One of my favorite restaurants near Grand Central is L'Impero in Tudor City. It is upscale Italian. Try the tasting menu.

Thanks Lisette I'll look out for it

http://www.limpero.com/htm/about.htm

Sorry, it's really a prix fixe, rather than a tasting menu, but it's a good deal.

The Oyster Bar in Grand Central itself is widely believed to be one of the better fish restaurants in the country.

Really Ackislander that's good to know. I suppose most of my experience of food at railroad stations is overpriced sandwiches in the UK Good to know that the standard is better over there

Oyster Bar is not known for the qualaity of the food- just the tradition of sitting in a train station and ordering all types of oysters at a counter.

You hotel is in primarilly a business district - so you realy need to go further east for many decent restaurants.

For steaks there are the traditional Palm and Sparks (of mafia fame) as well as Blair Perrone.

For Italian Cibo isnt bad.

As nytraveler says, the Oyster Bar is not judged to be all that good except for clam chowder and maybe some oysters. I also find it pretty dreary there at night. Lunch is fine though. Imo, the best food in Grand Central is at Metrazur and it's fun to sit and watch the world go by. Here's a previous thread on Grand Central dining.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1&tid=34967931

The Two Boots pizza in Grand Central is good but not traditional.

L'Impero is excellent but sounds fancier than what you want. There are some good Japanese/sushi restaurants in the east 40's
Gyu-Kaku
http://menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=41276&neighborhoodid=2&cuisineid=0
Sakagura
http://menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=5926&neighborhoodid=2&cuisineid=0

I think Tintol (tapas) is a good idea near your hotel but toward Times Square.

For pizza, there's a John's on west 44th near Times Square and there's an Angelo's on 2nd ave in the 50's. For Mexican, Rio Grande on 38th & 3rd is good. As mentioned, lots of steak options in that area--Ruth's Chris, Morton's, the Palm.

There's a new Greek restaurant getting very good reviews that would be only 2-3 blocks from your hotel.

http://menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=33333&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=29

No, the Oyster Bar in GC will never be mentioned within the same breath as "better fish restaurant in the country". It's not bad, I know a few neighbors who like it there, but it's not and never one of the better ones in the country.

Here are my suggestions ithin 6 blocks of Roosevelt Hotel:

As suggested earlier, L'Impero for some high-end, cutting edge-type Italian. The link was provided earlier.

Cibo, on 2nd Avenue and 41st Street, is a cheaper and more traditional Italian and, to me, provides the better quality-price ratio than the famous L'Impero.
http://cibonyc.com/

Sparks Steakhouse, as suggested earlier, on 46th Street (bet. 2nd and 3rd Aves.) is what I and many locals would consider as the best steakhouse in the city.
http://www.sparkssteakhouse.com/

The Palm and The Palm 2, both on 2nd Ave between 46th and 47th Street, is a very good steakhouse, too. I would say that its their lobster dish that would be the only dish that puts them over Sparks. For steaks, I would opt for Sparks.
http://www.thepalm.com/

There is also the Michael Jordan Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal. I've not been, but I know of others
who have and liked it enough.

For Greek, and if you can walk a little further south, there is Ethos on 3rd Ave between 33rd and 34th Street. Their grilled fresh fish are always fresh and very good (outside of the better Greek restaurants in Astoria in Queens).
http://www.ethosnyc.com/

If you don't mind walking, this time further north, for some Mexican, then Pampano on 49th Street, between 3rd and 2nd Aves., serves good Mexican that specializes in seafood.
http://www.modernmexican.com/pampano

Sadly, I cannot endorse any of the local pizza and burger places in the area. They are not sufficiently good enough for me to recommend. If you are interested on going further away for some of the best NY-style or Neapolitan pies and/or burgers, then let us know.

I'm sort of surprised by the comments regarding Grand Central's Oyster Bar.
While I found it awfully pricey for what it was, I thought I was in the minority. I HAVE seen it listed as one of the best in various magazine articles etc. And God knows, it sure is popular, particularly with local businessmen at lunch. And here's what Zagat's says about it:

"history's in the air at this sprawling, circa-1913 mollusk-lover's must. . . where the freshest fish, terrific pan roasts and well-chosen wines are delivered by a no-nonsense crew. . . a meal here is about as NY as it gets."

Zagat's kind of sucks for that reason, which is why I never use it. There are many better seafood restaurants in the city. It's a beautiful space, but that's really it. The lack of many other good options in the neighborhood creates a captive clientele.

I just ate at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station..live in San Diego and eat a lot of fresh seafood, I found the charm and the food good..we sat right next to Patrick Stewart of Star Trek so it must not be that bad..I had a dozen oysters that were fresh and delicous along with some chowder and my husband had the grouper which was excellent.
LOVED the Campbell Apartment in GSC for drinks!
Just my two cents..

To me it’s just like those multitude of steakhouse ads in airline in-flight magazines touting themselves as “one of the best in the country” - complete with some Top 10 List.

I really don’t put much faith in Zagat’s as I don’t know as to who responded to the survey - could be just some average schmuk who wanted a free Zagat’s book, or any free book for that matter.

Lot’s of suits, to me, also doesn’t signify that the restaurant is good. Convenience and conducive to discussing business is the primary objective in choosing restaurants. Beverage and food quality comes in secondary or even tertiary.

Based on discussions at local foodie boards, opinions GC Oyster Bar is divided. Or, at best they don't even bother discussing it as there are simply many that are better in this city.

GC Oyster Bar is OK. But, as one of the country’s best? Or, even close to it? Never.

I love the oyster bar because I'm an oyster lover and they have the largest selection I've ever seen.

I got a laugh from TahatiTams' comment that the Oyster Bar "most not be that bad" because Patrick Stewart was eating there. Just because a celebrity is dining at a particular restaurant doen't gurananty the food will be top notch. Mr. Stewart could just as easily had a mediocre meal there as anyone else. All we know is that he ate there on one occasion.

I'm glad you got a laugh about Patrick Stewart..he told the waiter the Oyster Bar is one of his favorite places in the world..just because you are a celebrity doesn't mean that it is good..funny that I was flown in to NYC to be a guest on a national talk show and it was the huge celebrity star that recommended the Oyster Bar and paid for my meal!

If you are at the Roosevelt, go to Bobby Van's. 45th and Madison

tahiti, which talk show were you on?

Well, when I said I've seen it on various "best lists" in magazines I wasn't talking about those paid ads like the steakhouse ones. One list that comes to mind is Gael Greene one of the foremost food critics in New York -- not a tourist. She always raved about it, and in fact that's why we first went there. But of course nobody says you have to agree with her or any other critic. To each his own.

If I had said "The GCOB is widely considered to be one of the better fish restaurant experiences owing to the combination of a wide selection of oysters, stews and chowders in a uniquely decorated space, redolent of history" would there have been more agreement? I think of it sort of like Train Bleu in the Gare de Lyon.

I hear you Ackislander.

I too want to know which show you were on TT and what about?? Inquiring minds want to know! I'm guessing Martha.

Not sure how familiar you are with NYC, but 10 blocks one direction or another isn't really that far.

There are several decent places within a few blocks of Grand Central. But, if you define "near Grand Central" as a 15 to 20 minute walk in any direction, you really have from 23rd to 57th street to choose from.

For Mexican, I'd suggest Zarela's on 2nd and 51st. For pizza, try John's. (Several locations.)

Well, Ackislander, your second post is a far cry from your first. Nevertheless, it still hasn't sold me to the fact that GCOB is be considered one of the best in the country.

It's good enough for me to suggest to the OP (at least it is near Grand Central), but not many locals who like good food would put it in the "country's best of" category.

BTW, imho, I'd caution the OP about going to Rio Grande on 38th Street. The burrito that was ordered by a friend was still refrigerator cold on the inside and, seemingly, was not microwaved enough.

I am definately in the No way team regarding Oyster Bar. Preshucked oysters were gross last time I was there, dryed out on top - yucky....and the place wasn't busy enough to not shuck to order.

YUK! Mine were shucked when I ordered. Have things changed?

I don't know, that was about 2 years ago but I will never forget the site of those poor little wasted life of a mollusks? Bivalves?

Thanks to you all for your highly entertaining and informed comments and suggestions. Just out of interest I will have to go to the Oyster Bar just to resolve this debate and then report back!

There are three good places for lunch at the northern end of Grand Central itself. They tend to empty out by dinnertime.

Naples 45 (200 Park) has excellent pizza in true southern Italian style. Thin crust, fragrant sauce and light on the cheese. I once met a person who designed the restaurant -- he told me of a wonderful boondoggle to Italy searching for just the right overns.

Cafe Centro, across the hall, is a pretty good bistro. Try the spit-roasted birds.

Tropica, back towards the escalators, specializes in seafood. They have a nice price-fixed menu at lunch -- you'll see it in the window -- but you'll probably have to ask for it when you sit down. It's a very good value.

The Oyster Bar is overpriced but still, an institution. The chowder is quite good.

A long time faveroite of ours is Giambelli 50th at Madison ave and 50th Street

GWT

Lots of laughs londonengland. Looking forward to your first hand report of the Oyster Bar!!!

FYI, Tropica was closed when I walked past last week.

I think Metrazur is good.

Oh my goodness! Try starting IN Grand Central Station. Go through the concourse. There's the Oyster Bar if you're into raw fish. If you're like steakhouses and want to be outside of the station try Bobby Van's.
Hmmm, you could also try this site for info: http://nycpocket.com

Hope that helps!

I would go to Le Bernardin for their $59 prix fixe lunch (a great deal M-F)-- you'll have to reserve early since it is one of the best handful of fish restaurants in the US and respected internationally. 155 West 51st, about a 12 minute walk from the Roosevelt Hotel. www.le-bernardin.com

screenw

It has always been on my radar, but reading that lunch menu made me swoon. Thanks for the reminder to put it closer to the top of NYC musts!

That lunch at Le Bernardin is worth every penny and more. There are several complimentary extras to the menu as well as what you choose. Every bite is sensational. And the most amazing part to me is that it never seems the least bit "stuffy". We tend to set the tone with our servers that we're fun and easy going, and they respond in kind.

you are in luck. the Brooklyn Diner that is on 57th st. just opened a satellite on 43rd / 7th. Great diner food and good location for you.
I think the only good thing about the oyster bar is its' bathroom. Grand Central is remodeling its' main bathroom and the other ones available are small.

No comparison, hands down Le Bernardin for lunch. Then for a light dinner go to the Oyster House for a dozen oysters. Don't forget dessert, Junior's has a bakery in Grand Central and I don't think anyone would say you would go wrong with a piece of Juniors cheesecake.

I have only been to NYC once, ate at the Oyster Bar and had Juniors Cheesecake. I actually enjoyed both. We enjoyed raw oysters and our daughter had the chowder, which was great. Our meal (lunch) was fine too. Personally, I have eaten at lots of places as good as The Oyster Bar, but Juniors Cheesecake is great! We had coffee and cheesecake after a Broadway show...Great. I can't wait to go back.

uga: where is your trip report?? We're waiting!!!