The usual nonsense:

New Yorkers-Bad
Visitors-Good

People who have lived here all their lives, know the city-Bad
People who come every once in a while-Good

New Yorkers-Snobs
Visitors-Salt of the earth

I am the original poster and have found that this thread has become rather interesting. I think the Marriott was a very reasonable suggestion even though I would probably not go there. (I now live in Chicago and we have had a revolving restaurant which I never considered going to because I thought it was "too touristy.") Yet I now am a tourist in New York, despite the fact that I lived there the first 21 years of my life.

Thanks to all for their suggestions. I still welcome more before making our final decision.

From a "good" "salt of the earth" visitor type:

I think it's great that you all have strong opinions. Hearing what people are passionate about -one way or the other- has helped me make many decisions re my upcoming trip.

You may think that the advice others give isn't valuable but I have learned from each of you and I thank you for that.

Plus, it's pretty entertaining when you get into a row

It's a shame that the NYC threads turn into this on a regular basis. I don't see it anywhere else on the US forum. It's a shame.

DMG, you've received some excellent suggestions from NYC locals and from regular visitors. NeoPatrick "visits" for as much as a month at a time. I value both mclaurie's and Neo's advice. Based on what I've read here over the years, I'd try to ignore the folks criticizing them.

Having said that, ellenem has taken me to some really good places in the city. I'd move Toloache to the top of my list. A very big plus is, as ellenem says, it is open continuously.

Enjoy your time in the city!

Clearly I was defending a suggestion given here -- what was your motivation for posting?

And I posted to DEFEND a valued poster from insults, not just post to GIVE insults.
Can you tell the difference?

Meanwhile, let's be realistic here. There is a world of difference between what major hotels put out for group catering and what they offer at their paid public venues. A WORLD of difference, in fact. I think most would agree with that.

Of course we all read questions differently here. Some read the OP and think "it must be wonderful food" even though that was never stated. Others may focus on the request for "a nice setting would be a bonus". Still others may think "a place to kill two to two and a half hours between shows and relax" reading between the lines of what the OP seemed to be asking for and relating to our personal experiences. Needless to say, we should all be able to give opinions without being put down by others for making what seems a good suggestion. It's too bad that's so hard to do here.

And Auduchamp, really, stop to READ and comprehend for a change. NO ONE is saying "tourists good and New Yorkers bad", but anyone should be able to see the difference between what a tourist may want with a few hours to kill in Times Square and a local who detests Times Square. Sometimes -- yes, I said sometimes -- tourists really do know better what other tourists might like since they often have the same interests which are totally different from people who live in a place.

DMG, I think you're biggest challenge is going to be finding a good place to eat that's open when your matinee is out. There are usually some "Don't eat in Times Square!!!" kind of posts, warning against restaurants that serve mediocre food at inflated prices. I don't disagree with those posts. But there ARE good places to eat, they just may not open until 5.

Until then, having a drink or appetizer at a "touristy place" is a pretty good idea. And yes, there are "touristy places" in a touristy place like Times Square. Yes, my Lemon Drop Martini may be up to $5 more than at home at a suburban restaurant - but heck, I'm in NYC, resting my feet, sitting back and relaxing and <gasp> enjoying a view!

It's at times like these I wish Sam's was still open. I still haven't found a replacement. I'm counting on HowardR to alert me when he locates it.

I am glad that Starrs does not like the advice of Eskrunchy and myself. It will leave open tables in the better restaurants.

It is comments like Starrs that ruin these baords. Personal vendettas over solid advice. People like Starrs who make a career out of working as a dogwalker every few years in NYC.

By the way, Starrs has also tried to ruin other topics of which she had no interest or knowledge. The last few she tried to ruin were a book club on the Lounge and a topic by the most generous and knowledgable poster on Turkey. Do see a trend?

" Needless to say, we should all be able to give opinions without being put down by others for making what seems a good suggestion. It's too bad that's so hard to do here."

I agree with Neo on that. Obviously.

It is strange, I have posted on the NY board hundreds of times. But the only time there is an argument is when Starrs and Neo get invovled.

Well maybe not strange, but that is the pattern.

To be noted - starrs has not "argued" with anyone on this thread.

But I do agree that there is indeed a pattern on NYC threads

I will say again that I agree with Neo and mclaurie's recommendations. Oh, and ellenem's as usual too

Auducamp speaking of "strange". . . the only time I seem to get in an argument about New York is when YOU are involved, and yes, I too have posted about New York hundreds of times. I've never seen an "argument" with only one person or one side expressed.

You have made it abundantly clear dozens of times that you dislike the Times Square area or theatre district with a passion. You have expressed over and over again that there are "no" good restaurants in that area. You have made it abundantly clear that people should go out of the area to eat before or after theatre. So doesn't it stand to reason, that if someone is asking where to eat in the theatre district, it would be "smart" of you to simply ignore that thread since you've already made it clear you have nothing to offer on that topic? Or would that spoil your fun?

Oh, and let me be fair. Once again I should mention that your often posted restaurant suggestions for places outside the theatre district in New York are WONDERFUL, and we all thank you for those. But please, if the question is about places in the theatre district and you have nothing to offer there as you yourself have clearly stated you don't, why not just ignore it?

A few weeks ago, I received a gift of Broadway theater tickets. I live in Manhattan, but hardly ever go to the theater or eat in the theater district. Since I was going with a friend from NJ, we decided to meet for dinner in the theater district, since it would be convenient to his bus terminal and to the theater.

How did I pick a restaurant? I looked for NeoPatrick's threads about theater district dining, because I know that even though he lives in Florida, his annual month-long visits to Manhattan include daily meals in the theater district. If I had been heading to the Upper East Side or Brooklyn or Flushing, I would have searched for posts by different Fodorites.

Comparing NeoPatrick's notes with the comments of other regular posters whose recommendations I have found helpful, we chose Toloache—and had a very nice meal. We also required an early start time since our show began at 7PM and we like to take our time over dinner, so the open hours they offered worked well for us. I only felt able to recommend Toloache on this thread because it seemed to fit the OP's requirements: light dinner (small plates), open hours, theater district.

Enough with the insults already....and back to helping the poster, please!
I'm surprised no one has suggested good old Joe Allen's on West 46th Street. You can certainly get a light dinner there, though I'm not sure specifically about the cobb salad or pizza. Still, there will be many options....and you certainly can't beat, in my words, "the theater district ambiance." Just be sure to make reservations in advance.

Thanks HowardR. Joe Allen's is a good idea. Many years ago I ate at Orso's which I think was owned by Joe's daughter. Is that still a good place? I think it was one of the first places that I had thin-crusted pizza.

I will also check out Tolache.

Yes, Orso's is still owned by the family and is still very good. I just don't think of recommending that place for light dinner!

I like the La Scala salad at Joe Allen's and my reco of Bar Centrale above Joe Allen's and owned by the same people got lost in the shuffle. I've only had drinks there, but the menu is interesting http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/bar-centrale/menu and the setting very unique.