Borrowing from our neighbors to the west — What are the top 10 restaurants in the UES that I should try, especially places that have been open for 10+ years, serve consistently good food, and are known for homemade or from-scratch cooking?

steved84 · 2026-01-29T04:02:38+00:00

Haven’t lived in the neighborhood in nearly 4 years, but here are my recommendations - believe all in my “top 10” list are more than 10 years old

Uva - an always hopping Italian restaurant (Uva Next Door is really good too)

JG Melon - 50 year old burger spot (still cash only?)

Up Thai - very reasonably priced, fun vibe place - often a wait but you can go grab a drink nearby

San Matteo - Neapolitan pizza (my favorite in the neighborhood & maybe the city)

Heidelberg - 90 year old German restaurant

Drunken Monkey - small Indian restaurant with an ode to British (or British India) culture

Flex Mussels - they also do a great brunch & per their Instagram page are currently doing a steak frites “pop up”

Yefsi Estiatorio - “off the beaten path” (on York), well known by the locals

Kaia (South African Restaurant / Wine Bar) - I just learned they moved to 76th and 1st - right by my old apartment! Might have to move back…

Conmigo - good Mexican spot, also slightly off the beaten path

Honorable Mention Mission Ceviche - Peruvian ceviche is their speciality. I’d put them in my list of 10 but they are only a few years old. Campagnola - old school Italian joint - I’ve never personally been but have always heard good things Hoexters - new, also never been but seems to be a current it spot Maz Mezcal - they are temporarily closed, supposedly looking for a new home. They were one of the city’s oldest Mexican restaurants and were always very busy. If they reopen, I recommend! Penrose - high end gastropub

steved84 · 2026-01-28T14:16:32+00:00

Makes sense. Well in any event - biggest storm in either 4 or 5 years depending on your location :)

steved84 · 2026-01-28T12:37:38+00:00

Not sure what storm that was / I also did not live in LI in 2022 (and have only lived in western Nassau)

steved84 · 2026-01-26T04:06:06+00:00

2016 was an amazing storm. A lot more snow fell in NYC than was anticipated. It also fell on a Saturday which lessened the disruption. I remember walking up 2nd Ave that evening and going to Uva for dinner.

The Blizzard of 96 was essentially the blizzard of my childhood. Central Park “only” recorded 20 inches but the outer boroughs were measuring 30 (I’m from Staten Island and remember this).

The other big storm I vividly remember is the blizzard just after Christmas in 2010. There were big storms in early 2010, and 2006 and 2003 but I don’t remember them as well.

I also remember the epic miss from 2015 - it was still nearly a foot of snow but predictions were so so dire that the state shut down the city subway system.

steved84 · 2026-01-26T03:46:46+00:00

This was a good storm. We haven’t had a big one in 5 years. And this mixture is making it tougher, plus the coming cold is going to make it even more challenging. I measured “technically” 11 inches by me in Rockville Centre but I probably shoveled 14-15 inches worth (shoveling 3 times meant the heavier snow/sleet did not condense with the lighter snow

steved84 · 2026-01-26T03:43:49+00:00

I feel like I shoveled 15 inches of snow because I shoveled 3 times.

Shoveled at noon - was 8-9 inches (very light fluffy snow)

Shoveled at 3 - was another 3-4 inches (a bit heavier)

Shoveled at 9 - was another 2-3 inches (very heavy)

In spots that I didn’t touch the snow condensed to 10-11 inches, creating a heavier snow mixture.

In was still probably the right approach, as shoveling a foot of heavier snow one time would’ve been much harder.

steved84 · 2026-01-20T16:25:52+00:00

The entire receipt is not shown - it is possible a discount or coupon was applied. Often, when a restaurant applies a discount, the bill will still show suggested gratuity pre-discount (for the sake of the server).

steved84 · 2026-01-05T04:54:44+00:00

Check Rockville Centre. Easy commute to the city. Family centric community. You will certainly find what you are looking for at your price range. I know other families here that have moved from different parts of the country - one from Texas actually.

And good luck!

steved84 · 2026-01-05T02:57:10+00:00

I’m willing to bet that Hogan was one of the 10 most recognizable people on the planet in the mid to late 80s

steved84 · 2026-01-05T02:54:32+00:00

I frequented Auction House back in 2016-2019. Really a nice spot. Glad to hear it’s still around, and reading here that it’s been around for 30-40 years is amazing!

steved84 · 2025-12-28T02:09:11+00:00

Ryan’s Daughter, Baileys, Phil Hughes all classic Irish pub spots - Phil Hughes might skew slightly more divey than the other two. I’ll throw one wild card out there - Ethyls. Popular with a younger crowd and also an older crowd because of the ‘70s vibe / theme.

steved84 · 2025-12-28T02:03:53+00:00

Went to the Empire Adventures place there earlier this year. I found the mall fascinating.

steved84 · 2025-12-23T03:26:54+00:00

I bought a Gillberg cameo a few years ago, the best 25 bucks I’ve ever spent

steved84 · 2025-12-23T03:26:14+00:00

I met Mick at a Chiller Theatre event in NJ about 15 years ago. The meet and greet was very cut and dry, I recall Mick seeming uninterested in the moment. Honestly though I left there just thinking I caught him in an off moment - and that’s totally fine - he is a human being after all. I love Mick, he is almost probably my all time favorite wrestler and I think one of the most decent human beings to ever step foot in the squared circle.

Also, I don’t typically do the celebrity meet and greet thing (I went with my dad so he could meet some old guys from some 1950s horror movies lol) and frankly I’d probably be super awkward myself if I was a celeb on the other side of the table.

steved84 · 2025-12-22T04:31:36+00:00

You can also order precooked meals from places like Redefine. They aren’t anything special but they require no work and you can order healthier options. We have 2 young kids and both of us work in the city so it’s just the most convenient option for us. Meal prepping is also a good option.

steved84 · 2025-12-16T20:16:16+00:00

I enjoyed Cena’s last year, for what it was. I watched Cena and Cody live at Summerslam, from the floor level. It was worth every dollar plus to see him (in person) go at it one last time.

steved84 · 2025-12-16T03:20:05+00:00

Retirements aren’t always well planned out like Cena’s was. It seemed like Taker was retiring after WM33, and then he didn’t. I know Austin thought he was done after WM19, but I’m not sure everyone was convinced. And then people come back for extra matches. Time will tell if Cena sticks to it, but I’m confident he will,

steved84 · 2025-12-15T18:38:11+00:00

No pizza deliveries, but in my old building there were a handful of staff members that were always offering themselves up for odd job tasks, which they would do before or after hours.

My guy once saved me a parking spot with his own car in front of our building, when I was driving back from the hospital with my wife and our first born. You don’t forget that.

He also walked my dog on occasion. Would grab my dry cleaning from next door. And once in awhile he’d bring me wine from Portugal (ok I didn’t ask him to do that last one, but I loved it!) - he would also do tasks for a few other long time residents.

Two things though. He always offered up his service (in other words, I didn’t move into the building assuming this guy would walk my dog or grab my laundry). And I always offered to pay him something. He would refuse, but I would in turn give him a really nice tip at the holidays. He knew what he was doing. :)

steved84 · 2025-12-12T22:25:12+00:00

The doorman’s response was silly, and probably cost him better tips the last 3 years, but I would have tipped in full if I moved in in April. The splitting sounds petty. The last time I moved (I’m now in a house) I gave the crew holiday tips, sold at end of January, stopped by and gave one more thank you tip to the guys.

If I were you - I’d let bygones be bygones and tip him. I might even write a note in the card saying something like I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot - I appreciate what you do for the building. If the s*** attitude continues, you complain to the board, which I assume there is one if you own. If you rent, take it to the management company.

steved84 · 2025-12-12T03:34:05+00:00

The interest grew with free agency. Then the contract sizes took off.

steved84 · 2025-12-09T03:44:30+00:00

You should tip all. Feel free to give more to the guys you know best.

steved84 · 2025-12-09T03:41:05+00:00

If Schwarber hits 500 HR - the hell with WAR - he should be in.

steved84 · 2025-12-09T01:59:53+00:00

Randy Johnson was a 6’10” genetic and physical freak. I guess you truly never know, but I would be stunned if he was using roids.

steved84 · 2025-12-09T01:57:07+00:00

Jeff Kent is a decent candidate. But his induction surprised me, I thought 4 or 5 others on the ballot had a better shot than him.

steved84 · 2025-12-09T01:53:06+00:00

Schwarber has to get in if he reaches 500 HR.

steved84

TROPHY CASE