NYC on a Budget With a Free Friday Library Night and Takeout

4.7 (5,202)

Tue – Thu, Sat – Sun, 10:30 – 17:00; Fri, 10:30 – 20:00

225 Madison Avenue

Rare books line towering shelves in the Gilded Age library at The Morgan Library & Museum, where ornate Renaissance-style rooms meet rotating exhibitions in a Beaux-Arts building. Allow about two hours. Friday admission is free from 5:30 PM, with live jazz on the first floor.

4.0 (183)

Mon – Sat, 11:30 – 23:30; Sun, 11:30 – 23:00

687 Morris Park Avenue

Bronx Chinese takeout runs on pickup at Joy Garden Restaurant on Morris Park Avenue, with no delivery offered. Fans praise the fast service, crispy chicken, and pork fried rice with barely any gristle, while other reviews report declining quality and order mistakes. Doors open daily at 11:30 AM.

4.2 (130)

Mon – Thu, 11:00 – 22:00; Fri – Sat, 11:00 – 23:00; Sun, 12:00 – 20:00

2072 Flatbush Ave

On Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, East Garden Asian Cuisine serves budget-friendly takeout classics with wings and crispy fries. Chicken and broccoli in a tasty sauce is a frequent order, and regulars praise friendly service and fresh cooking oil, though some report disappointing food and delivery refusals.

3.7 (178)

Mon, 11:00 – 21:00; Tue – Thu, 11:00 – 22:30; Fri, 11:00 – 23:15; Sat – Sun, 12:22 – 22:22

224-01 Merrick Blvd

Customizable plates define Garden City Chinese Restaurant, a Queens takeout counter on Merrick Boulevard. Service is accommodating, sometimes taking orders right up to closing, and some diners call it reliable for a decent price, while others report stale or tough vegetables.