604259 Mon Mar 16 14:22:09 -0700 2009 11 18 Manhattan 0 4510367 I am looking for a nice dinner before seeing "Waiting for Godot" (8 PM Curtain) on a Saturday in a few weeks. I was hoping to get a table for 2 at one of the NYC celebrity chef's restaurants within walking distance of Studio 54. My preference would be italian, french, or modern American/fusion. I would hope to be within $40 per person (just entree and a shared appetizer/no dessert unless a pre theatre menu) without alcohol. Any possibility with this criteria for a place by Batali, Flay, Boulud, or the like? Please help! Mon Mar 16 14:22:09 -0700 2009 96252 daves_32 1 4510522 Esca - however $40 a head is not really feasible there Mon Mar 16 14:59:26 -0700 2009 4510367 10479 Cpalms 1 4510536 sort of depends on what you consider to be "within walking distance." Bar Americain (Bobby Flay): 152 W. 52nd (b/w 6th & 7th) Bar Boulud: 1900 Bway (b/w 63rd & 64th) DB Bistro Moderne: 55 W. 44th (b/w 5th & 6th) Jean Georges/Nougatine: 1 Central Pk West those should get you started. Mon Mar 16 15:03:04 -0700 2009 4510367 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 4510548 which of these do you consider to be the best? I certainly like Boulud. Not because I have been to one of his places but because I really like Chemel's 2941 just outside of Washington, DC. Chemel learned under Boulud. Esca is actually a price point I can deal with but it seems like a lot of fish for my tastes. Unless the fish is can;t miss! Mon Mar 16 15:07:36 -0700 2009 4510536 96252 daves_32 3 4510739 Esca is all fish..some will disagree but I think it is Batali's second best place behind Babbo (search for the NY Times Review)...that being said to get the best out of Esca you have to order pretty much without concern for your budget ...it is very easy to order poorly at Esca... I enjoy 2941 as well(was just there two weeks ago, third time) however Esca and Nougatine (mentioned above) are considerably better IMO...for celebrities places in that hood you could also dine at Ripert's Le Bernadin, however $40 a head wouldn't get you very far....also, all of Bobby Flays places suck and should be avoided, DB bistro is pretty bad to... Mon Mar 16 16:02:39 -0700 2009 4510548 10479 Cpalms 4 4515615 Babbo looks great to me! I called for reservations to no avail. The reservationist recommended arriving right when the bar opens and getting one of the stand by tables. Is that a good way to go? Wed Mar 18 05:45:29 -0700 2009 4510739 96252 daves_32 5 4515662 there are tons of threads about Babbo - if you do a search of the board you might be able to find some previous posts from people who have done that. just a thought. Wed Mar 18 06:06:41 -0700 2009 4515615 103920 goodhealthgourmet 5 4516136 Hey, daves_32, Just wanted to note that Babbo is not located in or near the Theater District. It's on Waverly Pl., in Greenwich Village. Wed Mar 18 08:34:50 -0700 2009 4515615 13867 RGR 3 4511778 Chemel was the chef at Cafe Boulud. The menu there is quite different, i.e., more elegant, than the rustic bistro-style cooking at Bar Boulud, which is especially known for the excellent charcuterie. Whether you can stay within you budget there depends on what you order. http://www.danielnyc.com/barboulud.html dbBistro Moderne serves upscale contemporary French bistro cuisine. The a la carte menu is beyond your budget, but there is a 3-course pre-theater dinner prix-fixe for $45. http://www.danielnyc.com/dbbistro.html Jean Georges's more casual restaurant, Nougatine, is serving a 3-course dinner prix-fixe for $35. http://www.jean-georges.com Though there are many who like Bar Americain, I cannot recommend it. It's not because I don't like Bobby Flay. It's simply that the one meal we had there was mediocre. I'm also not a fan of Esca because our one dinner there was rather disappointing. You might want to consider Maze, Gordon Ramsay's more casual restaurant in the London Hotel, justs a couple of blocks from your theater, on 54th, b/t 6th & 7th Avs. Delicious French cuisine, excellent service, and very pleasant atmospherics. It might mean going somewhat above your budget, but it's worth it. http://www.gordonramsay.com/mazeatthelondonnyc/ Enjoy the show and Bon Appetit! Mon Mar 16 21:30:56 -0700 2009 4510548 13867 RGR 1 4510550 Insieme - elite italian restaurant helmed by Marco Canora (Craft, Hearth). Mon Mar 16 15:08:16 -0700 2009 4510367 213669 silencespeak 2 4561690 Now looking for something a bit more fun (think Craftbar) Italian and we will both be wearing nice dark jeans and sport shirt/sweaters but definitely jeans. changes to the list? Thu Apr 02 12:39:29 -0700 2009 4510550 96252 daves_32 3 4563598 Italian or simple prep, that is. I gather from reading the threads that getting in and out of Babbo for the 8 oclock show would be a bit of a rush. Fri Apr 03 05:02:51 -0700 2009 4561690 96252 daves_32