My girlfriend and I are headed for NYC in Oct. without the husbands...

Is there a restaurant that you can recommend that isn't softly lit, & intimate etc.

Something fun and a little less serious but with fabulous food...Oh...and also...if we can hear ourselves talk above the noise it would be great too!
Thank you!!!!

Send the boys to the ESPN Zone Restaurant in Times Square and you and your girlfriend go somewhere nice.

Uh, Barre, do you even bother to read the posts before responding with your gibberish?

Toni has already stated that the "boys" will not be going with them. What she wants is somewhere nice. Which, of course, you don't give any suggestions for. Do you just post to hear the keys click?

Toni, depending on your budget, you might consider Le Bernadin. It's not initmate, and has great food, although I wouldn't call it fun. Fun usually implies inexpensive & ethnic. For fun, you might want to try Mangia & Beni on 9th Ave. & the 50s where the waiters sing to the patrons.

If you like southwestern go to MesaGrill. (5th ave between 15th and 16) great food, not "intimate." Hands down the best margaritas in NYC, which I think is fun.

Just thought of another place: Red Eye Grill on 5th & 7th Ave. Of course, there are hundreds of great places. You won't have any problems.

Toni,

You didn't mention where you are staying, so here are a couple of fun places with good food on the east side, midtown,

Rio Grand 3rd Ave around 37th St.
(bottom floor of condo building, the south side of the restaurant is Mexico and the north side is Texas) Great margaritas there.

Docks 3rd Ave at 40th St. - Good fresh seafood, and lots of choices. Good wine list too.

In the Union Square area there's the Blue Water Grill and Union Square Cafe, both fit the bill and again great food.
If you are walking, Park Ave south of 23rd St is loaded with restaurants that you also might like to try.

Have a great time while you are here.

tweedy

I love the food at Blue water Grill but I think it is a little on the romantic side (and not really "fun" as you requested.).

and just an FYI: for Union Square Cafe you need to call 30 days exactly prior to your visit for a reservation.

Maybe check out Pipa, the Tapas bar and restaurant in the ABC store at 19th Street and Broadway (subway to Union Square).

You all would probably enjoy visiting the store, which is like a museum with everything for sale (6 floors of stuff for your house, mostly imported, mostly old, plus linens, Asian artifacts, etc.)
A tapas place is informal, especially if you sit at the bar.

AND: the best Tarot card reader in New York, Beverly, is there most nights. This is fun to do with women friends, I think!!! When Beverly worked elsewhere, my friends and I would go there whenever anybody needed special advice.

Tao (although that is LOUD on the weekends, but one of my favorite 'fun' places), Balthazar, Nobu, Atlantic Grill, Bryant Park Grill, Blue Fin, Olives, Flor de Sol, Bread Bar at Tabla, Craft, Pastis, or the Cub Room.

Thanks for your replies!

xyz: I've heard that Le Bernadin has fabulous food...Red Eye Grill is southwest?

trythis: We love margaritas! Is this Mexican/Southwest?

I've put all your suggestions in my "places to eat in NYC" file.
I've heard really good things about Union square cafe and Blue Water Grill too.

p.s. We are staying at the Warwick.

Hey xyz, when did Toni say the boys were not going with them?

Barre it's in the very first sentence of her post. geez read a little would ya!

Toni,

Mesa Grill is kind of an "american-ish" southwestern than it is true Mexican...cornbread, tamales, blue-corn encrusted seafood, etc. ..

If you watch the Food Network at all, you might recognize Bobby Flay -- this is one of his places... here's the Zagat write-up on it, which i cut and paste from zagat.com:

"Food Network romeo Bobby Flay's "always-crowded", sometimes-"frenzied" Flatiron Southwestern "fiesta" "should be declared a NYC landmark" because it's "still awesome after all these years" and has become something of "a mecca for fans" of the chef's TV show; "bring extra bucks", and "go for brunch" or just sip "great cactus margaritas" at the "hopping bar" - either way, you won't go wrong."

i think there's even a website with the menu on-line but I am not sure... I loved it, personally! Whatever you do have a fantastic time in this great city!

OMG! You mean you actually re-read the post and still don't see it? Seriously, I think you need new reading glasses, or at least a refresher comprehenion course.

I'll reprint it s-l-o-w-l-y for you:

"My girlfriend and I are headed for NYC in Oct. WITHOUT THE HUSBANDS..." Somehow you changed husbands to "boys." OK, get it now? Pleeeeeese? Class dismissed.

Toni, Sushi Samba is always fun (the one on 7th Avenue South (at Barrow) *not* Park Avenue South). My girlfriend's and I were just there last week and had a great time! Also, I would go for a drink at Thom (60 Thompson St. between Spring and Broome). Nice scene for drinks but I wouldn't rec. eating there.

Mesa Grill sounds great...
And I do know Bobby Flay from the food network. We'll definitely try it!
I'll see about the reservation policy as I know many places you need reservations weeks in advance.
Thanks again and again!

Damn, I am stupid. Apologies to all and I'm going away. Thanks for the clarification!

Another vote for Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. Great food, fun atmosphere. Can be very loud, however, in the main dining area.

Zarela's. The best Mexican. The best lively casual atmosphere. The best snapper hash. Second Ave. 'tween 50 & 51. Olé!!!!

My sister and I went to NY last winter without husbands and really loved the Russian Samovar. If you have the urge to go to the Russian Tea Room, don't. It's overpriced and not as good. The Samovar's food was excellent. And best of all they make their own flavored vodkas in crocks on the bar, you can order by the shot or carafe (which we did of course!)
There were 4 women from Canada eating next to us.
Enjoy!