Quick NY weekend - The Producers
 

My husband and I were lucky enough to get tickets to The Producers with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick for January 17th. Part of the Broadway.com package is a room at The Intercontinental - The Barclay for that night. We'll be arriving in NY (from PA) around 10:00am on Saturday. We would like to park the car at the hotel and spend the day shopping.

Saturday shopping help needed:
Can you spend most of a day in Soho? What is there to do there? Any lunch recommendations? I'm assuming we'd cab it from the hotel?

Saturday evening help needed:
Can anyone suggest a nice place to have a drink and snack prior to the show - perhaps somewhere close to the theatre so we could walk afterwards. A classy bar, etc.

Also, need a Saturday night dinner suggestion. The show starts at 8:00 and is 2 hours and 40 minutes. I guess we'd make an 11:00 or 11:15 reservation. We'd like to go somewhere romantic, we'll be dressed up (suit, dress, etc.), spending around $200 total (but we're flexible). We prefer seafood, pasta, anything ethnic is fine (not overly formal French). Somewhere special to celebrate our wonderful night in NYC.

Sunday breakfast:
Plan to spend Sunday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Any great neighborhood breakfasts in that vacinity or near the hotel?

Thanks in advance for all the great advice I know I'll receive from Fodorites!

I could spend a week shopping in Soho and not get bored if my bankroll could support it! It's mostly boutique but Broadway has some bigger general stores. For lunch, if you like French, Balthazar is more trendy, not formal.

You should get some good dinner suggestions on here for after theatre. Next Sat we're eating at Danube and were able to get a 10:45 res. For seafood, you can see if Blue Water Grill or Aquagrill seats that late. I prefer the former, I found Aquagrill to be a little loud and cramped.

Try chowhond.com for dinner info--huge amount of information on those boards.

Gramercy Tavern would be my top rec for after the show. It hits on all cyclinders with great predictability.
Great atmosphere, service, not stuffy but very nicely done. Chowhound has lots of info, (but you'll often find so much nitpicking that NO PLACE ends up sounding like a sure winner).

Unless it's changed you can't book at Grammercy Tavern (and plan to get there) for after theatre. Unless you book a private car to wait for you, it would take a major miracle to get you there by 11. You can eat later in the bar, I think, but that's really not worth doing the trip after the show when you want something "really special". Same with most of the other Union Square area places.

Bar before the show? Well, it's not that classy, but right next door to The Producers is Angus MacIndoe, which has a nice bar and you can get a snack as well. Sardi's is just a few doors up the street. While I DON'T EAT at Sardi's I love having a drink at the upstairs bar before shows (but it is strictly sitting at the bar, not some romantic table). You might also consider going to the top of the Marriott Marquis for a drink and snack first. People line up after the theatre, but you can usually get in before theatre no problem, and what a magical view!!

That special dinner after the show? I find so few really great restaurants open after the show in the theatre district except the more casual places along 46th, etc. Osteria del Circo, and Red Eye Grill are two that are, but they are both quite a walk from the show. I have been really impressed with Marseille at the corner of 8th and 44th, just over a block away from the show. Well within your budget, but an upscale atmosphere and excellent food.

The Rainbow Room or the Rainbow Grill??

oh, just thought about this -- even though I've never been. Firebird on 46th STreet? Such an elegantly romantic setting and they serve late. Generally I've heard nothing but raves for this Russian influenced place. Anyone with first hand experience care to comment?

I second the Marriott Marquis suggestion pre-show. And be sure to allow yourself ample time to enjoy it. The bar rotates so you can get a 360-degree view of the city. I'm not sure how long it takes to do a full circle. I'd guess ~60 minutes, but I'm sure if you call they can tell you.

For a before-theater drink and snack, consider B. Smith's. (Can't remember the address -- it's around 45th & 7th.) Nice place where you can sit at the bar, have hors-doeuvres, and listen to a good live band (at least you could the last time I was there).

B. Smith's is on 46th (restaurant row) just west of 7th Ave. That's a great place, but I always thought it was jam packed pre-theatre with diners. It's a great place for drinks and snacks after theatre.

Yes you can spend a day in Soho. It's shopping, eating & art galleries. If you're not a big shopper, why not split the day. Do Soho in the morning (Balthazar serves breakfast & has GREAT fresh pastries), then do somehting else in the afternoon (the village?) If you do stay in Soho, the eating options are endless.

For Sat night, Firebird is a good idea for dinner in the theater district. Next door, Barbetta (Italian) is very elegant. For a place closer to your hotel, Le Colonial is an upscale Vietnamese rest. on 57th st betw Lex &amp; 3rd. I <i>think</i> they serve late. Another option is the Brasserie on 53rd betw Park &amp; Lex. Good late night spot.

For Sunday brunch near the Met, Cafe Sabarsky in the Neue Museum at 86th &amp; 5th, the Carlyle or the Mark hotel (77th &amp; Madison), Sarabeth's at Madison &amp; 92nd (gets VERY crowded). Clove is very close (80th off 5th) but I haven't been &amp; not sure they serve brunch.

If you'd rather do breakfast, Sarabeth's serves early I think. Norma's at Le Parker Meridien (a bit out of your way but not much). E.A.T. on Madison &amp; 81st is close but IMO very overpriced.

I'd suggest you stay in the immediate area. Getting a taxi after shows is almost impossible. You would have a hard time getting anywhere else. Firebird is very expensive, but worth every penny. It sounds like what you're looking for, really different and special.

I am always spending the day in Soho :)
Shop, have some cafe au lait, shop, have lunch, shop, go to a gallery, shop.
Just be sure to wear your most comfortable shoes and warm clothes. The wind will whip around a corner and make your eyes tear, wear scarves, gloves and hats too!
Not overtly French but French is Provence in Soho on MacDougal St. If you can't go for dinner, have lunch/brunch there..
Zoe on Prince St is a lovely lunch.
Balthazar will make you wait in line, see about calling ahead, otherwise you will waste time waiting for a table.
You know, if the weather is not great, you can eat IN the Metropolitan Museum also..

For a very classy, New York atmosphere and wonderful (IMHO) dinner, you might try the &quot;new&quot; italian place L' impero -45 Tudor City Place - about 6 blocks or so from your hotel. The transportation to there after the theatre might be tricky - but they serve late (11:30 I think) and it's quite good. They can be booked online at opentable.com. You can read opinions of it on chowhound.

There is also Pampano - a well-reviewed mexican restaurant owned by Pavorotti near your hotel at 209 E. 49th. - again a very NY scene - great fun late, too.