Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

New york restaurants for pre-theater dining

Search

New york restaurants for pre-theater dining

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 7th, 2006, 02:01 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
New york restaurants for pre-theater dining

Four 40 something women are planning a girlfriend's weekend in NYC. Seeing a couple of Broadway plays, but need some good dinner ideas; especially for pre-theater dining.
Would love to hear your favorite spots. Thanks!
claveygirl is offline  
Old Oct 7th, 2006, 04:07 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can you give us any idea of budget? And what cuisines you like or not?
nytraveler is offline  
Old Oct 8th, 2006, 06:25 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi nytraveler. We are looking for any type of food other than Indian or Asian. Favorites would be Italian, continental, seafood, steak, bistro etc. As far as cost, anything other than an over the top prix fixe menu is fine. Have you ever dined at BLT Steak? Any thoughts? Thanks for your help.
claveygirl is offline  
Old Oct 8th, 2006, 06:39 AM
  #4  
cko
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm not too keen on theater district dining because the prices are usually high for what they are. I've recently tried out Marseille and loved the atmosphere and food, and I'd go back. Located on 44th and 9th, that will be my "It" spot for pre-theater dining.
My coworkers raves about Becco if you want Italian.
Thalia which is a bit of a walk but is very romantic.
Check out www.menupages.com to see what they offer.
cko is offline  
Old Oct 8th, 2006, 10:51 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I disagree w/cko. There are a myriad
of restaurants West of 8th ave
(think 9th to 10th Aves) that do NOT
break the bank.
"Restaurant Row" as NY'ers refer
to West 46 Street has many choices;
I find Le Beaujolais a charming,
quasi-authentic restaurant w/a
reasonable prix fixe for both lunch & dinner.
www.NYCRG.com has 12 restaurants; among them: Cara Mia,
Scarlatto & a personal favorite Roberto Passon w/a $14 luncheon
selection including dessert. Dinner
is ala carte, I believe.
Marseille as cko mentioned is also good but a tad higher than the ones
mentioned herein.
You might want to join, gratis,
www.opentable.com where you
may peruse the menus & gather
points at the same time.
Most of the above are listed in the
"Hell's Kitchen" area in Manhattan.
Hope this is of some value for a
fun-filled wk-end.
Rhea58 is offline  
Old Oct 8th, 2006, 12:24 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
www.havanacentral.com

Excellent Cuban food with a "Hemingway-esque" atmosphere.

Gekko is offline  
Old Oct 8th, 2006, 01:58 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Le Madeleine has a pretty garden room and some prix fixe menus.
http://www.lemadeleine.com/

Chez Josephine can be fun with live music but is better after theater than before imo.
chezjosephine.com

There are dozens of Italian options at various prices and from casual to more formal including Orso, Barbetta, Lattanzi, Becco, Trattoria Trecolori, Maria Pia, ViceVersa, Roberto Passon, Basilica

There's a new steak place getting excellent reviews on menupages.com called AJ Maxwell's. Keen's is another good steakhouse not far from the theaters.

DB Bistro Modern is a good option. They're famous for their fois gras hamburger.
mclaurie is offline  
Old Oct 8th, 2006, 04:34 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Another vote for Le Madeleine - a lovely restaurant - and Trattoria Trecolori, though I believe it may not have reopened yet in its new location. I'd also recommend John's Pizzeria if you're looking to go a little more casual, Angus McIndoe's, or Joe Allen's - the last two are classic theatre haunts with good food.
Mab85 is offline  
Old Oct 8th, 2006, 10:57 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I went to BLT Steak for my birthday last year. It was great but it's a bit further east rather than near theater dining. My family and I like to go to Baldoria on W. 49th between 7th and 8th Avenue for pre-theater meals. Delicious!
Abby43 is offline  
Old Oct 9th, 2006, 05:36 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Still another vote for Le Madeleine. Love the garden room. I also like Cascina on 9th at around 45th street.
dd992emo is offline  
Old Oct 9th, 2006, 06:06 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sometimes I'm unclear what people mean when they indicate everything in the "theatre district" is overpriced or bad. Even poster cko seems to say that but then mentions a great place, Marseille, which I consider to be in the theatre district. Maybe our "boundaries" of the district aren't the same.

As others say Ninth Avenue and even Eighth have lots of well priced and very good places. Roberto Passon on Ninth at 50th is now perhaps my favorite. Maria Pia on 51st (?) between 8th and 9th is another. Many other good ones have been mentioned.
I love Joe Allen's and Angus MacIndoe's although they are both more fun after theatre than before -- when lots of actors and backstage people gather. Food is good at both -- but they are more about the "vibe".

Speaking of after theate, have you thought about that? Often we like doing a little more lunch in New York (hey who wants to eat at 6 after doing a deli pastrami at 1?) Instead we stop at Sardi's for a drink at the bar before the show -- or any other bar with maybe a little snack, and do a fun dinner after the show, when you don't have to worry about getting to the theatre on time and you can really relax.

NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Oct 9th, 2006, 06:19 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow! Thanks for all the fantastic suggestions. I will get to work.
claveygirl is offline  
Old Oct 9th, 2006, 04:45 PM
  #13  
cko
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Rhea58 - Perhaps I should try the places that you have recommended next time. I've tried restaurant row a few times before and I've never been satisfied with a meal (don't really remember the names). Maybe I will give it one more try.
cko is offline  
Old Oct 10th, 2006, 08:20 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I like Le Rivage
Dohlice is offline  
Old Oct 10th, 2006, 08:29 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I posted a similar question last week and one of the suggestions offered was Vice Versa. I have made pre-theater reservations there for this coming Friday and will let you know how it was.
sharkmom is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
barnumbailey
United States
5
Oct 10th, 2006 08:19 AM
tHRINITH
United States
13
Dec 29th, 2004 08:00 AM
milliebz
United States
8
Jun 23rd, 2004 06:54 AM
Gaffer
United States
6
Mar 25th, 2004 03:17 PM
Wendy
United States
17
Jun 11th, 2003 04:40 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -