Need help choosing restaurants for my mid-week visit to NYC.Any thoughts about Spice Market,The Biltmore Room,The Modern{maybe Lunch?],or davidburke&donatella ?

Gray's Papaya or Papaya King. Two dogs and a drink for $2.75. As lowbrow as it gets, but good dogs. There are a few in the city.

Where will you be staying/visiting?

Spice Market is overhyped and not worth the bother. I've heard very good things about The Modern but haven't eaten there. Asiate in the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel, however, has become the favorite restaurant of some of my friends, so you might put that on your list. I'm also fond of Craft (or Craftbar if you don't want to make reservations). The Biltmore Room was really good, but I haven't been since last year. I know nothing about davidburke&donatella.

The Spice Market is very 2004 -- now that the world thinks it's "hip," it's a nightmare.

I went to the Biltmore Room the week it opened and really enjoyed it (but like Doug I haven't returned due to crowds).

Donatella Arpaia's "new" restaurant is fantastic, but also crowded and quite the scene now. Try Donatella's other restaurant, Bellini, on E. 52nd Street. It's amazing.

The Modern . . . I'm not big on museum restaurants (too many fannypacks), so I haven't tried it.

chanle51, your advice is SO helpful. I'm looking for a wonderful upscale restaurant in Los Angeles. Do you think Burger King or Taco Bell would be better?

The Modern is very popular right now so lunch may be a good choice.You may also want to consider Asitate for lunch.I haven't heard to much lately about The Biltmore room but i think it still is a nice choice.

The reviews for davidburke&donatella sound great,except I get the impression that it's a very "uptown" place with an older crowd of jackets and ties.Anybody have any first hand knowledge.I'd rather spend my evening in a room with some energy to go along with great food.