It's just like grandma's house, only grandma never cooked so well. Carmine's has been serving generous family-sized portions since 1992 at this Times Square location. It's the ideal spot for patrons who want to grab a full meal before or after a Broadway show. Each of the Italian meals is meant to serve four to six people, but those portions usually end up in a takeout box, serving as a meal the next day. Most of the entrees, including the lasagna, chicken parmigiana and shrimp pasta, run around $30 as of 2010. Each pasta dish includes your choice of angel hair, linguine, penne, spaghetti or rigatoni. Before you dig into the main course, though, most regulars order a steaming appetizer, such as the calamari or stuffed mushrooms.
Carmine's
200 W 44th Street
New York, NY 10036-3906
(212) 221-3800
carminesnyc.com
Get dirty at the table and on the dance floor at this growing barbecue joint. Numerous creations have been born in New York, but barbecue isn't one of them. Still, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy transplanted flavors from the likes of BBQ capitals Kansas City, Memphis and Carolina. Blue Smoke serves up regional specialties, everything from Texas salt and pepper beef ribs to Applewood smoked organic chicken. The restaurant offers lean Memphis baby back ribs, as well as spicy and sweet Kansas City spareribs. Blue Smoke produces large portions of pit barbecue that will take diners back to the South even though they are actually in the middle of an urban jungle. And if you haven't been completely weighed down by all that barbecue, head downstairs for live music and dancing at the Jazz Standard.
Blue Smoke
116 E. 27th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 447-7733
jazzstandard.net
Do Do Hwa the right way. Anyone can sit down and order Korean food, but request a table with a built-in grill and cook up an authentic meal yourself. At this West Village establishment it's not just about eating family-style portions that serve up to four people, it's actually about eating with your family. The Korean owners wanted a place back like home, where families worked as one to prepare a meal, then enjoyed each other's company once they sat down to eat. And what better way to do that here than with the stewed yellow snapper, spicy pork and beef dumpling or the long-simmered beef ribs. The spices have plenty of kick, so make sure to keep your water glass filled to the brim.
Do Hwa
55 Carmine Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 414-1224
dohwanyc.com
