The Food Lover's Guide to the Best Ethnic Eating in New York City [Paperback]

Robert Sietsema (Author), Calvin Trillin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2004

This unique guidebook is definitely for those interested in experiencing new tastes on an affordable budget. In this authoritative restaurant guide to New York City, eminent food historian, critic, and culinary anthropologist Robert Sietsema offers more than 600 places in 80 national and cultural groupings, personally selected by him, that reflect the culinary tastes of the entire world. Sietsema, who updates his research each year, has zeroed in on restaurants big and small-holes in the wall and off-the-beaten-track eateries-where inevitably delicious and innovative cuisine is enjoyed daily by a local and faithful clientele. He introduces you to exotic places you didn't know existed. Each ethnic restaurant is explained, as is the food you are about to experience. With only a short subway ride, readers can expand their gastronomic knowledge with the rich cuisines of Malaysia, Pakistan, Armenia, New Guinea, Surinam, Haiti, Ecuador, Poland, Bulgaria, Central Asia, West Africa, and many more-not to mention regional American cooking-all within the boundaries of New York City.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Sietsema writes Counter Culture for the Village Voice and is a contributor to Gourmet. He is also the publisher of Down the Hatch, the world's first foodzine. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Arcade Publishing; Rev Upd edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155970716X
• ISBN-13: 978-1559707169
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 3.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,323,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read book on NYC restaurants!!, March 23, 2001

By 

Marc (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Food Lover's Guide to The Best Ethnic Eating in NYC (Paperback)

If you want to know all the great restaurants in New York, this is the book to buy. Much more engaging than Zagats, the author, Robert Sietsema, clues you in to the best dining in the five boroughs. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a fun read and will lead to many memorable dinners.

This book is a greatly expanded version of Robert Sietsema's previous book, Good and Cheap Ethnic Eats.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for my tastes, and probably yours, October 6, 2004

By 

James Renken (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Food Lover's Guide to the Best Ethnic Eating in New York City (Paperback)

While perhaps not as streamlined as some others like the Zagat Survey, this is my favorite restaurant guide of the five or six I own. Its priority is the same as mine: good and interesting food, rather than decor, service or even "star quality." Most of the selections are very affordable (for New York City), which helps.

In my area so far, I've tried two or three restaurants in three ethnic groupings. This guide has been accurate: the restaurant which the guide features in each group has been the best, and only in one case the most expensive.

My only complaint would be that browsing for a particular type of ethnic food isn't always fast. The groups are logical but not totally intuitive, so it may take a few minutes to locate Indian food in the "South Asian" section. It's all here, though, from any sub-category of Chinese to Uzbekistani.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right on the Money, June 25, 2005

By 

D. Hellman (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Food Lover's Guide to the Best Ethnic Eating in New York City (Paperback)

We have now tried many listings in this book, and were only disappointed on one occasion (even then the food was not bad... just not noteworthy). This book has pointed out many hole-in-the-walls we've been walking past for years, like Snack on Thompson, or Soul Fixins on 34th, that were just amazing. Even in areas where we thought we had favorites (like curry hill) the recommendations in this book topped them all (Chennai Gardens). Its true there is some risk that some places might be out of business, especially in NY, but none of our attempts have found a closed shop. The only negative about this book for Manhattanites is that many listings are in the outer boroughs, but believe me, once you've experienced this book it will make you want to get on the subway.