New York!
 

Two of my girlfriends and I are traveling to NY for the first time this August. We have a reservation at the Broadway Plaza Hotel and would like to know about the area. We saw some customer reviews that mention the area is a bit sketchy. I am concerned for our safety. Is the neighborhood as bad as they say? Please help ease our minds! Thanks!

I'm very familiar with that area and although I feel perfectly safe there during the day, I have never stayed at that particular hotel because I wouldn't want to be in that area at night. It's a wholesale buying district and yes, it's a bit sketchy. There is not much open in the area at night and that's why I stay a few blocks north at 32nd Street when I have to be in that area.

If it were just me and two girlfriends, I would personally not stay there.

Yikes! I already paid for the hotel! I went on location and thought all my research would pay off. I don't think I can change my hotel now. The other hotel we were thinking about was the belvedere. Any word?

If you've already paid and are locked in, then just make the best of it. Take a cab to or from your hotel in the evenings, and enjoy walking around other, safer parts of the city at that time.

I seriously doubt you're at any significant safey risk inside the hotel, so it should be fine otherwise.

I agree with jlm. It's not as if it's a really seedy area, it's just that other areas are more preferable. Since you are locked in, I am sure you will be fine there as long as you use typical precautions you would use in any other city.

If it's any consolation, the hotel is fairly new and seems nice and clean from the outside. There is also a door man on duty any time I've passed by.

Don't fret. You'll be fine, especially if you take cabs to and from that area and don't do a lot of late night walking in the general vicinity.

The Belvedere would have been a far, far better choice, but I'm not sure what more you're asking if you are already committed to the Broadway Plaza. Frankly, I say keep your wits about you and don't worry. Stick to walking on Broadway at night and I really wouldn't worry so much about it.

"late at night in NYC means sometime after 2 or 3 by the way".

Are we atleast close to everything, like Times Square? How expensive are cabs in NY? I never take them here in Seattle, so I have no idea.

You would probably pay about $6 or so to Times Square, depending on the traffic. It's about 15 blocks north, straight up Broadway.

My main concern there would be not having any restaurants close by for dining at night, but if you are there for pleasure (versus my usual business trips), then you can dine anywhere you want in the city. So, that shouldn't be a problem.

It's not that the area is actualy unsafe at night. It's that it is very quiet - deserted really - and quite dreary. There's really nothing much there after business hours.

If you got a great price keep it. If you paid a reasonable amount, check if you can cancel and find something in a more pleasant area.

(The one quite negative review I saw was from someone who doesn;t get NYC prices - and didn;t realize the price they were paying provides only a very basic hotel - At Christmas $300 is a real budget place - nowhere near upscale.)

I don't really understand why you're now asking advice after having made a commitment. I'm also always stunned at how many people pay for their hotels in full before staying there. Are you English? This seems a common thing in the UK but most Americans would not pay in advance unless they were getting some amazing deal.

I'm sure you'll have a good time in NYC whether or not the hotel works out. At worst it will require you to travel a bit for dining. You're near both Chelsea and the flatiron district (you're 4 or 5 blocks north of the famous flatiron building). Both areas have good restaurants.

Can we see a show of hands as to who actually lives in New York who answered this post?

There is nothing unsafe or even particularly seedy about 27th and Broadway, and its restaurants are far better than anything you'll find in Times Square or north of 32d Street. (I wouldn't stay between 32 and 42d over 27th and Broadway.)

Head a few feet south into Chelsea and you'll stumble over good restaurants, bars and cafes every other step. Head a few blocks east to Park Avenue and have a fabulous meal at Park Ave Bistro and many other Murray Hill restos, including Bobby Flay's Bolo down the street from the Flatiron Building.

Yes, a lot of tourists stay right in the middle of Times Square in places like the Belevedere. They pay too much, get too look at other tourists and eat lousy food. Come live with the New Yorkers!

Don't eat your hotel breakfast. Head straight over to the Comfort Diner (25 W. 23rd St) and eat red, white and blue waffles or breakfast burritos.

If you mean you paid via credit card, I'm sure you can call and cancel. It's done all the time. Most hotels have a 48 hour cancellation fee. At most, usually 30 days. Have you contacted the hotel to see if you can cancel?

By the way, from 27th and Broadway to 42nd and B'way (Times Sq) is about a 15 minute stroll. If you get in a cab, it can sometimes take you half an hour to cover the same distance.

Don't walk home drunk. Take a cab home after midnight or any time you feel uncomfortable. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there.

Hi again reynabeyna,

I just read the reviews on TripAdvisor and saw that some first time travelers to New York got freaked out by seeing Africans selling sunglasses on blankets in this neighborhood.

The hotel is in the Garment District, otherwise known as the Fashion District, where every student in NYC goes looking for cheap fashion stuff (the Fashion Institute of Technology is right there). And yes, they buy it off blankets.

This is not an unsafe neighborhood, and the shopping, restaurants and bar scene are a lot of fun so long as you don't go north into Times Square.

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I swear I did tons of research, but all reviews have been different. I did check with my reservations and I am able to switch to the Belvedere Hotel if wanted for 350 dollars more. Just not sure if its worth the extra money. I do appreciate all responses. Thanks again! Anyone know any good vintage shops to visit in SoHo?

You don't have to go to Soho. Just go a few blocks away:

Cheap Jack's Vintage Clothing
303 Fifth Ave at 31st St.

or go to the East Village:

Acquired Taste
220 E. 10th St.

Angela's Vintage Boutique
330 E. 11th. St.

espagnabound, can you give me the names of some of those great restaurants in the vicinity of 27th and Broadway? Seriously.

I've been doing business in that immediate area for 13 years (all of my vendors are between 26th and 31st / 5th and 7th, but mostly on or near Broadway) and I always have a heck of a time finding somewhere decent to even have lunch. Very often Broadway Pizza has to fit the bill when I'm in a crunch. I spend a week at a time pounding the pavement in that area, so I'd love some decent dining recommendations. Of course, bear in mind that I never have time to venture very far from that immediate area at lunch time.

Thanks. :)

BTW - You have to admit that a lot of businesses in that immediate area are closd down at night and it's somewhat more desolate than other areas of Manhattan. When I've walked it at night or early in the morning, everything is locked up tight. However, I will admit that they are starting to revitalize the area with some high rises, a Starbucks, Duane Reed, etc. So, it's coming around. Before we know it that area might be the new up and coming place to reside.

If the money won't dramatically affect your trip (ie keep you from eating ;) ) switch to the Belvedere--that's assuming you won't be paying more than $200 or so per night.

With all due respect, espagnabound, I understand the idea of a New Yorker wanting to avoid Times Square, the glitz, the lights, the noise, and all that accompanies it. You live in a big city and you love the shelter of your neighborhood. But most of us live in the shelter of neighborhoods and we spend the big bucks to go to New York to experience what we don't have at home -- and that is the glitz, the lights, and the noise. If we wanted the quiet and the dull and the mundane, many of us would just stay home.

I too am waiting to see this list of great restaurants in that neighborhood. Sure anywhere in New York you can get to a lot of great places to eat, but anyone who thinks that neighborhood offers a lot to a tourist who has gone to the expense of traveling to New York to experience the big city is sadly mistaken.

Neopolitan,

Fair enough -- although there is no reason not to take a bargain when its available and safe. In fact, there are fewer people preying on tourists further down Broadway than there are in the theater district. All I think reynabeyna is missing is the (dubious) circus of Times Square. It'll be plenty exciting when she steps out her door in the morning into the Garment District, and she and her friends will eat a hell of a lot better for a lot less money 15 blocks south of Times Square.

Statia (and Neopolitan),

For years both my spouse and I worked around Times Square and Penn Station, and I feel your pain. The Penn Station area in particular is just a sinkhole when it comes to restaurants, unless of course you hike to Hell's Kitchen or, like us, can really get into eating a LOT of Korean food.

For solo lunches, instead of pizzas or fast food, my newest find and fave is
Djerdan at 221 W. 38th St., a Bosnian burek joint that serves other dishes too, and it is cheap, cheap, cheap and good. Nothing is cheaper than Mandoo Bar, a fabulous handmade dumpling place
2 W. 32nd St. Great salads too. Finally, for something sit down and nice, and almost into the business lunch category, check out Biricchino at
260 W. 29th St, which makes homemade Italian sausages (and serves up a great dish of mussels too.) Inexpensive last time I was there.

For business lunches, you'll have to walk a bit, but not that much. Check out these for reviews on the web and to make sure they are open for lunch:

Arezzo
46 W. 22nd St

Ottimo
6 W. 24th St.

Ida Mae Kitchen-n-Lounge (pricey Southern)
111 W. 38th St

Periyali (Greek, moderately pricey)
35 W. 20th St

Punch
913 Broadway (between 20th and 21st)

Sapa (Vietnamese upscale)
43 W. 24th St

Beppe
45 E. 22nd St

Bolo (Bobby Flay)
23 E. 22nd St

Park Bistro (solid, mildly pricey)
414 Park Ave S (Btwn 28th & 29th St)

Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave. (at 24th St.)

Tre Dici (uneven)
128 W. 26th St.

L'express (mildly pricey)
249 Park Ave S (at 20th st)

Chelsea Bistro & Bar
358 W. 23rd St.

Le Zie
172 Seventh Ave. (between 20th and 21st Sts.)

Sette
191 Seventh Ave (between 21st and 22nd)

Gramercy Tavern
42 East 20th Street

Veritas Restaurant (Expensive)
43 E 20th St

Chez Laurence Patisserie (simple)
245 Madison Ave.

Mavalli Palace (Indian)
46 E. 29th St.

The Basil (Thai)
206 W. 23rd St.

That should keep you all going for awhile -- and it's just a fraction of what is available if you get yourself out of the Theatre District.

bon appetit!

PS Statia,

Don't forget that Park, 5th, 6th, Madison and B'way all get quite close togther in that neighborhood, so Park Ave at 28th, for instance, is to my mind within reach for a client lunch.

When one talks about how bad and expensive the reataurants in Times Square are, perhaps he is forgetting about Hell's Kitchen (on the doorstep of the Belvedere). Or the wonderful places just a few blocks away from Times Square in every single direction. I've never understood the idea that really good and well priced food isn't available in that general area (say within 7 blocks in any direction as has been offered for this list above). I couldn't begin to compile the massive list of comparable restaurants within that distance of Times Square.

Thanks for the list, espagnabound. I will print it out for my next trip. :)

BTW - I meant to add that I "can" get into eating a lot of Korean food, and have a lot of faves on 32nd Street, but with a week long biz trip, it's nice to have something different here and there. :)

Thanks again for the recommendations.

It's funny that people would send a tourist into Hell's Kitchn but tell them not to walk on 27th and B'way at night. Hell's Kitchen has gotten better, but it's still dicier than any stretch of B'way.

I eliminated Hell's Kitchen restaurants in my list to Statia because Ninth Avenue is mostly too far to walk for lunch, and south of 42d St is much rougher than the stretch between 42 and 55.

Even so, it's a constant challenge to find a good, well-priced meal in the theater district. My personal favorites on Ninth Avenue (even I seldom to bother hiking over to 10th, because the blocks are so much longer up there) are Osteria Gelsi, Marseilles, Los Hermanos (a real dive) and Mangiaro's (lunch only, and not business class). And if I want boudin noir (that's once every six years or so), I head over to Chez Josephine. (Although, come to think of it, it may have closed.)

East of B'way, I can eat happily at Osteria al Doge off Times Square, and BRILLIANTLY at a few odd Chinese restaurants near Rockefeller Plaza.

Otherwise, I'm starving. It's just simpler to go someplace else for dinner.

Name your picks!

There is nothing wrong with 27th & Bdwy. I am in that area quite often and have NEVER had an issue. However, it is not very pretty and neighborhoodish. Not really a tree lined street type of feel, but not seedy at all. There are 2 restaurants near there that come to mind and they are almost across the street from each other--Scopa, and Country at the Carlton Hotel. 29th & Madison. And 4 blocks south on 23rd street there are tons of restaurants and bars--Nell's, Suede, etc.

And if you head over to 25th and 7th there is a huge Whole Foods store to buy some great munchies for your room.

espagnabound - thanks, saving to print out places to eat.

reynabeyna - Please report back on your stay at the Broadway Plaza Hotel and how it all worked out. You will love NYC.

Sandy

espagnabound, you are confused if you are suggesting that I said "not to walk on 27th and Broadway at night". If you look at my post, I made it clear that it was not a dangerous area and not to worry about it, and even further added that late at night isn't until after 2 or 3 anyway.

My reasons for saying Belvedere would have been a better choice is that the poster asked about being "close to Times Square" and presumably the activities there like theatre. My talking about all the restaurants in Hell's Kitchen was in reference to where she could eat IF she were staying at the Belvedere, less than a block from 9th and 48th. There is not much "seediness" in the 9th Avenue area of Clinton/Hell's Kitchen north of 42nd or so, yet there are dozens of good, reasonable restaurants. My comment about staying at the Belevedere had NOTHING to do with safety issues, just a much nicer and "better" area to stay in my opinion, particularly if she's looking for more "activity".

Besides, didn't you know Hell's Kitchen doesn't exist anymore? It's now called Clinton and it's all cleaned up. (LOL)

And will all that talk, I failed to add my sentiments once again, that reynabeyna, if you are committed to Broadway Plaza, go and enjoy. You will have a great time. All this discussion of restaurants has gotten a little blurry. After all does it make any real difference if you have 10 or 100 restaurants to choose from? You'll do fine where you are.

But people were telling her to stay at the Belvedere before she even mentioned Times Square. And she still hasn't said anything about the theater. I think a lot of people think MTV these days when they think of TImes Square more than they do theatuh.

But obviously my real concern was the misinformation that this area was less safe than the area around the Belvedere. As you pointed out, it's safe.

By the way, one of the funny things we watched happen in the last decade is lots of tourists, groups of women especially, coming to New York because they've watched Sex in the City. They take pictures in front of the places they recognize from the series. (Or maybe somebody has published a tour guide?) Probably more of Sex and the City was shot just west of 27th and B'way than anyplace around the disneyfied 42d street.

Hell's Kitchen will always be Hell's Kitchen. So where are your resto recs? C'mon! No fair. No secrets. (And nothing over 50 per head, please.)

OK, here are a few Hell's Kitchen favorites:

Roberto Passon
Marseille
Le Madeleine
Film Center Cafe
Puttanesca
Amarone
Cascina
Jezebel
Mercury Bar
Hell's Kitchen
Delta Gril
L'Allegria
Pietrasanta
Julian's
Island Burgers
Rachel's
Zen Palate
Zuni
Uncle Nick's
Maria Pia
Luxia
Eatery
Taboon
Amy's Bread (breakfast)
Coffee Pot (breakfast)

And those are just the ones I can remember that I have eaten at. Two new ones I've been told to hit next time are Breeze and Xing.

I've also not included any of the Restaurant Row (46th between 8th and 9th) or even any 8th Avenue places, which may not be Hell's Kitchen, but are in the close range of it and the Belevedere.

The funny thing. While some of the above are better than others, all fit in that budget, most way below, and I've never had a "bad" meal at any of them. I wish I could say the same for some of the much more "in" and expensive restaurants in New York I've been to.

Is it any wonder I like renting in the area between 8th and 9th in the mid 40's to the low 50's? Next stay in May, 50th between 8th and 9th.

Statia,

Look what I found for you (and me!)

New York Magazine's article on "Cheap Streets" -- meaning, streets you can walk down and have a choice of great, cheap restaurants. One of them is West 38th between 7th and 8th! (Djerdan makes the list):

http://tinyurl.com/jznw6

Hmm. Interesting. I googled to see exactly what the "official boundaries" of Hell's Kitchen are, and immediately found this article. It extends the area further in all directions than I would have thought, but this is an interesting assessment of the area, particularly as it relates to real estate.

http://tinyurl.com/2nhw7

And for the theater crowd:

http://tinyurl.com/kkcdy

Neopolitan,

Good choices! Although I have to say I've had a clunker or two meal among the choices, most memorably Zen Palate, but that's par for the course in NYC. I agree with you that going to pricey recommended restos in New York can be a real disappointment. Better to stick to Uncle Nick's when you've been happy there.

You definitely need to add Osteria Gelsi to your list (just down the street from HK on Ninth Av). Food from Apulia. If you like Argentine steak, Chimmichuri (near Marseilles) is cozy. Best sit-down pizza in the theatre district is the paper thin and fresh giant disks at Osterial Al Doge (I think that's 45th between b'way and 6th ave). The have other Venetian specialties.

And there is a Wu Liang Ye at 36 W. 48th St. for Sichuan that is noisy but great eats.

(I have a friend who just made a fortune selling his HK apartment. Going fsst!)

Also, Neopolitan, if you are going to be that far north in May and are walking in and out of Central Park, check out the crepes shack just inside the entrance to the park at Columbus Circle. Nutella. Bananas. Chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

Alas, as a diabetic, that crepe stand will remain a no-no for me, but my partner will no doubt love it. And you've mentioned the perfect combination for a crepe! (unless it would simply be a bit of chocolate with a liberal splashing of Grand Marnier).

Incidentally, I suddenly realized that I have done at least one over $50 meal in that area. It was at Esca -- and yes, it was in fact a "bad" meal in every sense.

Meanwhile by heading just a little east of there I will hit some other favorites, which pretty much fall into a more expensive, but "worth-it" category. Among those, my fav Le Bernardin, Osteria del Circo, Red Eye Grill, Remi, Brasserie, Bar Americain, and Baldoria among them. I still bristle when New Yorkers boldly proclaim there are "no good restaurants in midtown", as some have actually said here.

Funny too you mention Zen Palate. That could easily be my least favorite of that list above, but I just chalked it up to the fact that I make a very bad vegetarian -- bring on the meat!

What a pity you had a bad experience at Esca! It's "crudo" in particular can be truly outstanding. Unless somebody else is paying, I can't afford anything more than to sit at the bar and eat a lone oyster -- but it's a great oyster! I once got into an argument with a waiter at Esca who INSISTED I had to have the branzino because it was delicious that day -- and I didn't want branzino! We went about two rounds on that one.

Le Bernadin -- well, who can argue with that? Most of us you hear whining there are no good restaurants in midtown can't afford Le Bernadin. Or Aquavit.

I think the more accurate way to put this is that the proportion of bad restuarants-to-good is much higher in the theater district and around Times Square than it is in Chelsea or Gramercy.

Sorry I don't know enough about what diabetics should and shouldn't eat to point out gems beyond the creperie. Maybe this Brazilian place is worth a try, even for takeout:

http://tinyurl.com/zgtu5

You'll be so close

Oh, been there. Done that. It's great, but I forgot about it. It closes too early (except maybe weekend nights) for after theatre, but great chicken, beans and rice for lunch. You're right. It's just around the corner from our rental at World Plaza!

And actually there is one regular New York poster here who has indeed said that Le Bernardin is horrible -- a place for nothing but grey haired tourists or people on business accounts who "don't know better". Laughable. It isn't trendy enough for him apparently.

Our Esca experience was a fiasco because it was late (after theatre) and Mario was eating there with apparently a group of managers and/or chefs that all the waiters kept hovering around and socializing. Our waiter lost our order, and when we checked on where our food was we got a rude "everything is prepared to order, we don't rush". Finally after ages more, he came out and asked what we had ordered again. When I said, "I thought maybe the order was lost" he indignantly insisted no. Duh. We were about the only ones there by then, so why was he asking? But it took another 20 minutes or so to get our food. Clearly he had lost the order. I don't even remember what fish we had now, but I do remember I even had to send my cocktail back as they insisted a dry Robroy is made with sweet vermouth. And the fish was not "exciting" to say the least. This was in its first year, so not a recent experience by the way, I've just had no desire to go back.

Well, we've certainly managed to stray from reynabeyna's original question, haven't we?

Try this for after theater

http://tinyurl.com/ezlgt

or Kemia Bar (underneath Marseilles)


Back to reynabeyna's neighborhood (if she sticks with it ) or for Statia:

Ixta (tapas and mex)
48 E. 29th