darlenef17

I'd like a little guidance from the NYC experts on where to go to find the best of the following. We're staying on the West side just above Times Square, so Hell's Kitchen and Ninth Avenue would be convenient. While we'd prefer walking distance, it's definitely not mandatory.

Regarding prices: We are open to a hole in the wall or a white table cloth. We're really more interested in the taste, with atmosphere secondary.

Dress Code: No suit or tie on this trip. Slacks and a button down will have to do.

When making suggestions, it may be helpful to know that DH does not have a broad pallet, nor is he likely to try anything too adventurous. I save those experiences to share with DD. =)

1. Dinner - Southern Italian. Red sauce, veal piccata, eggplant, etc. Think Olive Garden type food, but of a higher quality, please. I've heard mixed things about Patsy's. Any thoughts on this?

2. Dinner - Thai

3. Dinner - Korean BBQ

4. Pre-Theater Dinner - Greek - close to the theater district if possible. We'd like to have this before the performance. Looking for a place that has amazing lamb chops. Anyone know anything about Dafni?

5. Dinner - Steak - I had a wonderful experience at Del Frisco's a few years back and we may go there again. However, I'm hoping for other suggestions as we have a DF in the city our daughter lives in, so we can go there easily.

6. Dessert spot - for after the theater. Walking distance of that area, please.

Thank you!

Tomsd

Is a classic French Bistro too adventureous? Check out Tout Va Vien - not that far away. www.toutvabien.com,

Tomsd

Errr -that's letoutvabien.com.

darlenef17

Tout Va Vien is not too adventurous at all. It looks wonderful, but we were really looking for some of the ethnicities mentioned.

I keep a restaurant list for various cities, and I've added it to my NYC list for the future. Thank you!

abram

I like www.menupages.com to search for restaurants by location and cuisine, read reviews and menus.

IMDonehere

There a number of Brazilian churrascaria places, this one is in the Theater District. If you are a carnivore you will be meat heaven. It is all you can eat. Read about how the work

http://www.yelp.com/biz/churrascaria...rma-new-york-3

For dessert, try Junior's cheesecake.

There is a Koreatown in the West 30's with Korean BBQ. Here is one our favorites
http://www.kumgangsan.net/manhattan.php

Rhea58

Dafni is very reasonable and quite good. I ate there quite a lot.

darlenef17

abram - I use menu pages and have apps as well. I'm just looking for a little personal input that might help me discover a hidden gem!

IMD: We're not big fans of the Brazilian places. I enjoy a nice filet on occasion, but those places are meat overload for me. Now with my brother, I'm certain they loose money every time he walks through the doors! Junior's Cheesecake - how have I missed that all these years!!! I. Love. Cheesecake!!! Thank you for that recommendation and for the Korean BBQ restaurant. It looks wonderful and was just what we were looking for. Do you have any favorite dishes that you order here?

Rhea58: Thank you for the confirmation on Dafni. It was one of the few Greek restaurants I found that offered Lamb Chops as opposed to shank, kababs, etc. I think we'll give it a shot!

IMDonehere

At the Korean BBQ the Kal Bi(s) but I also like Bi Bam Bap.
For breakfasts try Edison Hotel cafe.

I have not tried the following but I read good things about it
Gotham West Market

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/di...s-kitchen.html

darlenef17

Gotham West Market is on the "To Do" list. I've never walked through and have always wanted to!!

jamierin

For Number 4. of your questions I would say Kellari Taverna -http://www.kellari.us/

Rhea58

for Italian you might try http://www.menupages.com/restaurants...-etcetera/menu

Kellari Taverna is good but on the pricey side.

darlenef17

Jamierin and Rhea 58 - Both of those look like great recommendations. Thank you!

travelgourmet

3. Dinner - Korean BBQ

I believe we usually go to Won Jo. They still use charcoal, rather than gas.

5. Dinner - Steak

Head to Brooklyn and Peter Luger's.

darlenef17

Thank you for those recommendations! Won Jo was on my list of well-regarded Korean BBQ places. I appreciated the confirmation. I've seen Peter Luger's on food shows forever, and the steaks look wonderful. That said, we are both filet eaters, which I don't think they offer. =(

IMDonehere

We just ate Luger's. We are not steak eaters but that was best steak we have eaten. There most famous offering is T-bone Porterhouse, which has a filet on side of the bone and the other NY strip steak. Extremely expensive and cash only.

china_cat

I've eaten at Dafni's a couple of times and I like it. not sure I've ever had the lamb chops.

If you want a steak house a little closer to your hotel, I really liked Keen's. It has a classic steak house ambiance, and the food was delicious. It is expensive....all the steak houses are. We also tried Strip House Midtown on this last trip and I wasn't crazy about it. not bad, but not as refined as Keens, and just as expensive.

starrs

For Greek I love Kefi -
http://www.kefirestaurant.com/

mclaurie

1) TrattoriaTrecolori
2) Pure Thai
3) Kristalbelli
4) Greek is not the place to get good lamb chops in NYC. Greek in NYC does great seafood. For lamb chops pre theater, do the pre theater menu at Capital Grille at the Time Life building. $39 for 3 courses with 2 steak options, lamb chops or salmon. Molyvos is the best Greek in the theater district.
5) Junior's for cheesecake..lots of restaurants are fine for dessert..Bar Americain, DB Bistro..

darlenef17

Once again, Fodor's does not disappoint! Thank you all for the great suggestions. Trattoria Trecolori looks like exactly the type of place I had in mind. Reserving there. Pure Thai was on my short list of two Thai restaurants, so that decision has been made easily.

I'm especially grateful for the information about lamb chops and Greek restaurants in NYC. I was wondering why, when looking at the reviews and menus of highly rated Greek restaurants, lamb chops were missing from most of the menus. That explains it.

I think the new plan is to eliminate the steak house as we can get amazing steak were we live (Texas). Instead we will have the Greek food NY style (probably Kelfi as it has been mentioned here and elsewhere often), and go somewhere for the best lamb chops in the city.

I love what I saw on the Capital Grille menu, and that option is on the table. That said, the lamb dinner does not have to be before the theater. If there are other suggestions as to the best lamb chops in NYC (no mint, please), I would love have them. Price is not a factor. Otherwise, we plan on CG.