need union square restaurant with elder parents

[redgirl]

taking my 80'ish parents to the holiday market. would like to take them for a nice meal...nothing over the top or high end cooking - wasted on them. they like simple and straightforward and appreciate good quality. fish is a plus for my dad (or chicken). here's the deal...it needs to be relatively closeby - they will already have done a lot of walking (for them) and it can't be LOUD. my dad cannot hear when there's a lot of music or general din. suggestions please? i was thinking about the italian choice ...can't remember the name - on university place. i want to make a reservation because this will be the day after tgiving and i'm guessing it will be busy.

thanks.

[pigbob]

Although a few blocks away at Washington Square Park, North Square should fit your parameters. Good food, reasonably priced and usually on the quiet side. If walking doesn't make sense, this is only a short cab ride away.

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North Square
103 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10011

[Motosport]

City Crab is a couple of blocks up Park Ave and would be perfect for your parents. Great seafood!

[redgirl]

thank you motosport. i think you hit the nail on the head. i asked for a "quiet" table and the menu is perfect for my parents. thank you all for your suggestions. feel much better having a reservation in place and a plan!

[Motosport]

Let us know how it works out. Best of luck.

[noob]

I have to respectfully disagree about City Crab -- someone dragged me there for lunch recently and it was terrible. It feels (and even smells) like a restaurant on its last legs, and our food ranged from mediocre to inedible. My crabcakes were average at best, not very fresh, filled with bits of shell and way overpriced. My friend ( the one who insisted on going) had about three forkfuls of his seafood pasta and couldn't eat any more, it was so bad -- and he is not a foodie or a light eater, more of an indsicriminate shoveller. I would recommend the OP stay away. La Pizza Fresca on 20th might be good -- nice place, straightforward but delicious italian food, not too loud.

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La Pizza Fresca
31 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

[Motosport]

@ noob: That's a big surprise.
We've been to City Crab several times and always had a great experience overall. Steamed blue crabs, dungeness crab and broiled fish have always been the tops. They even have a decent brunch on weekends.
I'd bring my 80 something parents there in a heartbeat.

[noob]

Well, if you've had consistently good experiences over time, maybe I just hit it on a bad day -- I had been once a number of years ago and remember it being fine if not great. I was really put off by my experience this time, though.

[selenster]

blue water grill might work, though i only dined outside in the late spring so i can't really attest to the noise level inside. upon further review, there's a "jazz room" which you'll probably want to avoid. downstairs was lively during the time i was there at the bar, but i don't think it was unmanageably loud (and i have some hearing loss from years of not wearing earplugs at loud punk rock concerts).

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Blue Water Grill
31 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003

[penthouse pup]

If Union Square Cafe is too expensive or you can't get a reservation, a place on University and 11th Street called Jack's might work--simple food, no pretension, nice ambiance...and not expensive. It's not high-level but given what you described, could be a good alternative.

[rrems]

I agree with Union Square Cafe. Simple high-quality food, not too loud, great service.

[Littleman]

I second Union Square. My wife and I have been there numerous times and find it very nice.

[Elizabeth E.]

Sagaponack Bar & Grill is five or six blocks from the NW corner of Union Square. Tables in the back away from the bar and on the mezzanine are quiet. I've eaten there several times and enjoyed it every time.

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Sagaponack Bar & Grill
4 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

[gutsofsteel]

Union Square Cafe might work...