askias

The wife and I will be catching this show in NYC on 9/10. While I have checked out the recent thread on restaurants in NYC, I'm not sure which ones are closest to the theatre or which ones have the ability to get us in and out for the 8 p.m. show. We do already have our tickets in hand, so that is not an issue, but I know that restaurants book up quickly and we're late in the game for getting reservations. Both of us like to "dress up" for shows, so I don't want a place where we'll look overdressed. Finally, price is no object, the most important thing is to have a good experience. I will overpay for good service and to not be rushed out the door. Thanks everyone in advance for your suggestions.

kcapuani

Well, Eleven Madison Park won the James Beard award for best service and the food is excellent. It is on 24th and Madison so it is about 25 blocks from the theater. As long as you arrange for the first seating, you'll have plenty of time.

By the way, Avenue Q is fantastic! Pretty risque, but very funny.

HowardR

Your best bet is to make reservations at a restaurant in the theater district so you won't have to rush. And, even limiting your selection to that area, there are many to choose from, all of which are geared to getting people to the theater on time.
You've given a price range. How about type(s) of food?

mclaurie

I agree with Howard, it's better to be closer to the theater. Anything on "restaurant row" (46th betw 8th-9th) would be convenient. Firebird is a glamorous looking Russian restaurant in a townhouse. Here's the menu to review.

http://menupages.com/screenmenu.asp?...een=MW476.html

Also on rest. row is Orso and Lattanzi for Italian. Orso is a celebrity haunt and can be difficult to get a reservation. Lattanzi has, IMO, just as good food if not better and the service is also very solicitous.

Blue Fin in the W Hotel on 47th & Broadway is supposed to be very good seafood also in a glamorous setting but evidently can get noisy. Foley's Fish house in the Renaissance hotel has great views of Times Square.

One of my favorites is Chez Josephine, owned by Josephine Baker's adopted son Jean Claude. It's French bistro food and a fun, campy place. I should say I perfer it after theater to before---just seems like a good place to end the evening with live piano music but you can certainly do a pre theater dinner there and not feel overdressed, although others may not be so fancy. This is a bit longer walk to your theater than the others I mentioned.

BTW, in this case, you do want to be rushed out the door so you don't miss your curtain.

KikiLee

Just a suggestion - any chance you'd be willing to wait to eat until after the show? If you really want to get dressed up and have a night on the town, that might be your best bet. Unlike some other cities, most restaurants in NY have an 11:00 seating (and many places don't really get going until at least 9:00). And this way you wouldn't be limited to the theatre district. (IMO, not the best cuisine NY has to offer.) BTW, saw Avenue Q for the second time last weekend - it's as charming as ever!

HowardR

As usual, I agree with McLaurie, especially about Chez Josephine. It's about 4-4 1/2 blocks from the theater. (And, don't worry about getting to the theater on time. Jean-Claude actually walked to each theater to clock long it would take to get to each one from his restaurant...walking fast and walking slowly!)

HowardR

PS: Since you are going on a Friday night, I'd make reservations NOW at any leading theater district restaurant.

djkbooks

Here's another huge recommendation for Chez Josephine and dining post-theater.

Typically, when dining pre-theater in the theater district, nearly everyone is seated at the same time, making it difficult to receive well paced service and food prepared/presented in top form.

And, you really should get to the theater 15-20 minutes or more ahead of show time, to visit the rest rooms and get to your seat.

We've found over the years that it's just more pleasant and relaxing to enjoy fine dining after the show.

As for reservations, if you don't wish to phone all over, try www.opentable.com

Cher

I would highly recommend going to a restaurant close to the theater. Even with first seating and telling the server that you have theater tickets, you can get into cutting it too close. That happened to us at out last visit ... we were about 20 blocks away. Then there was terrible traffic in the theater district so the cab was not even moving (we ended up just getting out of the cab and running the few last blocks). We just got to our seats in time for the curtain.

The restaurants closer to the theaters are also more used to moving folks out in time for theater. You got some great suggestions above. Have fun!

askias

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I'm going with the board and booking Chez Josephine. It looks like an interesting place. While eating after the show is not an option, that's not to say that we couldn't go back for the live music afterwards!

HowardR

Wise decision. Make your reservation for no later than 6 p.m.

vacationdreamer

Just tell the waiter that you have theater tickets when you sit down, they will serve your order so you are out in time to make it - it is what they do for a living.

djkbooks

I would recommend booking Chez Josephine for 5PM (have a late breakfast or brunch that day, as you'll be glad to have arrived hungry). Most will book for 6 of 6:30, so you'll be "ahead of the crowd". (This is one of the very few places that opens for dinner that early.)

Definitely return after the show. The music and atmosphere are fabulous, especially when it's "quieter". Let them know you'll be back. You'll be warmly welcomed and taken care of. (And, check out the dessert menu!).

We love that place. Visit once, often twice, on every visit to NYC. Once, we arrived at 7:10 in the pouring down rain (having just missed the Circle Line Harbor Lights cruise departure). Ramon seated us and asked if we had theater tickets. Incredible!