In a few weeks, we need to be at Walker Street about mid way between Church and Broadway -at 8pm - - want to eat somewhere first, that we could preferably walk to this spot after or at most, a short taxi ride - looking for light/pre-theater around 6pm.

Suggested has been Tribeca Grill (375 Greenwich) Suba (19 Ludlow St), WD-40, or Danube (30 Hudson) -

Pre broadway shows, our favorites include Marseilles, Roberto Passon and Remi - knowing this, is there one you would choose over another or do you have a favorite spot in this area - does not have to be the new trendy restaurant, or zagat favorite, etc - can be your neighborhood favorite - we just want a good, light meal, nice service and since we won't have the time to devote to a "night of dining", don't want to be paying exorbitant prices either.....any ideas?

I looked at menus - Danube looks like I may want more time to enjoy, WD-40 has very mixed reviews, Suba looked like it might fit the bill - .... just looking for fodorite experiences to maybe find the best spot.
Thanks !

WD-50 is excellent and truly a great dining experience. It has certainly not received mixed reviews from critics, and all of my meals there have been extraordinary. It's always my 1st choice on the LES.

In SoHo, my new favorite is Lure Fishbar, also very well reviewed. Of course you can't go wrong at Mercer Kitchen either.

Enjoy!

We enjoyed E.U. on 4th bet Aves A & B in mid Feb.
M

I wouldn't recommend WD-50 unless you were a very sophisticated foodie into adventurous eating. You go to WD-50 for a tasting experience, not to eat.

I would recommend Balthazar on Spring St. It's not too expensive and you can dine rather quickly since it is French brasserie.

Gekko perhaps I should have been more detailed, the reviews I looked at were not critic reviews, but the ones rec'd when I did a search on the restauarnt (citysearch/tripadvisor/etc types) and there I was finding many mixed reviews - which is why I turn to fodors !

So my question to you now would be - dining at WD-40 at 6pm and having to make an 8pm show, should I instead save it for another evening? We recently ate at a " tasting style" restaurant in another city and part of the enjoyment was eating and drinking leisurely for almost 3 hrs and this night I want something light and to be able to walk a bit before sitting thru a play.

Lure Fishbar looks fabulous, but I am allergic to seafood so prefer other choices - Mercer Kitchen would work well -that one skipped my radar -

Husband is not a huge fan of Balthazar but that is a noise factor with him on busy days, so maybe 6pm we would find it quieter?

Will also look into E.U. , Mikemo -
thanks for all the suggestions, as usual !

Suba is fantastic - terrific atmosphere. Other good places in the area that are somewhat neighborhood-y, but have all been personally vetted by me (and thousands of others):

LES/East Village:
Little Giant
Five Points
Schiller's Liquor Bar
Lil' Frankie's
Boca Chica

Soho:
Blue Ribbon
Aquagrill
Raoul's
Goblin Market
Jean Claude

WD-50's menu is NOT a "tasting menu" by any means. On the menu you'll find normal-sized appetizers & entrees etc, and I typically have a "normal" 3-course meal there.

Chef Wylie Dufresne is quite inventive, which is why critics love his restaurant. Perhaps those with unsophisticated palates or ordinary tastes should dine elsewhere.

And while I enjoy Balthazar, waits are usually quite long, particularly on weekends. A better Keith McNally option would be Schiller's, on the LES and just as good if not better than tourist-heavy Balthazar.

Lizzie, thanks for adding your suggestions - you had sent us to Five Front in Brooklyn back in the fall and I think had something to do with the brunch spot we ended up with in January - so I am leaning towards Suba and will look into some of the others on your list too - My daughter is a fan of a few of the ones on your list, so we'll save those for when she is with us- but will also look into Shiller's that both you and Gekko mention -

Ok, so WD-40 is not a tasting menu - but from the type of experience it sounds to be, I am thinking we will reserve there for another evening when dining is our mission and not having to get to a play at 8pm. But I will share all these ideas with my other half tonight and see what interests him also -

thanks everyone !

You do not want to rush WD-50, that is true.

Suba? It's getting a bit long in the tooth and the atmosphere can be loud/club-like because it now caters to large groups -- I've been to two big prix fixe dinners there in the past few months. The "red room" downstairs is kinda cool, however.

Don't confuse Five Points w/ Five Front! Five Points is in Manhattan, not far (quick cab ride) from where you are looking.

Confession on Suba - I haven't been since 2005, so Gekko might be right.

Another one to consider might be Stanton Social. It can get a little crazy on the weekends, but it will be fine at the time you're going.

Schiller's is very good, and I can't say enough Blue Ribbon or Little Giant.

Oh Lizzie I wasn't confusing them - just commenting that you had before suggested a restaurant we thoroughly enjoyed so you have some track record ( kind of like Neopolitan does since Roberto Passon became one of our rotating pre-theater spots for Broadway shows) -

I don't think Gekko addressed Suba, but several people have thought we would enjoy it which is how it got on the list originally.

we'll let you know how it all works out - thanks !

oops, my miss on Gekkos post on Suba !!
Ok, then Gekko I am definitely holding WD for another leisurely paced night -
and the loud factor at Suba won't please my husband...
I'll do some heavy menu reading this evening -
thanks again -

Look at Azafran, a spanish place in Tribeca. I like the food there more than that at Suba, although Suba is an übercool room. Reasonable prices too.
May be perfect for a light meal as it serves tapas/small plates.

I LOVE Azafran. We had a work dinner there last December and the food was great. If you are willing to venture down to Tribeca, Landmarc is also a fabulous neighborhood place. One of my favorites. THey don't take reservations, but you'd have no problem showing up at 6 and being seated right away. They're known for really good steak dishes and affordable, nice wines.

mdn and lizzie thanks ! some more menus to read and think about - I hope to make my rezzies tomorrow - I'll let you know -

escargot, your destination of Walker between Church and Broadway is much closer to Tribeca than the LES - and since there are so many really good restaurants around your destination, it makes sense to me to try something there.

I really agree with lizzie about Landmarc - very reliable, terrific food and service and good wine list.

Bread Tribeca is good, too - and is at Church and Walker.

66 is very upscale, pricy Chinese, fab drinks, very good food in small portions

Blaue Gans, run by the owner of Wallse is terrific, a lighter touch on Austrian food.

Pepolino is a reliable Italian with nice atmosphere on West broadway just south of Canal.

There are so many more . . . an at 6:00 you'll have no problem walkig in to almost any of them on a weeknight.

well mp thank you sooo much ! anywhere that would be an easier walk for us is what I am looking for - I'd like to walk a bit after before sitting in a play - so now I have more homework for the morning - but the kind I like ! thanks - I'm going to start reading menus right now -

OK - still need some help, and some things have changed -
we are going to be doing this twice -
once, my husband and I eating and another time with a party of 7 -

Husband and I still have not chosen exactly where, b/c we don't mind longer walks or cabs since we won't have a car in the city

BUT , but, but .....for that party of 7 I definitely need to choose one of the restaurants within walking distance because this group is arriving by car and wants to park only once -

I am looking at maps and getting dizzy - so any of you who have helped with this , and thanks for pointing out I am closer to Tribeca, and if you are familiar enough with the area to know garages/parking options -

where then would be your choice for a 5:45/6pm dinner on a Friday night in this area for a party of 7 that from there we could walk to the 8pm show on Walker St ??

thanks for your help!

Easily Landmarc. It's on W. Broadway b/t Worth & Leonard. A 10 minute max walk to the theater, and an easy area to drive around. I can't point out specific parking garages, but I think you'll be able to find something in the very near area. Not sure where you're coming from, but it's really easy to get there from the Holland Tunnel.

Landmarc will take a reservation for a party of your size. We have work dinners there somewhat frequently, and the service is always awesome.

Thanks Lizzie - I will book that one asap.