Juldie

I will be going to theatre Saturday night at The New School for Drama on Bank Street. I was told that is considered the East Village. Do you have any suggestions for dinner, not fancy or expensive but great food. I would love to know if there is a not to miss restaurant. A great, funky atmosphere would be fun. Thanks very much.

Aduchamp1

Bank Street is in the West Village. In fact the theatre is so far west it is almost in the Hudson.

If you can get in The Spotted Pig that would fit your requirements.

Juldie

Thanks for the correction Aduchamp1 and for the suggestion. If we can't get in any other suggestions?

Aduchamp1

Smorgas Chef is inexpensive and fun but clearly not fine dining.

For a longer walk there are a number of places on Cornelia Street including Home and Le Gigot. Cornelia is one block long between Bleecker and West 4th.

Blue Ribbon Bakery (actually a sit down restaurant with a fairly extensive menu.)

Mary's Fish Camp.

I am sure others will have suggestions, ironically I live in the East Village and know that area much better.

Ryan

Not sure I'd call it funky, but the food at The Little Owl is great. (Saturday night could be a problem.)

In that area I really like Extra Virgin on Perry and West 4th. It isn't funky, but the food is really good.

If grabbing cocktails Employees Only on Hudson and Christopher has a nice atmosphere.

MFNYC

If you do want to go to the East Village, some great, reasonable places are Paprika, Lavagna, I Cuppi, 26 Seats, Buenas Aires, and for dessert, Veniero's.

Check menupages.com for menus and user reviews.

mclaurie

Map the school/theater on maps.google.com (and you'll see it's in the west village) and then use the "search nearby" function for restaurants. Not only will you see what's around, but you'll get linked to reviews. I doubt you'll get into either Spotted Pig or Little Owl but you could get lucky if you're eating very early before a show. You might eat at the bar as a walk in too. Perry St. has a prix fixe dinner for $38. Don't know if that fits your not expensive definition.

Juldie

Thanks everyone. I have checked out about half of your recommendations and will check more in the car in the morning on the way to NY. I like the Blue Ribbon bakery from checking their website, great menu. It sounds like I have plenty of options to choose from.

Aduchamp1

If you go Blue Ribbon Bakery, be sure to go to the bathroom downstairs it is interesting. They also own a store where they sell their bread and other stuff, a half a block away.

bspielman

We've dined recently in the West Village at Le Gigot, a charming, tiny French bistro on Cornelia Street; Trattoria Toscano, a great Italian on Carmine Street; and Commerce, a bustling New American on (where else?) Commerce Street. All excellent, each in its own way, but with Commerce being a little too noisy for our taste. All require reservations.