizza.com

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d5007563-Reviews-Sheshe_Pizzeria-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

I came across SheShe Pizzeria on my walk around Manhattan Valley (Between 110th Street-96th Street and Riverside Drive and Central Park West) for my blog, “MywalkinManhattan” when I was walking Columbus Avenue. This little ‘gem’ has one of the best lunch specials in the neighborhood. I am surprised that the Columbia students have not discovered this restaurant.

I stopped in for lunch twice and was very impressed that such a good quality lunch can be had for $5.00 (tax included). The first day of my ‘walk’ in the neighborhood, I tried the personal pizza with a Coke. It was delicious. The owner makes the pizza fresh for you and it comes out piping hot and gooey from…

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John Koch Antiques

John Koch Antiques 47-22 37th Street Long Island City New York, NY 11101

Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Long Island City, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Uncategorized, Walking around Manhattan, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday I am sending out merchants I have found on MywalkinManhattan. Don’t miss the treasures you will find here at John Koch Antiques.

john koch Antiques II

John Koch Antiques moved to 47-22 37th Street in Long Island City, NY.

jwatrel's avatarLittle Shop on Main Street

John Koch Antiques

201 West 84th Street

New York, NY  10024

(212) 799-2167

http://www.kochantiques.com

http://www.kochantiques.com/

Monday-Tuesday: 11:00am-5:30pm

Wednesday-Saturday: 11:00-7:00pm

Sunday: 11:00-4:30pm

John Koch Antiques is a store that looks like someone just emptied their grandmother’s house and loaded it into one store. The store has been in business for over thirty years and specializes in buying from estate sales. The place is loaded with furniture, accessories, paintings and assorted bric-a-brac.

I love this small, crowded antique store with it loads of Victorian and early 20’s items. There is a treasure trove of small unique gift items from $20.00 and up. I saw antique perfume bottles with the curved metal work, small salt cellars and all sorts of tea pots with flowers, animals and zig-zag designs on them.

There are all sorts of things for the office such as wooden boats, Victrola’s, metal cars and hard liqueur bottles. Paintings stare at…

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Books of Wonder Bookstore

Books of Wonder 217 West 84th Street New York, NY 10024 (Closed June 2021)

Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am sending out merchants I have found on MywalkinManhattan. Books of Wonder is a unique little bookstore on the Upper West Side with a wonderful selection of Children’s Books.

Books of Wonder III

 

Books of Wonder II

This store closed in June 2021. Please see the attachment for their store on West 17th Street in Manhattan on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com.

jwatrel's avatarLittle Shop on Main Street

Books of Wonder

217 West 84th Street

New York, NY  10024

(212) 989-1804

http://www.booksofwonder.com

Monday-Saturday: 10:00am-7:00pm

Sunday: 10:00am-6:00pm

*Hours for the West 84th Street location.

I came across the ‘Books of Wonder’ bookstore when touring the Upper West Side on the ‘Streets & Avenues’ tour of the neighborhood and fell in love with this whimsical little children’s bookstore that I found out later was the inspiration for the bookstore in the movie, “You’ve got Mail”.

Stocked with the latest releases and many of the classics that I grew up with, the bookstore is popular with the after-school crowd and their parents. There are many book signings and readings here and the staff is very helpful when trying to find a book for a gift. Take time to look over the stacks and even pick up one or two and start reading!

Store History:

Books of Wonder first opened its doors…

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