NYC & Inn on 23rd
 

Dearest NYC Fodorites:
We are staying at the Inn on 23rd for five nights. Any recommendations for places to eat in the immediate vacinity? We arrive around 7 pm on a Tuesday.

Hi Pam

Just went with my teenage daughter to a new dumpling place on 23rd near 6th Avenue (I believe between 6th and 7th) -- it was fresh, tasty and not expensive.

Yeah, Rickshaw Dumplings is pretty good on 23rd and 6th.
Also try Suenos on West 17th Street and 8th Avenue for terrific upscale Mexican at reasonable prices;
Mangia, a higher-end Italian mini-chain of coffee bar/pastries/pizzas/paninis/pastas for lunch on W. 23rd and 5th;
Regional Thai Cuisine on 7th Ave and 20th St.
Good salad bar for take out in the Whole Foods on 7th Avenue and 24th Street.

Porters Steakhouse on 7th Ave and 22nd St.

I could go on - there's a ton of places . . .

F&B, a cute place on 23rd near 7th, specializes in "European-style" hot dogs, whatever that means . . . anyway, they're great for a light, very inexpensive meal. In general, if you walk east or south, there are loads of excellent restaurants, and not too costly in that part of town. Among our favorites are Table 22 (a Charlie Palmer restaurant) on, of course, 22nd Street, where you get a table d'hote dinner for $25. We also like Cafeteria on 7th near 17th. There are dozens more: the legendary Union Sq. Cafe is a reasonable walk, or the Sea Grill at the corner of Union Square, or Olives in the "W" hotel are some of the fancier places around Union Square.

Lois L - really good suggestions (I love the "farm dog" at F&B) - but it's "Kitchen 22" at 36 East 22nd Street and the "Blue Water Grill" over on Union Square and 17th St. - the last two aren't really in the "immediate vacinity" as the OP asked.

Pam, right on the Inn's own website, they list a bunch of restaurants. While I haven't been to every one, the ones I do know are all great so I'd trust their recos. Here's the link

http://www.innon23rd.com/pages/Chelsea/Chelsea03.html

Chelsea Bistro has been a favorite. El Quixote off the lobby of the infamous Chelsea Hotel has tacky decor but a terrific lobster dinner. ;)