I am taking my wife to new York for her birthday in August.What restaurants do you suggest. We have loved the meatpacking area in the past

When we visited last May, we went to the Bobby Flay restaurant, Bar Americain. It's in the theater district. It's kind of upscale comfort food; not sure what you're looking for in terms of cuisine, but their fried chicken and jalapeno cornbread sticks were incredible.

The only place I've been to in the meatpacking district is Florent. It was a good breakfast place, not sure what it's like at dinner.

Can you give us a clue as the type of cuisine and budget - there are hundreds of good choices in NYC. Do you want romantic? trendy? casuale?

I was in NYC in March and received lots of great advice from fellow Fodorites. I didn't get to this place, but MANY people mentioned it as being good and also romantic. It's called "One if by Land". www.oneifbyland.com Again, I didn't eat here,(I did lots of street food) but I did get lots of good "buzz" from this board! Have a great time!

I am looking for something similar to the 21 club which I could not get a reservation.

Grammercy Taven beats the record for most amuse bouche offered during one meal for me. Scallop thing, another thing, a sorbet, chocolates, plate of bday cookies, muffin for the morning. It was just a lovely NY experience, call, and call again and call the day of, wherever you choose. It's worked for me more than once!

Highly recommend Bouley for a special celebration. Very romantic. Formal but very friendly. Gorgeous rooms and spectacular food. The prix fixe lunch menus are a terrific bargain (and you can mix them). Reservations essential. You can reserve on OpenTable. Coat and tie requested, even at lunch, but a gent next to us was wearing a red tee-shirt with Banana Republic (or something similar) on it.

if you loved the meatpacking district, you wouldn't have loved the 21 club anyway. old new york and stuffy.

go to Little Owl. or the not officially opened Waverly Inn

The 21 Club is not where I would take a wife for her birthday. It's a very male-focussed, business oriented place - with lots of large slabs of meat. Lot of business meetings over meal - not romantic - and the food only OK for the price.

If you want somplace more couples oriented in that area with a "tourist name" go for the Sea Grille in Rock Center (tourist name and excellent food). Or do the River Cafe - which also has very good food along with incredible views of Manhattan after dark.

Both IMHO much more appropos for a wife's birthday.

A 2nd for River Cafe. It is in Brooklyn, is very romantic, lovely view of Manhattan - but it is very expensive so be prepared. Also we really enjoy 'Cesca. 164 W 75th Street and Amsterdam. Great upscale NOrthern Italian food, lovely interior, popular place - we generally eat early 5:30-6:00 ish so we haven't had too much trouble getting reservations. It seems every time we eat there we are going to the theatre so early is good for us. I doubt if you could get reservations at Gramercy at this point unless you happen to eat on a Sunday. Enjoy a great city........