New York City Restaurant Suggestions!
 

We will be in New York Friday, Saturday, leaving Sunday afternoon. Just the girls, we are all 36. We've eaten at TOTG and at a few restaurants in little italy. Looking for suggestions. Someone had mentioned Le Bernadin for a Prix Fixe for $92 pre-theater. Considering The Rainbow Room for brunch on Sunday morning, any thoughts on that choice? Have never been there. Also looking for a fun place, age appropriate, for drinks and dinner. I read a posting for suggestions for a 21st birthday and didn't know about those choices for girls our age! If anyone has ever eaten at The Bix in San Francisco, I loved it there and would like to find a similar place in NY, it was an old speakeasy, Jazz, great place! Thanks for any suggestions you can make!

While Le Bernardin is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere, I'd never go there for pre-theatre. It deserves a much more relaxed dining time.

I know what you mean by BIX, here's one I think you'll like even better. Bobby Flay's new place, Bar Americain, near the theatre district -- great for before or after theatre dining. Tremendous buzz.

http://www.baramericain.com/

Patrick, so glad you like Le Bernardin--my father in law built the Equitable complex where Le Bernardin is located (as the project manager for Turner).

Avella, my favorite restaurant in NYC has long been Gramercy Tavern.

202.
M

Sarabeths for Breakfast and Rosa Mexacana and Gabriels for lunch or dinner.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will look into them! Is the Rainbow Room's Sunday Brunch good? worth $80 pp.?

Hello! If you're looking for a speakeasy feel, definitely check out The 21 Club! It doesn't have a brunch menu, but does serve a pre-theatre Prix Fixe dinner. Check out the website at http://www.21club.com.

Have fun!

Will look into the 21 Club! We aren't really looking for a pre-theater restaurant, just suggestions for places while we're there. Doesn't matter if we eat before the show or not! You've all been great! Thanks!

Skip 21. Was there recently for pre-theatre dinner & they do not favor the female gender.
If you're over 70 and male as most
of the wait staff are, then you
might get service. And the food,
at best, is mediocre.

Prev. writers are all correct. Le
Bernadin is an evening until itself &
you can never go wrong w/the
Gramercy Tavern.
You might also want to join (for free)
www.OpenTable.com & review
their list

Try Aquagrill. It is a great seafood spot in Soho.

Have not done the Rainbow Room for Brunch, but if the Brunch crowd resembles the dinner crowd, I'd stay away. Average age 50. Now with Brunch you're going to get some families, so it could be quite different, but still, for girls your age, I just can't picture your having a swell time there.
My suggestion - The Brasserie on E.53rd, under the Seagram Building. The food is divine, the diners tend to be ultra-hip & the ambiance is fantastic.
Historic note: back in the 60's this was THE place to go for the "In" crowd, if you will. It was open 24 hours & not unusual to spot Andy Warhol or Jackie O. (long before she added the unfortunate O) dining in the wee hours of the morning.

I wouldn't pay $80 for brunch anywhere! Balthazar in Soho is the place to go for brunch but you MUST have a reservation. Five Points in Noho is another option for a good brunch. If you want a buffet brunch, Brasserie 8 1/2 is one of the few in NYC. And ofcourse there's the Boat House in Central Park for a lovely spot on the lake.

If you like jazz, you might try Dizzy's Coca Cola in the Time Warner building one night. It's even got a view.

Unless something has changed, skip Rainbow Room for Sunday Brunch. Food is mediocre at the very best. Instead, have a drink at the Rainbow Grille. It will save you $60 per person.

I beg to differ about 21 Club. Food is excellent and while the atmosphere does tend to feel like a men's club, it is a great place. Definitely power brokers.

The very best place in town for Sunday Brunch is Blue Ribbon Bakery. While it isn't a bakery, you're likely to run into the most famous chefs in NYC there. Definitely a foodie hangout.