Union Square is a great location. 14th Street is like 42nd it will take you anywhere in the city. Uptown, downtown, Brooklyn and Queens.
Looks like you got the expensive dinner down already with Atomix.
Don’t bother with the Ktown in Manhattan. It’s like 1-2 blocks.
Are you set on going to Rezdoda? If you can’t get a rez and you have a small group just wait before opening and sit at the bar. The Village has lots of other Italian as well. I don’t think Carbone has walk in’s. You can try when you go to Vegas.
Fish Cheeks. It’s a Thai seafood place. I really like the steamed fish with lime, garlic, and herbs. Hard to find dish even in LA. I know one place in Thai Town that has it.
For brunch I recommend the following three places:
Thai Diner. Try the Thai Tea Babka French Toast and Thai Diner Egg Sandwich.
Golden Diner. Korean-American chef from Queens and Momofuku alum making the best diner food with an Asian twist. You can
Kopitiam. Malaysian-Singaporean coffeeshop. Get the kaya toast with soft boiled egg, white coffee, and the char kway teow is the best I had.
You have to do a deli in NYC. My favorite is Sunny and Annie’s. 24 hours. You can get your standard baconeggncheese on a roll and a chicken cutlet sandwich of your dreams but also they have things like pho sandwich, bulgogi sandwich, or tell them to add so kimchi to your baconeggncheese. Get a bag of Hal’s chips. If you are drunk get one of those Harmless coconut waters and a sandwich I promise you won’t wake up with a headache. A visit to a deli or bodega is essential NYC. Go up to the deli counter and order your sandwiches. Circle around and grab some snacks and a bev or coffee. Pay up at the counter and tell them what you ordered. When your order is ready circle back and kick a tip to your deli guy. Deli guys can always customize your sandwich within reason. Come here for breakfast or late night.
Rays Candy Store. This is a NYC institution. Some scumbag attacked the owner, the sweetest man in NYC. If Ray is there he has a very interesting story about his life and how he ended up in NYC. You should get an egg cream!
Grand Street Skewer Cart. Open every night as long as it’s not raining on Grand x Chrystie. Get the bacon wrapped mushrooms, bacon wrapped leeks, and the chicken wings. Super nice Chinese couple. Probably some of most tasty street food in Manhattan. Skip the generic halal carts. Although there are a few standout halal carts in Midtown. 5pm to midnight I believe.
You can try Tibetan food at Lhasa. (They have 2 other spots in Queens). Momos which are like dumplings are a must try.
Le Phin. Does some Vietnamese coffee with the traditional phin. You can get some sua Da to go.
Maybe out of your range but you can take the uptown train to the Upper West Side to Zabar’s and Absolute Bagels.
Nolita Pizza and Upside Pizza for your slice joints. John’s of Bleecker for your whole pie outta coal oven pizza. Around the corner from John’s is also Joes and Bleecker Street. L’industrie is also coming to the Village.
Faicco’s and Parisi’s for Italian sandwiches.
You can do Russ and Daughters and Katz too. The bagel suck at Russ and Daughters so get it toasted. The bread sucks at Katz but the pastrami is banging.
I love NYC!