We are doing our first official NYU Parent Weekend. We're staying at the W Union Square and our daughter lives on 5th near Washington Square. What restaurants do you recommend?

You need to be more specific as to budget and what type of food and atmosphere you want. There are hundreds of places within walking distance.

No budget limit (although I am assuming the $$$$ places would require "pull" we don't have to get in anyway). Specifically,I am asking personal favorites within the area sketched out between Union Square and Washington Square. I have my handy dandy little Zagats guide, have listed all the restaurants up and down the blocks via Google Earth (that was fun!), but thought I'd check in here to see if anyone has some faves.

Otto at 1 Fifth Ave. at 8th st. Great pizza, great location, not expensive.

Alta 64 west 10th for tapas.

Arte 9th st b/w 5th & University for affordable Italian.

The Knickerbocker Bar & Grill University b/w 8th & 9th for affordable steak & usually great jazz.

Near the W, Blue Water Grill for seafood, Coffee Shop for a fun, quirky scene, Tocquiville gets raves. I hear Candela is also very good.

Thanks, McLaurie. Nice range of things. About Blue Water Grill...I automatically was trying for that a week or two ago, but the reviews I was getting through online searches were quite mixed. Have you had personal experience there?

I love Mario Batali's Casa Mono on Irving Place just east of Union Square. Spanish-influenced small plates. If you are willing to go either very early or very late, you can go to Batali's flagship, Babbo which is a half block west of Washington Square Park...wonderful pastas; my favorite main there is guinea hen. A block away, Blue Hill is a sedate place with simple "new American" food that is very highly thought of by many. No fireworks there. Another Batali place, Otto, was mentioned by previous poster. Also southwest of your daughter's place is one of my favorite small French places, Le Gigot, on Cornelia Street which is a little restaurant row with some good places. And one of my all-time top NYC Italian places is Apizz on the Lower East Side on Eldridge....gorgeous room with wood-burning oven, brick walls, lots of flowers..short cab ride from 5th near the park. The immediate area around Apizz is a teeny bit dicey at night but worth it to cab there and experience the food.

ps, If you are very interested in food, I highly recommend the website chowhound.com; do a search there or just lurk on the boards for some good eating tips.

Casa Mono on Irving Place - very good tapas (albeit slightly pricey) and decent wines.

Union Square Cafe - since you're in the area, you might as well try one of the city's most popular.

Blue Water Grill - I've been there a couple of times and, generally, pleased with the seafood item, and pricey, dishes. The raw bar is pretty good, too.

Thanks, ekscrunchy. Looks like Mario B's gonna get a visit from this family at one of his restaurants from the recs on your and McLaurie's list.

Funny you mentioned Chowhound. One of my Google searches a week or two ago leading me to the site. I was delighted to end up there because I had just that day finished reading "Feeding a Yen," by Calvin Trillin where Chowhound activities get QUITE a few pages. Unfortuntately, I was unable to post that day...there was some glitch in website at the time. I'll try again.

Since you're at the "W," I suggest walking to 23d and madison to go to 11 Madison Park, which is a Danny Meyer (Gramercy Tavern, et al) classic.