NYC restaurant pick help!
 

Dinner for two Sunday night & need help. Staying at Benjamin around 50th & Lex, but also will be in the Lincoln Center area. Really, can go pretty much anywhere. No sushi. Budget is generous but not at LeCirque/Le Bernardin/Per Se levels. Might be willing to splurge, but not unless we're REALLY getting $$$ worth. Suggestions? I've had others mention the following to me as suggestions: Picholine, O'Neal's, Giambelli's, Bar Americain, Roberto Passon, Trattoria Dell'Arte, Peter's, L'Impero, Marseille.....comments, recommendations?

Any particular cuisine or atmosphere?

NYC has dozens of excellent restaurants with a reasonable but not outrageous cost.

We like Trattoria del Arte - great antipasto and fun but loud and busy. Roberto Passon is a favorite with many here - but we prefer T del A.

Bar Americain has a nice menu - but again not a romantic spot.

I like many of the ones you mention, but Picholine stands out as a much more "special" place than the others in my book (prices reflect that as well). To me it is the most "splurge" oriented of the list, but well worth it, and certainly not in the LeCirque or Per Se range. (I don't know Peter's or L'Impero, though.)

Not looking for romance. Rather, dinner with a work colleague before the Monday morning business that is bringing us to NYC begins. Oh, and someone added to my list Casa Mono/Bar Jamon....I'm familiar with neither.

Oh, nearly forgot your question re: cuisine preferences - neither of us is especially fond of sushi or Asian food in general, but we're open to most other cuisine.

Thanks for your comments so far. Please keep them coming. And, I'm now wondering about the need for reservations at these places on a Sunday night, too.

Casa Mono and Bar Jamon are Mario Batali's Spainish restaurants.

They are very fussy tapas, and more expensive than almots all other tapas places. For a more genuine tapas experience try Xunta (pronounced SHUN-ta) and Bar Careera.

Mono and Jamona re quieter but atleast people are trying to venture out of the thatre district.

There are a number of tapas places taht we not tried but we intend to do so.

What is ironic is that I do not know a New Yorker who has eaten at Roberto Passon. Maybe it just the people I know. For a while Becco was a tourist favorite where we did eat one night and that was just a shade above average.

Most New Yorkers have never even heard of Roberto Passon. It seems to be popular with out-of-towners, though (but not the "bridge and tunnel" crowd).

Well I'm a NY'er and I've eaten at Roberto Passon - it's a very reliable place in the theatre district. Good pasta. And real NY'ers know Passon as the chef behind the Chelsea neighborhood favorite, Le Zie.

That being said, I agree with Patrick - Picholine is special - food is excellent and service is topnotch. Along those lines in the same neighborhood is Telepan, a very fine restaurant by Bill Telepan, the chef behind the late lamented Judson Grill.

Aduchamp's opinion's about Batali's restaurants are well known - but what he doesn't seem to understand is that Casa Mono and Bar Jamon are not about authenticity (although the quality of the hams and the depth of the wine list truly are authentic Spanish) but about interpretation. I have had lots of great food at both Casa Mono and Bar Jamon - but they are both very small, cramped, noisy bustling places with a "fun" crowd - not really what the OP seems to be looking for . . .

O'Neals is just a good reliable bar with good bar food; Bar Americain is fun, good food, can get noisy but a big, real NYC experience; Trattoria dell'Arte - haven't been in 15 years, but it used to be good, Marseille is good but can be hectic at pre-theatre times - it's lovely after 7:45PM . . .. L'impero is way east - over by Tudor City near the UN - but the food is excellent - a grown-up restaurant - a short cab ride or longish walk from your hotel.

Haven't ever been to Giambelli - but it's been here for a billion years . . . and am unfamiliar with Peter's - do you mean Peter Luger?

And yes, I would make a reservation, even on a Sunday night because who wants to wander around in this cold weather?

Yes the quality of the ham at Casa Mono and Bar Jamon are excellent. They use serrano ham which in many ways is comprable to prosciuto. But this available in other places. Now with the importation restrictions lifted they could be using Iberico, which can run at retail stores to $50 a pound.

I do not object to the fact that it is not genuine tapas. With the revolution of food in Spain, what is traditional has certainly changed. It is the fact that is overpriced and does not often deliver.

As far Roberto Passon is concerned, we are always seeking alterantives, especially in the theatre district. Ironically, another Mario Batali restaurant Esca, left us cold.

And I am quite flattered that my opinions about Batali are well known, so please say tell him that his friend Bill always defends him against philistines like myself.

Of the restaurants you mention, I like L'Impero the best. If you're looking for a great Italian meal, go there or to Alto.
Casa Mono is ridiculously overpriced & always bustling. Food is fantastic but not traditional tapas. Bar Jamon is a small little bar that can seat maybe 20 people and has very few plates like cheese, ham etc.
For tapas, go to Tia Pol, Boqueria, or Bolo, in order of increasing expense. All are amazing!!
If you're in the mood for seafood, especially things like whole grilled fish, try Milos. You really have to know & be able to appreciate your seafood though. Oceana is probably better for American palates.

Finally, for a visitor looking for a truly exceptional dining experience which is still very warm & friendly & service beyond any compare (unlike some stiff corporate places or holier-than-thou French ones), go to Gramercy Tavern. That is my favorite restaurant in this glorious city, if I could ever whittle it down to just one place. For a first timer, go for the tasting menu.

The comments about not knowing New Yorkers who eat at Roberto Passon are really pretty funny. Roberto Passon is NOT a destination restaurant. It is an above average "neighborhood" restaurant. They don't advertise in Playbill and tourist magazines, nor do they print coupons for tourists. I've been there often, first going by the recommendation of the apartment owner where I was renting a block away (a NEW YORKER) who said it was his favorite, and it quickly became our favorite neighborhood restaurant as well. I can say that in all my trips there, it is clear that the bulk of the people around me have been locals -- mostly very local Hell's Kitchen residents -- but other New Yorkers going to the theatre. It is easy to tell, when people are greeted by name, a waiter speaks to someone about the last time they were there, or one couple joins another with "sorry, we're late, John got stuck at the office" that these are locals, not all tourists.

Although for the life of me I'm not sure why some people equate restaurants with tourists as somehow inferior, anyway. As Claire (a tourist) is pointing out, many tourists are looking and often find the BEST places.

If someone living in Hell's Kitchen said he didn't know anyone who eats at Roberto Passon that would be one thing, but there's no reason to think that New Yorkers from other areas of the city would journey there regularly-- hopefully they have favorite neighborhood restaurants in their areas that New Yorkers from Hell's Kitchen probably never go to either.

But all this aside, I stand by my comment above that Roberto Passon is not a really "special" or destination restaurant, which I gather is more what claire is looking for.

Picholine is a place I always recommend, especially for the cheese course (save room and make time for it!). I have an apartment near Lincoln Center and I can also recommend "whym" for good neighborhood fare, although not nearly as festive (or expensive). As stated above, Telepan is also very nice. Have a wonderful evening!

Adore Picholine--the wild game tasting menu was one of my top meals of 2007. You could also try Nougatine, great food, nice atmosphere and within walking distance of Lincoln Center.

Please note Bolo has closed.

Another vote for L'Impero. It has a new chef and is getting rave reviews. The room is pretty, but not overly romantic, so it won't be awkward for a work dinner.

The comments about not knowing New Yorkers who eat at Roberto Passon are really pretty funny. Roberto Passon is NOT a destination restaurant. It is an above average "neighborhood" restaurant. They don't advertise in Playbill and tourist magazines, nor do they print coupons for tourists. I've been there often, first going by the recommendation of the apartment owner where I was renting a block away (a NEW YORKER) who said it was his favorite, and it quickly became our favorite neighborhood restaurant as well. I can say that in all my trips there, it is clear that the bulk of the people around me have been locals -- mostly very local Hell's Kitchen residents -- but other New Yorkers going to the theatre. It is easy to tell, when people are greeted by name, a waiter speaks to someone about the last time they were there, or one couple joins another with "sorry, we're late, John got stuck at the office" that these are locals, not all tourists.

Although for the life of me I'm not sure why some people equate restaurants with tourists as somehow inferior, anyway. As Claire (a tourist) is pointing out, many tourists are looking and often find the BEST places.

First, NY'ers have things like newspapers, magazines, and telephones where they exchange inforamtion including restaurants and are on the look out for good or better resaturants. If NY'ers did not travel to eat, the meatpacking district or Brooklyn would have not have risen as places to go to eat.

Second, on this board and others I see the same restaurants being recommended by those who have visited NYC. These are often in the tourist areas. There are exceptional restaurants at excellent prices throughout the city particularly downtown which i rarely see recommended. I am sure there are visitors who want the BEST, wahtever that may mean, but it strikes me that majority go to places where there is a comfort factor such as being recommended by friends, in a guide book, or it is simply known, otherwise there is no reason to go to Tavern On The Green, Carmine's Brooklyn Dinner, or Ellen's.

Take pizza for example. There seems to be a few places that are known, John's, Lombardi's (our personal favorite) and Grimaldi's (which is always a bit disappointing.) But no one ever mentions Tontonno's, Pizza Fresca, Pizza Napolitino, Gruppo. or a newcomer Luzzo's? Tontonno's although it started in Coney Island has only been making pizza for something like 50 years.

I am sure visitors want to go the better places especially when considering the price of midtown restaurants, but for some reason they rarely try places that are out of the tourist orbit

I think in order to make a decision or have any sensible debate you really have to decide at least one thing-whether it's the neighborhood (near hotel vs. near Lincoln Center vs. it doesn't matter) or kind of food or fancy vs. not. Otherwise, you're all over the lot.

Roberto Passon, Trattoria Dell 'Arte, Marseille, Bar Americain, L'Impero are neither that close to Lincoln Center nor your hotel. The first 3 are in the theater district (west 40's-50's) and L'Impero is near the UN in the east 40's. (Lincoln Center is west 60's and the hotel is east 50's). I would say L'Impero is worth going out of your way for, I don't think the others are despite the fact that I like them.

If you're both staying at the Benjamin, there are quite a few very good restaurants near there if that's what you want. Felidia is upscale Italian that's not far and there are several French options like Jubilee (great mussels) to a place like Vong. (thai/french) Then there's Aquavit for Scandinavian with a prix fixe $82/person ;)
aquavit.org

Near Lincoln Center, Telepan and Picholine are special.

And then there's the option to say, doesn't matter if we get into a cab, we want xyz experience whether it's best prix fixe dinner, trendy, some kind of food you don't get at home etc. Just tell us.

My vote goes to Insieme (51st and 7th) or Anthos (36 W. 52nd). Both outstanding choices.