My wife and I will be in NYC Sunday Sept 30 for the Harry Potter play. It is in 2 parts. Looks like we will have between 5:00 and 6:30pm for dinner.
I would appreciate all suggestions for places for dinner close the the lyric theater.
We like all kinds of food except too spicy.
We will be doing Italian at Maria Pia on 51st on Saturday night.

That isn't exactly a culinary destination around there, I don't think there are many, if any, great restaurants. I'd probably go to Sardi's, it's a couple blocks away and has history going for it. I don't think the menu is that extensive (espec for non-Italian), but you should find something to eat at a mid-price level.

For Japanese, Ootoya; open 5:30.

Lamb's Club; opens 5pm
Wolfgang's (steakhouse); no midday break

Esca

The whole theatre will be trying to squeeze in a quick dinner between parts 1 and 2 within walking distance. Make a reservation 100% for sure.

I like Maria Pia, so I think that's a pretty good choice and particularly reasonably priced (the Tagliata di Manzo and well worth the extra cost if you are doing the cheap prix-fixe, which is like getting everything else for free), but the best dishes all have supplements on the prix-fixe, though they are all a really good value. The food at Becco on 46th Street is better but more expensive, and you need to order off the a la carte menu to get the best food (the prix-fixe pasta special is just so so). And on the same street as Maria Pia is Viceversa, one of my favorite restaurants in the area and one I frequent often (more modern Italian than Italian-American, but consistently good). Their prix-fixe is $42.

If you want something close to the theater and casual, Heartland Brewery is there on 43rd Street (or HB Burger a bit further down the block for an even more casual dinner). For something French, I like Saju Bistro on 44th in the Hotel Mela (just past the Lamb's Club). It's noticeably cheaper but not quite as good as Lamb's, but they don't have a prix-fixe (but if you go, save room for the chocolate bread pudding made from leftover croissants, which is excellent). Or Cafe Un Deux Trois, which has been around forever and is also good and about the same price range as Saju. If you don't mind walking a bit further, Marseille on the corner of 44th and 9th Avenue is good Mediterranean-French. I'll be dining there on Saturday before the theater (they have a $42 prix-fixe special that's quite good. Just check to be sure they are open at 5 and not 5:30. Definitely make a reservation, but you won't have any issues with getting a reservation at any of these places (except for Heartland, which may not take them).