Midtown West Restaurants
Bustling Midtown West: Times Square, Theater District, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall.
You are going to need a bite to eat here sometime during your NYC getaway!
About “pre-theater dining:”
As a rule, I don’t bother with it. Instead, I’ll enjoy a late lunch that day. After the show I’m ready for a late dinner, preferably away from the hectic theater district. But for those of you who you prefer a pre-theater meal, close to the theater district, I’ve included several fine choices: Baldoria, Chez Josephine, Osteria al Doge, Ruby Foo’s, and Vice Versa.
** Indicates my personal favorites.
Baldoria ($$-$$$$) Italian, Pre-Theater
249 W. 49th St (betw. B’way and 8th Ave.)
212-582-0460
Subway:A,C,E,1 to 50th St; N,R to 49th St.)
Open 7 days for lunch and dinner.
www.baldoriamo.com
Excellent Italian, 300 seats so it’s easy to get into.
$35 3-course Pre-theater Menu served 5-6:30.
**Brasserie 8 ½ ($$ - $$$) American, French
9 W. 57th St. (betw. 5th and 6th Aves.)
212-829-0813
Subway: N,R,Q,W to 57th St-7th Ave, F to 57th St.
Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-11pm; Sat 5:30-11pm; Sun 11am-3pm and 5:30-9pm.
www.rapatina.com
Very cool, chic, casually elegant. You can’t get this back home. Feel like a movie star as you make your entrance down the staircase to the gorgeous restaurant. Excellent food, great brunch, fun bar scene.
Brooklyn Diner ($$) American
212 W. 57th St. (betw. B’way and 7th Ave.)
212-581-8900
Subway: 1,A,C,B,D to 59th St/Columbus Cir; NQRW to 57th St./7th Ave.)
Open 7 days for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner.
www.brooklyndiner.com
Big portions of American comfort food. Great breakfasts. Forget your diet here! It’s a bit too much food for me, but lots of folks love this place, and it’s kinda fun. (A second location has been added in Times Square, on 43rd Street.)
Burger Joint ($) Burgers
118 W. 57th St. (betw. 6th and 7th Aves., in the lobby of Le Parker Meridien hotel.)
Subway: F,N,Q,R,W to 57th St.
Open 7 days 11am – 11:30pm (midnight on Fri/Sat.)
If you just want a plain, classic burger (served in a bag!), crispy fries, maybe a beer or a brownie, try this “faux greasy spoon” inside the lobby of Le Parker Meridien hotel. You will feel like such an insider, and so very clever to find a place like this!
Carnegie Deli ($$) Deli
854 7th Ave. (@ 55th St.)
800-334-5606
Subway: N,R,Q,W to 7th Ave.
Open 7 days 6:30am-4:30am.
CASH ONLY
www.carnegiedeli.com
Okay, so it’s touristy and schmaltzy, the portions are absurdly huge, and prices high. But it’s a NYC institution. The cheesecake is fantastic. Note: Cash only.
Chez Josephine ($$) French, Pre-Theater
414 W. 42nd St.
(betw. 9th and 10th Aves.)
212-594-1925
Subway: 1,2,3,A,C,E,N,Q,R,S,W to 42nd St–Times Sq.
www.chezjosephine.com
This NYC classic is a warm, welcoming French bistro owned by Jean-Claude Baker, adopted son of singer Josephine Baker. Good French bistro standards, fantastic Southern fried chicken. Live piano.
**John’s Pizzeria ($-$$) Pizza, Italian
260 W. 44th (betw. B’way and 8th Ave.)
212-391-7560 Subway: 1,2,3,7,A,C,E,N,Q,R,S,W to 42nd. St-Times Sq.
Open Daily, 11:30am-11:30pm
Legendary brick oven thin-crust pizza. Often voted Best NYC Pizza. Be a purist and order the basic pizza Margherita. Other locations UES and Greenwich Village.
Le Pain Quotidien ($-$$) Belgian Bakery/Cafe
922 Seventh Ave. (@58th St.)
212-757-0775
Subway:N,Q,R,W to 57th St.-7th Ave.
www.painquotidien.com
A very fine Belgian bakery/café with several outlets in town. Fresh, organic salads, sandwiches, etc., and of course lovely bread and pastries.
MoMa Restaurants: Cafe 2, Terrace 5, and The Modern ($$ - $$$)
11 W. 53rd St, betw. 5th and 6th Aves).
Subway: 6 to 51st St; V to 5th Ave./53rd St.
Open during Museum hours, beginning at 11; The Modern, with a separate street-level entrance, is open beyond museum hours.
www.moma.org/visit_moma/restaurants.html
If you are visiting the MoMa, plan to have an upscale bite to eat at any of these stylish spots.
Osteria al Doge ($$) Italian, Pre-Theater
142 W. 44th St. (betw. 6th Ave and B’way)
212-302-6885
Subway: B,D,F,V, to 42nd St-Bryant Park; 1,2,3,7,9,N,R,Q,S, to 42nd St.-Times Sq.
Open 7 days for lunch and dinner.
www.osteria-doge.com
Reliable, excellent quality Italian; try to sit upstairs where it is quieter.
Ruby Foo’s ($$) Pan-Asian, Pre-Theater
1626 Broadway (@ 49th St.)
212-489-5600
Open Sun-Wed 11:30am-11:30pm, Thu-Sat 11:30am-12:30am.
www.brguestrestaurants.com
Over-the-top theatrical décor, very good Pan-Asian cuisine, and moderate prices.
**Sarabeth’s ($$-$$$) American, Bakery, Comfort Food
40 Central Park South (betw. 5th and 6th Aves.)
212-826-5959
Open Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 8am-10pm.
Serves Afternoon Tea Mon-Fri 3:30-5:30; Weekend Brunch 8am-4pm.
www.sarabeth.com
This Midtown branch of a longtime UWS and UES favorite is right across from Central Park. Sarabeth’s is especially known for scrumptious homemade baked goods, breakfast, and brunch — and is just as good for lunch and dinner. A nice success story, too: Sarabeth and Bill Levine opened a tiny bakery-kitchen in 1981, to sell her preserves and baked goods. Gradually they added tables, chairs, breakfast, lunch … a restaurant in 1983 … another in 1986 … and so on. Inventive American casual and comfort food menu, pretty, charming, atmosphere, friendly service. Highly recommended. Other locations on UWS and Midtown West.
The Sea Grill ($$$) Seafood
19 W. 49th (Rockefeller Center, betw. 5th and 6th Aves.)
212-332-7910
Subway: B,D,F,V to 47th-50th Sts.
Lunch 11:30 – 2:30 Mon-Fri, Dinner 5-10 Mon-Sat, closed Sunday.
www.rapatina.com
Top-quality seafood; classy, quiet atmosphere in the midst of Rockefeller Center.
Ustav Festive India Cuisine ($$) Indian
1185 Sixth Ave, 2nd floor (@46th St.)
212-575-2525
Subway: B,D,F,Q to 42nd St-Bryant Park.
Open Mon-Sat noon-3 and 5:30-11:30; Sun noon-3 and 5:30-10pm.
Excellent regional Indian cuisine; an “insider” sort of place, $13.95 lunch buffet.
ViceVersa ($$) Italian, Pre-Theater
325 W. 51st. St. (betw. 8th and 9th Aves.)
212-399-9291
Subway: C,E to 50th St.
Open Mon – Sat for lunch and dinner, closed Sun.
www.viceversarestaurant.com
Interesting, quality Italian, a little different. Quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Outdoor patio.
Victor’s Café ($$-$$$) Latin American
236 W. 52nd St. (betw. B’way and 8th Ave.)
212-586-7714
Subway: C,E,1,9 to 50th St. Open 7 days noon – 11pm or midnight.
www.victorscafe.com
Fun, sophisticated tropical atmosphere, very popular and busy, excellent Cuban food, Sangria, mojitos; cool bar scene in the adjacent Cuba Bar. It’s lovely to be taken care of by urbane Latin waiters …
