mjt0719

Hi, going next week 12/26 would like a nice place nearby Waldof could be somewhat pricey but should have value and great food of coarse! Thanks

nstevey

Did you try chowhound?

http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/18

mclaurie

Some of NYC's finest restaurants are within a 10 minute walk of the Waldorf (although why people insist on eating near their hotel for a special meal continues to confound me with transportation so plentiful). These are all very pricey.

French
Adour Alain Ducasse
Le Cirque
La Grenouille
L'Atelier du Joel Robuchon

Italian
Alto

Scandinavian
Aquavit

Seafood
Oceana

Some of the top sushi restaurants in the city are also near the hotel and include
Sushi Yasuda
Sushiden
Hatsuhana Park

If you are going by yourself, I would go to Gramercy Tavern and eat in the bar room or sit at the counter at L'Atelier Joel Robuchon. Caviar Russe is a small tucked away place on Madison Ave. (2nd floor) that's also very nice for caviar, sushi and other delicacies.

HowardR

One of the best Chinese restaurants in the city, Shun Lee Palace, is a few blocks away on West 55tt, between Lexington and Third. Great food, great service.

williamscb13

Jean-Georges. not exactly nearby but not that far away either. absolutely fabulous.

i love la grenouille but would not recommend it for a tasting menu.

nytraveler

If you go to meupages.com and insert "tasting menu" in the type of food and then pick an area - in your case midtown east it will list all the places that have tasting menus - with the prices and actual menus.

Just be aware that the menus are rarely inexpensive - and sometimes all the people at the table must order them.

For instance, at Aquavit the tasting menu is $115 - or $195 with paired wines. Naturally this is plus any other drinks, tip and tax.

ekscrunchy

Not too far from the Waldorf, Convivio offers a set menu that I consider one of the city's best values: $59 for four courses. They are very flexible about letting you choose dishes from various sections (for example, you can have an appetizer, two pastas and a main course, and forego dessert) of the menu and the food is wonderful.


http://www.convivionyc.com/menus.html

mp

mclaurie's list is dead on - I wouls also add Pampano, on 49th bet. 2nd and 3rd - wonderful modern mexican, impeccable fresh fish, terrific drinks, a ceviche tasting menu that is spectacular. Fun atmosphere, too.

We're looking forward to our annual Christmas lunch at Aquavit. They have a wonderful thing called the Christmas plate, like a tasting menu - but they only serve it until 12/24. The front cafe of Aquavit is actually a bit more reasonable than the rear restaurant - but the food is just as good!

nytraveler's website is meant to be
www.menupages.com

ekscrunchy's idea of convivio is brilliant - but that's a tough reservation - but it's supposed to be great.

mdn

Third vote for Convivio, if southern Italian food loaded with flavor is what you're looking for. Great value at $59.

Aduchamp1

It is hard to know which restaurants the posters have actually been to and which ones they are recommedning due to reputation.

As far as Chowhound and Menupages are concerned, I have found that about half the people on those boards have no idea of what they are talking about.

Anyone can google sites, but persoanl recommednations are always helpful.

ekscrunchy

I agree that the reviews on Menupages are generally useless.

nytraveler

menupages reviews are not a key factor -since you don;t know the standards of the people writing them. It is useful if you're looking for a specific cuisine or attribute (open 24 hours - or as in this case - a tasting menu).