Restaurants near Central Park
 

Looking for a nice spot for special dinner after a carriage ride in the park. Prefer not to spend more than $200 for 2 people. Suggestions?

More details are needed...the boathouse is very nice but its in the middle of the park. If you eat out with a lake view, its lovely though a bit busy. Are you looking for a place near central park south where the carriage rides usually start out from?
Tao is very cool..its on 58th.

Tavern on the Green is there - but pricey!

The Boat House, in my opinion, has better food than Tavern on the Green.

Do not do Tavern on the Green - the setting is pretty - but the food is mediocre at best- you need to odrer defensivley (what is hardest for them t ruin) and the service is othing to talk about.

What cuisine(s) are you looking for? Traditional? Modern? I like Cafe des Artistes (traditional, semi-romantic). Tao is not bad - and VERY trendy - but go late to see anything. Shun Lee is VERY good chinese.

There are literally dozens of places near the park - provide a little more info.

Cafe Des Artistes is just off Central Park West, is famous for being a romantic place, has beautiful flower arrangements and murals on the walls. It's a dark place. The food (French) is good not great. If you don't go crazy with wine your budget will work.

The Boat House is lovely but I think the setting is nicer at lunch. The food isn't outstanding (but yes certainly better than Tavern on the Green).

There are a number of restaurants along Central Park South. San Domenico is a very upscale Italian with a very sleek modern decor. Gabriel's is nearby (at Columbus Circle) and also Italian and very good.

Bruno Jamais is up on the upper east side (near the Metropolitan museum) just off Fifth ave at 81 st. It used to be a private club but is now open to the public. They generally have music (sometimes live) beginning at 10pm. Also on the upper east side off Fifth ave. is Cafe Boulud a wonderful French restaurant and that would be my choice for a special dinner. This area is not automatically where a carriage driver would take you but it's easy to get there through the park if you ask.

These are perfectly wonderful suggestions. I will check into all of them asap. I'm pretty open-minded about the cuisine, so thanks for giving me these diverse options. The more ideas, the better.