I just booked tickets for Madame Butterfly on a Friday evening in Oct. We'll probably come into the city in the early afternoon and the show starts at 8 PM. Any suggestions for a casual dinner near Lincoln Center? I have hotel reservations in the Times Square area but if anyone has a favorite in the area of the opera, please let me know.

we enjoy O'Neals lincoln center and Josephina's.

Both suggestions are good and also Fiorella's (?) right across from Lincoln Center.

I know many people hate it when people steer others in a different direction, but I asked this same question here last year and HowardR talked me into making a reservation for dinner AT the Met at the Terrace Restaurant. I hadn't planned on spending that much, but it wasn't THAT much more than the other places mentioned. And it MADE our evening at the opera ever more wonderful. Great food served before the performance, and then we returned to our table at intermission for dessert and coffee. While we loved the opera, the dinner there made the whole evening really special. It is something to think about.

I just had a great meal last night at WHYM, on 9th avenue, between 58 & 57th. My friend calls the cuisine "eclectic inventive." The salads are wonderful, and the short ribs with plum glaze were outstanding. Desserts are straightforward and nicely done. Dinner for four, no alcohol, was $123 before tip. It is a short walk to Lincoln Center.

sorry about the double post, but the restaurant is spelled all in lower-case letters: whym (reads the same upside-down!).

saw MB last season. Loved the production. Enjoy!

If you like upscale Mexican, try ROSA MEXICANO
62nd and Columbus Ave...2 blocks from the Met.
Their guacamole made table side is fantastic.

I also love Fiorello's...especially the antipasto bar

Nice Indian restaurant near there called Saphire.

I'm just so jealous -- I've never been to the Met and have always wanted to go. And I love MB.

Someday...someday...

Thanks for the restaurant ideas. I'll try to get online menus to help me make a choice.

I also love O'Neals.

We always like Shun Lee on 65th - upscale chinese.

P.J. Clarke's just opened across the street too. If you want a really light dinner, there's also Pain Quotian (sp) on W. 65th off Broadway and Europan, both basically salads/sandwiches/paninis, etc.

IMO, all the suggestions on here are good ones.

You say "I'll try to get online menus to help me make a choice." In case you don't know of it, do check out menupages.com. It's a great resource for NYC restaurants, showing menus and user reviews.

Enjoy MB!!