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Restuarants near 5 av.on 32 st.

We are going to NYC in april and are staying at the Avalon hotel - any suggestions at nearby restaurants ?- also in the Murray Hill area. Both budget and others are of interest - we are staying for 12 days ! :-)

Hi Anne-marie: I work around the corner from the Avalon! The area is not a great culinary experience.....but You are near enough to head south to the Gramercy area for some of the best resturants in NYC! Here are some places that I have found: Bella Napoli 31st and Madison Cheap Italian, notch above a pizza parlor but great food! Its the local lunch locale! DANO Bit more upscale on 5th and 28th? SCOPA Upscale takeout with an expensive Italian resturant attached. 28th between Mad and Park? Those are the ones I have used in the area...like I said if you want upscale..head south to Gramercy (do a search on NYC and you will get a broader opinon of the area. By the way 12 days at the Avalon must cost a pretty penny!! JOHN

upscale an american place-32nd b/w park and madison les halles- park b/w 28th and 29th i trulli-27th b/w park and lex - if it's a nice day eat in the pretty backyard - make reservations l'annam- cheap good vietnamese on 3rd and 28th turkish kitchen-3rd b/w 27th and 28th also danny meyer's new place at madison and 25th, nouveau indian

sorry, also asia de cuba, madison b/w 37th and 38th

Steve, didn't An American Place move to the Benjamin at 50th? Or is there still an old one at 32nd?

To answer Patrick's question, An American Place did indeed move. It's space subsequently became Rose Hill, another Larry Forgione restaurant that is now out of business. Something else is set open there at some point, but I don't remember the details. Now, to suggest some restaurants for youe stay. First of all, 32d between 5th and 6th Aves is ground zero for New York's Little Korea, and is lined with Korean restaurants. Even if you're not familiar with Korean restaurants, they'll be worth your time. For one thing, if you need late-night eats, many are open very late or 24 hrs. There are some good-value/good-quality buffets, and also restaurants where you grill your own meats at the table that are very good. There are a number of sushi places as well. All these are moderately priced. Venturing a bit further... Cafe Picasso, on 29th between Park and Madison, has excellent thin-crust pizzas, salads, and pastas, and is moderate. On 34th between 3d and Lexington is Lemongrass Thai, which is not bad. On 34th between 2d and 3d are Tre Pomodori (Italian) and Ali Baba (Turkish), both inexpensive and cash-only. Ali Baba is a bit of a hole-in-the-wall, but serves excellent, fresh mezze and kebabs. On 3d Ave at 34th St there is an outpost of the Patsy's Pizza chain, which is not bad (cash only). On Lexington between 26th and 28th or so is a Little India ("Curry Hill") with a number of good restaurants; the best are the kosher (!) vegetarian ones, Madras Mahal and Pongal, between 27th and 28th, and Mavalli Palace, on 29th between Park and Lexington. There's an old-fashioned French bistro (think duck a l'orange) called La Petite Auberge in that same block that's pretty good. Aargh, I have to leave now, but will post more later.

Oops, just to clarify, La Petite Auberge is on Lexington between 28th and 29th. If you're willing to go east a bit, there are some more moderate and inexpensive places (as others have alluded, beyond the Korean places, there's a real dearth of decent eating in the immediate vicinity of the Avalon). On 3d near 34th is La Giara, a small, good Italian place (moderate). On 2d at 33d is Benjamin for basic but well done American, with especially good deals for brunch and early dinners. On 2d at 31st is Cafe Indulge, a good little bakery cafe that also has full service for breakfast/brunch and lunch and dinner, with emphasis on sandwiches and salads. Waterfront Ale House, 2d at 30th, is a really low-key pub with zero decor and atmosphere but excellent food (way above pub grub) and an outstanding beer selection. Upscale places that are recommended include I Trulli, on 29th between Park and Lexington, which is (Apulian) Italian, with an outstanding Italian wine list; 27 Standard, on 27th between Park and Lex; and the two Danny Meyer places on Madison at 24th-25th, Tabla and Eleven Madison Park. Tabla was mentioned above; it's French-style preparations with Indidan accesnts, and includes an upstairs dining room with a ~$65 prix fixe menu and a more casual and inexpensive place downstairs, the Bread Bar, for which ou don't need reservations. Once you move south, you're in the Flatiron/Gramercy (east) or Chelsea (west) neighborhoods, both chockablock with great eating.

you're very close to Grammercy and Union Square too, so upscale I would suggest Mesa Grill, Bolo, Patria, Grammercy Tavern... moderately priced, Park Avalon (great people watching, great food), Candela (funky atmosphere and great food), City Crab (lively casual, but good seafood, Chat & Chew (homestyle cooking, fried chicken, mac and cheese, etc.)... just a few suggestions. in Murray Hill, there's Rive Gauche (moderately priced brasserie), Baby Bo's (my favorite place to order from... hole in the wall.. awesome Mexican... great sangria and margaritas!!!!), Moonstruck (diner), La Pizzeria (on 3rd and about 32nd for pizza by the slice), Lemongrass for thai. enjoy... let me know if you need more suggestions.

I will have to respectfully disagree with Michelle and say that I think La Pizzeria is pretty awful, and Baby Bo's--which is sort of "Tex-Mex," not Mexican--has seriously gone downhill and is pretty mediocre.

Artisanal Restaurant is great and right on the corner of 32nd St. and Park Ave. French bistro food and fantastic cheese courses and dishes. Great fondues of many varieties and amazing wine selection. Expensive, but not ridiculous.

Does Le Colonnel, what was a great vietnamese place on the east side, fall within the boundaries?

If you are interested in trying Korean, there's Won Jo, right at 32nd St, between 5th & Broadway. I always get the very "safe" barbecued bulgogi, which you grill yourself, but you can be more adventurous. And I've heard good things (OK, just one opinion) about Metro Fish on 36th St & Fifth. Anybody else? And, added to the more downtown places, I've got to add City Bakery - a take-out, excellent salad bar place but much much more (at 3 w. 18th St). And Chicama, at 35 e. 18th St, part of ABC Carpet, which has a great variety of ceviches.