Visiting New York

[ER2]

In the first week of December, I'll be flying down from Toronto, and my sister and a friend will be flying in from London to spend five days in your exciting city. We are all looking forward to it very much and would be most grateful for any dining recommendations.

We are staying at a hotel just off Times Square - it's called the Broadway Millenium - so my first request is for restaurants in that area. We'll need somewhere for dinner on our first night - we're arriving mid afternoon - and for another night when we go to the theatre. In the main we prefer American or European cuisines as oppposed to cuisines East of Suez. Then we have two nights at the opera, so recommendations for restaurants around Lincoln Centre would be very welcome. Are there any restaurants around there which serve after, say, eleven? We tend to dine rather late, so might well go for dinner after the opera rather than before. Any help any of you can give will be much appreciated. Many thanks.

[Uptownflavor]

Okay, you guys were right. I looked at the matchbook and it was another restaurant. I can't remember the name of it but it was good. I'll post it when I remember.

[mclaurie]

Most restaurants in the Times Square area will serve late. Virgil's is right on the same block as your hotel. Agree it's good but maybe a bit heavy for your arrival night. Ollie's Noodle Shop good and cheap. Sushi Zen again sam block very good sushi.

For your nights near Lincoln Center, O'Neal's is very good.
http://www.onealsny.com/1-home.htm

Telepan is a newish restaurant getting great reviews.
http://www.telepan-ny.com/default.htm

[MichaelG]

As has been mentioned on other posts, Keen's is an incomparable steakhouse in terms of food and ambiance. It's somewhere around 6th and 38th.

[RGR]

Keens is on 36th St., just east of 6th Av.

http://www.keens.com

[alyssi]

If you're going steak in midtown, I'd do Del Frisco's. The Palm has an outpost in nearly every major city these days. Del Frisco's is a chain as well, but I don't think it's nearly as widespread and I would call it the best steak near the theatre district, their fish is also good. It's not inexpensive or casual though. Also kind of a typical steak house power scene.

[steakman55]

By the way, I forgot, there is an outpost of the Palm Steakhouse right in heart of Theatre District. Pretty good example of an old NY steakhouse

[steakman55]

Steakhouse near Hilton is Ben Benson's. Probably better than Smith & Wollensky anyway. I would make a trip to one of the best restaurants in all NYC: Union Square Cafe. Not near any of the landmarks you mention, but worth a night or perhaps a lunch. You won't be disappointed.

[welle]

I think you're talking about Hilton on 6th ave, there is also a Hilton on Times sq., but I can't think of any steakhouses around there either.

[alyssi]

Near your hotel:

Osteria Al Doge (rustic Italian good for the area)
DB Bistro Moderne (fancier / trendy French)

Near Lincoln Center the choices are pretty sparce. I think Rosa Mexicana is the best nearby option. I think they serve pretty late, though not sure how late exactly.

[RGR]

Acc. to Rosa Mexicano's website, they stay open until 11:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., but only until 10 on Sun. & Mon.

http://www.rosamexicano.info/servlet/locations/nyclc

A couple of excellent upscale choices near Lincoln Center:

Compass serves New American cuisine. Hours: Fri. & Sat. until midnight, Mon.-Thurs. until 11 p.m., Sun. until 10 p.m.

http://www.compassrestaurant.com

Picholine serves Mediterranean cuisine. Hours: Mon.-Wed. until 11 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. until 11:45 p.m., Sun. until 9 p.m.

http://www.picholinenyc.com/

I agree about dbBistro.

http://www.danielnyc.com/dbbistro

For Italian in the Theater District, my pick would be Roberto Passon.

http://www.robertopasson.com

[Wayno]

Since I'm also going to be in the Times Sq. area, is Da Rosina a decent place for Italina food in that area. I'd like to go to Roberto Passon, but I'll have 2 kids [6 & 7] and I don't think that's as kid-friendly as Da Rosina. Is Osteria Al Doge casual?

[alyssi]

Osteria Al Doge is relatively casual. I'd imagine it's fine for kids that age. Here's the website: http://www.osteria-doge.com/

[Andiereid]

We ate at DB Bistro Moderne two weekends ago when we were there staying at the Algonquin. The food is excellent, but we had a bad night and had utterly horrid service. I'd go back though. (I'd just make sure we got a different waiter.) We also went to the opera and we ate dinner at Cafe des Artistes, within walking distance. Expensive, but the food and the service were outstanding. We were all delighted with it.

[Uptownflavor]

Smith and Wollensky is also a nice steakhouse in the area.

[RGR]

Smith & Wollensky is not in the Theater District area; it's on the other side of town (3rd Av. & 49th St.). If ER2 wants a steakhouse, I second souldawg's suggestion of Keens. In addition to being close to the Theater District, the food's excellent, and it has incomparable old NY ambiance.

http://www.keens.com

[Uptownflavor]

No, there is one right across the Hilton I believe.

[RGR]

Not according to Smith & Wollensky's website: http://www.smithandwollensky.com/LOC-...

[Uptownflavor]

I've eaten there with relatives. It was close enough to the Times Square district right near all the hotels. it's an option they might want to consider.

[souldawg]

For your first night if you want less formal and close by, Virgil's BBQ is great. If you want a steakhouse just a bit lower near Herald Square, Keen's is great on 36th Street.