All about him

As I'll be at the Fringe day and night Friday through Monday and packed lunches tend to wilt in the heat, I'll be eating out a fair amount. As most of the theaters I'm going to are in and around Bleecker St. I figure I'll visit Two Boots and Risotteria. But I would love love love to hear anyone's suggestions for cheap, delicious, and not shockingly unhealthy meals for under $10 in that area. And what are your favorites around CSV? Is that grilled cheese place still there? Please advise! Also, what Fringe shows will you be seeing? I'll be missing my little sister's show, Champ: A Space Opera, as I'll be in L.A., so you all go in my stead and clap extra hard for the blonde. Check out an image after the jump...

All About Him

Geschmackvoll is the German for tasty and had I but known that I would have had ample opportunities to declare it last night at Hallo Berlin. After the New Critics panel at Theater Row (which was fun, though the audience was oddly hostile--maybe I'd reviewed them and not well), my sweetheart and I repaired around the corner to Hallo Berlin for consoling sausages and beer. My chicken sausage (and, yes, I know ordering chicken sausages is a sissy move, but since a formative trip to a farm in my childhood, mammals stay off my plate) came on a crusty roll with red cabbage, sauerkraut, onions, and mustard, and set me back a mere $5. So for a Hamilton, I could have two!

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Went to the Irish Rep last night (where again, so many people's cellphones detonated during the performance, what an odd audience?). Before the performance, I went to Chelsea Market for a quick bite at the Green Table. They've upped their prices recently so it wasn't precisely Hamilton-oriented (although there were a few menu items for $10). But it was a worthwhile expression. I have a soft spot for women chefs and for women chefs who make me smoked trout terrine with creme fraiche on market greens with Amy's bread. (I went into Amy's, too, to get a couple of chocolate twist for my sweetheart's breakfast, but they'd sold out.) At any rate, a gorgeous supper.

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My dizzy whirl doesn't usually bring me to the Upper West Side, which I've always considered a neighborhood with amazing markets, but not much in the way of tasty, cheap eats--Yolato notably excepted. I'd never been to the uptown branch of Hampton Chutney, but it's just as good as the Price St. version and sent me to my evening play sated and cheerful. Every time one of those dosas lands on the table before me, I think that I'm never going to be able to finish it and then 20 minutes (or okay, maybe less) later it's gone and I'm contemplating whether or not I want a cookie.

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I'd read about La Esquina before, mostly in gossip columns discussing which underage starlets had attended its nightclub. And that had put me off sampling its Latin delights. But I have braved its taqueria and have returned to tell you, gentle reader, that it's fish tacos are cheap and delicious. My dining companion also seemed to enjoy his steak torta very much. We were sufficiently fortified to face the circus acts, audience participation, and rather pricey drinks at the Spiegeltent on Saturday. Viva Esquina, or some such.

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I confess, I'm stuck in a bit of a rut. As regular readers (hi, Mom) know, I devote this particular column to my quest for delicious and passably healthy pre-theater meals for under $10. And now I need your help, in Chelsea and in the East Village. The problem with the former: Lately, I'm bored. I have two spots I like, Better Burger and Nooch, but I'd love recommendations for other places I should try. I never thought the day would arrive when I would tire of Better Fries, but that sad moment has arrived. And as to the East Village, I have lots of cold weather faves (Veselka, B&H, Minca Ramen, Momofuku), but with Sandobe no more, I need a warm weather place. Any cheap and decent sushi places you all would care to recommend? Or other summer fare?

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Spent last Saturday attending many shows in the Solonova arts festival. A long workday, but I cheered myself with a few games of pinball at Ace (I’d actually gone there to work, they have free wi-fi) and dinner across the street at Minca Ramen Factory. As I love little piggies too much to eat them, I opted for the Wahoo Ramen with chicken. So good.

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Saw Gaslight at the Irish Rep last night and indulged my Better Burger craving. Another Hamilton success, though I might be looking to branch out—I stop there far too often. Suggestions? Afterwards, my date brought me to Billy’s Bakery. As I’m trying to appear svelte at the OBIEs (the better to delight you, my loyal readers), I forwent my own cupcake and contented myself with a bite of hers. So, so much better than Magnolia’s. Ambrosial.

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My quest to find delicious pre theater meals under $10 met with unusual success yesterday when I went to Soho’s Palacinka, very close to the Ohio Theater, where I was scheduled to see the Betrothed. The menu’s swell, with everything under $10. The crepes are especially delicious, though in a particular show of virtue I dined on the tuna tartare salad. (Had to save room for Ceci-Cela meringues after!)

All about him

It seems counterintuitive if not downright perverse to go to Chinatown and not order Chinese, but because my L.A. background means I still have lingering fears of how many of my calories come from delicious, delicious fat, before a show at the Flea or Soho Rep I usually call in for Vietnamese food. My current fave for quick and cheap is Nha Trang Centre. Last Saturday I treated myself to a bowl of grilled chicken over rice vermicelli with lots of bean sprouts and hiracha. $5! Yum!

Other neighborhood faves?