Dear Fodorites,

My boyfriend and I (both in our late 20's) are headed to New York City for a couple of days between Xmas and New Year's. I have been to NYC several times but not for several years. This will be his first trip.

Need suggestions for:
really special dining that would also put us in an interesting area to walk around in the evening--place where there are people out and about (unless too cold!) Looking for great ambiance, good food--willing to spend a few bucks!

If we only do one shopping/browsing day which area should we head to and got any great ideas for lunch there? the Village, SOHO, etc--what streets in particular?

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

For the really special dining - what is a few bucks ($100 for 2?, $200 for 2?) - and is this for the entree alone - or the whole deal with wine, tax and tip.

Also, what cuisines do you favor - or hate?

New York has so many great choices more info would really be helpful.

Good questions! I am going to say $250 for two including tax, tip and and wine. We really like all foods--my boyfriend is not that wild about sushi.

Craft near Union Square. One of my top 5 meals ever.

Spice Market, Nobu 57 (they have more than sushi), Tabla, Balthazar, agree with Craft (or Craftbar).

If you are shopping, I would go to Soho. I think Prince Street is a nice walk and also West Broadway.

Interesting dinner sugestions. I had been thinking about Balthazar--anyone have an opinion of Gotham Bar and Grill? what about Odeon?

Gotham Bar and Grill is consistently among the 10 most popular places in NY, according to Zagat. I have never been there myself, but I only hear good things about it.

I just got back from NYC and did a lot of shopping in SOHO. Spring, Prince, Mott, Houston, Broadway, etc. Definitely a great area, Balthazar and Mercer Kitchen are also there.

Odeon and Gotham Bar and Grill are both great choices! Gotham is a bit more "upscale" and Odeon is a bit more casual-- but "nice" casual. You can view menus for both restaurants online at www.menupages.com

You can't go wrong with either place. Another spot you might like is the Blue Water Grill in the Union Square area. Excellent food and great atmosphere. You could make a reservation downstairs in the jazz dining room. To view the menu for that place, go to www.brguestrestaurants.com It's Steve Hanson's website... and he runs a lot of nice restaurants. Reservations are a must for all!

Everyone thank you so much for these suggestions--this is really helping me to plan our trip!
I have another question now: we are going to see The Producers one night and I hear mixed reviews about eating before or after the show. I had been thinking about eating a late lunch on the day of the show and then going somehwere cose by right afterwards--any opinions about a place called Angus MacIndie? other suggestions--advice welcome!!!
Thank you!!

When we see a show we always do a late lunch and then go someplace after the show for just dessert and drinks or something. I hate hurrying dinner and I hate sitting in a theater feeling full. (We frequently do the late lunch at Les Halles.)

Have you made your hotel reservations yet? Things in NYC are SUPER expensive that week. You may not have as much money left over to eat as you think.

Agree on late lunch (or tea) and light dinner after. Angus McIndoe is a pubby kind of place. Not my favorite but ok. You can probably see the menu on menupages.com

On the same order is Sams on 45th b/w Broadway & 8th usually with live music or the most famous, Joe Allen's on rest. row.

I guess it depends on what you want to eat. For something more unusual, Firebird on rest. row (46 b/w 8th & 9th) is very glamorous Russian (crystal chandeliers in a townhouse) and has some live music. Borscht, blinis and caviar etc.

Special dining where you can walk around, with locals who are up and about?

East Village.

Hearth Restaurant on 1st Ave. and 12th is our current "go to", as well by a lot of other local foodies. Then you can walk around and about East Village, e.g. St. Marks, with local New Yorkers. BTW, reservation for Hearth is recommended.

Soho area is another crowded area with shoppers, browsers, hanger-ons. Lots of boutique stores, restaurants and bars. Blue Ribbon at Sullivan St. was our previous "go to" restaurant in the area, as well by local foodies. The no reservation policy means long wait, but it was always worth it.

Keep the suggestions coming! Take a look at my tentative my plan:

we fly in arriving 4PM from west coast-our hotel is in midtown east

Since boyfriend has never been to NYC I thought we should head to Rockefeller Center first to see tree, lights, etc.

am thinking maybe walk to somewhere cool for a drink that's not too far? but where?

then take cab to village--or soho for dinner
from your suggestions: Hearth, Balthazar, Odeon, Gotham Bar and Grill

Next day: breakfast/brunch midtown east?? then shop/browse--late lunch somehwere
see Producers
eat somewhere afterwards

advice-suggestions--thank you!!!!

Those are all great restaurant recommendations!
We also love Union Street Cafe and Babbo.
And Mary's Fish Camp for lunch.

I don't think you should miss the trip to Ellis Island for the audio tour. It's well worth the trip, and the ferry ride takes you by the Statue of Liberty.

Could you give me an idea about how long the Ellis Island tour takes?

Cool for a drink near Rockefeller Center

The Sea Grill or the Rock Center Cafe both have views onto the ice rink at Rock Center
Morrells Wine Bar in Rockefeller Center
The Rainbow Grill (high above Rock. Ctr.)!
China Grill on 6th ave. in the CBS building (53 st I think) very modern, sleek space.

Dinner in Soho or the village or the meatpacking district or what about the lower east side? It all depends on what you want to eat.

If you can get into Babbo for Italian, quintessential.
Il Buco also good romantic Italian in the village
Markt or Spice Market in meatpacking


Breakfast/brunch midtown east? You don't say what day of the week (which makes a big difference), but Norma's in the Parker Meridien is a popular breakfast/brunch place. St Barts Cafe is another good option any day.

Instead of late lunch before the show, what about a nice fancy tea? St. Regis hotel.

we'll be there Mon. thru Friday-the week between Xmas and New Years--will that work for Norma's?

Re: Ellis Island
From memory, I think it takes 10 min on the boat to the Statue of Liberty, where you can get off or keep going. (keep in mind that no one is allowed to go up the statue anymore)
From there it's another 10 min to Ellis Island. I think the audio tour takes about an hour. And it's 10 min back to Battery Park.
You can buy tickets online ahead of time so you don't have to stay in line, but when we went between Christmas and NEw Years, we were worried about weather conditions. So we just showed up early for the first boat, and we were fine. The line was pretty short because it's FREEZING. So dress warmly, but it is SO worth the trip. We came back in time to take a short cab ride or subway trip to Soho or Little Italy for lunch. (I've done this twice.)

If you go to Rockefeller Center to see Christmas tree, etc., your boyfriend might enjoy a drink (expensive, tho) up in the Rainbow Room for a great view of the city. I've heard they've opened up a reservation deck up there as well. It's beautiful.

And, regarding all these great restaurants, you better make reservations asap. They start taking reservations 30 days in advance, and they're often booked 29 days in advance.

Re: dinner after a show...
Try to get out of the theater as quickly as you can (during the applause) so you can get a cab as quickly as possible. Several times, we've had dinner in Union square and Soho after a show, you just have to be quick out of the theater so you can be quick to get a cab and you'll be fine.