Pre-theater Italian restaurant suggestions
 

Does anyone have a suggestion for a nice Italian restaurant in the Theater District? We'll be there on 10/29 and would like something a little upscale.

What city are you going to be in?

In NYC, Abbocatto on West 55th is close to the theatre district; same owners as the very popular (Greek restaurant) Molyvos. Baldoria on West 49th and Bond 45 on West 45th are more casual and even closer to most of the theatres. Barbetta, on West 46th is very old school Northern Italian, somewhat elegant with good food.

Assuming you mean New York, and you want upscale Italian in the theater district, then it's gotta be Orso, but you may already be too late to get reservations for pre-theater dining on a Saturday night so close. Call immediately (212-489-7212).
If they're full, try Lattanzi on the same 46th Street block (212-315-0980).

Thanks for the help. I'll start calling immediately.

Another option: Cara Mia on 9th Btwn 45th & 46th St, phone is 212-262-6767, website is www.caramianyc.com

Nice smaller restaurant, good service (without someone asking you every 5 minutes if "everything is ok"), very good food.

My personal take on Cara Mia -- it is one of those places (like Broadway Joe's) where you should always have a discount coupon. You can get one from about a dozen sources including playbill or just about any tourist book. You can't miss the place. There is a guy who stands in front accosting passers-by to tell them to come in and eat. I never have. It is such a turn off to know that a place is overpriced unless you have their coupons which practically everyone who goes there has.

Baldoria is very nice. Orso is classy and good. Patsy's a little further north, but still walkable (depending on which theatre you're going to) is a kind of pricey but special place (Frank Sinatra's favorite haunt supposedly). Cara Mia is NOT upscale.

Orso was booked, but we were able to get in to Baldoria. Thanks for the help.

WOW Patrick - I have never been to Cara Mia when the hawker was outside - guess each time I ate there it was on the wrong night . . .

I wouldn't think someone would need to look for a coupon when entrees are reasonably priced.

Hank if you're looking for a restaurant to make a big fuss over you, or a place to be seen at - this isn't it. It is not as "upscale" as you are looking for, but considering the late date I thought it MIGHT be something to consider. We have always had just a nice, reasonable, unpretentious, quiet dinner there, no one hovers (I find that annoying) and we were not handed our bill with our coffee and hustled out the door as can happen in other establishments.

I would not put it in the same category as Broadway Joe's, which I have never even considered an option.

It was just a suggestion. Enjoy your visit to NYC, I hope you have a great weekend!

Not trying to start an argument, but I'm wondering if Patrick has it confused with another place. I've been there three times and never saw a hawker (or coupons). In my experience, it's as described by another poster: quiet, good food, reasonable prices.

BTW, it's not that close to the theater district.

Cara Mia, on 9th Avenue between 45th and 46th on the west side of the street?
The man I always saw there in the times we stayed about a block away (several months total) was a very overweight man who stood outside the door and said things like, "come on in, it's the best food in New York." It was such a turn off. And yes, there are coupons you can download all over the internet, starting with Playbill.com.

I'm almost certain Cara Mia is on the east side of 9th. It's been about a year since I've been there, but I'm pretty sure about the location. Was this a recent experience? Maybe they changed hands in the last year.

The funny part is that I've known several people who've eaten there, and just about all of them remarked about how quiet the place is compared to a lot of other NY restaurants.

I guess the plot thickens. Anyone else been to Cara Mia recently?

Probably spending more time on this than I should, but I an curious about Cara Mia.

I checked Google maps, and Cara Mia is on the east side of 9th (I think). That is, when you're heading south on 9th, the restaurant is to your left.

Never seen coupons for it on playbill.com, though it may be part of a discount program on one of those "dine-around" cards playbill offers.

Uh-oh, am I wrong? The place I'm thinking of is definitely on the west side of the street. I've walked by it about a million times. And there were always discount ads for Cara Mia on Playbill, however, I see today there isn't. If the place I'm thinking of isn't Cara Mia, then what is it?

I'm talking a little over a year ago, since I saw that man hawking the place I'm speaking of.

Cetainly not trying to start anything (or hijack this post) either as I can deal with it if someone doesn't like a resto that I do, but I have to admit I've never seen a hawker or a coupon for Cara Mia. Had a great post theater dinner there a few months back. It's not by any means upscale fancy, but it's good.

My face is RED. I did a search and have discovered my error. The restaurant I was thinking of is Cascina, not Cara Mia. It is located across the street on the west side. So that's where I've seen the coupons for and that's where the chubby hawker accosts passers by.

My sincere apologies. Cara Mia may just be a wonderful place.