I am looking for a special restaurant for an after grad dinner close to Radio City ( that's where the grad is) on a monday night for 4 people on may 8- I've always wanted to go to Giraffe, is it holding it's reputation ? We are fussy and not easily impressed. No budget that night.

We are staying in Union Square area so we could always return to that area for dinner.

thanks in advance.

Do you mean the Quilted Giraffe, the restaurant that closed several years ago? You're cutting things a bit close in terms of making reservations at a top restaurant, but luckily, Monday is a slow night. Union Square Cafe is an excellent choice, but it may be too late to get a reservation there, even on a Monday night. Gramercy Tavern is not terribly far from Union Square, nor is 11 Madison Park. Both are excellent upscale choices.

You can eat in the Tavern at Gramercy Tavern if you can't get a reservation in the dining room.

Excellent.

I would highly recommend Le Bernardin, it is located on 51st Street between 6th/7th Avenue, close to Radio City. Although the room itself is very subdued, the food is out of this world, especially if you like seafood.

Everything kangamom says about Le Bernardin is true, but again, it's way too late to get a reservation there for May 8. This restaurant books solid one month or more in advance. Friends recently got a 10:30pm reservation on a Wednesday night with just a week advance notice, so if you are willing to make the sacrifice, it might be possible. I forgot to mention Asiate, in the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It's nowhere near where you are staying or going but an excellent choice and a truly fine wine list.

Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Gotham Bar & Grill. These are near your hotel.

Near Radio City, Piano Due or Alto.

I just checked and saw all your replies; many thanks !! I'll start making calls today and see what I can get.

If nothing works out by phone, I'll send my daughter on monday to go plead for a table in person, she can be pretty persuasive; she's home in montreal for the weekend.

I'll keep you posted on my findings.

I disagree that it is too late to reserve at Le Berrnadin; I was so surprised by that comment that I checked on Open Table and they do, in fact, have availability for both 6:30 and 7:45. It would be a wonderful, and convenient, place for your celebration.

I missed your comment, eksruchy and just checked Open Table too. I also found 8:30 available on May 8 at Le Bernadin. Monday night reservations are a lot easier than Friday or Saturday nights.

Hmmm. Gotham Bar and Grill. I actually like it better than either Union Square Cafe (where they always make us wait for our reservation with absolutely no place to sit or stand as the bar is always full of diners) or even Grammercy Tavern, which I do love. I don't know why I like it better -- it can't be that silly Statue of Liberty in the middle of the place -- or is that it after all? I guess the place is just so relaxed and not pretentious in any way, and the food is always magnificent.

Gotham would be a great choice if you don't reserve at Le Bernadin. On the far east side, but within a nice walk of Radio City is L'Impero, great food in a lovely space worthy of a celebration. The Quilted Giraffe....that truly was a memorable spot..it first opened in the far east 50s if I am remembering right, and later moved west.

You might check Cirque2000 at the Palace Hotel, beautiful surroundings and excellent food.

Bad idea. Le Cirque closed over a year ago.

(It will reopen on E. 58th Street at the end of May or early June.)

I came back yesterday; we adored the Gramercy Tavern restaurant, the decor is divine and the food was heavenly; the Union Square Cafe was fine (although the fish was not cooked in the middle and we had to send it back); they did send us off with a box of squares and cookies which were to die for, home made stuff.
Excellent service at both, very pleasant staff.

Thanks again for the suggestions, it made the grad trip most festive and pleasant. DD is now in posession of a Masters in studio arts at nyu, she loved her 2 years in nyc but is returning to Montreal to work and live. The grad ceremony at Radio City was lovely.
I had lunch twice at Mayrose diner, a very fun place in the union square area; I never tire of seeing the market set up across from the W hotel as I stroll on over to s....bucks to get my first cap at 7 a.m.