Trying out the local cuisine is one of the most exciting parts of visiting a new city, but it can also be quite expensive, especially if you want to taste a variety of dishes the place has to offer. The good news is that you can still enjoy the essential dishes without breaking the bank. Today, let's take a look at New York City, a food lover's paradise. In addition to its famous cheesy pizza and fluffy bagels, this vibrant city offers a plethora of culinary delights. Here are a few local restaurants we recommend for our affordable $50 food tour of New York City. Let's get to the point!
❗ Please note that the menu prices mentioned in this article may vary and don't include tax or tip. Remember to show appreciation to the servers by leaving a tip for their hard work.
What are some enjoyable options for travelers in New York City to experience delicious local food with a $50 budget?
Breakfast: bagel with cream cheese
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Bagels have been a vital part of New York City's culinary scene for more than a hundred years.
Situated in the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan, Absolute Bagels is a cash-only establishment that is always bustling with customers. It's renowned for serving fluffy bagels generously smeared in creamy spreads, making it an ideal spot to kickstart your day in the Big Apple. Even if you're short on time, rest assured that the line moves swiftly, so you'll be enjoying a delicious breakfast bagel in no time.
Absolute Bagels offers a diverse menu, featuring a range of options, such as egg salad and sliced roast beef. However, when it comes to breakfast, there's no better choice than a bagel slathered with cream cheese. You can select your preferred type of bagel, from plain to everything bagel or even pumpernickel, and then customize it with your favorite spread. One highly recommended option is the lox spread, which adds a delightful touch of saltiness with its bits of smoked salmon. The best part is, this filling meal typically costs around $3.55, so you'll have plenty of money left for the rest of your day's activities.
Lunch: Italian sandwich
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Starting in the 1860s, large numbers of Italian immigrants began migrating to New York City. By 1930, Italians accounted for 17% of the city's population. This influx of Italians led to a significant rise in the number of Italian delis and restaurants throughout the city, shaping the culinary scene. Over time, Italian cuisine became closely associated with New York, with iconic neighborhoods like Little Italy in Manhattan and Arthur Avenue in the Bronx continuing to offer authentic Italian dishes.
One popular Italian delicacy is the Italian sandwich, and if you're looking for one of the best, Defonte's is the place to go. Established in 1922 in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood, this sandwich shop stands out among the numerous Italian sandwich joints in NYC. Defonte's prides itself on using high-quality ingredients and crafting made-to-order sandwiches.
For vegetarians, Defonte's offers delectable fried eggplant sandwiches topped with melted cheese and tomato sauce. However, our top recommendation is the Sinatra Special, featuring steak pizzaiola smothered in tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and grated cheese, all toasted under a broiler. A medium-sized sandwich will cost you around $10.50, which is more than enough to satisfy your hunger.
Dinner: pizza
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When talking about New York City, it's impossible not to mention pizza. The city's very first pizzeria, Lombardi's, can be found in lower Manhattan. Lombardi's initially started as a grocery store that served tomato pies to workers during lunchtime before transforming into a pizzeria in 1905. Since then, pizza has become the most popular food in New York City, with more than 2,000 pizzerias scattered across the five boroughs.
While any pizzeria you choose in the city is sure to please, we're specifically focusing on one in Greenwich Village. Unlike most pizza places in New York City that offer slices, John's of Bleecker Street stands out for selling only whole pies. So gather a friend and head over to this iconic establishment, which opened its doors in 1929. John's still proudly uses coal-fired brick ovens, resulting in a uniquely crispy and delicious crust that sets it apart from other pizza joints in the city.
Although John's menu includes pasta, sandwiches, and appetizers, their pizzas are truly unbeatable. We recommend going for the "John's Original," a simple yet mind-blowing pie topped with mozzarella and tomato sauce. A 14-inch pie will cost you $20.99, but it's more than enough to satisfy both you and your companion.
Dessert: gelato
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The culinary scene in New York City is constantly evolving, with new restaurants popping up regularly. While there is something comforting about enjoying traditional favorites, it's also worth exploring the latest food trends when visiting the city. One particularly popular trend in the dessert world is the experimentation with ice cream. Local creameries in Brooklyn, like Malai, are known for incorporating South Asian flavors into their ice cream creations, just scratching the surface of what's available.
One of the most in-demand dessert spots in the city right now is Caffè Panna, located in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan. Despite its small size, this shop offers Italian-inspired gelato that comes with a rotating menu featuring high-quality ingredients imported from Italy, as well as locally-sourced ingredients.
Caffè Panna is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so it's important to plan your visit for another day of the week. Popular flavors tend to sell out quickly, but if you arrive early enough, you can still enjoy some gelato before it runs out. We suggest getting the regular size, which includes two scoops of gelato with a crunch and drizzle topping. During our visit, we tried the Oreo-infused gelato paired with a sweet cream and strawberry swirl gelato, topped with sea salt and umbrian olive oil. The price for this treat is only $7, keeping your total spending just under $50 for the entire day.
Total spent: $47.54
ParkingNearAirports.io: your ticket to easy parking!
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You might be surprised about this fact because most people are confident that on-site parking is the best choice when you're traveling by air. But, actually, it's not true, and we'll explain why.
People who prefer to get to the airport by car think that it's the most convenient option since on-site parking is the nearest place to the airport where it's possible to park a vehicle safely for the period of a trip. However, they make a huge mistake, as there is a big chance to face many following difficulties:
- You will need to find a spot in a crowded lot,
- You will need to carry the luggage all the way through the parking lot,
- You must pay expensive fees without great service, and much more.
Sounds not so good, right? But there is one great solution in this situation – an off-site parking option!
The off-site parking service has many advantages, which will definitely convince you to change your choice during the next trip:
- First of all, it's much cheaper. On-site parking can become too costly for you, as the price for such a parking type might equal half the value of the whole trip. The cost of the off-site parking, in turn, will be not so high, offering alongside free shuttles going back and forth between the parking lot and the airport.
- Secondly, it's much faster. By choosing an on-site parking option, you'll be needed to find a free spot in a crowded lot, which takes a lot of time. However, by selecting an off-site parking option, you'll be able to drive directly to the entrance, where staff members will help you to pull your luggage out of your vehicle and load it into the shuttle, as well as park your car securely for you. Finally, a free shuttle will bring you and your bags to the airport.
- Thirdly, it's much more convenient. No more worries about being late to the airport and your flight – the off-site parking is a hassle-free option that is usually faster. Since you use the services of a private company, people want to be sure you're satisfied with the quality and comfort of the services provided, so you don't need to wrack your brain about the quick path to the airport anymore.
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As for the companies that provide the best off-site parking services, we've prepared an ideal option for you. Our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, built excellent relationships with many parking lot operators to leave customers satisfied and their cars – safe. Furthermore, it doesn't matter what the airport you're flying from is – on our easy-to-navigate website, https://parkingnearairports.io/, you'll find the best deals for all the major airports and cruise ports in the United States and Canada.
To understand it better, we can give you an example. Let's imagine that you live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and plan to visit NYC, New York, USA. Then, you can use the services of affordable long-term parking Calgary Airport. If you're flying from Knoxville, Tennessee, the situation is the same – choose cheap parking near TYS Airport. So, as you can understand, everything works simply.
By the way, on our website, you can find all the required information about the advantages of off-site parking, airport parking cost, and others. So travel profitably and enjoy your following trip together with us!
