My husband is taking me to NYC for a night for my 35th birthday. We are looking for a great place to stay....nothing over $500 per night...and a place to eat. Any suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks!

The answer really depends on when you plan on coming town and if your $500 budget is for both food and lodging.

Certainly, you can get a nice room at say one of the W Hotels for less than $500 for a typical Saturday night. Depending on when you come, you might even be able to get that kind of a rate at somewhere like the Peninsula.

But, price is a term that is usually relative to when you need your booking.

In terms of food, literally hundreds of great choices. Again, really depends on what your budget is for that, type of food, type of atmosphere, etc.

I'd stay at the Michelangelo and walk across the street for a spectacular dinner at Le Bernadin.

We are going in next weekend...8/28 and our budget is less than $500 for hotel only. Thanks!

I could repeat my answer. You could easily spend the $500 at some top hotels like Four Seasons or St. Regis for a standard room. Or go somewhere like Michelangelo and treat yourself to a really gorgeous suite for that price. I'd go for the latter, myself.

Wherever you decide to eat and assuming you'll want a top-of-the-line restaurant, you better make your reservations now for next Saturday night.

Thanks Patrick! I just checked out the Michelangelo's website and it looks great. Originally, I wanted to stay at the 4 Seasons, but it is really not worth it. Any other restaurant suggestions?

In the "neighborhood" but more "bustling" and modern? Cite or Judson Grill come to mind. And I used to think it was probably too touristy, but then I learned that Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center really is great. The best part is you can go on line to www.restaurantassociates.com and register and get a $50 certificate free for your birthday.

Do you know anything about the Gotham Bar and Grill?

I love it. But for sort of the same type of place, where you need to take a taxi also, I'd go to Grammercy Tavern instead.

Another vote for the Grammercy Tavern, but you may already be too late to get a reservation for next Saturday.

What is the difference between the main dining room and the tavern? Is the dining room for the price fixe dinner? Also, is a jacket required? We are looking for a place that isn't so "formal".

We just had a drop dead amazing dinner at Babbo last month. Reservations are must, it is fantastic!!!

Does anyone know anything about Cite?

I like Cite, which is why I mentioned it above, but on second thought, again for the same type place and in the same neighborhood, I really like Judson Grill better. Both are non-jacket places. Cite does a pretty neat wine deal (or I guess that's still going on). But the food is a little more basic -- more of a steakhouse. Judson offers a little more creativity and "glamour".
Howard has a major point about Grammercy Tavern and reservations -- and the bar is less formal, but to me wouldn't be "special enough" somehow. Small tables and bar atmosphere, while the food is still really great.

Casual, noisy, and wild? How about Tao? A giant room with huge Buddha and interesting Asian foods. Noisy but fun.

Hi Patrick. I just found out that Judson Grill is closed...not sure why. Do you know anything about Marseille?

Yea, I love that place. It was just a little over a block from the apartment I was in for two months in the last year. It became my favorite bar -- great drinks and nice bartenders.
Food is very good and a bit different, representing all the Mediterranean, not just Italy. They have specials on different nights. A wonderful sort of tapas appetizer plate. And one of the best cheese trays in NYC (well next to Artisinal). Nice, supper club, buzzy feel to it, and a bit crowded. But if you go, reserve and tell them when you do so you want a "spacious table" -- that should be no problem if you go after 8:00 (theatre crowd is gone).

That also makes me think of Jezebel, just a block away. Sort of southern, with porch swings and a tropical interior. Semi-soul food, usually with piano or jazz. I also love that place.

I saw thwe Waldorf Astoria on Biddingfortravel.com as a Priceline hotel, and some other very impressive nyc places for much less then $500.00. You won't get a dump no matter what. You should go for it. As far as restaurants, I just ate at the most fantastic place called IL BUCO. I really can't stop raving about it. They have a web site. You need to look at it. I can tell you its not your regular tourist haunt, but the menu is excellent, the food cooked to perfection and its in an old antique store in the east village. Very cool.

I live in NYC and the above resturant recommendations are excellent. You might want to book a hotel asap. With the convention on it's way and the usual end-of-summer tourist flow, it might be difficult. It's a bit off the beaten path, but my favorite resturant is Paris Commune in the West Village on bleeker Street. No tourists, lovely neighborhood and great food.

Re: grammercy tavern - the main dining room is the prix fix reservations part. The tavern is a bar area that is walk-in and more casual. You are looking for the dining room. I believe it is business casual (i.e. no jacket required), but you can call to confirm. And I add my vote for it.

As far as hotels, you can likley stay in any hotel with that budget, but you didn't say preferences of what you're looking for, as well as what kind of neighborhood you want to be in. But in that group of luxury hotels, none is going to be bad.