Toronto Chowhound needs recos in NYC

[jrabbit2727]

Hi all,

Coming to NYC for 2 plays and 2 exhibitions in late july - and need lunch recos for each. I am a vegetarian (no meat or dairy) but I do eat fish and seafood. Looking for non chain/boring italian/traditional american spots. Here's my itinerary:

Friday - Show at the Met - lunch before

Saturday - God of Carnage matinee - w 43rd and 9th - need lunch before

Sunday Mary Stuart matinee....was thinking of Esca for lunch - yes?

Monday - Show at the Guggenheim......suggestions for lunch or an early dinner?

Thanks!

[manic2]

Marseille is always reliable and good....and perfectly located for your Mary Stuart performance (down the block)
Don't have too much wine....Mary Stuart is 3 hours!!

[RGR]

Two suggestions for your pre-theater lunches:

Il Punto, on the corner of 9th Av. & 38th St. - Italian focusing on the cuisine of the Puglia region. Delicious and definitely *not* boring!

http://www.ilpuntony.com

Trattoria Trecolori, on 47th St., b/t B'way & 8th Av. - Traditional homestyle Italian-American. A favorite of mine and many other Hounds because the food is well-prepared and very tasty.

http://www.trattoriatrecolori.com

[jrabbit2727]

Il Punto sounds great!

Trecolori not so much. Traditional Italian and those of us who don't eat dairy/eggs or meat doesn't really work.

[RGR]

How about a Greek restaurant? The Greeks have a way with fish, and the menus always have vegetarian option. Kellari Taverna, on 44th St., b/t 5th & 6th Avs., is a seafood taverna. While I haven't been to this Kellari location, their sister restaurant, Kellari's Parea (Gramercy/Flatiron area) is a favorite of ours. Hounds who have been to the midtown location say the quality of the food is equally as high.

http://www.kellari.us

[MMRuth]

I'll try to update this list further, but I just put it together. I live near the Guggenheim and the Met, and these are places that I like:

http://www.chow.com/lists/14746/edit

The Italian places are not boring - and I think Sfoglia is particulary good, but can be hard to get a reservation. If you are looking for some less expensive places, I'd be happy to provide options, most of which are either further north or east.

Edit - if you click on the names of the places on the list, you'll get more information about them, as well as a list of threads that discuss the place.

[jrabbit2727]

Thanks for this - appreciate it - however most of the places you've mentioned I can't eat at. Square meal is all dairy and eggs/meat. Austrian/French food is a no go due to the ingredients. Couple places are burger joints.

Do you have any suggestions for places I can get vegetarian food or fish/seafood?

[MMRuth]

I do think that Square Meal has fish dishes that don't have dairy. There is a v. good vegan restaurant that might work for you called Candle 79, on 79th Street between Park and Madison, which is a quick walk from the Met. I've been there with a vegan and a vegetarian friend and they both loved it, and I enjoyed it. They also have a nice selection of organic wines. I suspect that both Sfoglia and Paola's have pasta dishes w/o meat and dairy, and, I promise you, aren't boring! I'll see what else I can think of and post back, but I suspect you would like Candle 79.

P.S. Many restaurants will prepare just a plain fish for you w/ no dairy.

[MMRuth]

Also - this is a bit further away, but they have a nice raw bar:

http://www.parlorsteakhouse.com/