milkeway4

I am looking for dining suggestions for a few restaurants near Madison Square Garden that have good food but reasonably priced ($12-$20 for an entree). We would definitely like to eat Italian one night and are open to suggestions for 2 more nights. We are not looking for anything fancy just good "down home" food.
Thank you!

Nikki

There are a number of Korean restaurants along 32nd Street. I enjoyed NY Kom Tang Soot Bul, 32 West 32nd Street, between Broadway and 5th Avenue. They bring charcoal to the table for barbecue instead of the gas grills found at other Korean barbecue restaurants I have tried. Barbecue entrees run a bit above your range, though, between $22 and $25.

AndrewDSmith

You're going to have trouble finding truly good food below $20 an entree anywhere in Manhattan -- except if you eat ethnic. And fortunately for you, MSG is right near Koreatown. Try one of the BBQ places, because it really tends to please Western palates. It's different without being too different. My favoriet in the area is Cho Dang Gol: 55 W. 35th St. (bet. 5th & 6th Aves.)

Aduchamp1

The area around MSG is bereft of good inexpensice or expensive restaurants. For a really different but excellent experience try Hangawi, Korean veggies and on the opposite end of the spectrum is Keens Steakhouse.

Unless you coming into Penn Station, I suggest eating in another area and then going to MSG.

milkeway4

It sounds like we will need to increase our price range which I probably should have expected. If we increase our price range, are there any good Italian restaurants within walking distance?
Thank you for your suggestions for ethnic food. A BBQ place sounds good.

Aduchamp1

If we increase our price range, are there any good Italian restaurants within walking distance?

Not that close is I Trulli but check out the menu, it may be above you price range.

doug_stallings

As everyone has stated, this is a truly horrible area for restaurants. But for those willing to travel just 15 minutes away, there are innumerable possibilities.

If you are willing to walk to 3rd Avenue, you'll find a wide range of restaurants (this is 15 or 20 minutes east of the Madison Square Garden restaurant). Bistango (29th/3rd) is a good neighborhood Italian restaurant, and most entrees are under $20. La Giara (34th/3rd Ave) is also good and has excellent pastas, all of which are under $16. Most entrees are close to or above $20, though.

If you are willing to walk about 15 or 20 minutes south of Madison Square Garden into Chelsea, you'll also find a wide range of restaurants. I really like Tello's (20th/8th Ave), another neighborhood-type Italian restaurant with most entrees under $20. In the same block is Intermezzo, another good mid-range Italian restaurants. But there are numerous possibilities within 2 blocks either north or south.

Finally, you'll find many Italian restaurants along 9th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen (roughly between 42nd and 52nd) and around there. It's also about 15 or 20 minutes walk from the hotel, this time north.

milkeway4

So it sounds like we'll need to travel further too. Lol.
So if I change my criteria to a good authentic Italian restaurant in the $20 price that we can either walk 15-20 minutes or take a taxi what would the recommendations be?
Thanks again. I appreciate all of the help.

doug_stallings

Those would be my recommendations.

jt7dreamz

da umberto in chelsea- 17th and 6th
via emilia park and 21st
il bastardo- 7th and 21st

those are easy and good places just a hop away on the subway from madison sq garden. take the orange line local to da umberto, the yellow to via emilia (23rd st) and the 1 train (red) to il bastardo.

hopstop.com can give you detailed subway and walking directions
opentable.com gives good recommendations as does yelp.com

milkeway4

Thank you all! I will forward this information on to the remainder of the people in my party.

starrs

If you want "down home" -
http://www.fatanniestruckstop.com/

Completely different vibe -
http://www.ilcampanello.com/

mclaurie

Yes, I've heard Il Campanello is good and there's also Mario's Trattoria. http://menupages.com/restaurants/marios-trattoria/ A bit further north into Hell's Kitchen, there are loads of options including Basilica.