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We all know the drill. You have friends visiting from out of town and they want to go to that one place everyone talks about. And you have to decide whether to be honest or just suck it up and go along with it.

For me its Times Square obviously. But also Carbone. I dont get the hype at all. Waited months for a reservation, paid way too much, and the food was fine but not life changing. Felt like I was paying for the name and the instagram photo more than the actual meal. My friends from London thought it was amazing though so maybe Im just jaded. Also gonna throw Katzs in here. Look I get it, its iconic. But waiting in that line with a bunch of tourists holding their tickets like theyre golden geese, then fighting for a table, then paying forty bucks for a pastrami sandwich, I can get better deli without the circus.

Curious what spots other locals secretly dread when out of towners request them. And if theres any popular place that actually lives up to the hype despite the crowds.