What Area in NYC is Union Square?
 

In looking online for restaurants, areas are often referred to as Midtown East, Downtown, East Village, SoHo, etc. Where in those types of classifications does Union Square fall?<BR><BR>Also, if you have a suggestion for dining in/near Union Sq... I have heard that Union Square Cafe is really good but hard to get reservations for. I am looking for a nice dinner before or after a concert in Union Square on Saturday night, Apr 5. Likes: Medeterranean/Italian/Fusion/Asian/American/ Spanish/Mexican/seafood. Want a nice place w/ atmosphere. Willing to spend $$$ but not over $150 for 2 to dine.

union square is downtown, at the juncture of 5th ave and 14th streets. there are LOTS of great restos around there. One of my favorites continues to be Steak Frites, which is just down the block from union square cafe and is about 1/2 the price. they've got mussels, steaks and the best french fries (or is that freedom fries) i've had in NYC. A meal with apps entres and desert, including a bottle of moderately priced wine, will not exceed your limit

The Union Square area centers around Union Square Park, which is on Broadway between 14th and 17th Streets. This is just north of the Village (and a little ways south of Midtown). <BR><BR>This is one of the best areas in NYC for dining. Gramercy Tavern on 20th near Park Ave is IMO the best restaurant ever. But it will definitely cost above your $150 mark if you get drinks, appetizers and the whole deal. Blue Water Grill (seafood)is right Union Square West...it's on the expensive side, but I'm not sure HOW expensive. Other suggestions are: Mesa Grill (southwestern) on 15th St &amp; 5th Ave, and Park Avalon (Park Ave around 18th Street). I don't know dinner prices because I only do lunch at these places.

flopmeister has the location right which is also the area around Union Square Park. You should be able to see it on most maps of Manhattan.<BR><BR>Blue Water Grill - Had my last wedding anniversary dinner here. Great decor, atmosphere etc. I would rate the food around 7 or 8 and depending on drinks, you should be able to stay well under $150 with apps, dinner, and dessert. You can check out the menu on the website.<BR><BR>http://www.bluewaterrest.com/index.html?rest=bwg<BR><BR>

Union Pacific Restaurant is an excellent choice for creative asian inspired seafood.<BR>The decor is a beautiful, modern , zen-like space, with an indoor waterfall.

Don't think of Union Square Cafe as an impossibility. Give them a call, especially if you are considering it for an after theater option. Later may be better. USC may seem difficult to get a reservation, but one reason is that they do not overbook their tables. They prefer to have your table will be waiting for you when you arrive. I've arrived without a reservation post-theater and gotten a great table.

Getting around the city and getting to know the city take some time, so much to see and do, so a good suggestion is to get a map and a good book of the city so you can decide what you want to see and make plans depending on location.<BR><BR>Even though Manhattan is not all that large, traffic cna get really bad so sometimes it can be faster to walk than take a bus or even a cab.<BR><BR>That said, the Union Square area is as someone else mentioned just north of The Village, which starts at 14th St. Union Square is a city park that was recently rennovated, and just after 9/11 was the most southern point in the city you could get for quite a while so Union Square had a large memorial to 9/11. It's also an historic part of the city.<BR><BR>It goes from Park Ave on the east side of the park, to Broadway and from 14th St to 17th St.<BR><BR>There are so many restaurants in the immediate area, Union Square Cafe and Blue Water Grille being 2 of the best.<BR><BR>I would suggest going to chowhound or getting a Zagat's guide so you have a handy reference as you travel around the city.<BR><BR>Sometimes restaurants come and go here, since there are over 10,000 just in Manhattan alone, you have lots of choices.<BR><BR>Have a great time while you are here.

I've gotten out of Blue Water Grill at $50 a head and had a good meal. I think $150 for 2 will cover the Tavern Room at Gramercy Tavern, for a couple cocktails, appetizer, 2 mains, cheese plate, dessert, coffee. The more I go, the more I think Gramercy Tavern is the best restaurant in the city. It's also a great place to go late so it would fit the after theatre bill, though it's more continental than the ethnic fare you listed.

I love both of Bobby Flay's restaurants - Mesa Grill which was mentioned above (southwestern) and Bolo (Spanish). Mesa is more casual. I feel you can't go wrong in eating in that neighborhood. Some of my favorites are Old Town Bar's burgers and City Bakery - but neither are restaurants. What are you seeing in Union Square? An outdoor concert, I assume.

Thanks so much for all the replies and suggestions. I'm going to a Susan Tedeschi concert at Irving Plaza in Union Square. It is a musical concert that starts at 8pm. I'm not sure how late it will go, my guess is midnight??? Will places like Union Sq Cafe, Blue Water Grill, Bolo still be seating people for dinner at that time? I think maybe I should dine before the concert.<BR><BR>I ate at Mesa Grill a few years ago -- the last time I was in NY. I liked it and Bolo sounds pretty good. Between Bolo &amp; Blue Water grill would one be in a more convenient location to Irving Plaza? (BTW, I am not a meat eater, but love seafood and my husband loves everything!)<BR><BR>Thanks all!

Actually, my favorite restaurant near Irving Plaza is Verbena, right up Irving Place (also known as Lexington a little further uptown) from Irving Plaza. Blue Water Grill is much closer to Irv Plaza than Bolo if you're choosing between the two. In addition to looking at the Union Square/Flatiron area for restaurants, you may want to expand your search to Gramercy Park (east of Flatiron) and Central Village/NoHo (south of 14th St).<BR><BR>Have a great meal and a great time at the concert. Irving Plaza's one of my favorite venues.

None of the places you mention will be seating people past about 10:30 p.m. If you want a post-concert meal near Irving Plaza, you could go to L'Express on Park Ave So at 20th St, which is open 24/7 and has a casual French bistro menu. Less expensive than the others mentioned.<BR><BR>If you choose to eat pre-concert, my best recomendation is the tavern room at Gramercy Tavern. Doesn't take reservations, but if you show up around 6, you won't have to wait and will have plenty of time for your meal (also, waits have always been shorter for me than what they estimate). Truly excellent food, and you can easily have a three-course meal for two with a few cocktails or a modest bottle of wine for two for $150. This is easily our favorite dinner destination in the city (the front room at GT), and we try to get there as often as our wallets and waistlines allow.

First, I can't imagine an 8 PM show would go as late as midnight, but since you're nto sure, why not eat before the show. All the advice you got was great. Gramercy Tavern is one of the top restaurants (if not THE top) &amp; I believe you can eat in the bar area without a reservation. If you went before the concert, I think you'd be ok. Also, Verbena which Patty mentioned on Irving Place is considered Med-Asian &amp; has a $30 prix fixe dinner.<BR>That neighborhood is probably the hottest area in town for restaurants so you've got a lot of choice.

When Irving Plaza says &quot;showtime at 8 PM&quot; it generally means the doors open shortly after 8 PM and the headliner takes the stage at 10:00 or 10:30 PM. I've been at shows with no opening act that started (the music) as early as 9:30 but never earlier. On occasion, if there are three groups playing, the music may start at 9:00 but much later is typically the rule. A line will form outside at 7:00 PM or earlier. If you get there by 7:30 or 8:00 you can get close to the stage but will have to stand for the duration to hold your place. I head straight to the upper level and get a spot at the rail on the mezzanine behind the sound board - good sound and line of sight and it's less crowded up there (i.e. no one pushing to get to the stage).

Is midnight really too late for Gramercy Tavern? I ate at the bar last Saturday from 10:30-11:30 and when I left, every seat in the place was still occupied...

Don't know why I didn't think of this before, but Sushi Samba might be right up your alley - sushi, Latino and Asian-Fusion, plus good cocktails - and serves I think until 2 a.m. on Saturday. Park Ave So between 19th and 20th (same block as L'Express), about four blocks from Irving Plaza.<BR><BR>Loki, I think if you get in the door before 12 a.m. on a Saturday, you could make the tavern room at GT, but they serve till midnight, so they might not want to seat people at that point. You could always call and ask.

Thank you all so much for very wonderful and informative information. I think we'll try Verbena, or Sushi Samba, or Blue Water Grill for that Saturday night. Then probably Gramercy Tavern, Tavern Room on another day for lunch. It all sounds so great!

Seh, here's a thought for after the concert (assuming you eat before)for a drink-The Coffee Shop at Union Square west &amp; 18th St. Great people watching &amp; a &quot;scene&quot; or- if you don't eat at Blue Water Grill, stop in for a drink afterwards. The building was converted from a bank so it's a bit unusual &amp; they have jazz downstairs. Hope you have a great time.

Hi! My favorite in the area is Coffee Shop. Great food and ambiance! The food is a combination of American and Brazilian/Latin. It's actually right across the street from Blue Water Grill (which I recommend if you love seafood). Coffee Shop's (by the way, do not be discouraged by the name; it's truly classy, though not as &quot;upscale&quot; as BWG)atmosphere is sexy and attracts mostly mid 20 - 30 year olds. Most everyone working there is in the modeling/acting field (which is not necessarily a plus), but they are truly down to earth and the food is VERY, VERY GOOD!. Expect to pay $35-$45 dollars per person (including 1 drink). If you don't make it there for dinner, consider going for lunch at least. They have a nice outdoor seating section where you get to people watch and watch the Union Square park right across the street. You can catch the 4/5/6/L/N/R subway lines to 14th St/Union Square. Enjoy! :)