good eating near Times Square
 

We'll be in NYC in June and staying near Times Square. I'm looking for recommendations for good/unique places to eat (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner). Thanks.

You'll have to be a little more specific, considering the following:
1. There are literally hundreds of places to choose from.
2. What do you consider "unique"?
3. How about a price range?
4. What type(s) of food?
Etc., etc., etc.

Thanks for the reply.

1. I know.
2. Someplace you won't find most anywhere else. And would be enjoyed by adults and teens.
3. $30/person max.
4. Anything but seafood.

Thanks for your help.

don't miss juniors for cheesecake not sure of street but near marriott marquiz and spamalot theater.

Well- you don;t have to worry about seafood - since you won;t get that for under $30 per person (assuming you mean the meal - or do you mean just the entree for $30)?

If you mean the entire meal, including beverage tip and tax, you'll be fairly limited at $30 to budget ethnic places - there are a bunch on 9th avenue. If that's the case you might want to check New York Magazine and Village Voice web sites for articles on the best cheap places in NYC.

If you mean entree obviously you have a lot more choices, although I can't think of any place in the area that's so unique. (I know of some interesting places on upper west side - Argentinian, Ethiopian, Dominican, etc - but not right near Times Square).

<i>In general</i>, restaurants near/in Times Square are mediocre to bad, and/or a bad value. There are a few exceptions. Focus on the word <i>few</i>.

New Yorkers avoid that area like the plague, so it's tough to find &quot;unique&quot; places -- Olive Garden has an outlet in Times Square, if that helps.

When I'm stuck in that area and need something better than McDonald's (in your price range), I go for Cuban at Havana Central.

www.havanacentral.com

Excellent food in a Hemingway-esque atmosphere.

Some tourist theater-goers will swear by their favorites, you'll find out shortly in this thread, but they are generally not knowledgeable about other options in Manhattan, so take their suggestions with a grain of salt.

The great thing is, it's easy to get around Manhattan, and Times Square has subway options that will take you to better dining areas and options.

Enjoy NYC!

If I see that tourist trap Havana Central with its psuedo Cuban food and overpriced sweet drinks mentioned once more as being one of the BEST options in the area, I may gag. It ranks right up there with Bubba Gumps and similar theme restaurants with a big &quot;bar scene&quot;. It is the sort of place that gives Times Square that bad name you talk about. In fact Zagat's overall rating is 2 points higher for Bubba Gumps than for Havana Central -- what does THAT tell you? I realize Gekko that you once said your friends own it -- your loyalty to them is admirable -- but no one but no one except you seems to recommend it. Read the consistent slams on Chowhound, for example, or on Menu Pages.

Some time when you get trapped in that &quot;hellhole&quot; of Times Square you really ought to go to one of the many good places instead of that tourist trap. You clearly are not familiar with the area's restaurants.

Generally speaking I think that by the Times Square or theatre area, most people include everything from about 40th to 52nd or so and from Sixth Avenue to Ninth Avenue. When it is suggested that New Yorkers shun that area, I wonder if that includes the thousands of New Yorkers who actually live in that area -- do they know their neighborhood restaurants -- particularly that burgeoning restaurant row of Ninth Avenue is all mediocre?

Meanwhile it's funny that someone who proclaims to be one of the New Yorkers who shuns Times Square restaurants would somehow then also proclaim to be an expert on them. How many times have you eaten at those places others recommend since you purposely avoid the area? And how can you pretend to know what's good or not when you don't go there -- other than to (gasp) Havana Central of all places? Why do you make fun of others who may not know a lot about restaurants in other parts of the city, when you clearly know nothing about the restaurants in the part of the city that you love to badmouth?

Go ahead, now. Slam back -- I know you will.

Bravo!!
I read so many pans of Times Square Restaurants, I thought I might get poisoned just by walking through the area. If you check out the side streets there are tons of (I know I exaggerate) of small restaurants. I doubt there is a mystical genie that requires bad food to be produced in Times Square.

I rest my case. (So predictable!)

Like I said, with so many subway options, you can quickly &amp; easily get to areas of Manhattan with &quot;unique&quot; dining options.

Check out &quot;little Brazil&quot; 46th street between 5th and 6th Avenue for some delicious Brazilian restaurants. Not in the middle of Times Square, but close enough. Just google &quot;little Brazil&quot; + NY.

I agree, Junior's for cheesecake is a must. Neo has said that their diabetic version is awful, so stay away from that, but the &quot;regular&quot; is divine.

We have eaten at Molyvos twice: had a splendid meal the first time, a so-so one the second time. So it's not a ringing endorsement, but there it is. It's upscale(ish) Greek--definitely no gyros! But I, too, am confused about the $30 rule--if that's total per person, you can do it at Molyvos only if you scrimp.

Just a very few of the really good places that fit your budget in the area that those of us who KNOW the area often recommend:
(the number in parenthesis is the food rating from Zagat --to compare to the 17 for Havana Central)
John's Pizza (22) really good pizza in an old church
Angus MacIndoe (17) show biz three levels, celebrities after theatre.
Roberto Passon (23) amazingly good Italian in a neighborhood type place at bargain prices
Becco (21) often recommended for their unlimited three pastas served at your table
Chez Josephine (21) supper club atmosphere dedicated to Josephine Baker
LeMadeleine (20) French bistro --eat in the &quot;garden&quot;
Carmine's (20) noisy and crowded family style Italian -- tons of food for the money
Carnegie Deli(21)or Stage Deli (20) take your pick for giant sandwiches and deli specialties or huge breakfast-- both legendary
Virgil's (20) real barbecue in casual &quot;roadhouse&quot; atmosphere
Cosi (17) cheap breakfast or sandwich places.
Utsav (21) super and inexpensive Indian buffet for lunch in pretty setting
Jezabel (19) Southern and soul food in a romantic atmosphere with porch swings.
Cara Mia (20) more good Italian at bargain prices.

Oh, I forgot Carmine's, because it's usually just the two of us and Carmine's is way more fun with a crowd. They serve everything family style, and indeed in huge portions. You might really enjoy that.

I also think everyone should go to Carnegie or Stage Deli once.

Thanks for the reminders, Neo.

Another vote for Virgil's BBQ. Kitschy (hey, it's Times Square) but great food and a fun atmosphere. And cheap!

Chipotle is all over the city, and even though it's a huge chain, it's a NYC staple. Best burritos on earth, if not in the whole universe. I'm biased because I'm addicted.

Are you venturing downtown at all? We stumbled upon a small restaurant called South's somewhere around Ludlow Street (check menupages.com) and LOVED IT. Very reasonable and absolutely incredible food -- the whole table agreed. New favorite :)

Russian Samovar restaurant on 52nd between 8th and Broadway. Live music most nights. Great people-watching. A little dive-y, but certainly memorable.

Another Fodorite gave me the very good advice to look for little restaurants in the Time Square area, by walking a few blocks west from the Marriott there. It was great advice, as there are restaurants in every doorway, and each looked great. We chose Danny's Grand Sea Palace, www.dannysgsp.com, at 346-348 West 46th Street, 212 265 8130. It was pretty good, but we wished we'd chosen someplace more upscale.
:)&gt;-

Has anyone eaten at Southside Cafe on 47th between 8th &amp; Broadway? It has great ratings on menupages.com. Neo, do you know zagats rating? It looks good to me, but I truly have no idea.

Southside is not in Zagat's. I was reading something about that place just a couple days ago, though. Was that from you maybe?

No, it wasn't me. At least I don't think so. I found it on menupages when I was looking for somewhere to eat before the theater. I do not want to go somewhere out of the district to eat that night. Someone had recommended Carmines as good Italian, but the loud, familystyle dining did not appeal to me. Rather have something a little more intimate. Southside Cafe has fireplace dining (I am the one dreading the cold) so this sounded good while being dressed for the theater.

If you want really good Italian -- corner of 50th and 9th --take a look at www.robertopasson.com