NYC dining before musicals
 

Can you suggest "cheap eats" at a restaurant close to Mary Poppins that would take reservations for 9 people (two families)? Can you suggest "cheap eats" at a restaurant close to Wicked for 4 people? Can you suggest a Bobby Flay restaurant close to Phantom of the Opera for 5 people? Thanks a lot!

To some "cheap eats" means a couple dollars per person for "fast food", for others in NYC it means anything under maybe $30 a person.

My suggestion for 9 people near Mary Poppins would be Carmine's. Don't overorder. It's decent and fun Italian served family style so ordering a couple of dishes will be pretty reasonable and you'll still have food left.

Wicked? Any of the places on 9th Avenue. A fairly new Thai place called Room Service is terrific and inexpensive. What kind of food do you want?

Bobby Flay? The nearest one I think is Bar Americaine. It's great, but glad you didn't include the word cheap with that request.

opentable.com is a website where you can book a lot of restaurants but I'm guessing there will be some who won't take a reservation for 9 online. Besides Carmines, Tony di Napoli is another Italian in the theater district serving large portions family style and some think it's better. John's Pizzeria on west 44th st. is another idea. They don't normally take reservations but would for a group that size.

Vynl & Film Center Cafe are also decent cheap eats in the area. The only Bobby Flay restaurant in the theater district is Bar Americain.

menupages.com is a site where you can do some of your own research.

What about Becco? They have a pasta special for something like $20. It wasn't spectacular but very edible.

How about Ellen's Stardust for the dinner for the largest group, be perfect before a musical. Comfort food and fun entertainment. I'd call and see if they'll take reservations. They even might get some of your group to get up and sing with them, now that would be funnnnnnn. Also is there a birthday among the bunch, if so let the restaurant know.

Restaurant Row would have lots of options for before the theatre just walk the street and find something that looks good.

Brasserie 1605 has a $25 3-course pre-theater special until 7 PM which was surprisingly good. This is in the heart of the theater district at the Crowne Plaza Times Square.

You can reserve tables using Open Table at http://www.opentable.com/brasserie-1...a-times-square

These are the places we ate:

Pomaire - Chilean
Becco - Italian
Chez Napoleon - French

I liked all of them and what I ordered. My friend only liked what she ordered at Pomaire, but she is a very pick eater.

THANKS everyone for your suggestions!