Pre-theater - DB Bistro Moderne, Bar Boulud or Seasonal?

[VinceinDC]

My partner and I will be in NY in 2 weeks and are looking for a fun, interesting place for pre-theater dinner on a Saturday night. Looking at above 3 options, but open to other suggestions as well. Looking for a fun place that is serving great food right now. Thanks in advance for recommendations.

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DB Bistro Moderne
55 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036

Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

[thew]

i love the stuffed burger at DB bistro.

last night before theater i went to a place called the brickyard gastropub; great beer and cider selection, delicious scallops app, and a beet salad. i had a great rack of lamb, Meghan had the cinger glazed pork chop special.

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Brickyard
785 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

[pigbob]

Recently had the pleasure of dining at Silhouette, located on West 53 street, between 8th and 9th Aves., at which my party all took advantage of a reasonably priced ($38.00) prix fixe menu. Food, service and ambiance all top-notch. You can check this as well as its regular menu on its website. Note, you must order before 6:30 in order to take advantage of the Prix fixe. Was there on a Sunday, and am not sure about prix fixe on a Saturday evening. In any event, I still highly recommend. Enjoy your visit.

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La Silhouette
362 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

[ellenost]

Where is your theatre located?

[VinceinDC]

Imperial Theatre, 249 W 45th St (between Broadway and 8th). Thanks everyone for recommendations so far.

[City Kid]

DB Bistro is the only one that is convenient to your theater without either rushing or having to take a cab.

[RGR]

City Kid,

Marseile is actually more convenient to the Imperial than dbBistro. Yes, db is on 44th, but it's on the other side of B'way (crossing is always a pain because of the crowds), and then there's the additional block-and-a-half to get to db, which is b/t 5th & 6th. As ellenost notes, Marseille is on the corner of 9th & 44th -- a much simpler walk to the Imperial.

I do prefer the food at db, which is excellent. We haven't been to Marseille in quite some time, but the food we've had in the past has always been quite good. And it has a boisterous vibe, which db does not, so it's a better fit for someone looking for "a fun place."

dbBistro photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157623056360330/

Bar Boulud's forte is its excellent charcuterie. It also has that upbeat, fun vibe, but as has been pointed out, it's quite far from the Theater District. It's doable with a very early reservation (5 p.m.) and a cab ride.

Bar Boulud photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157616424232698/

The food at Seasonal is delicious. The vibe can be either quiet or upbeat depending on how busy it is. Not as far from the Imperial as Bar Boulud, so doable with an early reservation and a long walk to the Imperial.

Seasonal photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157622915332504/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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Marseille
630 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10036

Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

Seasonal
132 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019

[City Kid]

Yes, RGR, I agree about Marseille's (posted after my comment) convenience to the theater -- I meant that of those the OP mentioned in his/her title DB Bistro was the most convenient. I also hate to deal with crossing B'way!

[RGR]

Sorry for not realizing that you were referring to only the original three options, City Kid. I should have paid attention to the time stamps.

http:thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[thew]

can you explain about crossing b'way?

[City Kid]

Getting through the crowds around Times Square just to cross B'way can be quite a challenge IMO and I try to avoid that when possible.

[ellenost]

I'm not a fan of DB Bistro; I'd highly recommend Marseiile (W. 44 St. & 9th Ave.) instead. Bar Boulud and Seasonal (an excellent restaurant) are too far away.

[dewi]

I too am a big fan of Marseille on 44th and 9th - both because it's convenient to the theater and the food is always good. For an out of towner the biggest mistake they make is eating far away from the theater they are going to. Eat somewhere that is a quick walk to the theater. Forget about a taxi ride there, insanity the clogged streets, you will be stuck in traffic.

[thew]

many make just the opposite mistake too. being from car cultures they dont realize how easy it is to walk from the mid 50's and 9th ave or so to the theaters

[dewi]

The whole "walking" thing is really fascinating. I just assume everyone wants to walk.

The worst is when friends or family who live in Suburbia visit, they don't want to walk anywhere! My nephews who grew up in suburbia, they whine while they walk, my kid who grew up in Manhattan when away at college told me she missed the most about NYC is the really long walks one neighborhood to the next.