New York is a melange of ethnic neighborhoods all offering an incredible variety of foods from the world over. Anyone who has ever traveled to the city has their own opinion as to the best pizza, bagels, cheesecake, hotdogs, Italian cuisine, Chinese, etc., etc.

A couple of places I have discovered and love are Katz’s Deli (on Houston, near Greenwich Village), Ray Bari’s Pizza (locations vary), The Amish Market (across from Battery Park) and Gray’s Papyaya (on 72nd and Columbus) for good, inexpensive hotdogs and fresh squeezed fruit juice.

Most of the restaurants throughout the city are quite European in that they post the menu outside the front door so you can see what is offered and at what prices, so that you can make an informed decision. The places mentioned are simply suggestions, but by being experimental and game to try quiet, non-descript places, you’ll be sure to find the place that will please your palette, your wallet and your overall experience.

When it comes to drinks, a great, not-too-expensive place to go is the Top of New York lounge on the top floor of the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The floor revolves giving you a 360-degree view of the entire city in the course of an hour. The place is swanky, so dress to impress and expect to pay typical New York drink prices (e.g. gin and tonic, $11, etc.), but the view, especially at night is priceless.