Hello Fodorites!

Our DS and several friends are converging upon the Big Apple next month to celebrate birthdays, first real paychecks, and so forth. They are all freshly minted college graduates with moderate incomes/stipends. Their lodging is set (Brooklyn), but the question of a "nice" place to celebrate in Midtown-ish on a Friday night has them struggling, and so DS has turned to Mom for assistance. Their ideal place would offer omnivore dining options in about the $15-$20 per person range per entree; and all cuisines are open for discussion.

Any recommendations based on experience, or should I direct DS to the Lonely Planet forum?

Thank you, in advance.

Well, as you probably know, that price point is very low. A burger and fries and a drink at a coffee shop can set you back over $20. Of course, cheaper meals are available, but generally not in what I'd call a nice atmosphere. Les Relais de Venise offers a set menu -- salad, steak and fries, for $29.95. That's there only offering, though desserts can be added. A bottle of the house wine costs the same. Le Relais de Venise L?Entrecôte New York

Fra_Diavolo, thanks. The group knows they will have to "splurge" for this meal, with alcohol and the other courses raising the tab. At $15-$20 per entree alone I'm hoping there will be more options I can suggest to our son.

That is a low price point. You aren't going to find a "nice" restaurant in Midtown for that price point.

I DO have a favorite place and they have a Midtown location.
Pio Pio has an incredible combo - the Matador Combo that serves 3 or 4 people. As this review says, add a pitcher of sangria and you are still in that price point.

Plus the food is delicious!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser..._New_York.html

Photos -
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Location..._New_York.html

Midtown location -
https://www.piopio.com/locations/hel...e-in-menu.html

Menu -
Pio Pio Menu - Hell's Kitchen - New York Magazine Restaurant Guide

starrs, thank you. The Matador Combo looks fun! DH and I know the "kids" won't find a "nice" restaurant at their budget; something reasonable is what we think the can achieve. I think they'll love this suggestion!

Starrs, I'm surprised you didn't mention one of your favorites, namely, the West Bank Cafe on West 42nd Street. Its prices are close to the $15-20 main course price range, as shown on the menu on its website.

It IS one of my favorites. I looked at the pre fixe menu and it's $38 now.
But worth it.

I LOVE the place! The food is good. The service is excellent. The space is very nice. I go every time I'm in the city. If the menu items are in that range, it's a VERY good choice!

Hey, HowardR! Want to meet up there during the first week of January?

fourfor, I have to be honest. I've never actually eaten AT the restaurant(s). It's the FIRST thing I order as take-out when I'm staying at a friend's apartment in the city. There's so much food, I eat it for several days. I scramble an egg and eat it with the salchipapas for breakfast, but eat the chicken, avocado salad, and the rest of the stuff for lunches. And then go out for a nice dinner before a show - often at the West Back Cafe that HowardR mentioned. But friends in the city who DO go to Pio Pio love it. There are several locations throughout NYC.

I asked my soon to be college graduate who has spent two semesters in NYC and will move there next year...

If "nice" place means upscale then $15-20 is "insanely" too low. Also he doesn't understand why they want to eat in Midtown. Depending on what they're looking for, he prefers places by NYU, East village, upper east side, upper west side, Hell's kitchen, etc.

Starrs, although he hasn't been to Pio Pio, they ordered from there at work and he said he had a delicious and inexpensive rotisserie chicken and fried plantains. I'll have to try it on my next visit.

starrs, there will be 15 20-somethings in this gathering. I suspect there will be no leftovers from an evening at Pio Pio, be it food or pitchers of Sangria.

wtm003, DS thinks of "Midtown" as pretty much the entirety of Manhattan. All he remembers is how he enjoyed the city on our dime when we would visit from D.C. He and his friends are open to an evening where the entrees are in the $15-$20 range; they all expect to pay more in total when everything else is included.

I've eaten at Pio Pio more than once, and think it's great - very inexpensive (a group can be out the door for $20 apiece), very good food, and fun atmosphere. But upscale/fine dining it's not. I'd still recommend it despite that.

DO order the Matador Combo! A steal of a deal and the combination of food you get = fabulous!

My friends suggested it. J has a gorgeous kitchen but doesn't cook. "Cooking" is ordering delivery and/or warming up deli food. It's the #2 thing I miss about NYC (#1 = Broadway shows). I had my first ever Thai food in that apartment - but HAVE eaten at the Thai restaurant down the block also. They left me a gift card for their favorite steakhouse ($100) and I left it for them when I left. With Thai and Pio PIo delivery and eating at West Bank Cafe (before shows) or down in the Village....well, there was no time for steak!

If "Midtown" really means anywhere on the island, then the other place I LOVE is Veselka.
Here's their menu -
https://www.veselka.com/menus/

I used to have a favorite Greek place on the UWS but they closed. Now I like one in the East Village but it's pricey.

Edited to add: The last time I was in the apartment, my friend from New Jersey was going to drive in to visit. I offered to take her out, but she brought in to me the most amazing homemade Italian meal with the most amazing pastries from a local to her bakery (in a white box, tied up with string). Incredible. We ate and talked and laughed and walked the dog around the block. Maybe the best day ever in the city. Dang, I miss New York!

My niece lived all over the city and I learned (much after the fact) that one apartment was just two blocks away from "my" apartment. Wild. Even wilder, the friend who lives near the Flatiron invited me for dinner and as we chatted he discovered that he knew my friend who grew up on the UWS! They worked together years ago! C'mon! What are the ODDS?! Totally wild!

TIM HO WAN, famous for being the least expensive starred restaurant in the Michelin guide, just opened a place in midtown. It is Hong Kong Chinese dim sum and they should be able to eat on that budget, but it is not a place to longer long, so perhaps eat and move on to another place to drink. Not sure if you can make reservations, though, but you can put your name down on the list and they will get in touch.

Does it have to be in midtown?

If the no reservations at Tim Ho Wan are a turn off, I'd look to Chinatown or the East Village, where there are a slew of new-ish Vietnamese restaurants, some of which take reservations. Maybe Madame Vo or Hanoi House?

Pizza at Rubirosa in Nolita would be good, for certain:
https://www.rubirosanyc.com/#menus/lunch

Also, Thai at Uncle Boon's; the food here is terrific if you tolerate spice:

MENU ? Uncle Boons






http://timhowanusa.com/menu/

starrs, Veselka looks amazing! BUT, DS and his birthday-girlfriend are half-Poles, and have eaten their fare share of Polish food over the years! (And, I think I'd love to hang with you in NYC. We would eat ourselves silly!)

eksrunchy, dinner on that night does not have to be in Midtown. DS and Co. are open to everything; he just tossed that out because that's all he knows. I have sent your suggestions for Chinatown on to DS; there's likely something in the mix that will appeal to all of the group!

And lest your helpful advice not go unheeded, I will require DS to report out on this weekend!

Oh, how lucky they are! I love it there. We don't have a good Polish restaurant around here - at least not that I am aware of! I should research!

Your thread HAS helped me sort out which restaurants I'm returning to and wondering if there's time left to try out something new! I'm staying in a different neighborhood and my friend has listed a week's worth of places to try...but I'll probably return to old favorites and one I've had on my To Do list for a while.

They are going to have a great time! How could you not in NYC?!

The OP mentioned that it's a group of 15-20. So, the obvious concern is: What restaurants can take care of a party size?. I've no experience in this area, but perhaps some of you have and can guide the OP on finding places that can accommodate a large party. I would think a facility with a private room would be perfect.

OK. DS says the gang is leaning toward Pio Pio or Veselka (The "Girlfriend Factor.") I have urged him to contact each restaurant and reserve a large space for their group (Thank you, HowardR). And since in some way, shape, or form we might end up contributing to this adventure, I will require DS to report out!

starrs, DS and his girlfriend would drive from Ann Arbor to Hamtramck, Michigan in order to procure pierogies. I guess they both love them (how could you not?)

Veselka used to be the cheap go to place in the East Village. (Any one remember the weird back room with two tables and murals of the regulars?)
It is a bit upscale and always crowded now. I would call and ask such a group as there is limited spaces for such a size. Otherwise they do not take reservations.

If you want to venture to the East Village, I can recommend any number of places. Call The Brindle Room and see if they can accommodate you. Try Au' Zataar. I have had large groups there in a few occassions. Upstairs at the Turkish Kitchen. We have also had group gatherings at Gnocco.