shows: Once? the best man?...

Anything goes?

Well, if you don't already have reservations at Gramercy Tavern or Eleven Madison Park, it's very unlikely you'll be eating at either place. At least they could pop into the Tavern room at Gramercy Tavern (doesn't require or accept reservations). There are fewer options for EMP, but lunch is probably possible if booked this week.

I love Marseille, but it is in no way in the same league as the other restaurants, but it's reliably good and seems to really excel as the weather gets warmer. And it's especially good pre- or post-theater. I eat there often

Lunch at Minetta Tavern might be possible, but they may have to go through the concierge at the hotel. If they are already in contact with the concierge, I'd recommend going that route to set up all their reservations immediately (today if possible). That will give them the most chances to eat at their choice. The city is really packed with tourists right now, and I'm surprised at how difficult it is to get a table somewhere.

If they don't want to go all the way to Luger for a casual steak lunch, they could do Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecote, which is very close to their hotel.

I'd skip the Palm. It's good, but it's not in the same league as Peter Luger. They don't need to go to both, and the steak at the latter is better. An alternative would be Wolfgang's, which is very much like Luger without the drive to Brooklyn and the requirement to pay cash, though it also lacks the atmosphere.

"War Horse" at Lincoln Center (considered Broadway) is not ligt and fluffy but an amazing theater experience. They should definitely go. I havent seen all the shows you mention, but theyre all considered very good.

For restaurants, Peter Lugers is over in Brooklyn, not really in a location that they might otherwise visit but it is considered a destination restaurant.

Minetta Tavern is terrific but they'll likely need a reservation. The prix fixe lunch during the week at
Asiate in the Mandarin Oriental hotel at Columbus Circle is very good with great views. Across from it, Robert restaurant inside the Museum of Art & Design has awesome views but the food isnt in the same league but good for a casual lunch and the museum is also terrific. The Boat House in Central Park is also a nice spot for lunch but should be booked in advance. BG restaurant inside Bergdorf Goodman
Has great people watching and is a very pretty space. Not cheap but no more expensive than Fred's at Barneys. Fishtail is a nice seafood place near Bloomingdales with a pleasant lunch menu. Sit upstairs in the red room. I havent been to the Palm in years. While it is a NYC institution, I think there are now better places for steak including Minetta Tavern and ofcourse Peter Luger's. Not sure why it was recommended for lunch. BLT Steak and BLT Prime are well regarded. capital Grille in the Time Life building has a good value pre theater menu. http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/Locations/NYC-Time-Life/TheatreMenu.asp

If they like mussels, Jubilee is a cute French bistro east of their hotel with terrific mussels in lots of different sauces. Very popular so should be booked but a more casual place than the others you list.

Thanks!!!! Of course I'll ask the concierge to make all the reservations for them, I always do it that way and it works better than trying it on my own.
Nobody mentions aquagrill...is it worth it?
I think my dad's friend recommended The Palm for the lobster, not steak, is it possible?
They've never visited brooklyn and have heard there are nice area/shops there, know where that is? They want to do that before Peter luger
Warhorse, is that like the film? Is it a play or a musical?
Doug in the theatre day, they just want a normal pre-post dinner, thats why I thought of marseille, capital grill sounds good to!!

Carlota: I'll offer further recommendations if you wish, but for now:

THE PALM. While best known for steak, their large lobsters have also long been a signature menu option. Most people have them broiled, but the kitchen will prepare them any way you wish..steamed, for example. Regulars also praise the Italian dishes, particularly the veal, as in veal Parmigiana, or other traditional preparations.


NO MAD. While 11 Madison Park is difficult to get into, and the menu may present challenges for some less adventurous diners, Chef Daniel Humm has just opened a new restaurant and the word of mouth has been excellent; their chicken dish for 2 was called "the best chicken of my life" by a friend . Since 11 Madison is famous for their poultry, it sounds plausible. Wide menu, with prices much more reasonable than 11 Madison. Not reviewed yet, so tables are difficult, but not verging on the impossible, to book. I will give you my opinion about it next week, if you like.

http://www.thenomadhotel.com/#/dining

I would not recommend The Boathouse, unless your parents favor setting over quality of food.

love! love! love! aqua grill and prefer it over any other restaurant on your list

Two more:

For a casual and not expensive lunch, I would recommend ABC KITCHEN. This is the "market-to-table" venue under the helm of Jean Georges Vongerichten. The restaurant is very pretty and while the lunch menu lacks some of the highlights on the dinner menu, there are some very good options. I'd give it a high recommendation for dinner, too, as long as they understand that it is fairly casual and service can be less than polished.

Another recommendation for lunch is also under the Jean Georges umbrella, and run by his son: PERRY STREET in the far west West Village, overlooking the Hudson river. Architecturally exciting, high chance of celebrity spotting, attentive service and above all, good, Asian-inflected food at a fair price.


http://www.abckitchennyc.com/


http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/perry-street/


I did not give my opinion of THE PALM, above. While there are other newer steak houses, the old fashioned NYC vibe might be a good bet for your parents and the steak is certainly excellent. I prefer Peter Luger among the long-running steakhouses but if that is too inconvenient or if they cannot get a table at a reasonable hour, The Palm might suit. If pressed, I'd say that eating there might be akin to eating at Posada de la Villa, or maybe even Botin, or similar long-running traditional favorites.



I'll be returning to Madrid later this year and look forward to conferring with you about restaurants! I'll start a thread here soon, so check back if you have time!

I prefer Gotham Bar and Grill over Gramercy and Union Square

Tocquewville is very nice.

Strip house for steaks

Nougatine for one of the best lunch values in the city

I agree with Aduchamp in liking Gotham Bar and Grill over Gramercy and Union Square. and I was super underwhelmed by ABC Kitchen. That's two bad jean-Georges restaurant experiences, I'm going to try to avoid his restaurants so as to not encounter a third.

Where was the second bad Jean Georges experience?

Vong in Chicago years ago. Though in his favor, I did have an excellent meal at his flagship restaurant in NYC Jean-Georges.

I'm also not a big Jean Georges fan but I did like lunch at Perry St very much and my recent lunch at ABC kitchen was very good. My problem with both is I didn't like the options on the prix fixe menus so ordered a la carte which is not cheap.

The Palm is famous for BIG lobsters (3+ lbs.)which you can share. I don't understand why the friend would say for lunch rather than dinner. If you like big lobsters, its good for either meal. I'd have to take a nap after lunch there.

Its very true the setting at the Boat House is better than the food, but every meal doesnt have to be a gastronomic masterpiece.

The food at Aquagrill is very good.

thanks! ekscrunchy! I'll be glad to give you tips of Madrid Restaurants!! please tell me when you start a thread so I can give you feedback
mclaurie, they just recomended The Palm (no specification on wether dinner or lunch, as I dont know the place, that's why I wondered for which meal it was better
If they go to the Palm to have Lobster, does it make sense to go also to Aquagrill or they have nothing to do?

At the moment the schedule would be like this:
Dinner:
The Palm
Gotham Bar ¿all agree it's better choice than Gramercy Tavern?
Aquagrill

Lunch, I'll give them many options depending on where they are, the only one sure is Peter Luger
Peter Luger
Union Square Cafe
BG
Asiate
Boat House


Pre Theatre
Marseille
Capital Grille time life building

Showsne of the following please help me number them in order of preference: couple 70´s my mother is not so fluent in english, recent shows they have enjoyed: Mamma Mia, Alvin Alley ballet, they love classic music and always go to a concert,

Warhorse
Once
Anything goes
Best Man
Evita


Finally I want them to visit places they havent seen, it has occurred to me:
The High Line: is it worth a visit?
Broklyn: any ideas on areas/shops?
any other new or unusual to visit?
THANKS!!!

Additional choices for pre-theater might include:

OCEANA
DB BISTRO MODERNE
MOLYVOS

A possible pre-theater restaurant that I've heard good things about from friends, and which is apparently popular with those who work at Conde Nast, is LA SILHOUETTE, run by a former Le Grenouille chef, with owners from other top NYC restaurants. It is on West 53rd Street @ 9th Avenue.

McLaurie: All of the recommendations I offer are those that I think have top quality food, since those are the restaurants I would eat at myself. I look for a good price/value ratio because I do not like paying good money for mediocre food. Unlike you, I DO seek a gastronomic experience (extravaganza might be pushing it; if only...) I'm just as likely to eat Sichuan food in a dive in Flushing (Queens Chinatown, for those not from NY) as I am to eat at MoMad. But I will do my best to make sure that it will be one of the best Sichuan dives in Flushing. When I do spend money to go out, I want great food, in it's category. I suspect that we differ tremendously on this point. I've often noticed restaurants that you've recommended and many of them would just not be my style. To each his own.

From previous threads about NY and Madrid, I know that Carlota's standards are high and I assume from her list here that her parents are equally discriminating.

the high line is wonderful if they like walking. I did it in winter.

I would say Gramercy Tavern is better than Gotham. Gotham is not a bad option for lunch. I don't know why you dropped Minetta Tavern, but I wouldn't unless you don't think they could get in. The Palm and Aquagrill are in different neighborhoods and different kinds of restaurants.

Anything Goes is a feel good musical but I don't know if not being fluent will affect their enjoyment. Same with War Horse. I wonder if it's possible to access the explanation of the stories somewhere. didhelikeit.com is a website that shows what various critics thought of each show. Evita didn't get great reviews. Once was a movie. Maybe there's a copr with subtitles so they could see the story.

Have you checked lincolncenter.com to see what concerts will be on while they're here?
The Highline is well worth seeing and doesnt take that much time to visit.

While Brooklyn is enjoying a big renaissance for dining, shopping and nightlife/music, I'm not sure it would be appealing for your parents. Williamsburg is the hip area. There is a big weekend flea market with lots of good food. if they enjoy flea markets, thats an idea. brooklynflea.com

This is interesting http://thisisgonnabegood.blogspot.com/2011/08/foodie-day-in-williamsburg.html

Yes! I forgot to put it on the list!!
One other question: a good restaurant for dinner walking distance from the nypalace?

Here's one nearby option, for Nordic cuisine, but I've not been recently:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/dining/reviews/21rest.html?pagewanted=all

Here is the well-liked steakhouse mentioned by Doug, above:

http://www.wolfgangssteakhouse.net/midtown/


THE MODERN and BAR AT THE MODERN are also good midtown options.
http://www.themodernnyc.com/

http://themodernnyc.com/_pdfs/_menus/dining_dinner.pdf

http://themodernnyc.com/_pdfs/_menus/bar_dinner.pdf



We like MAREA for seafood, but it might be a bit of a walk from their hotel; it's next to Columbus Circle on Central Park South. On second thought, I might skip that idea since your parents have access to the astoundingly good seafood restaurants in Madrid.

The High Line is brilliant!

We've had dinner at La Silhouette and it is very very good, quiet, with lovely (unpretentious) service. That said, we had dinner there before a show (Anything Goes, as a matter of fact), and I probably wouldn't go again pre-theater, because we ended up rushing and had no time for dessert.

For a show - what about "Nice Work if You Can Get It" - the new Gershwin review with Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara. I saw the Weds matinee last week and lets just say that age wise, your parents would fit right in. It has great music (how can it not be?) and a simple enough story line (i.e. not much of one) so it should be fun.

And just wanted to comment on Marseille. I ate there last summer pre-theatre and found it delightful. Wonderful friendly service catering to the pre-theatre crowd. I also ate last week at DB Bistro Moderne before one of my shows and while i enjoyed it very much, it is certainly more subdued (and upscale). Very good, but I much preferred the food at Boulud Sud which would be great if they decide on a show at Lincoln Center.

I'm really eager to try Boulud Sud myself. I've heard from that the food is excellent.

Happily for the OP's parents, they have the benefit of a good (from their point of view) exchange rate!

Carlota, as promised, I am reporting back with another restaurant for your parents; on the expensive side but with that exchange rate in their favor, it will be well worth the expense. It's not well known yet, but I expect that it will become very popular as word gets out. Chef is Danial Humm of Eleven Madison Park. Great menu.

THE NOMAD


http://www.thenomadhotel.com/#/dining/menus/dinner

Peter Luger:

Impossible to get into at night months ahead. But here's a thought. Have a nice big breakfast one day. Make a 3 PM reservation at Peter Luger's -- one time that's usually easy to get. It's great for a two meal day, especially when you're seeing theatre at night. It will take them until bedtime to get over it anyway (if they're anything like me).

thanks!! I sent an email to the hotel's concierge, I'm waiting to see if they were lucky with their choices....I'll let you know their final planning!

Shows: Both War Horse and Anything Goes would be fine for someone who doesn't speak English well or at all. If the people love animals in general (or horses in particular), I'd choose War Horse; otherwise, Anything Goes.

Eating: For a stay in NYC of this length, the upscale places mentioned are all fine. But even when I am traveling on a generous budget, I really enjoy eating at some places that are more downscale but still excellent quality. NYC is a great place for such eateries -- a couple that I enjoy are Katz's Deli for the world's best corned beef sandwich, and Shopsin's for an amazing late breakfast or lunch. Both on the Lower East Side, but easy to reach via taxi.

By all means, visit the High Line. We've been there winter and summer and it is brilliant on a beautiful day. It is a very manageable walk and full of beautiful vistas.

Carlota: I'll be interested to hear where they will go. One more things bout NoMad that I did not mention above is that the room that we were in was oven of the few NYC dining rooms that are actually QUIET! Very comfortable seating, too. I expect we will all be reading about their food soon...

Hi again!!! the final planning for my parents is:

- Dinner at Wolfgangs midtown
- Dinner at the Palm One
- Dinner at Aquagrill
- Dinner at Marseille followed by premium tickets to see ONCE
- Lunch at Peter Luger

Those are the only reservations that have been made, the lunch is open depending in which area they are each day and the rest of the dinners, they say that maybe they want to stay at the hotel and eat something there. Also, they didn't want any upscale restaurant this time

I'll let you know their opinion when they get back!!

THANKS!!!

some questions:
- Aquagrill: apart from the oysters, what is the MUST order dish?

- Peter Luger: I told my parents to order: porterhouse for 2, one slice of bacon, german potatoes and apple strudel with shlag...Should they also order the creamed spinach? I didn't try them, but some people recomend them here...

This is a nice list, but the thing I'm not getting is why on earth they would eat at both Wolfgang's and Peter Luger on the same trip? The specialties at each are precisely and exactly the same. And the Palm as well? I don't think my dad could eat that much steak in a single week.

So here's my recommendation if they do keep the Luger reservation. Get the burger. It's old only at lunch and is also legendary. By then they should have had quite enough porterhouse steak.

I agree with Doug. Luger's lamb chops are also terrific and might be a change of pace from all that steak. I actually liked the lamb chops better than the steak on my last visit, but I'm probably in the minority here.

They do seem to be ready for a lot of beef! And if they are avoiding the "upscale" restaurants mentioned in posts above on account of price, they should know that these famous restaurants will probably cost as much or more as NoMad, ABC, Bar at MODERN, Gotham or any of the other excellent non-steak places.

In any case, I'm sure they will eat very well! Best regards to all of you! (And look for my thread about Madrid soon!)

carlota, at Aquagrill, I think I almost order some sort of special. Whatever fresh fish(es) they are featuring on any given trip that sounds like a great presentation is worth a try. I'm trying to think if I ever order one of their "standard" presentations, although I'm sure it is all wonderful.

And frankly, I don't usually order the oysters there -- they do such wonderful things as other appetizers, I'd rather save the plain oysters for an oyster bar without great chefs creating something wonderful.

At aquagrill, they make a crabmeat risotto, it's part of another dish and I don't remember what it was but the crabmeat risotto is so decadent and wonderful that i would just order it and a side of their sugar snap peas. Not an oyster fan so I can't comment, but everything I've had at aquagrll has been fantastic. I also like their grilled octopus.

Hi! at palm one they want to order their lobster, any way, the palm one is closed the day they had planned so they either change the day or they go to Palm too. Wolfgangs was chosen as it's walking distance from the hotel, so just 2 steak houses. They don't want upscale restaurants because they prefer more casual ones this time, not because of the price, but for the type of place...

Carlota: I don't think there's much difference between the two Palm's on the East Side. Some people prefer one, others prefer the other. (I should say, "some prefer one, some prefer too")

You might enjoy reading the review here that brings up a good point: Ignore the written menu!



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/dining/reviews/palm-and-palm-too-nyc-restaurant-review.html?pagewanted=all