Tavern on the Green for lunch
 

We will be attending "Momma Mia" matinee (2pm) on Saturday. We would like to lunch before at Tavern On The Green. My questions are these: (1) For what time should we make the lunch reservations if the matinee is at 2 pm? (2) What kind of transportation should we take from the Tavern OTG to the Winter Garden theater? (3) If taxi, will there be taxis waiting at the restaurant for rides? (4) What can we expect to pay for a taxi for the two of us? (5) Are there particular taxis to stay away from?? (5) Should we take a taxi, subway, bus from Penn Station to Tavern OTG?

Please do NOT eat at TOG. The food is poor and overpriced and the service both supercilious and incompetent. It is the epitome of the Tourist Trap. the only benefit is has is the situation in the Park - so it;s OK for a drink - nothing more.

Also - for a Matinee you want to eat in the theater district - otherwise you'll be having lunch at 11:30 in the morning and having to rush to the theater.

If you want to go for someplace touristy and pricey but closer to the theaters go to Sea Grill at Rock Center. the fish is excellent, you have a great view of Rock Center and you can walk to the theater in about 10 minutes. For someplace a little less pricey and kind of trendy you could try the Bar Americain. Go to menupages.com for actual menus with prices.

As for your other questions all cabs are yellow with the price on the side and all are safe. TOG can hail a cab for you when you leave - if you insist on going - but it may take a few minutes. You would have to eat at 12 and rush to be through by 1:30 at the latest to get to the theater on time.

I couldn't agree more with the poster who warned you away from TOTG. Famed for awful service and less than mediocre food. And - no question - you'd have to rush to get to a matinee as it is some distance from the theater district.

You have convinced me! My daughter just wanted to go somewhere "famous" for lunch, good service is as important as the food.
I will look at the Sea Grill and the Bar Americain. Thank you for your candid replied.

What about the Modern at MOMA (museum of Modern Art)?? Food is excellent, it's not that far from the theater. There's the regular restaurant and a less expensive bar room.

If you are in early -- GO to MOMA and eat in their 2nd floor cafeteria

You have to pay admission to eat at the cafeteria at MOMA, which will add $20 each to the bill. But the bar room at The Modern is a great idea. Definitely worth doing.

Another "famous" place (though modest and inexpensive) is Junior's. It's not as good as the one in Brooklyn, but it's only about a 10-minute walk from the theater.

I ate at TOTG in the fall and am glad I did..but the food was really bad - the service was okay... I wanted to see the twinkling lights and go on a carriage ride with my dd (who was 11 at the time)...but the food was pretty horrible... I would not go back - it is pretty tired looking as well...