Classic NYC restaurants
 

We're staying in NYC for a long weekend Dec 9-11, around the theater district. We (2 adults) just want to wander and eat good food. I'm good with expensive but not EXPENSIVE, and am looking for the classics with staying power. Just the good food places that have been around forever, with character. On or off the beaten track.

We plan to wander midtown'ish so probably will not make it downtown this trip.

Thanks, Sonia

Well if I were only going to be in the city for a weekend, not sure I'd limit myself to the places that have been around forever. There are some very good/better newer places. For example, the 21 Club and Sardi's are the 2 places that come to mind that fit your description of staying power. They both have lots of character and are in the right location, but they don't have outstanding food. It's more about the ambiance of the places. Though friends recently went to Sardi's pre theater and were pleasantly surprised that the food was good. (It had not been for a long time). 21 has good food, not outstanding. They do have a good pre theater dinner.

If you are going to the theater both nights, you might consider the Sea Grill overlooking the ice rink in Central Park. Still a magical spot.

If you don't have to stay in the theater district, Gramercy Tavern has been around for a while now and has great food. Not in the theater district (are you going to shows both nights?) Reserve right away or have your hotel concierge do it.

The other 2 places that come to mind in midtown, been around forever, may be in your EXPENSIVE group----Le Bernardin and La Grenouille.

I would add Union Square Cafe to mclaurie's list.....and take off Sardi's! Surely you cannot list Sardi's along with the others. It's just not a "good food place"!
I'd also include my favorite, Chez Josephine. Its food is quite good, and it certainly has character!

Sardi's is a classic, but I've cringed when being taken there for food by friends. It was very mediocre and very overpriced. But DO have a cocktail at one of the two bars before theatre one night and dig into the horseradish cheese, I like the upstairs bar better.

I have dined at 21 within the past 8 months and I will say it was very good. The atmosphere is what makes the restaurant in their case.

Thanks to all for your help so far. What do you think of the Oyster Bar? Gallagher's Steakhouse?

Also, I found a Spanish restaurant, Alcala, near the UN that got good reviews. Not necessarily a classic (yet), but has anyone eaten there?

Pearl Oyster Bar is wonderful, and for sure a classic. Alcala gets decent reviews on menupages.com, but I haven't eaten there.

It's too bad you're not up for heading downtown for food, b/c there are some wonderful Spanish restaurants. Casa Mono is great, and not that far downtown from you. It's a Mario Batali restaurant near Gramercy Park.

The Oyster bar is ok for some oysters or clam chowder or smoked trout. Otherwise...not so great. Gallagher's is one the least good steakhouses (that's known) in the city. If you want steak go to Peter Luger (in Brooklyn) or Sparks's or one of the newer places.

Peter Luger for steaks, La Grenouille,one of the final FFR restaurants(expensive, but not Per Se expensive). PJ Clarkes, and I am shocked...shocked that no one has mentioned The Four Seasons, a true classic by any measure.

The Oyster bar that was mentioned was no doubt the one at Grand Central Haven't been for years so I can't recommend at this time. You need to at least have a drink at The Campbell Apartments, a secret bar at the top of the steps in Grand Central on the Fifth Avenue side.

Honoria

dictionary for the non-foodie: FFF Fine French Restaurants. These: La Caravelle, Lutece, etc. etc. have gone the way of the dinosaur in the current mode for loud dining. HG

The Four Seasons has pre-theatre pre-fix that this quite reasonable by NYC standards. It's very nice and you will still have time to do something else that evening.

Gothan Bar and Grill -- fantastic food, fantastic service, and good value -- particularly with the set price lunch. And how can you not love a restaurant in New York that features a giant Statue of Liberty?

Honoria,do you recommend La Grenouille? Not stuck in a time warp?

Alcala?

You must really mean to stray off the beaten path in order to include this for your midtown restaurant quest. It's really just a small neighborhood Spanish restaurant in the Turtle Bay area of midtown east. Here, you'd definitely find very good service, decent wine list and food. I believe, that their prix fixe may change daily - this is the best value, imho.

In spite of all this, there are a few other Spanish in the city that I find to be better, in terms of the dishes. Oh, and just as a disclaimer (and I don't play favorites with my views), we know the owner/staff and have always been the recipient of excellent service, and out-of-the menu comps, whenever we dined in the restaurant.

If you really want to dine and have bettter food in a neighborhood restaurant in the midtown east area, then:

try Pampano for the good Latin American twist on their menu;

or Montparnasse (52nd St bet. 3rd and 2nd) for the solid French bistro fare and ambiance;

or Cibo (2nd and 41st) )for the good Tuscan/Northern Italian dishes.

or L'Impero at Tudor City (41st and !st) for formal and expensive Italian that a few here would rate in the top 3 in the city.

The request was for classic restaurants with staying power, not the latest foodie faves in NYC. They were even specific in looking for midtown restaurants.

I can't imagine a more classic restaurant than La Grenouille. The last of its kind with the grit to survive the current mode.

Will elegant fine dining return. Probably not, few have the time or manners for it. I like the grazing type of restaurant these days but appreciate the experience a old line French house can give. HG

Agree with the above post regarding Gallaghers---very overpriced and mediocre at best. For a classic NYC dining experience it would be hard to beat "21". Also, perhaps not as well known but definitely a classic NY steakhouse is "Keens". They have a great mutton chop about the size of a Buick.

Sorry Honoria, it wasn't a snide remark. I am somewhat interested in the reataurant and just wondered if you had been there recently and could recommend it . Thanks.

Hmmm, samschack, Keen's has always been high on my "must try" list and mainly for the famous mutton chop. But if it's the size of a Buick I may decline. I don't mind paying $40 or so for something really good, but not when it is so large I know I'll have to leave well over half of it. I hated Il Mulino where the whole place was all about how big the portions were -- they were absurdly huge but not very good.

We aren't New Yorkers, just visitors, but last weekend we found a place that felt like "New York" to us. It's been there about 30 years, I think. Wood panelling, very nice service, relatively small, good menu, seating in the bar at the window to people watch. It was perfect for us: the Knickerbocker Bar and Grill, 33 University Place, at 9th and University, 212 228 8490. We would have stayed for dinner, as the menu looked great and the atmosphere was cozy, but we weren't hungry yet. Very nice place. Reservations recommended.

Another Fodorite gave me the very good advice to look for little restaurants in the Time Square/theater area, by walking a few blocks west from the Marriott there. It was great advice, as there are restaurants in every doorway, and each looked great. We chose Danny's Grand Sea Palace, www.dannysgsp.com, at 346-348 West 46th Street, 212 265 8130. It was pretty good, not great, but fine.

If you have time, the Top of the Rock at sunset is amazing. We spent about an hour sitting inside, walking outside, watching the city light up. Awesome. (And no line, no crowds.) Thanks to another fodorite, we had dowloaded a 20 percent discount coupon, which helped, since it was still about $63 for four adults. Too bad there isn't a simple cafe up there.

Have fun.
:)>-

May I suggest Del Frisco's Steakhouse at 1221 Avenue of the Americas. For reservations call 212-575-5129. The pre theater menu is reasonable, the food great and the service excellent. Order different desserts but include the lemon cake. I went earlier this year and had a great time. If Jeff is your waiter he will take great care of you.

Kinda exaggerating as to the mutton chop being the size of a Buick but, like many steakhouses, portions are very large (and expensive).
Still it was excellent--assuming you like mutton.
Others I dined with there had steaks which were also first rate.
The thousands of clay pipes hanging from the ceiling are quite a novelty and goes back many decades (early 1900's I think) when regulars kept their pipes at the restaurant for an after dinner smoke.