Cooper Hewitt area Restaurants?

[brisman]

I need a rec for the Cooper Hewitt area for a friend's B'day Lunch. Any ideas? I know sarabeth's there but hoping for better.

[kathryn]

Is this for a weekday or the weekend?

How many people will be in your party? When is this birthday lunch? Are you looking for a proper lunch or are you OK with brunch?

Are you looking for more casual or upscale?

Any particular cuisines?

How much do you expect to spend, before tax, tip, wine/drinks?

Since the Cooper Hewitt isn't quite as popular a museum as some of the others nearby, it might be more helpful to do a search on the Met or Guggenheim.

Some ideas here?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/757552

[DJCard]

There are several good ones nearby - SquareMeal and Table d Hote are good at 92nd & Madison. Paolo's and Vichio (sp?) are in the same area for moderately expensive Italian. Pascalou's is good between 92nd and 93rd. Island is in the same vicinity. It you want inexpensive but huge burgers, then Jackson Hole is at 91st & Madison.

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Paola's
1295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028

Square Meal
30 E 92nd St, New York, NY 10128

Pascalou
1308 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

Island
1305 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

Vico
1302 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

Table d'Hote
44 E 92nd St, New York, NY 10128

Jackson Hole
1270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

[brisman]

Great recommends, thanks for the quick replies. I'm sure one of them will be perfect.

[City Kid]

On the same block as Sarabeth's -- both sides of Madison, 92-93 Sts. -- are several places I like much more: Le Paris, Pascalou, and Paola's...many people also love Square Meal, though I have not been. All quite reasonable with the first two a bit less and the second two a bit more....Edits: crossed somewhat with DJCard - Never been to Vico but it is reputed to be a rip-ff (and cash only). Haven't been to Island in years but never thought it very good.

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Paola's
1295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028

Square Meal
30 E 92nd St, New York, NY 10128

Pascalou
1308 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

Le Paris
1312 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10128

[DJCard]

We hear the same thing about Vico. We agree on that one. UP by Hanratty's, people seem to be talking about Otto?

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Vico
1302 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

[City Kid]

No more Hanratty's, now it's Neka, OK but not great sort of nondescript, chicken, pasta, steak, etc...Otto is all right but you sit cheek-to-jowl with other diners in a tiny space...It's my exact neighborhood, too, and I do think there are now several good choices, especially the "restaurant row" on Madison between 92-93 Sts. Paola's may be the best high-end, but I also find Le Paris very charming with very good food.

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Paola's
1295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028

Le Paris
1312 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10128

Neka Kitchen & Bar
1410 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029

[MMRuth]

Haven't been to Vico in ages, as I much prefer Paola's, but I believe Vico does now take credit cards. Went to Island for the first time in years a couple of weeks ago, and it confirmed my opinion that it's not particularly good.

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Paola's
1295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028

Island
1305 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

Vico
1302 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

[Nancy S.]

This is my exact neighborhood, and I wouldn't recommend any place within a few block radius. Instead, I would go 15 blocks south to Cafe Boulud.

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Cafe Boulud
20 East 76th St., New York, NY 10021

[Windy]

I haven't been yet, but am planning on going to Cafe Sabarsky inside the Neue Gallerie for Austrian food, wine, and especially pastries when I'm in town at the end of the month.

It came highly recommended, and the setting looks beautiful for a celebration. It's at 86th and Fifth.
http://www.cafesabarsky.com/

Hard to compete with Cafe Boulud though.

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Cafe Sabarsky
1048 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

[lemons]

Strong second for Cafe Sabarsky; we never miss a visit there when we're museum-going.

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Cafe Sabarsky
1048 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

[mahler5]

Strong third for Sabarsky, though they do not take reservations (there's often quite a line) and it's 6 blocks away.

[Windy]

Can you put your name on the list and then wander around the museum? And which desserts do you recommend?

Otherwise it looks like I could eat at Cafe Fliedermaus in the basement with the same menu.

[lemons]

Fliedermaus isn't as handsome, certainly, but please don't ask us to choose among those desserts. The only possible answer is one of each. We found the trick at Sabarsky was to go at an off hour, either early or late.

[Windy]

Thanks!