I have one whole day and I'm trying to figure out where to eat.

Dinner - I want French Bistro. I would LOVE to eat at Per Se but my friend traveling with me is a little picky and not having a choice wouldn't work for her. Price isn't an issue for dinner.

Breakfast - We're staying at the W in Union Square. Any local suggestions?

Lunch - I'd like something very New York - not touristy. We have to fly out at 2:30 so it probably needs to be on the faster side.

thanks!

Isn't it foodie?

How about Picholine for dinner?

For one lunch, I'd hit one of the classic delis (either Katz's, the Carnegie, or Second Avenue -- all touristy, but something you can't get anywhere else). And delis are lightning quick.

Tons of French bistros (I wouldn't classify Per Se, though, as a bistro).

Breakfast--Coffee Shop is across the square from you. Is it super fab? No, it is somewhat of an institution though. Other near choices could be Cafeteria on 7th Ave & 16th or Florent in the Meatpacking District before they close for good.

Lunch--you have to leave early, try brunch at Balthazar.

Dinner--Places that everyone one will tell you are Chanterelle, Le Bernadin, Gotham, 11 Madison--I think all are overrated and/or have severe service issues. In that price range, for French, I like Bouley and Daniel, though Bouley admittedly has a tackier clientele. Going away from the French, I do usually like WD-50, though on my last visit in February found the tasting menu uninspired. I do not doubt I would have had a better meal ordering off the menu, but the husband wanted the tasting so I got it too. Just putting the caveat on my rec. Are you married to the idea of a $400+ meal? If not, there are plenty of great places that are half the price, but without the pomp and such. I just ate at Rayeula and quite liked it:
http://www.rayuelanyc.com -- the online menu is shorter than at the place.

There is always the new Ducasse -- Benoit just opened, haven't heard anything about the food though.

Sorry, i actually googled it and found Foody too.

I guess just French then. In Michigan, we don't have that style restaurant at all. We have tons of Italian so I don't want that. We were in NYC years ago and ate in Greenwich Village at a french restaurant that the name translated to "duck". The windows were propped open to the street and we loved it. I'd love something French, and really a NY experience.

Isn't Olives still at The W at Union Square? Do they do breakfast? If so -- by all means.

I'm confused between your reference to "French Bistro" and Per Se. But if you wanted real French Bistro, Steak Frites is a just a block or so away, and as close to the real Paris as anything I can think of in NYC. Not expensive though if that's the requirement.

Balthazar comes to mind too, or Les Halles. Or are these all just too casual.

But for something between the "bistro" idea and Per Se, I think it would be hard to beat Grammercy Tavern or Gotham Bar and Grill for dinner.

another alternative is a walking food tour. See http://www.foodsofny.com/

for breakfast, i suggest 71 irving, nearly around the corner from the w. the roast their own coffee, and have great bagels, breakfast pastries.

Do you want "hip" NY, Bridge and Tunnel, place to be seen rather than eat, Break the bank?

Authentic NY experience is all over the place. It sounds like you are looking for a French bistro, neighborhood-y and casual from the last post--the Per Se/price no object threw me off and correct me if I am wrong.

For neighborhood French I like Le Pere Pinard on Ludlow, Zucco on Orchard with only 10 seats, both Juliette and Sweetwater in Williamsburg (it is only 3 stops for you on the L Train at 14th.) All are my authentic ny neighborhood French--there are better places and there are worse and there are the ones I also don't name.

not meaning to be snide, just trying to decipher.

The food at the Coffee Shop is almost inedible.

For breakfast try City Bakery on 18th Street just off Fifth Avenue. They truly know how to bake and though it is a tad pricey it is always filled. For one of the best bagels in the City try Ess-A-Bagel, First Avenue and 21st. They have seats and many choices of cream cheeses.

Beleive it or not there is Belgian chain near you Le Pan Quintoden (I always misspell it.) that has wonderful breakfasts. It is in the first floor of ABC Carpet and they make excellent breads.

2nd Ave and Katz's are anything but touristy. 2nd Ave Deli is now on 33rd off Third Avenue. Get there early expecially on the weekends. The corned beef and chopped liver are without equal.

Please note that Steak Frite near Union Square closed and I forgot where they moved.

Our favorite splurge restaurants are Gotham, Boulard, and Acquavit.

How about Max Brenners for breakfast, especially if you like chocolate?

Steak Frite in Union Square had the worst Steak Frites of my dining life. Ironic, but true.
Not French Bistro but:
I think Grammercy Tavern for dinner is a great New York experience. Plenty of little gifts from the kitchen with your prefixed choices. Plus, you won't have to worry about the next days breakfast!

http://www.gramercytavern.com/

For lunch, if you're craving a burger nothing beats people watching and the Ultimate Burger at David Burkes at Bloomingdales.

http://www.burkeinthebox.com/menus.html

Aduchamp--you are right on Coffee Shop--though it is close and they have outdoor seating and if you want rude faux model staff--there it is as a local suggestion.

Gotham is one of my favorite places, too. But Tifany/Foody (Tiffany/Foodie) wants something French-like.

First question I have is: What is the dinner budget? You mentioned Per Se..do you want to go for a big-name French place? If not, I bet you would like Balthazar. Wherever you plan to go, you need to reserve well in advance.

Rayuela is certainly not French!

For breakfast, City Bakery or Pan Quotidien are good and very near your hotel. You might even see some famous faces at City Bakery.

I know ekscrunchy, neither is WD-50--I prefaced it by saying getting away from French and expensive and said I enjoyed my meal there. (I meant Rayuela, not WD-50 on being not expensive, the WD-50 was getting away from the French.)

Actually nothing in the expensive realm fits "French bistro" anyhow.

Max Brenner is expensive for you get. The food is inconsistent, but if I had a kid to entertain I would take him/her there.

By the way there is a huge difference between French Bistro and haute French. Bistro is usually simpler and well known dishes such as moule frite, roasted chicken, salads, hangar steak. steak frite, quiches and basic fish. They do not have the complicated sauces and dishes that are associated with haute French.

By the way avoid most of the restaurants see you will see on Park Avenue South by the hotel expecially City Crab, Duke's, and L'Express. Samba Sushi-Brazilian/Japanese is interesting but incnsistent.

There is, however, a very interesting French place near there called Tocqueville. I have not been there since they moved but the same owners were dedicated to nouvelle haute French.

Glad you pointed out the Park Ave strip of bad/mediocre restaurants.

For breakfast, try Chez la Chef--I totally forgot about it until I saw Tocqueville and was reminded of the owner's appearance. On Lex and 29th--Really good breakfasts and pastries. Small menu, the french toast and tortilla espanola are quite good. Owner is eccentric German or Austrian. Far better choice than the chains and is close enough to your hotel.

I absolutely second Gramercy Tavern, Gotham Bar and Grill, Eleven Madison and ate in Bouley about a month ago and it was better than ever (and no tacky clientele thank you) - all are as NY (with great food) as you can get.

Per Se isn't anywhere close to French Bistro - it's definitely haute cuisine. And if your friend is picky you won;t want to risk the $800 or so - even if you could get a reservation.

If you really want French Bistro (very casual home style French food) there are a ton of good places. But,, if you want more classic traditional French - but with choices and a somewhat lower budget - try Le Grenouille. They have a prix fixe dinner for only $95. (Go to menupages.com for details on any of these places - actual menus with prices and diner reviews.)

Thank you all so much! I'll be checking these all out and getting my reservation set!