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italian restaurants around midtown
nice italian restaurant near times square $$-$$$
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MAREA on Central Park South is one of the best in the city right now. Ten minute walk from Times Square. I dont know how your $$ translate, so have no idea if it is within your budget.
They offer a $48 "business lunch." Lunch: http://www.marea-nyc.com/menus/Marea-Menu-Lunch.pdf Dinner: http://www.marea-nyc.com/menus/Marea-Menu-Dinner.pdf |
Check out the list below from menupages. It's most of the Italian restaurants in the West 40's sorted down by price, high to low. Check out the $$ and $$$ prices with lots of rating and rated 3 1/2 or higher. Examples are Basilica with $$$, 4 star rating and over a hundred reviews. John's Pizzeria is $$ with 4 stars and lots of reviews. Than you can click on the restaurant name and read the actual reviews.
http://menupages.com/restaurants/mid.../sort/Price-1/ |
I topped edeevee's trip report. They ate at Tony's di Napoli and really enjoyed it.
http://menupages.com/restaurants/ton...page=2#reviews My favorite in the area is now closed but I'm planning to go to Tony's when I'm back. |
Marea, while excellent, is at least $$$$ in terms of cost, completely out of the range the OP is requesting. It is also not suitable for families (the OP doesn't mention a family, but I want to make that clear), and the focus of the menu is on seafood, though not exclusively so.
I like Etcetera Etcetera on 44th (near 9th Ave); the same people own ViceVersa on 51st (near 8th Ave.). I consider both of these "nice" but they are not traditional red sauce restaurants. I also like Tony's Dinapoli on 44th, which is a more traditional red sauce restaurant that has family-style portions (individual at lunch); it's not as crazy as Carmine's but it's still pretty busy. These are all well within your price range. There are many others, so I'm sure you'll get more recommendations |
oh boy....ate at marea, two of four of us got very sick (dover sole). not good. i have thought of tony dinapoli but is it really touristy?? how about carmines? oh, anything under $40/entree for dinner is fine....thx
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And Maria Pia ... also nice on 51st Street and not very expensive.
Most restaurants around Times Square are touristy, so what you want are the good ones. ViceVersa draws more of a NYC crowd, but it still has a fair complement of tourists. Tony's DiNapoli is probably more touristy than the others, but not on the level of Carmine's. Really, while I (unlike many on this board) like Carmine's, the one on the Upper West Side is heads and tails above the Times Square branch in terms of quality and service. You can't make reservations unless you have 6 people in your party, and the wait for a table in Times Square often exceeds 90 minutes. I just don't see it as worth the wait. On the Upper West Side, at least, the restaurant is so cavernous, that you can get a large party seated in 30 or 45 minutes at the most, even on weekends (usually). Carmine's is definitely NOT a place I'd recommend for 2 people, however. On a side note, I find it particularly difficult to believe that you would have gotten sick from food at Marea, which is one of NYC's finest restaurants. But I guess anything can happen. |
doug....you wouldnt have found it hard to believe if you were in our hotel room that night....ruined my trip. but thanks for questioning it. rxist
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Here are two additional suggestions that refute comments about the supposed lackluster quality of restaurants in the midtown area:
Lattanzi on West 46th, between 8th & 9th. Remi on West 53rd, between 6th & 7th. |
We had reservations for http://www.osteria-doge.com/
via OpenTable a couple of years ago. We overscheduled that day and had to cancel the reservation. I don't remember WHICH Fodorite recommended it, but was looking forward to it on the basis on the recommendation here. |
Marea is primarily a fish restaurant, yet their chef is known for his sublime pastas and there are plenty of non-fish options. Most of the main courses are under $40, yet in any case it is out since the OP has eaten there and did not enjoy! And even been sick.
Marea is about as far removed from Carmine's as is possible in the the realm of NYC Italian restaurants. Carmine's has many fans; I am not among them. What exactly are the parameters for the $$ signs? |
thought the same thing about touristy, so can I recommend out that's a bit out of the way but a bit more NY, and that's GUSTO's on Greenwich Ave between 6th and 7th Ave. Easy to get to on the 1/2/3 train to 14th St and just around the corner when you exit the subway.
Wonderful food, prepared by Chef/Owner Saul Montiel and well worth the trip. Wonderful wine list too. |
For decent, inexpensive Italian in the w. 40s, check out Basilica. Gusto's is good, but not in the Times Sq area (although quick subway ride away).
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Not quite as far from Times Square as Marea is Trattoria dell'Arte, at 56th and Seventh. Part of the Fireman Group, and consistently excellent. Not quite so pricey as Marea, maybe more $$$ than $$.
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We like Trattoria del Arte. Not sure if it fits in with your $ - but it's not high-priced. Pleasant food, good location, fun atmosphere - and a great giant nose in the window.
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Here is a place that is very expensive, so we go there rarely but still maintains a great reputation: Il Gattopardo
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Cara Mia on 9th is a nice quiet place on 9th, good for two people. Full disclosure: I haven't been there in about 2 years, but it was nice that last time I was there.
Becco (Lidia's place) on restaurant row is OK. They're busy, especially just before show times, so make a reservation well in advance. |
Maria Pia is still good. 319 West 53rd St. between 8th and 9th.
http://mariapianyc.com/media/websitemari.html |
Great suggestions here!
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