Midtown Restaurants
 

I know that midtown is not the best place for dining, but sometimes you need to go with convenience and the tastes of a somewhat picky 17-year-old. I've found a few places that I haven't heard anything about and wondered if anyone had opinions -

Italian - La Locanda (9th and 50th), 44 Southwest (9th and 44th)
Mexican - El Centro (54th and 9th)
American Pub - Joe Allen (46th and 9th), suppose to be a Broadway hang out
Delis - Majestic Deli (50th and 7th). Other deli suggestions for lunch while shopping on 5th? (He has to go to the Apple store!)

I need a couple of inexpensive choices in the area. Trying to avoid the Times Square chains and real tourist traps but stay in the area. Leaving tomorrow! Thanks.

http://restaurantrownyc.com/media/restaurantrow.html I've had good luck at the Hourglass Tavern. Lots of variety and not too expensive. There are many restaurants to pick from and the area is in walking distance of Times Sq. Note I'm from SC, so some locals may have better advice!

On your list, the only one that's very well known is Joe Allen's which has decent food and the occasional celebrity. Understand that because it's famous, you generally need a reservation. It's on restaurant row with a number of other good options including Hourglass tavern mentioned above. House of Brews is also not bad for basic American. 44 Southwest is supposed to be good. (Do you know about menupages.com?)

For Italian, Basilica and Trattoria Trecolori are popular with families. Vynl and Film Center Cafe are also cheap and decent. Junior's is famous for their cheesecake. John's pizzeria (west 44th st.)

The Apple store is in a very expensive area. If you head east toward Bloomingdales (on Lexington ave.) you'll find more affordable options. There's also a food court underneath Rockefeller Center which is not that far.

Many very good places have relatively inexpensive ($20–$30) three-course prix-fixe lunch menus. That's not a whole lot more than a deli would cost.

Trattoria Trecolori is an excellent choice.

Teens love: The Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridian. Don't let the chi chi hotel fool you, this place is a dive and every celebrity in the world has eaten there and signed the was. Outstanding burgers.

Brooklyn Diner: West 57th and Seventh Avenues, varied choices.

Angelos Coal Oven Pizza: West 57th between Sixth and Seventh Aves.

Thank you all! You certainly have given us a lot of choices. I just bought tix to Rock of Ages, which appears to be right next to Trattoria Trecolori, so that may be an easy choice. The menus at Basilica and 44 Southwest also seem to hit our price point and menu. (Yes, I have been checking recommendations out on menupages.

Two more questions - my son LOVES cheesecake so John's is tempting. How is the rest of the food? Can you just sit down for a piece of cheesecake if its not prime dinner or lunch hour?

Also, still looking for a good deli/bagel shop in the midtown area besides Carnegie and Stage. In many posts the Fodorites seem to dislike these tourist joints, but no one has other options that are not way downtown like 2nd Ave and Katz's. It can be a hole in the wall place, gritty, but with GREAT food!

No frills place for a [good] begal on the go in midtown: Ess-a-bagel - 3rd Ave b/t 50th & 51st streets.

>I know that midtown is not the best place for dining<

One of the world's greatest restaurants--Le Bernadin--is in Midtown.

So is Aquavit, The Modern, Del Frisco's, Sea Grill, and La Grenouille.

Thingorjus

Yes, I have had recommendations for Ess-a-bagel and plan to make the cross-town trek this trip. Maybe for that lunch! I'm sure those midtown restaurants are great, but maybe pricier than my request for places to eat with my picky 17-year-old son?

cindyj, there are office workers all over midtown, and we do not regularly sit down to 'inexpensive' $20-$30 per person lunches.

Just look for pizza places that seem busy, takeout local delis (not 'destination' delis like Katz's, but places that will sell you a simple sandwich to go for about $6-7), local chains like Cosi (sandwiches and salads, about $8), Au Bon Pain ( a few locations, including Port Authority Bus Terminal)
Some of these places are on side streets, not the major avenues, so follow the local crowds. (And of course, there are some fast food places, from McDonald's to Chipotle, as backups if you get desperate)