Help Choosing Dinner!

[endyyy]

Hello Hounds,

I will be visiting NYC for first time with my significant other and will need a restaurant recommendation for a Sunday night. I am open to any type of restaurant and my budget is around $80/person. I will be watching a show at 6:30 so I was hoping for a restaurant that can be booked around 9:30.

I am currently contemplating between Marea, Peter Luger, or Degustation(from reading numerous posts). Any suggestions welcomed!

Thanks

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Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[selenster]

marea is my favorite restaurant in NYC so i'm going to of course tell you, YES, eat there! that spaghetti with sea urchin, crab & tomato is heaven in a bowl, though the ai fiori black squid ink pasta w/ seafood in a lobster sauce is a close second.

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Ai Fiori
400 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

[endyyy]

Thanks for the recommendation, I am most intrigued by the fusili pasta with bone marrow and octopus. How many dishes do people typically order there for dinner?

[edible n]

I would suggest Dovetail - it's not too far out of the theatre district and they do a great Sunday menu the "Sunday Suppa" which is $46 per head for an appetizer and main. It definitely has the romantic vibe you would be looking for.

[rrems]

I love Degustation. And if you are still considering a steak house, Keen's would be a great choice.

[Simon]

if you are still considering a steakhouse, i'd recommend Keens...it's on 36th/6th, so close to theatre district...it has great old-NYC atmosphere (so nice for your first visit here)...the prime rib, mutton chop, oysters, and scotch/bourbon selection all wonderful...(the closest thing in SoCal is the Pacific Dining Car in downtown LA, but think of Keens as PDC x100)...

[fm1963]

Marea is better than ever. but you'll have to order carefully to stay under $80/per person. I would concentrate on the pasta and risotto and skip the secondi.

For bone marrow, try Minetta Tavern downtown.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[michelleats]

My guess is that after the show, you might be feeling a bit tired and not want to travel a long distance (probably about an hour by subway; check hopstop.com for specifics) to Peter Luger. I personally am not too impressed by the steak, there, either though I know it's a NYC institution. But then again, I am not really that much of a steak person. It is definitely the heaviest of all the options you mention.

Degustation has small portions, so if you are a big eater, you may not want to go that route. The food is very good, though.

I have not been to Marea, but of all the restaurants you mention, it is the closest to the area of town where most shows are and I have heard very good things about it.

As Simon said, it really would help NYC Chowhounds give you recommendations if you narrowed your options down by neighborhood and cuisine. There are just so many NYC restaurants that it's hard to give good advice, otherwise.

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Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[endyyy]

Thanks for the advice!

One of the reasons I am leaning towards Marea is because of its location to to the theatre, but we are willing to travel if the food is worth it. We wanted to have a memorable last meal in NYC, which is why I need the expert advices of NYC Chowhounds :)

As for cuisine we are open to anything other than Asian because we have a lot of great options for that in SoCal. As for the neighborhood, I suppose 15-20 minutes from the Minskoff Theatre is fine.

Does anyone have any other recommendations for a restaurant that serves bone marrow? We have a dinner open on Friday and I'd love to try that! Perhaps something like Blue Ribbon?

Thanks!!

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Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[michelleats]

Blue Ribbon (both Brasserie and Bakery locations) is a great place to try bone marrow! I also think the menus are very good as a whole. The decor is not as upscale as Marea appears to be based on a few speed walks by the front window, but it is comfortable and homey, just like the food.

Prune is another well known option for bone marrow.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[rrems]

Places wheer I've had great marrow are Kin Shop and Crispo.

[michelleats]

Yes! I was going to mention Kin Shop, too. I recently tried their marrow after reading what I think was your description on another thread and loved it. But the OP said he was not interested in Asian cuisines, since he/she is from southern California.

Strangely, I have still never been to Crispo. It always seems to be too crowded when we try to go. I'll remember to try the marrow when we finally get there.

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Crispo
240 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011

[kathryn]

Is the Kin Shop bone marrow a special or on the menu?

[michelleats]

It's a long running special that's made regular appearances for two or more months. They don't have it all days, though, so that's good to point out. They'll be able to tell you whether it's on the menu by 4 p.m., if you call.

It's good, Kathryn. I think you'd like it. And probably the Chiang Mai sausage and duck egg congee special, too.

[sheio]

Strongly seconding the Blue Ribbon Brasserie bone marrow recommendation. The oxtail marmalade with bone marrow dish blows me away every time. And if you're already at Marea you should consider the fusilli with baby octopus and bone marrow, it's widely (and in my opinion justly) recommended.

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Blue Ribbon Brasserie
97 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[endyyy]

Thanks for the recommendations! I will definitely look into both Blue Ribbon and Kin Shop to get a taste of their bone marrow.

[Simon]

hi endyyy...while it's good that you specified budget and timing, you'll prob get more suggestions if you tell us a bit more what kind of vibe you'd like, and any preferences in cuisine...the three places you're considering are all extremely different...

[endyyy]

Hi Simon

Sorry for being unclear in my first post, but I am looking for a any type of cuisine really and probably looking for a romantic ambiance. I know Peter Luger is not really a romantic restaurant, but I have heard great things about it. We pretty much want to leave NY knowing that we tried something magnificent.

Thanks!