We will be staying at the Essex House Hotel on Central Park South. We like intimate restaurants, not overly large or trendy. Any recommendations not too far from the hotel?

What is your price range, per person, before tax and tip and without drinks?

Here is one idea, with moderate prices (main courses mostly in the $20s):

http://www.seasonalnyc.com/#about

Hmmm ... not really. That's the least neighborhoody, most expensive area of Manhattan. Nearby are basically offices, big hotels, and touristy places (or really excellent, albeit expensive, places). One of our better restaurants is near your hotel (Marea, which specializes in seafood).

But Le Bonne Soupe is not so far away on 55th, and that's nice, cheap, and friendly. It's not small but also not big.

And I LOVE Maison Kayser on Broadway near 59th St. for take-out sandwiches. It's very expensive to eat in, however. The bread and pastries are great. Next door is Grom, one of the best gelato places in NYC.

True that this is not the area for "neighborhoody" places. But in addition to Seasonal, which I mentioned above, Acquavit is an excellent place that rarely gets mentioned here. Not a vast space, but with excellent service and excellent food. Prices higher than Seasonal, with mains in the $40 range:


http://www.aquavit.org/restaurant/newyork/index.asp

..sorry for mispelling of Aquavit!

I like Marea, mentioned by Doug, very much, but the dining room is on the large side, as are many in the area.

If you post your budget you may get answers that will be more helpful.

Eks

We went to Aquavit after Samuelson left and the food was not as good, has it returned to its former status? We used to love that place.

Marea is also on the expensive side.

The only "neighborhood" near your hotel is Hell's Kitchen. You'll find a wide range of good, small, inexpensive neighborhood-type restaurants there in the blocks between 57th and 43rd Street. It's probably your best source for reasonably priced dining in the area. But "midtown" is not really a residential neighborhood (not that you won't find pockets of residents ... I'm surrounded by residential buildings here at 55th and Broadway), but it has absolutely no residential character and, thus, no neighborhood places to eat. If you want a real neighborhood, then choose a hotel in a predominately residential neighborhood like Murray Hill or the Upper West Side. Then you'll have many more choices.

I was going to suggest Le Bonne Soup, but Doug already did!
They had a great lunch deal when I went, not sure if that's still the case.

Where did the OP state that he or she is looking for moderately priced dining?

I'mdone: I ate there after he left, and only ahd the one dinner there. I had not been when MS was the chef, so cannot compare, but we had a very good dinner. Quite a few complimentary small plates (for all the diners). But prices are on the high side, as you know.

Thanks Eks. We used to go there for Restaurant Week. It was one the places that offered the same things from the regular menu.

Le Bonne Soupe was one of my mother's favorite places.
We have enjoyed many small ethnic restaurants along 9th Ave.