Hi Everyone. Going to NYC in August to see Lennon the Musical on Friday Night (Broadhurst Theatre) and Neil Diamond on Saturday night.(Madison Square Gardern) Everytime we go to NYC we get caught in the touristy, over priced restaurants; the ones with horrible food. Any suggestions as where to have dinner before these two events? We also will be touring Central Park on Saturday with lunch there; And touring Grenwich Village on Sunday with lunch there. Or we could switch days if that mattered. I Appreciate your suggestions. I do not mind paying but I want to get quality for the price!!!

I would try and do brunch at Balthazar in soho before the Greenwich Village tour on Sunday. Call ASAP to get a table.

I don't know the precise location of the Broadhurst, but I usually do a pre-theater dinner at ViceVersa, on West 51st Street between 8th and 9th aves. I think the prix-fixe is $35. It's a nice place with good food. But I also like Becco on West 46th Street ("Restaurant Row"). I can't think of a single really good restaurant near Madison Square Garden, unfortunately.

Before the show, we like DB Bistro Moderne. I think it's on 45th between 6th & Broadway. On the east side of the park, Via Quadrono, on 73rd between 5th & Madison, is a casual place with good food and desserts. La Gouloue, on Madison, is a good french bistro and a bit more upscale. I agree with Balthizar and also can't help with MSG.

The MSG area is tough. Two suggestions:

Tir Na Nog, 5 Penn Plaza between 33rd & 34th, offers pretty good Irish cuisine in a fun setting.

Tupelo Grill, 1 Penn Plaza, 33rd Street, is also decent (and the martinis are great).

You'll find zillions of great restaurants in Greenwich Village -- just pick one after looking at the menu posted outside. (And if you find yourself on Cornelia Street, all of the dining options are incredible.)

Central Park isn't quite as easy. The boathouse is an option, or perhaps the cafe at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or a hotdog from a cart.

Enjoy NYC!

I loved Via Brasil at 46th & 6th Ave. Delicious Brazilian food and Caipirinhas, close to the theatre district, and not all that crowded when I was there. Terrific service as well.

http://www.viabrasilrestaurant.com/

Thank You for everyones response. This will give me some direction. Did not want to end up at a TGI Fridays paying $20. for a substandard burger!! Ideas much appreciated.

Also, if you haven't been there yet, visit www.menupages.com

The area around MSG is known as little Korea with some decent Korean bbq if that interests you. 36 BBQ at 5w 36 st is good as is Kum Gang San on west 32 st. Keen's Steakhouse (36th b/w 5th & 6th) is also close to MSG. Excellent steak and chops in a historic atmosphere but pricey.

There are no shortage of good places now in the Times Square area. You've gotten names of several. The Broahurst is on 44th b/w B'way & 8th. On the same block is John's pizzeria if you want casual but good. Trattoria Trecolori is also good Italian that's close and inexpensive.

For lunch in/near the park the Boat House in the park is a nice setting. Also agree with HankR's suggestions. Via Quadronno is nice Italian near the park. There are also some places further uptown near the Met Museum. La Pain Quotidien on Madison & 84 st. casual good sandwiches etc.

If you like seafood and and buffet style with EXCELLENT sushi and sashimi, and about 75 feet of other dishes, go to Minado. It's on 32nd St between 5th and Madison. It's all you can eat for around $20, and it is one of our favorite restaurants in the city. The service is very good and the servers are very attentive to your needs.

The chefs will also make you hand rolls upon request.

There are lots of dishes to choose from and there is a full desert bar as well.

It's a quick walk from there to MSG.

Another favorite in the theatre district is Cafe 1 2 3, for dinner or after dinner desert. A must try is the creme brule, heavenly. It's on 43rd between 6th and Broadway.

Have a GREAT time while you are here.

Thanks to everyone for the NYC MSG Info.

Just at the Broadhurst in June to see "700 Sundays" and ate at 'LES SANS CULOTTE'. you can look up the site on the web. Very reasonable prix fixe
dinner and lunch, good service...have eaten there before many theatre visits. "Becco" is also good but more expensive and noisy. Enjoy!!

I agree about Balthazar. It's a wonderful place for brunch. Maybe you could take in Soho along with the Village. We found the atmosphere at Balthazar to be lively and the food was of excellent quality for the price. The French onion soup is one of the best I've ever had, and the goat cheese and onion tart is delicious.

I'll definetly look up these places. thanks for the help.

ttt

Hiya Gang:

The Pain Quotidien French restaurant is in our neighborhood, but I haven't had a chance to eat until today.

I have been gun, feeling a bit out of it. My daughter suggested we go there.
As a family we have eaten in French restaurant, there and here.



I was dressed an army like pants and an old plaid shirt and I could have taken the time to shave--but I didn't.

The restaurant isn't very big.
here is a large, communiy table as long as the restaurant.

It was crowded with tourist. How do we know that? A large percentage of them were reading tourist book.

Connnie and I were given a stamp size. In spite of the crowd, the service was fast.

I was hungry and order a grilled chicken with mozzerela, Connie ordered a salad.

The table next to ours filled up with tourist couples, one young boy who behaved well and was trying to learn how to speak English.The three couples at the table were enjoying themselves and it was pleasant for me to see tourists liking America---even though it was a French restaurant,

Lunch arrived and I stared at my dish, there were about five triangle shaped
dried up chicken which was and I ate or tried to eat one, it was chicken faux. The dish was like a delightul oil painting, slices of cucumbers, leafy green thing, one cherry tomatoe, but I lost the heart of finishing.

As some of you know, I am in my seventies. Finally I got up to go the men's room, running the gaulant of kids, waitresses, slippery floors and three carriages some of which looked larger than my Toyota..I made it safely.

On the return trip (hands washed as I always do) I went past the carriage tanks, and briefly I put my hand on one of them.

I was stunned when on of the tourists yelled "Take your hand off my carriage.'

I sat down, annoyed, and although I think I have a sense of humor could not think of any rejoiner.

Then another customer tapped me and smiled as if to let her that she was at
fault.
We left with the feeling that not only American behave badly as tourists,
On the way home we decided that although I wasn't dressed--one might say that I looked like a bum.
However Pain Quotidien is a fairly expensive one.