Il Mulino

The favorite place we had for lunch while in NYC for a week was the international buffet in the delegates dining room at the United Nations. It is $25 a person and proper attire is required. (They allowed my daughter to have jeans but I doubt shorts would be allowed and jeans for an adult may not either) My daughter must have ate $25 in fresh berries and lamb alone. They had some unusual choices too.You have to make reservations but we were able to make them downstairs right before we had lunch.

Spice Market has gotten a lot of buzz in the last year, but when we went in November, we weren't impressed. The desserts were great, but the cuisine, just average.

Spice Market opened over two years ago and, at least among locals, lost its "buzz" a long time ago. Its cuisine certainly doesn't merit any "post-buzz" accolades.

Of course, Mel61 ask for "favorite restaurants," so that's purely a matter of opinion.

I'll add one favorite ... There are few decent, approachable restaurants in midtown for a casual, inexpensive lunch. One of my favorites is the "Burger Joint," a little hidden place inside the Parker Meridien Hotel. It's worth finding, before or after your visit to Rizzoli.

good for tourist expriences:
High end - per se in Columbus Circle, or have drinks in the Mandarin HOtel lobby for view of Central Park. Drinks at Jazz at Lincoln Center in their club room late at night while listening to live jazz.
Bateaux New York for dinner cruise
Take water taxi over to New Jersey to Chart House for dinner with view of Manhattan
drinks only in the chinese lantern garden at sunset thru evening light at Tavern on the Green
Brunch at Balthazer on Sunday with walk around West Broadway.
Also brunch at Nichole Farhi restaurant in Chelsea Market.
union square-breakfast at Coffee Shop on Saturday morning by the Farmers Market, live Brazilian music at 11:00 am or so--check first.
Afghani Restaurant on Ninth and 51st (Byob) Hells Kitchen on Ninth and 48th Street.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions! I'll print the list and bring it with us.

Mel, if you go to grand central station, and go to Michael Jordans rest., before 5 you get these wonderful prices(for NYC) and so much food. It was just beautiful there and we would for sure go back. Did you get the fodors guide to NYC? Was worth it,great help! Have fun, NYC is my favorite place to go! :-)