Last-Minute reservation ideas?

[kenzaburo]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are taking a last-minute trip to NYC and were looking for ideas for places that would be available on only a couple of days notice. We'll eat just about anything and price isn't much of a concern - but the usual suspects are all booked. Preference food-wise leans towards French/bistro or Italian and looking for, but aren't limited to, reasonably casual. Any super-secret favorite spots?

Thanks in advance!

Jim

[joschus]

We like Balthazar - very French Bistro-ish and always had good meals there. Their Sunday Brunch is excellent too.

[kenzaburo]

Thanks all, for the prompt and valuable replies. It looks like Bar Boulud on Friday, Convivio on Saturday.

RGR: Interesting re. Red Cat (yes, was aware it didn't fall into either category); two friends whose opinions I trust spoke highly about it.

Either way, very helpful, thanks again all.

[RGR]

Glad to hear you're doing Bar Boulud and Convivio.

Re: Red Cat. All I can say is, "Chacun a son gout." :-)

[luckydog69]

I frequenly just walk up to the door and ask if they can work me in. This is much more effective than calling for a last minute cancellation; restaurants are reluctant to send away a customer who is there ready to eat and pay (contrasted with someone on the phone who may or may not show up).
You just have to be ready to take the chance; but if not successful, go somewhere else. Has worked for me at Balthazar, Le Bernadin, French Laundry, and others.

[stephaniec25]

My trick with any hot restaurant is to call the day of the reservation and there are always some cancellations. They can usually accomodate you. Otherwise, I would recommend Bellavitae in the West Village for Italian (for somewhere that usually has openings) and for French/bistro try La Sirene in SoHo

[italianagambino]

If you go on opentable.com you can see what's available and at what time/day...
Artisinal
Bar Boulud
Marseille
Rue 57

[kenzaburo]

Thanks! Will give them a look.

[RGR]

When you say "the usual suspects are all booked," first off, which might those be? And does it mean you tried reserving only through OpenTable? Restaurants do not give all their reservations to OpenTable, so if you call the restaurant directly, you may find that tables are available, especially if you are flexible about the time.

[kenzaburo]

Thanks RGR... You're correct, I'd been using OpenTable only.

I guess "usual suspects" is pretty vague for NYC. So, thus far had tried Babbo, Craft, Perilla, Red Cat, amongst a couple others. I'll give them a ring. (of those, Red Cat seems most in-line with what I'm looking for)

[RGR]

I presume you know that Red Cat is neither a French bistro nor Italian. I wasn't all that impressed with the food the one time we had dinner there.

Cafe Boulud, Bar Boulud, and dbBistro Moderne, the more casual restaurants in 4-star chef Daniel Boulud's mini-empire, would be good choices for French. BB is located near Lincoln Center while dbBistro is in the Theater District, so reservations are usually more obtainable after 8 p.m., when the pre-performance crowds have gone. Cafe Boulud, on the UES, is the most expensive of the three.

http://www.danielnyc.com

For solidly-prepared traditional French bistro fare served in a tiny, cozy space, you might consider Cosette, on 33rd St., b/t 3rd Lex.

http://www.cosette-bistro.com

Another charming French bistro with delicious food is Gascogne, on 8th Av., b/t 17th & 18th Sts.

http://www.gascognenyc.com

For Italian, I highly recommend Convivio, located on Tudor City Pl, b/t 42nd & 43rd Sts. The food's superb, and the 4-course prix-fixe @ $59 is a steal for cuisine of this high caliber.

http://www.menupages.com/restaurantde...