Etcetera Etcetera Restaurant is excellent, I always try to eat there when I'm in NYC. It's on W. 44th between 8th and 9th Avenues. They serve northern Italian food, and everything I've had there has been really good. They pride themselves on giving superior service. They are mainly only open for dinner, but serve lunch on Wednesdays (when a lot of theaters have matinees - they are in the theater district, after all) and brunch on Sundays.

NO! If you have to stay in midtown, go to Keen's.

The eating scene in Hell's Kitchen/Times Square area is a lot better than it was but still dominated by the cheap or the ethnic, some of which are quite good. . Do you like seafood? Check out GLORIA or ESCA (latter is Italian and quite good). Both in Michelin, if you care about that.

https://www.gloria-nyc.com/new-page-5


For Italian, LEGACY RECORDS. Note that service is included so no tipping. Also Michelin.
https://www.legacyrecordsrestaurant.com/menu/dinner-1/

Keep in mind that SULLIVAN STREET BAKERY now has a cafe for breakfast, lunch and snacks. Superb, Italian-leaning sandwiches, pastries, etc.

One doesn't take a dinner cruise for the quality of the food, but if you want that experience, you can certainly have it. For myself, I'd have a good dinner and then take the Staten Island Ferry for free.

People (and reviewers) are liking the River Cafe, but it's terribly expensive. For those prices, you could eat at The Modern Dining Room. I know you're going for the view. Just be aware that jackets are required for men at dinner.

I do like the River Café , the view and food is very nice. Looking at the prices of the Modern Dining Room, I know I paid nowhere near those prices at the River Café .

I've only been twice to River Cafe and both were years ago. I do know the Modern Dining Room and the prices there ARE really high, especially now that it is tip-included. We were a little disappointed in the 2 meals we ate there since that policy was instituted. I think that next time I want to spend that kind of money, I would go to Jean Georges. Or maybe try Gabriel Kreuther; he was the chef at The Modern when I used to love it, and he now has his own place, which come to think of it, is in midtown west, on 42nd Street.

Gabriel Kreuther's restaurant is wonderful, and I certainly recommend it. If the OP really wants a restaurant with a view, then Asiate, which continues to get consistently good reviews, might be a good choice. The prix-fixe is $98, which is considerably cheaper than price at the River Cafe ($145 per person before tip, $174 per person after tip). I thought The Modern Dining Room still offered a four-course option for about $160, but it seems they offer only the more expensive 7-course meal now, so it is considerably more expensive at $228, though that does include the tip.

The tip included policy bumped up the prices at many restaurants far more than just to cover the tip....and I think service has declined at some of those.