There’s a science to finding under-$5 meals near museum
Visitors to the B train station at 81st St.-Museum of Natural History already know affordable eats are scarce in this part of the Upper West Side, unless you grab a couple of hot dogs from a Central Park vendor. Even at the hipster food truck parked just outside the museum, you won’t find anything for less than $7. So we scoured the nabe to find five truly delicious items for $5 or less.
There’s a reason New Yorkers love bodegas, and it’s because of corner stores like The best — like Andy’s, just across the street from the Museum of Natural History — are the go-to spot not just for eggs, milk, and bread but sandwiches any time of day. There are several options at Andy’s for less than $5, including the hamburger, tuna salad, and an excellent BLT with still-crisp bacon, a real ripe tomato and several layers of crunchy iceberg lettuce.
Andy’s Deli: 418 Columbus Ave., at W. 80th St., (212) 799-3355 at that’s There’s only one item on the menu which come on soft or hard less than $5, and it’s the tacos, and potato, or chicken shells in flavors as diverse as jalapeno old-school Americana delight mole. But it’s hard to resist the beef served with lettuce, ($4.50, below) of seasoned ground crunchy corn shells tomato and jack cheese on double-stacked with chips and salsa or a side of (below). For an extra $5, pair it guac. Ave., near W. 79th St., (212) The Great Burrito: 405 Amsterdam 724-5151
If there’s a better jelly doughnut in this city than the one at the Upper West Side outpost of 100-year-old
we haven’t tasted it. Topped with sugar or chocolate icing, they are softer than pillows and filled as you watch with any flavor you like of locally sourced jam from Beth’s Farm Kitchen. Sour cherry and chocolate-iced? Blueberry and sugar-topped? You decide. The doughnuts (inset) are $4.25 each. As for watching the bakers at work in the glassed-in kitchen — that’s free.
Orwasher’s Bakery: 440 Amsterdam Ave., at W. 81st St., (646) 461-7929 You won’t find a grass-fed steak for less than $5 at beautiful British chef April Bloomfield’s Uptown butcher shop/cafe/restaurant. But you can stave off hunger in one satisfyingly meaty way: $5 (plus 44 cents tax) buys you a flaky pastry-wrapped sausage roll (left). It’s like the British version of a pig in a blanket, served with a side of stone-ground artisanal mustard. For breakfast, there’s also a $5 egg and cheese, which you can get with Bloomfield’s bacon, sausage, or ham for an extra $3. White Gold Butchers: 375 Amsterdam Ave., at W. 78th St., (212) 362-8731 Luckily, you can buy one of famously soft, famously oversized cookies (below) for $4, but there are other worthy deals here as well. For $3, you can get a perfect French baguette slathered with butter and jam, wrapped up in waxed paper to go. And for $3.50, there are rolls drizzled with dark Valrhona chocolate. Levain Bakery: 351 Amsterdam Ave., near W. 77th St., (212) 874-6080