Eat Cheap Like the Chefs

by Josh Ozersky - Citysearch Editor - 170 Reviews - 49 Lists

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Updated: April 04, 2009

New York chefs have little use for fine dining in their off hours, which they, for the most part, spend sipping PBR and gnawing on kebabs. But give them a little credit: They care about what they eat, and they're often clued in to the best cheap (or cheaper) eats in town. We talked to a few top toques and asked them what they would recommend for the gourmand on a budget. Here's what they had to say.

(Photo: Elettaria chef/partner Akhtar Nawab)

Where the Pros Save Dough

  1. 1 4 Star Rating: Recommended Covo
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    701 W 135th St, New York, NY 10023 (map)

    Anthony Goncalves--executive chef, 42 at the Ritz-Carlton (White Plains): "I go to Covo for pizza whenever I get the chance. Fabrizio, the pizza man, is a great talent--one of the best guys in New York. He makes me a sausage, meatball and braciole pizza in an oven brought over from Naples, and it is fantastic. The kid is a true master. And it's just a happy atmosphere where I always feel welcome."

  2. 2 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Joe's Of Avenue U Sicilian
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    287 Ave U, Brooklyn, NY 11223 (map)

    Michael Lomonaco--executive chef, Porter House NY: "I love to jump in the car and take a quick spin out to Joe's of Avenue U in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, for real Sicilian specialties. It's a comfortable (not fancy) Sicilian focacceria, with rice balls, panelle with ricotta, pasta con sarde and my favorite, vestedde panini, which is beef spleen cooked in lard and served on a soft bun with ricotta and mozzarella. How great is that?"

  3. 3 4 Star Rating: Recommended New York Noodle Town
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    28 Bowery, New York, NY 10002 (map)

    Akhtar Nawab--chef/partner, Elettaria: "I like New York Noodle Town. Ginger scallion lo mein, pork spare ribs and stir fried rice with salty fish. It's just a good dive kind of place, always delicious, always cheap, always open and open late. My favorite part is that at the end of the night they dump all the cash from the day on the table, so there’s a pile of money with waiters eating and drinking and counting. It looks like they just robbed a bank."

  4. 4 4 Star Rating: Recommended The Stanton Social
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    99 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002 (map)

    Josh Capon--executive chef, Lure Fish Bar: "There's no place better for a nice little intimate gathering of friends, especially late-night, than Stanton Social. Grab a table downstairs or a cozier table upstairs--either way, there are plenty of options for everyone and it’s perfect for sharing and snacking. I highly recommend the French onion soup dumplings, Kobe beef cheese steaks, short rib tacos, pierogies and doughnuts."

  5. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended Trestle on Tenth
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    242 10th Ave, New York, NY 10001 (map)

    Marco Canora--chef/partner, Insieme, Hearth and Terroir: "The $8.50 crispy duck necks at Trestle on Tenth are awesome. You could sit at the bar and get an order of them for very little money. It's not a $3 hot dog, but it is a great value. Who knew there was so much meat on a duck neck? It's breaded and then fried. It’s salty, rich, crispy and sloppy--everything you would ever want in a bar snack."