New York City New York City Upper West Side Food

Big Nick's Burger Joint and Pizza Joint, 2175 Broadway, at 77th St. (www.bignicksnyc.com), Big Nick's is kind of a big deal. The menu, listing over 30 kinds of pizza ($11-29) and over 35 kinds of burgers ($6-12.50), would take weeks to read and some of the food is cheaper than the Subway ride you took to get here. Vegetarians, Big Nick loves you, too! He offers a wide variety of veggie options, including veggie chili ($4-5.50), hotdogs, ($6), burgers ($6.50-$9), and even vegetarian meatballs so that you too can enjoy a meatball hero sub ($10). To top it all off, Big Nick's is open 24hr. daily! $10 min. for credit cards. Appetizers $1.30-10. Burgers $6-$12.50. Pizza $11-29. Entrees $9-27.50. Beer $3.50-8. Wine $6. Open 24hr. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Barney Greengrass Sturgeon King, 541 Amsterdam Ave. and 86th St. (wwww.barneygreengrass.com">www.barneygreengrass.com'>wwww.barneygreengrass.com), You could come to Barney Greengrass Sturgeon King for a corned beef sandwich ($9.50). You could come for an order of cheese blintzes ($12). You could come for the best bagel and lox sandwich on the Upper West Side ($12.75). But for over 100 years, King Barney has wanted you to order one thing: sturgeon. You can get it any way you want it; sturgeon sandwich ($17.75), sturgeon platter ($35.50), eggs with a side of sturgeon ($17.75). If a dish could have sturgeon in it, they've added it. If you've got some extra cash to blow, consider trying one of the caviar platters ($14-399). Appetizers $7-18; sandwiches $2.50-20.50, smoked fish platters $25-85, salads $13-22.50. Open Tu-F 8:30am-4pm, Sa-Su 8:30am-5pm. Store open Tu-Su 8am-6pm. Wheelchair access.
Alice's Tea Cup, 102 W. 73rd St. (www.alicesteacup.com), Come celebrate your Un-birthday with Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the March Hare in this whimsical, English-style tea shop. Alice's signature tea is a blend of Indian black and Japanese green, with hints of vanilla and rose petals. The menu lists a full assortment of teas and edibles, including a series of tea services with tea, sandwiches, and scones (“The Nibble” $23; “The Jabberwocky” $38). Guests may purchase souvenirs, scones ($3), and tea in bulk on the way out of the shop. Tea $6 for a 3-cup pot., $8 for a 6-cup pot. Breakfast $6-17. Sandwiches $8-13. Sweets $6-10. Tea service $23-38. Open daily 8am-8pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Good Enough to Eat, 483 Amsterdam Ave. and 83rd St. (www.goodenoughtoeat.com), New Yorkers sometimes like to pretend that they're in the country, rather than a giant city. That's why you, too, can sit and dine indoors behind a real white picket fence, among ceramic likenesses of cows and chickens. Particularly famous for their four-grain pancakes ($10.50-11.50), Good Enough to Eat specializes in country favorites. Breakfast $6-11.75. Sandwiches $10.50-13.50. Salads $11-16. Entrees $14.50-21.50. Desserts $3-7. Open M-F 8am-10:30pm, Sa 9am-11pm, Su 9am-10pm. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Beard Papa Sweets Cafe, 2167 Broadway, between 76th and 77th (www.beardpapas.com), For a quick treat, head over to Beard Papa Sweets Cafe. Try one of their famous cream puffs ($1.75), or a “Paris Brest,” shaped like a bicycle wheel in honor of the Paris Brest et Tour Bicycle Race ($2.25). Because Japanese ice cream is the obvious complement to French pastry, the shop also sells Mochi ice cream ($1.25). Pastries $1.75-$2.10. Hot and cold drinks $1.25-$3.25. Open M-Th 10am-9pm, F-Sa 10am-10pm, Su 10am-9pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Mama Mexico, 2672 Broadway, at 102nd St. (www.mamamexico.com), Mama Mexico is definitely where the fiesta's at. They have your burritos ($14-16) and fajitas ($17-25), as well as an epic selection of seafood options such as the Fuente de Mariscos (calamari, mussels, crab meat, and shrimp with tomato, garlic, white wine, and veggies over white rice). Live mariachi every night from 7-11pm. Tall Margaritas ($9-10) are so strong they'll knock you on your nalgas will have you singing all through dinner. Appetizers $7-17. Margaritas and other mixed drinks $9-10. Beer $5. Open M-Th noon-midnight, F-Sa 11am-2am, Su noon-midnight. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Josie's Restaurant and Juice Bar, 300 Amsterdam Ave. (www.josiesnyc.com), This place serves foods you've never even heard of. In fact, you may find yourself ordering something just to find out what it is. Take, for example, the steamed organic edamame ($6.25). A glossary in the margins of the menu provides assistance to the clueless majority. If you're feeling less adventurous, Josie's also offers a selection of less mystifying options such as stir fries ($13-20). Fresh-squeezed juices ($3.25-8) go well with the standard and obscure menu choice alike. Appetizers $5-15. Entrees $11-20. Beer $5.75-6.50. Wine $8. Mixed drinks $9.75-$12. Juices $3.25-$8. Open M-F 11:30am-10:30pm, Sa-Su 4-10:30pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Cafe Lalo, 201 W. 83rd St. (www. cafelalo.com), Covered with old French posters and filled with people socializing over a sea of different kinds of cakes, Cafe Lalo is also the coffee shop where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks arrange their first meeting in the 1998 film You've Got Mail. Possibly the most exciting part of the menu is the “International Brunch” section (served every day until 4pm), with selections modeled after various world cuisines. The Parisian Breakfast ($6) consists of a croissant and cafe au lait, the Caribbean Breakfast ($8.25) is tropical fruit salad and a pastry, and, of course, the New York Breakfast ($15) is a bagel and lox with coffee. Brunch $6-15. Sandwiches $11-13; pastries $2-4.50. Cheesecake $7.50. Ice cream $7. Cheese plates $13-25. Wine $8. Beer $5-6. Coffee drinks $2-9. Open M-Th 8am-2am, F 8am-4am, Sa 9am-4am, Su 9am-2am. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Alouette, 2588 Broadway and 98th St. (www.alouettenyc.com), A relaxing retreat from the bustling streets of the Upper West Side. Featuring innovative and exciting, if geographically confused, entrees such as Salmon with Isreali Couscous and Baby Bok Choi in Herbal Broth ($19). Brunch is served Sundays from 11am-4pm, and offers the most delicious French Vanilla Brioche Toast ($12) you will ever consume in your life. An extensive list of both French and international wines is also available. Appetizers $8-11. Entrees $18-26. Brunch $12-25. Wine $7.50. Open M-Sa 5-11pm, Su 11am-4pm and 5-10pm. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.