If you're going to the Met Saturday, the closest area for cheap food is further east from 5th Avenue. I like Ecco-La on 3rd Ave round 93rd (I think). Look it up on Citysearch. Decent pasta at fair prices, nice service/atmosphere. There are other places in the 80s/90s on 3rd that are inexpensive.

Would you consider coming back to midtown for dinner? John's on 44th have good pizza and pasta (desserts are good too!) and is very reasonable; dinner with a glass of wine & dessert will be under $20 each. This is not "fine dining" but the food is more than decent and it's a nice atmosphere -renovated church!

In Midtown, Tad's Steaks is not a bad place. They serve up steak(cooked to order while you wait) with all the trimmings cafeteria-style. The place is clean and don't let the line intimidate you, it moves relatively quickly.


http://www.geocities.com/~cititour/cititours/eats/tads/tads.htm

Johns sounds good. we are staying right around there, on 46th. thanks for the tips.

Great! Give it a try - here's the address: John's Pizzeria, 260 West 44th Street. (212) 391-7560. Also, they are open late, so if you want dessert and coffee after theater this would be an option. Have fun!

I have to warn Tad's steaks would be depressing. Saigon Grille on 88th and first is cheap and praised in zagats. This would walk you through the residential area of the upper east side. Yah can see how we live! Check zagats for more options there is a great turkish place up here, name escapes me Zagats lists it.

Just stayed in NYC at the Courtyard Marriott Midtown--had a great dinner at Pescatore on 2nd Avenue between 50th and 51st. Great pizza--and the white chocolate mousse cake was excellent. Very reasonably priced.

Sara,
How was your stay at the Courtyard Marroitt Midtown?