npudlo

We are taking my 70 yr old mother to NYC for her b-day. We love shopping, great food at reasonable prices (15-20 per entree or less) and fun and unusual things to see. We already have plans to hit the usual spots and am hoping to find some gems from you all.

Anyone have any suggestions for some different places for us to check out? Any good restaurant recommendations?

I'd also love a suggestion for a Broadway show or two. We are staying at the Sheraton Time Square.

Thanks!

Rhea58

Re Broadway shows - are you interested in musicals, drama or comedy so we can give suggestions?

nytraveler

Go now to broadwaybox.com to see which shows are discounting - and buy tickets in advance. You will have a better chance of tickets, find it easier to get seats together and won;t have to stand on line at TKTs to get them.

ekscrunchy

I had a good meal at Boulud Sud this week; they have a three course deal for $28. (Two of us opted to share 2 appetizers and one main course, instead, which brought the bill slightly higher, to $100 for two with glasses of wine, but food was delicious)

Nice walk of under 20 minutes or so (also an take the bus) from your hotel; there are lots of threads on eating in the theater district that you can find here with a search.




http://www.bouludsud.com/cd-slideshow/join-us-for-lunch

doug_stallings

There are a load of great shows on Broadway right now, including Pippin, which I saw last night. Tony nominations just came out, so if you want to see a good show, I'd suggest buying tickets sooner rather than later. Or if you just want to see "some" show and don't care which one, then you can certainly wait until you get here and buy tickets at TKTS. Broadway shows are typically around $140 give or take right now, and TKTS is 30% to 50% off (most older shows 50% but some newer shows less).

TC

I just spent a weekend in NY, seeing three shows. Below is the link to my reviews of those three. Although you won't find discounts, I thought Matilda was brilliant. For reference, I am close to your mothers age. One of my favorite post show restaurants is always Joe Allen's on 46th. There is a bright vibe there, on occasion a celebrity and always really, really good food. It just feels very NY without costing a fortune.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...new-thread.cfm

williamscb13

If you are into interior design, the Kips Bay decorator show house opens on May 7th. It's always interesting to see and a lot of times sets the trends in interior design.

EmilyPost

If the weather holds up take a walk on the Highline.

Nice Work If You Can Get It is a run romp and one your mother would enjoy if she likes musicals.

Becco is good Italian food in the Theatre District and they have a pasta special that is budget friendly.

Doug, was Pippin good?

doug_stallings

Pippin was amazing, though sadly Patina Miller wasn't in the show last night (I have heard that her understudy Stephanie Pope went on with only an hour's notice and no rehearsal and did a marvelous job under the circumstances). But I just loved the whole production, and Andrea Martin got a standing ovation in the middle of the first act for her song. And I enjoyed the circus aspect; there are some very gifted performers in the chorus. Truly an enjoyable experience, but it's a tough ticket now that it's been so widely praised.

Sadly, Nice Work is closing soon, so I'm not sure it will still be around when the OP visits.

doug_stallings

I take that back ... Nice Work isn't closing until June 15, so it will still be around next week.

HowardR

I agree Doug about Nice Work If You Can Get It. Your mother will love it. Discount tickets are definitely available at both broadwaybox.com and playbill.com.
And, I also agree with EmilyPost about walking the Highline. That's truly a unique New York experience that should not be missed.

HappyTrvlr

I second the walk on The Highline with it's Statue of Liberty views, lots of good restaurants nearby too.

npudlo

Thanks so much for all the great info! Does anyone have any tips for a fun day shopping? We love interesting finds and of course a good bargain.

Any ideas for a restaurant "splurge" that we would be able to get reservations for next week?

nytraveler

Joe Allen's is fun - but be aware that it's above your price point unless you order a sandwich. Entrees are more like $25 to $30.

doug_stallings

I'm not sure what you consider a "splurge", but in NYC, if you can eat for under $60 per person all-in, I consider that a fairly moderate meal at an upscale place. You can get a reservation with about a week's notice at any of these places, usually even on a Saturday night.

Take a look at The Modern Bar Room. If you order carefully and share everything (which is more fun), you can eat there for that much money, especially if you don't drink. The menu is "small" plates, which for me aren't all that small, and you can probably share about 5 of these and have a nice meal, but realize that you are going to be spending about $120 together for food alone (before tax, tip, and drinks). If you drink wine, it might be a bit more. But you may consider that scandalously expensive.

I also love ViceVersa on W. 51st (8/9), a modern Italian restaurant that has a $38 prix-fixe menu of 3 courses. Three-course menus for around $40 per person are fairly common and can save a lot of money. But they also sell appetizer portions of all their pastas for around half-price, and if you get a real appetizer, one of those, and share a dessert, you can order off the regular menu for about the same price. For me, that's enough food. Their sister restaurant etcetera etcetera is just as good and has the same dinner special with somewhat different choices).

Marseilles, for instance, which is a wonderful French restaurant on W 44th St. (I ate there last night), has a great 3-course menu for $38 (this is a very good value since individually the same courses would cost over $50, and you get any dessert they offer).

I am also very fond of Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecote, which serves a steak frites with special sauce and fries along with a salad for a set price of, I believe, $28.95. It's really good, but there are no other choices on the menu (literally). And they have cheap and good wine. It's on Lexington at 52nd Street.

Becco has their famous pasta special (an appetizer salad or antipasto and choice of all-you-can eat of 3 pastas) for $22.95. However, I don't find the pasts to be that good anymore. Ordering off the regular menu can actually give you quite a nice meal; the food here can be very good if you avoid the pasta special, but this restaurant has become maddeningly busy now that Lidia Bastianich is famous. It's well known but no longer my favorite.

TC

NYtraveler: "Joe Allen's is fun - but be aware that it's above your price point unless you order a sandwich. Entrees are more like $25 to $30."

I respectfully disagree, NYT. I ate there just last Saturday night. I had the amazing meatloaf dinner -- best meatloaf on the planet with loads of delicious mashed potatoes and superb garlicy spinach -- $19. We always go post-show and usually have a giant omelette or salad, both of which are well under the OP's budget. In fact, there are only 5 or 6 entres on the menu that are over the $20 mark. Late at night, I'm not inclined to eat a heavy steak or pork tenderloin. Often make a meal of two starters -- the soup and the wonderful beet salad.

Menu with prices:
http://www.joeallenrestaurant.com/NY_home.html

sf7307

Wow, that's downright inexpensive for New York! I'll put it on my every-growing list.

nytraveler

Sorry - entrees range from $19 to $33.

Of course it will be less if you order a sandwich or an omelet - but don't see where the OP is going for a light meal after the theater - which naturally will be less than dinner.

Rhea58

Totally agree that Nice Work if You can Get it is worth seeing. Also, Orphans. While Alec Baldwin is always good, Tom Sturridge stole the show & thus garnered a Tony nomination.
Inexpensive restos I like: www.dafnitaverna.com for very inexpensive Greek cuisine. www.scarlattonyc.com for prix fix Italian for lunch or dinner. In theatre district.

Do walk the Highline; stop at Chelsea Market for all the shops there.

FIT has a free museums that opens at noon that might interest you re fashion.

ekscrunchy

You can do a lot better than Becco in the theater district.....that palae is popular with the AYCE crowd, but that pastas are nothing close to what you might find at a better restaurant. even in that area.

Take a look at menus at La Silhouette..they have a $48 pre-theater deal.
Interested in NY's version of BBQ--try Daisy Mae's:

http://www.daisymaysbbq.com/

Somethng out of the ordinary; closed weekends and closed early on Fridays.

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/taam_tov/


Want a biergarten?

http://www.halloberlinrestaurant.com/