603920 Sun Mar 15 10:02:37 -0700 2009 14 18 Manhattan 0 4506697 Do you have a favorite dish? Thanks in advance. Sun Mar 15 10:02:37 -0700 2009 154959 il Trifulau 1 4506777 "The Met" can mean Metropolitan Museum or Metropolitan Opera, in completely different locations, so which are you referring to? Are you looking for lunch or dinner? Price range? Sun Mar 15 10:33:31 -0700 2009 4506697 126803 rrems 2 4506820 Sorry. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, dinner, flexible on price. Going to France next month and need to bone up on my food and wine terms. Sun Mar 15 10:55:23 -0700 2009 4506777 154959 il Trifulau 3 4507227 I am not familiar with many restaurants in that neighborhood, but I do know that Cafe d'Alsace, which is not too far from the Met (2nd and 88th), has the same chef and owners as Nice Matin and Marseille, which I love, so I think that may be a good choice. Sun Mar 15 13:55:43 -0700 2009 4506820 126803 rrems 4 4507251 I like Cafe d'Alsace too, though I've not been for a while now. Another option - not traditional French though - is Cafe Boulud. Bistro du Nord is French and at 93rd & Madison - but I don't really recommend it - it's a bit erratic in terms of the kitchen. I also suggest avoiding DeMarchelier. The OP might look into Le Refuge - can't remember exactly where it is off hand. Orsay is another choice not too too far away - Lex & 75th I think. Sun Mar 15 14:07:26 -0700 2009 4507227 10985 MMRuth 5 4507580 I also like Pascalou, just south on the same block as Bistro du Nord. Nothing fancy, and better food I think. Just a nice neighborhood place, reasonably priced, with bistro comfort food. Sun Mar 15 16:21:18 -0700 2009 4507251 110897 City Kid 6 4507715 Yes, I agree - more consistent food than Bistro du Nord. Haven't been for a while. Sun Mar 15 17:16:49 -0700 2009 4507580 10985 MMRuth 3 4507254 Our favorite restaurant near the Met Museum is Cafe Boulud, on 76th St., b/t Madison & 5th. It is, of course, 4-star chef Daniel Boulud's second-tier restaurant, but the cuisine is first-rate, the wine list is excellent, service is cordial and polished, and the atmospherics are very pleasing. The foie gras and duck preparations are always delicious, and I have never had a dessert there that was less than terrific. http://www.danielnyc.com/cafebouludNY.html I like Cafe d'Alsace. Quite different from Cafe Boulud. Good bistro-style French food, bustling vibe, and much more moderate prices. http://www.cafedalsace.com Sun Mar 15 14:08:27 -0700 2009 4506820 13867 RGR 1 4507796 I also like Cafe d"Alsace. Love the duck breast and the tarte flambee. Sun Mar 15 17:49:03 -0700 2009 4506697 12019 ellenost 2 4508020 Me too (or four or five...) Sun Mar 15 19:19:05 -0700 2009 4507796 10216 Lucia 1 4508067 Le Refuge Sun Mar 15 19:37:58 -0700 2009 4506697 12469 chaz 2 4508172 We haven't been to Le Refuge in ages, but the meals we had in the past were always very good. Charming ambiance, as well. It's on 82nd St., b/t Lex & 3rd. http://www.lerefugenyc.com Sun Mar 15 20:20:19 -0700 2009 4508067 13867 RGR 1 4508176 I remember a decent meal at Table d'Hote in the low 90s just east of Madison, though I haven't been in about 7 years. Does anyone have more recent information about it? Sun Mar 15 20:21:17 -0700 2009 4506697 42864 rteplow 2 4508640 It's still quite good - it's been a year or so since I've been. Mon Mar 16 05:52:58 -0700 2009 4508176 10985 MMRuth 3 4951693 A friend and I had dinner at Table d'Hote yesterday. We ate early (we were catching the 7:10pm "Julie and Julia" at Loews Orpheum), arriving at 5:30. Until we left c. 6:45, we were the only diners there (I know, early, Sat. evening in August, Carnegie Hill, but still...). They have a decent prix fixe, around $24, from 5-7pm and another all evening for around $29 (I think the latter lets you order a tasting-sized portion of any entree on the menu), in addition to a la carte. Food was simple but good and well prepared. Limited wines by the glass @ c. $10 per. Service was OK; one waiter and one busboy, neither particularly charming. Slightly disconcerting that asteroids or some such videogame emanating from the kitchen area (!) was clearly audible in the otherwise quiet dining room at one point. With warmer service and less sound effects, would be a place I'd go to more often since I live just up the street. Sun Aug 16 19:09:13 -0700 2009 4508640 19293 JP_nyc