seetheworld

I put in a search and the most recent was from 2007, so...

Meeting up with a group of friends and we're looking for a casual place for drinks and dinner around the Grand Central Station area. The group is pretty much open to all types of food, but will say not all of us a big eaters. Excluding drinks, tax, and tip, figure somewhere around $40 each for dinner.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

SueNYC

Annie Moore's pub on Vanderbilt - The bars and restaurants in Grand Central

grandcentralterminal.com

mztery

my fave resto in NY is on 38th and Lex a few blocks away...fagiolini - modern italian. lots of salads if you don't like pasta and very reasonable. Good for groups too - we've had groups up 10 10 and had a great time as well as "date nights" too.

There;'s a branch on 40th st also, only open for dinner M-F.

http://fagiolini.com/

Bowsprit

Pershing Square Cafe' is right across the street from Grand Central Terminal. They have the best crabcakes I've ever had. They have a diverse menu, from pub grub offerings to meals a bit more involved, along with a full bar.

http://pershingsquare.com/

Have you used menupages.com to find restaurants? You can find restaurants organized by cuisine, meal, cost, location all over New York City.

seetheworld

Really don't want to eat IN Grand Central.

mztery, does Fagiolini have a full bar?

Bowsprit, Pershing Square looks like it might be a noisy place (or maybe we would fit right in )

I know there's the menupages option, but some of those reviews are outdated.

Any other suggestions?

owlwoman

La Fonda Del Sol (in the Met Life building) is a fun place for Tapas and drinks. There's also Naples 45, good pizza, pasta, etc and reasonable.

If you go a few blocks down Park Ave (I think it's 35th or so), Artisinal is very good too.

Hope this helps.

Aduchamp1

If you go to the Oyster Bar in Grand Central and have a bowl of soup you will eating where the tiling is beautiful and the cost will be well within your budget. If you start eating entries it will be much more expensive.

Also in Grand Central is Cucina & Co. which fulfills your criteria for under $40 and it is exceptinally casual.

Bowsprit

All the recommendations here have been great. Pershing Square is casual, cheap, cheery, and close to GCT. It is lively, but it isn't a raucous crowd by any means! Lots of people meeting here for business, tourists grabbing a bite, quite a few regulars who are doted on by the waitstaff...it's a great place.

The Oyster Bar in GCT is outstanding. Get a bowl of chowder and some Wellfleet oysters with a glass of champagne and you're letting yourself in for a wonderfully singular experience in a very special setting. The Oyster Bar is NOT in the food court at GCT!

seetheworld

Cucina & Co only serves until 9pm. We are all coming in from various points out of the city, hence the need to stay somewhat close to Grand Central.

I'm not a fan of the Oyster Bar, but that's besides the point...it would be out of the budget, as you stated Aduchamp.

Artisinal is already on the short list, owlwoman (it's the only one I could come up with on my own). Tapas is a good suggestion (Alta is my favorite, but that location won't work). Naples 45 has a nice menu.

Thanks, very helpful!

seetheworld

We posted at the same time, bowsprit. I know the Oyster Bar in not located in the food court. I've been. It would be hard for me to submit the idea of a restaurant that limits everyone to a bowl of soup (no matter how wonderful that soup might be!)

doug_stallings

There's a casual Mexican restaurant with pretty good food at the corner of 3rd Avenue and 41st Street called Sinigual. I think that's a good bet. It's not usually terribly busy, has a full bar, and can easily accommodate a group. Plus, the guacamole made tableside is pretty good.

doug_stallings

I also meant to say (before I posted). Artisanal is great, open late, and capable of accommodating a large group, but it's quite expensive and requires reservations. I don't think you could possibly eat there for $40 per person. And it's also a 10- to 15-minute walk from Grand Central. Not sure if that matters to you.

Similarly, Naples 45 is nice, but pretty expensive, though I think it meets your other criteria. You could probably meet your budget by eating pizza there.

Bowsprit

I agree about soup for dinner...but everything's better with Champagne, right?

I still think Pershing Square is the place for you....

owlwoman

One more idea is Asia de Cuba in the Morgan Hotel on Madison Ave, you can share mains, so you should be able to stay in budget.

Bowsprit

menupages.com is a good source for locating restaurants but I too prefer yelp.com for timely reviews.

mztery

Both Fagiolini locations have a full bar. If oyu want to go to a place where you won;t have to share main dishes, Fagiolini is right at your price point.

I don't eat seafood so I can't speak tot he crab cakes at Pershing Squ but the few times I've been there (and it has been a while) it was very noisy, and I would say funky not casual.

starrs

On my list for my next visit is Sam's Place at 132 E 39th. It may be too small for your group - I'm not sure how large your group is. Check out the tripadvisor and yelp reviews to get an idea if it's something you would be interested in.

Bowsprit

Pershing Square: Very casual...Flip flops and t-shirt casual along with business suits and smart casual dress. No tie nor jacket required. Lively place but not raucous. Varied, diverse menu and one could make a meal out of the apps and salads.

There are plenty of places to choose from though, that's for sure. You've gotten great suggestions here. Let us know which you chose and enjoyed, Seetheworld, won't you?

sf7307

artisanal is great, but 4-bells noisy - very hard to hold a conversation.

Aduchamp1

We have eaten at Artisanal twice and its charm eludes us.