My wife and I are going to NY this weekend, staying at the W Union Square... Now I need to find a place to eat Saturday night. We are 30's, and want trendy, but good food. We obviously need a place where we can get into,,, this may be the difficult part.
Who out there knows of some little cool place where the two of us can get a great dinner, great service and still be able to get in this weekend. Price does not matter, but we don't want something stuffy.

At this late a date for a busy weekend, I would suggest the bar at Gramercy Tavern.

I don't know if you will find reservations anyplace but try www.opentable.com

Good luck!

You do remember that Saturday is Valentine's Day, right? I would suggest you call the hotel concierge & hope that they have some pull somewhere!

Have fun!

Since you are staying at the W, why not see if they can get you into the restaurant downstairs, Todd English's Olives. Fantastic restaurant. I eat there often. Also in that neighborhood you could try Patria and Blue Water Grill.

I was also going to suggest Olives at the W. It is delicious and the atmosphere is nice. If you don't want to dine at your hotel, you can try one of my favorite restaurants in the 'hood -- Les Halles at Park Ave South and 28th (I think). I'd call for a reservation. It's a french steakhouse. Not exactly romantic, since the tables are very close and it can get quite noisy, but the food is delicious and it has a special place in my heart since we went there the night we got engaged.

Everyone here has made some really good suggestions (meaning, I agree with them!) but here are a few more ideas - call the better restaurants in the area (Gramercy, Union Square, Patria, Toqueville, craft) and ask if they have any cancellations or a waiting list - even as close as two hours before.
Try dining at 5:30 or 6:00 (early for NYC) and go to a romantic bar or fun club after . . .
Try good, but not great neighborhood places . . . Candela (lotsa candles, very romantic)Via Emilia (small homey Italian, excellent pasta on Park Ave. South)
Pipa (great atmosphere and sangria)
Steak Frites (boisterous, ok food)
or you could just get room service . . . .

Thanks for the info. What type of food at Olives??

go to menupages.com for the menu at Olive's.

Wow, it's going to be tough at this late hour. I agree with trying
www.opentable.com

Or just be very flexible about what time you dine -- like 5pm or 11pm.

In any case, you'll have a ton of fun in New York this weekend.

Unsolicited tip o' the day: After or before dinner, enjoy a fantastic Russian martini at PRAVDA, on Lafayette Street just south of Houston. It's a tres cool subterranean space that's easy to miss from the street. Trust me, it's worth finding. The bloody mary is also excellent.

Love Martini's...mmmmmm
We will be sure to find it,,, Thanks.
Checked the menu at Olives,,, not really impressed,,, keep the suggestions coming. I liked the rec's for the little Italian places,,, any more of those???

I would actually recommend going to the theatre district and trying to get in someplace right at 8, when all the shows are starting. Someplace like La Madeliene near Hell's Kitchen or Blue Fin, a huge restaurant attached to the W Time Square.

Mike that is a great suggestion! Foley's Fish House, Becco, Molyvos, or Trattoria d'ell Arte maybe?

You might want to check out Candela, off Union Square and very close to your hotel. Medieval type decor, very good food. As for Italian, trying theatre area restaurants right at curtain time might work, and take a look at Lattanzi, one of our favorite Italian places in that area.

I fear alot of people have already thought of Mike's suggestion and will descend on the Theater District at 7:30 for tables. It's definitely worth a shot, but I'd have a back-up plan (such as late reservations).

Hey, New York is the city that never sleeps. You can take a long nap in the afternoon with the missus, enjoy a libation or two at one of our popular lounges, have a late dinner (since late reservations are all you can get), then sip a chocolate martini at Pravda until 2am. New Yorkers do it all the time.

Unsolicited Lounge Tip: PLAY, on Grove Street. Very new, very hip. Doesn't open until 10pm, however, so a beer at famous speakeasy CHUMLEY'S would be in order first.

For further info, go to www.sheckys.com

http://www.brguestinc.com/index.php?page=fia
http://trulytuscan.com/

Get a late reservation (the best you can hope for!) at any of the above spots; then go to the Algonquin Room Blue Bar for drinks and appetizers and while away a few hours.