Becco and Carmine's are booked! Can anyone suggest similiar restaurants for pre-theater on Sat Nov. 2nd? We are a group of 10 (4 adults and 6 teens) coming from Boston showing our French Exchange students NYC. We really need to make reservations...waiting in line for tables is too stressful before the theater. Thanks!

Try John's pizzeria I think on 45th St. Do you want Italian food? There are many moderately prices Italian restaurants in the area, many with pre-theater specials.

Try Ruby Foo's (on Broadway), Joe Franklin's (on 8th & 44/45), Thalia (8th and 49/50), or for steak, The Palm (on 50th at 8th). Joe's the low end, The Palm is the high end and the other two are in the middle. Check Zagats or www.newyork.citysearch.com for info on these places.

There are tons of good restaurants in Hells Kitchen on 9th Avenue. Try 44 Southwest for down home Italian, the Delta Grill for best New Orleans style food i have had in NY or Hells Kitchen for nouveau (and slightly overpriced Mexican). Also..Churascarra Platforma is a great (but somewhat expensive) Brazilian restaurant.

ViceVersa great Italian 323 W. 51 St.

If you walk over to Ninth Ave. in the 50's there are lots of places......Island Burgers and Shakes (51st St.) Uncle Nicks-great Greek (across the street)

Avoid The Palm....very expensive.

www.viceversarestaurant.com/ - 10k

Here is the website for Vice
Versa

How about Virgil's BBQ?

Ollies Chinese, fun for teenagers, bustling, quick service, large round tables, great prices.
Next to Carmines 44th and Broadway

Virgils BBQ is also a good suggestion.

Blue Fin is a REALLY good seafood restaurant. It's on Bway and 47th.
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/11633134/

If you are willing to walk over to 9th avenue, Mangia e Bevi is fun and has really GREAT food! Its on 9th and 53rd. http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7143891/

Blue fin is a 'hip & trendy', noisy, crowded and overpriced seafood restaurant. It's next to the Times Sq W hotel, also 'hip & trendy'. It also has a busy bar, looks like a singles scene to me. Personally I don't think it's worth the price. 6 of us had dinner there before a show, the acoustics are terrible and the staff was unfriendly, the food was nothing spectacular either. Being from France, they may enjoy Virgil's (a real American BBQ experience).

Go to John's Pizzeria on W 44th - the brick oven pizzas are excellent, and it's in a former church! Teens love it. It's right smack in the middle of the theater district.