Favorite Saturday night dinner places with no reservations

[plafield]

It's saturday night and you've decided, rather spur of the moment, to go out for dinner. Where do you head and why?

[Littleman]

Del Posto because the food is outstanding and the bar's nice. Tip the Maitre D $20.00 and the bartender another $20.00. Sit at their big nice bar and drink until they call you for your table. Probably take about two glasses of wine before they call.

Del Posto @ 85 10th Avenue, NY 212 - 497 - 8090.

http://www.delposto.com/home.htm

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Del Posto
85 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

[hcbk0702]

Paying for dinner at Del Posto sounds bad enough already; you want to tack an extra $40 on to that just to get a table?

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Del Posto
85 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

[Littleman]

You could suggest a nice place for the OP rather than running down the replies. Thanks A.

[fm1963]

Convivio usually has openings on Saturday eve due to its Tudor City location. One of my favorite Italian restaurants.

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Convivio
45 Tudor City Place, New York, NY 10017

[princeofpork]

Smith and Wollensky Grill - 20-30 min
Max - 30-40 min
Frank 30-40 min

[plafield]

Thanks. Keep 'em coming!

[plafield]

Any non-Italian? American? Bistro?

[Noodle fanatic]

So many choices! Care to narrow down to a few neighborhoods and types of cuisines plafield?

[chow_gal]

I see you are not from Manhattan. Why not just make 2 sets of reservations and then cancel as your agenda becomes more solid?

[Nick F.]

@chow_gal not a terrible recommendation, this one.

I'm not a wealthy man and am not much for fancy-schmancy dinners, but I do like to go to the low-key French Gavroche or the downscale-pretty new-American "Rabbits'" in my hood. Both very affordable and cozy, with friendly service. More my style.

[RGR]

Gavroche has closed.

[Nick F.]

Sorry, RGR... Guess I am out of touch. :(

[plafield]

It's true, I'm not from Manhatten but will be visiting a friend who lives in Brooklyn for the weekend. We're always going with the flow and never know ahead where we'll be or when we'll be ready for dinner, thus the desire for some choices where we don't need a reservation. 30-40 minute wait times are just fine and I really appreciate all the great suggestions!

[stephaniec25]

El Centro
Resto
Peasant (wine bar or restaurant, depending on crowds)
Back Forty
Le Zie
Trestle on Tenth

That's just a few - I am a little impatient with wait times on Saturdays, so I try to go places where two people can get in quickly and easily (or somewhere with other options nearby!)

[ESNY]

I rarely, if ever, make reservations and tend to go out most often in the East Village so thats where most of my places are. Here are the places I go to the most:

Redhead (probably longest wait on Saturday)
Momofuku Ssam Bar (wait can be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on timing/luck/etc)
Back Forty
Motorino
Mercadito Cantina
Veloce Pizzeria
Buenos Aires
Dok Suni
Bar Veloce/Bar Carrera/Pata Negra/Terroir

Non-EV
Via Emilia
enoteca iTrulli
Blue Smoke (I live around here so go fairly frequently and can usually get a few seats at the bar within 10-15 minutes)
Casa Mono

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Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003

Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Buenos Aires
513 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009

Back Forty
190 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Dok Suni
119 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Via Emilia
47 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010

Blue Smoke
116 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016

Mercadito Cantina
172 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Veloce Pizzeria
103 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[LeahBaila]

Tulcingo del Valle for chile rellenos: I'll find any excuse to eat there
Le Zie: it's good, it's close by, and the service is friendly
L'Express: I dream about their croques (both monsieur and madame)
Markt: solid neighborhood spot w/ a varied menu

www.thelunchbelle.com

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Markt
676 6th Ave, New York, NY 10010

L'Express
249 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003

Tulcingo del Valle
665 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Le Zie
172 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[sgordon]

Bar seats at WD-50 or Falai, if we're feeling fancy.
Fuleen's in Chinatown, if we're feeling fresh Chinese seafood.
Cong Ly on Hester for Pho.
The Orchard, for something quiet and a little more romantic.

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WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002

Cong Ly
124 Hester St, New York, NY 10002

The Orchard
162 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002

Fuleen
11 Division St, New York, NY 10002

Falai
68 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

[plafield]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We went to Le Zie and it was delicious and I'd go again in a minute!

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Le Zie
172 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011