New Ideas Needed for NYC Pre-Theater Dining
 

Am taking my 16-year-old niece to NYC in August and have tickets to see Legally Blonde and Wicked. What are good pre-theater restaurants for dinner before those shows? Last year, her older sister and I went to Vice Versa before seeing Wicked and enjoyed it, but this niece wants to try something different. Many thanks for any ideas you may have!

A few questions:
1. How do you (and/or your niece) define "different"?
2. How much do you want to spend?
3. What type(s) of food?

1. Different from Vice Versa
2. $50-75 pp
3. We love Italian, French, Asian, New American, just about anything except Indian.

Ok, I'll tell her.

Please do a simple search of "Pre-theatre dining" and you will find many many posts about this. Or try New York City+dining+teenagers or try neopatrick trip reports
or broadway+restaurants.

Really. lots of threads. read them and maybe you might have more ideas and come back with more specific questions.

Thanks, but I did that and the first few pages were you telling Fodor's posters to do that. Nice.

I don't understand your attitude - I'm not trying to be snotty - but there ARE literally tons of posts about this recently - and when I just now typed the words "pre-theatre dining" lots of different threads come up - from 4/22/08, from 6/2708, 1/17/08 - I could go on.

I agree with Marysmommy--this board is for sharing good and timely advice. Restaurants can change like the weather. I did a quick search as you suggested and the latest one was from April. The one before that was from 2006. If you don't feel like posting a helpful response to a question, then don't.

MM: If you like Italian, I'd recommend Remi or Lattanzi, both are convenient to the theater (and the "theatre") district.

Have a great trip!

MP is one of best for NYC advice on here, no need to treat her that way.

I also suggested neopatricks MONTH IN NYC report which is dated in June, 2008. tons of restaurant discussions in that.

Thanks so much, BB.

MP: I have had wonderful experience in getting great advice from Fodor's posters for several years. I'm very generous with my advice in return. Your original message drips condescension: "Okay, I'll tell her" and "simple search" and "Really." As if I'm an idiot. If we all just start searching and not posting new info, then this board will lose its usefulness.

We enjoyed Sardis for lunch. You will need a reservation during busy times. We ate our main meal for lunch and then a quick bite before the play.

We could not afford the dinner prices and some of the food is pretty much the same, but smaller protions. It is delicious and very famous.
http://www.sardis.com/htmldocs/cms/

Have a good trip.

Marysmommy , frankly your questions were so general and vague and abrupt that I had to rein in my condencension. Really. And I was not the first to ask for specifics.

BB - advising a poster to do a search with specific info about what to put in that search IS a helpful response.

There is tons of recent info about this. If you can't find it, well . . .

Marysmommy:

Here are a few we've enjoyed, that the younger ones in our family seem to like:

www.marseillenyc.com

http://tourdefrancenyc.com/

Another of the group, Maison, on Broadway, is also one we've enjoyed - (if not for dinner, for breakfast and have some beignets)

Remi, which someone mentioned, is one of our all time favorites - along with Roberto Passon, China Grill

or what about the Modern at MOMA?

MP, please give it a break. You are being terribly rude. If you can't be pleasant and helpful, then please don't respond.

MM: please don't be put off by MP. Your questions were fine and I know you and your niece will get plenty of good advice from other Fodorites. Enjoy your trip!

Sardi's, Maison, and Marseilles all sound wonderful! My niece loves French restaurants, in particular. Thanks so much for the great ideas--we'll be sure to toast you when we hit the town.

BB - I'm sorry but asking a poster to do a search and supplying information about that search is not rude. And I take offense at your calling me rude. So why don't you drop the name calling?

Marysmommy: I just saw this thread pop up - it is a very recent (this week) discussion on ideas for pre theater italian with lots of participation by those who have recommended many great restaurants before - including one of the editors - you might find some ideas in there also -

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35142755

Thanks so much, Escargot--these look fabulous. We might have to stay an extra day and night just to try more restaurants out! Really good list, many thanks.

Try Chez Josephine on West 42nd Street between 9th & 10 Avenues....wonderful food, wonderful ambiance PLUS its charming owner/host, Jean-Claude Baker. It's surely different from Vice Versa.

Howards choice is also a great one - if you don't eat there, we brought our kids there post theater for dessert and they enjoyed it - and/or if you can be a night owl then go tothe west bank cafe across the street for some real post theater fun downstairs

That last comment about downstairs at the West Bank (the Laurie Beechman Theatre) mainly refers to Friday nights starting at 11 -- the After Party, it's called.

These are great ideas--I hadn't thought about dessert after the theater, but that's a great way to see yet another fun place. Thank you so much! We're very excited.

Thanks NeoPatrick, I'm a bit off my game today -

or if you aren't up for that, try Thalia's for after theater dessert, the younger ones (teens) in our family loved that one too - or now you can also search for "post theater" - there are some great threads on post theater ideas for dessert and/or music -

I love Thalia for after theatre -- and it's right across the street from Wicked (corner of 50th and 8th). They have great desserts and also a super fruit plate or you can order great cheeses individually for a nice after theatre course, served with some fruit and nuts. You can sit at the high tables with stools in the bar area, at the bar, or at comfortable tables and chairs. Some places make you feel like second class citizens walking in after theatre and saying you just want dessert. Not so at Thalia.

And for a more casual dessert place after theatre, you can't beat the cheesecake at Juniors right in Shubert Alley.

Thanks, Patrick! Does Thalia's, or the others you mention, take reservations for post theater?

They might, but in my experience there is no need for it at all. Still, I usually do book via Open Table and get points -- but only if we're having dinner, not just drinks or dessert. Many places give 1000 points for off hours like after theatre so they really rack up quick. Today in the mail I received four $50 open table certificates -- all earned from our month in NYC.

Last we went to Thalia's this past January, the concierge at our hotel did make reservations for us, but we were a large party - although Patrick is right, we didn't really need them - there were a fair amount of empty tables -but if it makes you feel more comfortable, make a rezzie - let us know where you end up !

I enjoy taking my daughter to China Grill at 53rd and Ave. of the Americas. We share dishes like the duck salad, ribs, and share dessert. The service is usually great. I don't know where you are staying but The Hudson Hotel "Cafeteria" is fun and is around 58th. We also went to Rockefeller Center and ate outside pre-theater. Hope that helps.

Sardi's is colorful.
Aquavit was where I took my teenage daughters and it was fascinating...

Thanks everyone for the great advice!

Bonlou: We're staying at the St. Regis. I've always wanted to try China Grill--thanks!

shspiller: I agree--Aquavit is a kick--haven't been there in years. That's really a different place to take her that she can't find in Richmond, VA (where she lives). Thanks!