Piada

3 Clinton Street (between Houston & Stanton)
212-677-5415

A piada is a grilled Italian sandwich which is on flat bread and popular in the Emillio-Romana region of Italy. Unlike a panini which is much more stuffed, a piada is thinner and pretty tasty!
I had an Amarcord piada which is Prosciutto di Parma, Mozzarella & Arugula. It was interesting and a learning experience watching the guy make this. The sandwich may seem pricey at $7.15 but it is the quality of the ingredients that make it all the special. Clean and brightly lit, the white decor makes this place feel modern and the small tables and chairs up front inviting.
This little sandwich shop is located in the Lower East Side and just a few steps in on Clinton Street.
Master Card, Visa, and American Express are accepted.
You can view their online menu here.

Cafe Danilello's

1072 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 752-5710


In a city where pizzerias a dime a dozen, there is bound to be competition with price, taste, value and service. Cafe Danilello's meets them all and then some!
Offering a lunch special of two pizza slices and a large soda for $5, Daniello's definitely has the best price on a slice of pizza which goes for $2.75 and up in the tony Upper East Side.
I stopped in to order a large pizza pie and one was produced in 5 minutes from the oven as if they were expecting me! Now that's fast service!
The manager/maitre 'd was very cordial and charming as well as the front counter pizza guy.
All major credit cards are accepted. Cafe Daniello's is located opposite the High School of Art & Design and open until midnight.
You can view an online menu here.

Bruce's Bakery

1045 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 223-1085

This tiny little bakery store front offers danishes, muffins, cookies and cakes which are on trays along the shelves that line the wall. Some loaves of bread sit on the other wall. A small cash register and credit card reader sit on a small shelf in the middle of one wall and two employees sit in there trying to crack a smile. Definitely no frills as you come here only to buy and take away your purchases.

I bought a bran muffin ($2.25) which was moist and flavorful with a small cup of tea that was perfectly light & sweet ($1.09). Very cordial staff.
I was taken aback by the diminutive size of the place (about half the size of a Pre-War Manhattan studio apartment) but they get their baked goods from the flagship in Great Neck, Long Island.

All New VIP Diner

175 Sip Ave
Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 792-1400

This diner is not too far from the Journal Square PATH Station and when I went there with friends for lunch yesterday, they were renovating the back dining area.
There were 5 of us in total and the hostess accommodated us with a sunny window booth and an extra table so that we would have sufficient room.
We started with buffalo chicken wings ($5.95) and fried zucchini sticks ($4.25). They were piping hot from the fryer and were pretty good. The zucchini still had it's skin on which didn't bother us but the fried outer coating might have held on better if it was removed prior to battering and frying.
I had a strawberry ice cream soda ($2.45) which was made backwards with the ice cream being put into the glass first and then topped with soda making for a large foamy head and not much soda. Our first young waitress seemed flustered having to wait on 5 people and we were later waited on by a second older waitress. I was beginning to feel full but at that moment, the main course arrived at the table.
I had the 8oz. mushroom bacon burger deluxe ($7.45) with onion rings ($1 more for the rings) which came with a small side of coleslaw and a pickle. The burger was pretty big and juicy but I managed to finish it. Our bill for 5 people came out to about $66 with tax.
Overall, the place was large, clean and the host was very nice. Our waitress Samantha, had that typical cool diner waitress demeanor. Pretty typical diner fare and ambiance but a pleasant experience. Prices are average and the menu can be seen here.

Phil-Am Food Market

(201) 963-0455
683 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

This moderate sized supermarket specializes in food products mainly from the Philippines with some from China and Japan. The staff is cordial and speak English so you won't feel like you are in foreign land. It's located across the Five Corners Library and not too far from the Journal Square PATH train station.

When you first walk in, you'll find the bags of chips and snacks in addition to the cash register (the beauty products are all behind the register). Check out the freshly made sumans (cassava or sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves and steamed) on the center table up front! There is also an assortment of Filipino breads in the cases and other desserts in the freezers up front.
Further in, you'll see aisles of canned foods, juices, bottles of oils, vinegars, sauces, and dried items from fish to taro leaves. Speaking of fish, there is a frozen/fresh seafood and meat department on the back far right as well as a cooked foods section.
I've found the prices pretty reasonable all around and since the area has a large Filipino community, there are other stores and bakeries to compete with.

Avi & David's

1046 Third Ave

New York, NY 10021
(212) 486-6004

A Kosher Deli with Goiim help housed in the Trump Plaza apartment complex in the Upper East Side...need I say more?
The food looks okay and the lox spread (on a bagel for $4.99) was not bad. The bagel on the other hand was pretty tough and seemed old.

Service could be better and you might have some communication problems with the staff. The woman next to me was asking for a sesame bagel and the counter man started cutting a cinnamon raisin! She and the counter person were having an endless exchange of words and I just wanted to get my lunch and get out of there fast!
They were having problems with their credit card reader and were too quick to say that there was a problem with my card. After I told them to check their machine thoroughly and they checked all the wires for connections, my card finally went through. I was almost going to ask to see a Manager (they have a Mashgichim or Rabbi on the premise) but I figured that after seeing many other people walk in, gawk at the offerings and then leave for somewhere else, I decided to just take my lunch and leave. The place is a store front and seating is few.
The prices are pretty steep but I suppose if your landlord is The Donald, you have to raise your prices to make the rent!

They are toted as the only 24 hour Kosher Bagel Shop in New York and close on Fridays.
Personally I would check out the other 24 hour bagel shops that cover most of Manhattan's Upper East Side for better value and fresher offerings.

Hong Kong Supermarket

157 Hester St

New York, NY 10079

The Hong Kong Supermarket chain has taken over Dynasty's old site and converted it into 2 floors. The ground floor has fresh seafood (some are even still alive and kicking such as the turtles and frogs!), meats, dried food, beverages from all over Asia, sauces from Philippines, Japan, China, and Thailand, in addition to a wall of freezers and an aisle of freezer cases filled with dumplings, breads, and buns.

Downstairs you'll find Asian candies, dried noodles, cooking utensils, woks and steamers, and all the herbs and dried mushrooms for making soups and tonics.

Decent to average prices in my opinion (you'll find a better price on fresh vegetables from the outdoor markets when it is warmer) BUT WATCH THE REGISTER DISPLAY AS THEY RING UP YOUR PURCHASES!!!
Some items will ring up at a higher price than that displayed, especially when you buy a product that it supposedly "on sale".
If a sale sign states 2 for $5, that does not mean that one will ring up at $2.50 a piece but at it's regular price ($3.49). You have to buy the additional (which will then ring up at $ 1.51) to get the "total sale price". It's very odd salesmanship so BE AWARE!
I do like the fact that you can buy three bags of dumplings/pot stickers for $9.99 (found in the freezers and frozen foods section)as that's a pretty good deal. They keep in your freezer well and come in handy for a snack or dinner.

Non Asians and those who do not speak/understand the dialect will find some difficulty here. If you are too lazy to shop around Chinatown for items, this is your one-stop-shopping place.
Credit cards are only taken on purchases over $10!

If you have to buy a non Asian product, go to your local supermarket instead for better pricing. If you are looking for an Asian condiment or an ingredient to make an Asian dish, then you'll definitely find it here...

I've found that the branches in Queens are more accommodating and offer more.
I was surprised to learn that the family that owns this supermarket chain lives in California!

Hong Kong Supermarket

109 E Broadway

New York, NY 10002
(212) 227-3388

What can I say about this supermarket location?
Grimy,
Dirty,
Cramped,
Stank,
Grumpy staff...

For those of you who never grew up in a large crowded city, you'll feel overwhelmed and scared. Customers here have no sense of personal space and will rub up against you as they pass let alone push you out of their way.
I came over here to check it out and after a quick breeze through, I was so turned off that I went to my regular grocery haunts on Grand Street.

Baluchi's Indian Cuisine

224 E 53rd St
New York, NY 10022
(212) 750-5515

Great service!
This place will have your order ready in 10 MINUTES!
Warm and cozy atmosphere.

Great Indian Restaurant chain that offers a prix fixe dinner of $14.95 (previously $12.95).
Lunch is 50% off the in house menu price for DINING IN ONLY!

The dishes here are quite flavorful and sometimes SPICY!
The Kachoris appetizer for one is full of flavor with a kick!
Tikka Masala is popular but I prefer the Korma. I asked them to substitute the chicken for lamb in the dish and they obliged.
Nan bread is included in the prix fixe but try the Poori which is a lightly fried bubble of bread that is great for dipping in your entree's sauce.

I've always ordered out or take out so I can't vouch for the in house service.