Need a pre-theater pick!

[jennielap]

My friend is coming in from out of town next weekend and I'm scanning around for a fun, festive place for dinner before a show. The show is a little out of the theater district, Broadway and 53rd. Any ideas?

[TooLooseLaTrek]

Thalia at 50th/8th. Ate here pre-theater on a Sat. night and really enjoyed it.Good food and cocktails.Nice room. The menu is diverse with pasta,seafood,meat,etc.
Bar Americain - I believe it's 52nd/btwn 6th and 7th. I haven't eaten here recently,but went a couple of years ago before a concert at Radio City and the place was bustling.

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Bar Americain
152 W. 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019

[mboxermd]

We recently ate at Vice Versa and really enjoyed the meal - if you want to keep the price down stick with the delicious pastas!

[ellenost]

Just had a great pre-theatre dinner at Ma Peche (French-Vietnamese) on W. 56th Street between 5th & Ave. of the Americas (pretty close to your theatre). Food is great and service is attentive. They have a 3 course prix-fixe for $45. A la carte entrees are mid-$20s. I had the duck Friday night, and it was delicious! Brussel sprouts were yummy too. (FYI-my theatre was at W. 47 St. and Broadway, and I easily walked it from Ma Peche.

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Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

[gutsofsteel]

I just cannot stand that Ma Peche dining room. So ugly.

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Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

[ellenost]

Maybe, but the food is sooo good!

[gutsofsteel]

Osteria del Circo - for sure festive.

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Circo
120 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019

[boredough]

How about Toloache on 50th near 8th Ave?

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Toloache
251 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10019

[rrems]

What is your budget (specific dollar amounts, please)? Any cuisines you particularly like or dislike?

[jennielap]

Well I'm talking somewhere between McDonalds and Per Se. I would say entrees in the low to mid 20s would be ok. As far as cuisine, I think we are both pretty adventurous eaters, but I'm not necessarily looking for ethnic; plain old Italian would be fine too, as long as the food is good. I was thinking of Marseille, but it's not exactly convenient to the theater, and it can be extremely noisy.

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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

[rrems]

I love Toloache, and it is very close to your theater, but it may not be less noisy than Marseille. Orso would be quieter, and the Italian food is excellent, though it is a bit farther away. Chez Napoleon is quiet, and is one of a dying breed of genuine French bistros. It's particularly good for organ meats, rabbit and venison. Vice Versa is quiet and comfortable. The food is not quite as good as Orso, but overall I llike it. The pastas are better than the other main courses, and you can also have half orders of pasta as appetizers. Their desserts are particularly good. Another thought is Oceana, If it fits your budget (it's a bit higher than the others). The food is fabulous and it has a nice ambiance, busy but not loud. Hope this helps.

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Toloache
251 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10019

Orso
322 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

Chez Napoleon
365 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019

Oceana
120 W 49th St, New York, NY 10020