Howard:Did not see these mentioned in "Top Food" pick for Zagats?... that is what I was discussing with Patrick. Still I think this is more helfpul than all you can eat tri flavored pasta. Don't like my response, you invited this response in your second comment.BTW Chez Josephine is outside the theatre district what about the other locations?

Carmines.<BR>Make a reservation (at the one in the Theatre district 47th I think; there is another one on Broadway uptown, make sure you get the right one)<BR><BR>You can easily scope out all the restaurants in advance if your visit is for several days. There are many choices.<BR><BR>

Just as a clarification, the restaurant in the Muse Hotel is District not Local. I believe Local is closed for the time being. The nice thing about District is that if you're looking for something special in the theatre district they're perfectly located - well within walking distance to the theatres. Also they have a prix fixe special that is very affordable and gets you out in plenty of time. But that's just if you want to stay in that neighborhood. In New York you're spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants and for every person who contributes on this board you'll get a different answer. But options are good, aren't they!?!

I think options are wonderful. Overt hostility I'm not so sure bout.

Abigail and Howard, go sit in the corner until you can be friends !!<BR>Jude-I believe Barbetta would be nice, it is Italian, good food and in the theatre district.

Abigail, we went to the theatre one night and walked right across the street to Chez Josephine. I call that in the theatre district. Of course you probably don't attend the theatre either. For your information there is Broadway and Off Broadway, and I could even make the short stroll to Chez Josephine from most Broadway Theatres. The comment earlier about most New Yorkers not trekking to the theatre district to eat does of course make some sense. There are good restaurants all over New York. But by the same token it makes just as little sense to trek to the Village to eat dinner when you are seeing a Broadway show and perhaps staying within two blocks of that show.<BR>And thanks, Julie for correcting me on the name of the restaurant in The Muse. When I typed it, I suspected I might be wrong which is why I added that "I think". District and Local just seem to confuse me, I guess.

Just incidentally, does anyone know anyone who can get a table at Balthazar at a normal dining time?

Balthazar needs to be booked a loooong time in advance for normal times, especially weekends and holidays...

Thank you, Patrick, for the Chez Josephine comment. It is, indeed, in the theater district. (I don't think the owner, Jean-Claude Baker, would be happy to hear his place described as being out of the theater district.)<BR>Okay, Max, I'll behave!

I have not had a problem calling Balthazar's 3 days before sometimes stopping in on the spir. Let's see when I called three days before it was a Friday at 7pm. When I stopped in it was around 8pm on a Saturday did that twice maybe one of those times was slightly later we were walking around and just popped in. There was a small wait but nothing you would not expect during any busy time. I don't know maybe I got lucky? I thought the crowds were dying down here along with the economy still I would reserve if I needed to budget time for a show.

There was a long line at Balthazar last weekend.We had reservations so the wait was short,but there were people lined up on the sidealk outside...of course,the ones in the really long cars with the blacked out windows didn't have to wait at all:)

Balthazar's is also notorious for keeping you waiting up to an hour after your reservation time. So it was a perfect suggestion for before theatre (note the sarcasm). I don't think most of my favorites have even been mentioned here: Cite, Judson Grill, Osteria Circo, 21, Rene Pujol (I think that was mentioned). The theatre district and certainly midtown are filled with really good restaurants. <BR>Abigail, the original question was for suggestions of restaurants in the theatre district, not necessarily the finest. You're like those people on the Europe board who when asked where to stay in Paris, proceed to tell people not to go there, but to go to Rome instead. If you have no suggestions for the original post, why don't you just ignore it, instead of ranting about something that wasn't even asked?

Whoa, who stepped on xxx's tail? This worked up over a suggestion for restuarants..I'd hate to see how some of these people get when something really important happens in their lives~

Anybody mention Esca? Although one of the best things is to sit outside, so it may be too cold to do so.