restaurant near Tavern on the Green
 

I want to show the Tavern to my college aged kids, but I've read where the food isn't so great. I thought we'd just stop in for a drink to see it and then eat someplace nearby where the food is better. Suggestions? Our budget is about $75 pp for dinner.

I'm not sure I'd suggest it with college kids, but Cafe des Artistes is very close. It's more of a romantic place (with some famous murals on the walls), but food's not what it once was and it might be too adult.
http://www.cafenyc.com/cafedesartistes/html/index2.htm

La Boite en Bois is a very nice French bistro with good food, but not particularly trendy or exciting for college kids. Rosa Mexicana is a fun Mexican that has a nearby location but may not be what you had in mind. I'd say one of the restaurants in the Time Warner building might the closest geographically and offer some pizzazz. Cafe Gray is supposed to be very good and has a $64 prix fixe menu. Landmarc is another option there. Have a look on menupages.com

Well under budget but really good food and very popular for that aged group is Arte Cafe, just a little north on 73rd.

www.artecafenyc.com

A GREAT Italin restaurant is closeby "Pomodoro" on Columbus just south of 72nd St.

I'd skip having a drink there. Just walk around and look and step outside and check out the plastic topiaries.

The bar is like a Ski Chalet on crack. It's horrible.

If you want some excellent Chinese have a look at Shun Lee. Very good, upscale Chinese on 65th between CPW and Columbus.

OK - everybody sit down. You won't believe this. There's a new chef at Tavern on the Green - he's been there for a couple of months now, and according to a review this week in Newsday by Erika Marcus ( a very respected food writer here) the food is actually good! Some dishes fall flat, but over all she's had some good meals there! She liked it. And she said her cookbook author companion liked it too! You can Google the review. She also praises the very professional service . . . surprise!

But just in case you decide to opt for another place - along with the very good suggestions from others above you might like : Gabriel's - excellent Tuscan food on W. 60th St. Telepan - really terrific, first rate New American food on W. 69th St. These are both upscale, grown up places that will be just about in your budget range . . . If you'd like something a bit less expensive, I second Arte Cafe or you could try Pasha, a really good Turkish place, family run on W. 71st St. really good kebabs and pilafs.

Another vote for Telepan!!

LOL at the Tavern bar being called a ski chalet on crack!! I think that's why I kind of like the bar! We're actually heading into the city today & stopping for a drink in that strange triangular bar. Here's a recommendation also: if you'd like a great glass of wine with an amazing view of the Rock Center tree, go to Morrell and try to snag the window seat at the bar (that's actually our second stop today!) Enjoy your trip to NY!