Pre Theatre Italian
 

Looking for a good italian restaurant within walking distance to Richard Rodgers (46th btwn 8th & Broadway). Something that won't break the bank.
Last year we ate at Cascina and it was just ok. Hoping for something a little better this time around.

check out neopatricks trip report for lots of theatre district dining - a new place at 9th and 45th called Nizza is getting nice reviews.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/dining/26brief.html

Two Italian restaurants in the theatre disrict where I've eaten well more than once are Osteria Doge on W. 44th near B'way and Osteria Gelsi at 38th and Ninth.

If you like big meals, go to Osteria Doge. If you dislike large portions, go to Osteria Gelsi.

While we enjoyed Nizza for lunch, it's nothing special atmosphere wise and seems more "lunch like" than a real restaurant. Roberto Passon still remains my favorite in the area (50th and 9th) both for the quality of the food, and for the value and prices.

www.robertopasson.com

We love Pietrasanta, at 47th and 9th.
http://www.pietrasantarestaurant.com/web.asp?cont=home

Thank you all. Even though it's a little further Roberto Passon may be what I'm looking for since I don't want pizza to be a choice for my dinner guests. They are from out of state and I'm worried they will order pizza just so the check won't be so high. Also it seems to be more northern than southern Italian which I would definitely prefer.

Definitely Roberto Passon. Infinitely better than Cascina.

The only other place I can think of is ViceVersa, but that's more modern Italian rather than traditional. They have a prix-fixe that's $35 per person.

The owners have another restaurant that's closer to your theater called Etcetera Etcetera, and the prix-fixe there is the same price. If you order a la carte, it's a little cheaper than ViceVersa. I'm eating at Etcetera Etcetera for the first time tomorrow night, but Vice Versa is one of my favorite restaurants in the theater district, as is Roberto Passon.

Nobody mentioned Becco. I haven't been there in a couple of years, but it used to be a standard.

I used to love Becco, but with Lidia Bastianich's popularity it's grown ever more crowded, annoying, and mediocre, especially since the expansion. The last couple of times I've been, I ended up not getting the pasta special and just ordered a main course. Wines are still well priced by the bottle, though, and they offer a nice range of choices, though glasses are way way overpriced.

I was looking at the menu for Roberto Passon but I don't see a prix-fixe, do they have one?

Also, just to have a back up, how is Scarlatto?

they have a prix-fixe at lunch

http://www.robertopasson.com/media/lunch.html

We were going to try Becco but they get such mixed reviews. The pasta special sounds like my out of state (Florida) guests would like.

Maybe I should make this my backup in case I can't get a reservation at Roberto Passon since I'm trying for a Friday night.

That fixed price at Roberto Passon is one of the best deals I've seen anywhere in NYC -- not just because it's only $13 for three courses with plenty of choices, but because my first course of beef carpaccio is better than most $13 or higher beef carpaccios in NYC all alone!

And while they don't have a fixed price at dinner, you can choose any three courses ala carte and still not top most fixed prices at "similar" but not as good restaurants.

If you really want to eat at Becco, make that your first choice because it's a much harder ticket. You won't have a problem getting a reservation at Roberto Passon for a pre-theater meal.

We just ate at Becco for lunch a couple of weeks ago - it was certainly very good, but not spectacular. It certainly didn't dissapiont, but on the other side of the coin it didn't wow us. The antipasta and the casear salad was the best we had in NY for the trip. While the pasta tasting was excellent, it was nowhere near the match to more high end places like Scarpetta or Babbo in the wow factor. Simple and very good - really better than most Italian food in any city besides NYC...

Ok, I reserved Becco since it's right down the block from the theatre.

We'll hold off on Roberto Passon till December when we go with just our family.

We have our first-hand doubts about Passon and, especially, Becco which we found to be horrible. Many local foodies are not fond of these 2 places because of the relatively low quality dishes.

While I'm not very excited about the restaurants in the Times Square area vicinity, a pretty good one is Trattoria Trecolori.

Insieme, owned by Marco Canora and Paul Grieco is an exception. But this restaurant does not serve pre-theater and the cost is relatively higher, but very much worthy of the dishes and service, BTW, Marco and Paul own and operate Hearth and Terroir, but very good and respected establisments in the East Village.

http://www.trattoriatrecolori.com/

http://www.restaurantinsieme.com/

b_b

I recommend Scarlatto. http://www.scarlattonyc.com/

sort of "modern" italian, very yummy, and I believe they do have a pre-theater menu. We've taken out of town guests there multiple times and all have enjoyed.

No one has mentioned three outstanding Italian restaurants in that area: Lattanzi and Orso on West 46th and Remi on West 53rd.

So I just had a truly excellent meal at Etcetera Etcetera, the sister restaurant of ViceVersa. I had a regular appetizer (baby octopus salad), and appetizer size portion of risotto, and dessert (cherry ice cream). All absolutely great. And decent-priced wines by the glass. Over all, entree prices are a tad under ViceVersa, but with the option of smaller pasta portions, it's a really great deal. Plus there's a prix-fixe. All main courses were under $25, but we didn't order one this time.

Oh ... and I saw The Marriage of Bette and Boo ... one of the most perfect productions (and enjoyable plays) I've seen over the past year.

Wow, it really is overwhelming how many choices we have. It shouldn't be this difficult. Maybe, I'll just put the contenders in a hat and randomly choose! Thanks everyone!

Howard, you do mention three good restaurants. We've been to all three but I'd say it's been at least three or four years now since we've been to any of them. I'm not sure why that is, except they all seem more expensive and really no better than some of the other options. Remi, in particular, is quite pricey (and certainly more upscale in feel) but I never found the food any better than some of the others. I find it hard to beat the veal scallopine at Roberto Passon's for example, while Remi's in half again as much in cost. And my favorite -- slow cooked rabbit with polenta -- is not only TWICE the cost at Remi as Passon, but clearly not as good as far as I was concerned. That's one dish I had both places.

Orso is nice, but has a rather short and limited menu. Sometimes I look at it and nothing really appeals. And I will say that the time we did pasta as a main course there, we left rather hungry. I don't like huge portions, but their's was really small. I suppose it would have been fine as a first course, but not as a main.
I just never think of Lattanzi -- I'm not sure why. It's quite good.

Becco is always a favorite. you could also try Bond 45, I love their Mozzarella samplers. Fresco by Scotto is more upscale, in the 50s and closer to Madison/Park, so you would probably need to cab it from there.

I've never understood the excitement about Becco. Sure they give you all the pasta you want, but all three were very bland every time I went. Give me one good pasta with something wonderful like a lamb ragu or lots of porcini or various somewhat exotic ingredients. The ones I've had have always been pretty mundane.

La Masseria

Patrick, I must admit that part of the reason I like all three of those restaurants (besides their good food, of course) is the ambiance of all three.
And, as for Remi, I love its wine list as well!!

remi is very good. my personal fave is nocello's on 55th and 8th. there is also la vineria on 55th and 6th.

Etcetera Etcetera is a great suggestion. I have to try Roberto Passon, it certainly has a strong following and is mentioned often. I always love to go to Lattanzi as well. Have a wonderful time!

Topping for a trip in September.

I have eaten at Becco and TreColori and they are mediocre at best.

I look for value restaurants not expensive. I will not argue about where to eat. If people want to eat at mediocre places then it just leaves open tables at the other places.

The same is true for Le Bonne Soup and Un Duex Trois. Le Bonne Soup exists on 30 year reputation (ate their about a month ago for the first time in a lomg time and it os clearly nothing special). And Un, Duex, Trois, is at the bottom of the list for French bistro in NYC.

I have the same argument for these restaurants as I have for Times Square, It is part of NYC, but it is a very small part of NY. The lights however, make it look brighter.