low key New Year's Eve?

[jburgard]

I am coming in to town with three friends for the weekend and we are looking to spend new year's eve relaxing in a nice restaurant. We love good food, but don't want to break the $100/person barrier if we can help it. I've read suggestions on other threads to skip the hype (Daniel's, etc..) and stick with a good neighborhood / ethnic restaurant. That sounds great to us, but we're out-of-towners and don't have any favorites to fall back on.
We are staying in an apartment in the east 50's, but don't mind traveling for good food! If you have any neighborhood restaurants that you really like, I'd love to hear about them.

[dyrewolf]

Well, there are plenty of low key restaurants and low key wine bars in that area so you can find something. Traveling on NYE is a pain, cabs are impossible so stay on your subway line (the 4/5/6) if you're going out elsewhere.

[fm1963]

Do you prefer a casual or dressy venue? Quiet or lively? For context, where are you coming from and what are some of your favorite restaurants in your home city? Is $100/per person for food only, or does that budget include drinks, tax, and tip? Many restaurants also tend to attract a specific demographic, so if that's somewhat important to you, please provide the relevant info.

Some ideas in or near the East 50's (call for NYE menu prices which are sometimes not listed online):

Oceana
The National
La Mangeoire
Wolfgang's
Benoit
Modern Bar Room
Ma Peche

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The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

La Mangeoire
1008 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022

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

Benoit
60 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019

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

The National
557 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

Wolfgang's
200 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022

[jburgard]

Thanks for your response, and also for that first list to check out. We're from Washington DC, programmers/architect/professor in our thirties. Dressy is fun, but not absolutely necessary - and lively sounds great if it doesn't require shouting to converse. We do have two vegetarians in the party, but we don't need a veggie-oriented restaurant, and while we enjoy almost every cuisine, some favorites are thai, indian, afghan, ethiopian, italian & spanish (tapas). I could stretch the budget to $125 to cover the drinks/tax/tip, but definitely no further... I'd rather go to a place with great food that allows me to enjoy the company of my friends than to the fanciest place I can afford. Thanks so much for your advice!

[fm1963]

For Indian I've enjoyed Chola on East 58th Street though it's very low key. Ciano and Maialino are good Italian options downtown accessible to the # 6 subway line, For tapas or Latin small plates, maybe Casa Mono, Boqueria, Pipa or Nuela (also downtown and near the # 6 line), though frankly you might be underwhelmed if you are fans of Estadio or Cafe Atlantico in DC. I'm not aware of any good Thai, Afghan or Ethiopian restaurants nearby but others may chime in.

I haven't been to The Smith on Second Ave. between 50th and 51st St., but it might work for your group. Here's a recent review.
http://www.immaculateinfatuation.com/2011/12/the-smith-midtown

Menu:
http://www.thesmithnyc.com/TSMT%20Din...

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Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003

Chola
232 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022

Pipa
38 East 19th Street, New York, NY 10003

Boqueria
53 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011

Ciano
45 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

Nuela
43 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010

The Smith
956 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022

[kathryn]

Café Atlántico's DC branch has closed, unless you meant to say Jaleo? Having dined at Jaleo, and Estadio, I think we have Spanish restaurants that are better, namely Tertulia and Txikito; however both of those are on the west side and may prove difficult in terms of travel.

For good Thai on the east side, there's Zabb Elee, but I don't know if they'll stay open late for NYE.

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Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Zabb Elee
75 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Tertulia
359 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[jburgard]

Thanks for your continued advice! Unfortunately we just got a message from the rental property company saying the apartment we reserved was suddenly unavailable and transferring us to Sherman Square just west of Central Park. I'm starting the restaurant search over again! Any suggestions for that neighborhood?

[kathryn]

So about West 70th and Broadway or so?

Luckily, if you stay north of 59th, you'll completely avoid the Times Square security/traffic mess.

[jburgard]

Yep, just that area. Within a half mile radius for walking would be great, but we're happy to hop a train for a good dinner.

[fm1963]

Some ideas north of 59th St. in the upper west side (call for any menu changes for NYE):

Lincoln
Loi
Cafe Luxembourg
Telepan
Dovetail
Ouest

I haven't tried Gastroarte yet (Spanish tapas) but have read good reviews.

Accessible by subway downtown -

Tertulia and Txikito for tapas, as Kathryn mentioned above.

Junoon for upscale Indian food like Rasika (not sure though if they are serving the usual a la carte menu for NYE).

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Telepan
72 W. 69th Street, New York, NY 10023

Ouest
2315 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

Cafe Luxembourg
200 W 70th St, New York, NY 10023

Dovetail
103 West 77th Street, New York, NY 10024

Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Lincoln
142 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023

Junoon
27 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010

Tertulia
359 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Loi
208 W 70th St, New York, NY 10023

[kathryn]

fm1963, we loved our meal at Rasika in DC earlier this year -- do you think Junoon is comparable? It's been on my list for a while (have stopped by for drinks but not dinner).

[fm1963]

Yes - Junoon is comparable in my opinion, though Rasika is probably a bit more innovative. Hard to tell though since I've only been to Rasika once. Did you have the crispy spinach with yogurt, tamarind and date chutney? OMG.

BTW, Junoon is now serving the full dining room menu at the bar in case you want to try a few plates while having drinks.

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Junoon
27 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010

[kathryn]

That crispy spinach at Rasika is the stuff dreams are made out of!

[dyrewolf]

Loi is across the street, I have not been yet but hear good things.

Ocean Grill is a possibility (79th and Columbus)
Cafe Ronda is a good Argentine place nearby
Tolani at 79th and Amsterdam is good too.

You'll be very near the 72nd St express stop for the 1/2/3 and that makes the West Village very accesible

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Cafe Ronda
249 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

Ocean Grill
384 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Tolani
410 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[jburgard]

You guys are wonderful, thanks so much!

[foodwhisperer]

For Thai, try Tom and Toon, on w 51st street. They have other food besides Thai also, but Toon is Thai, and is a great Thai chef. They usually have live entertainment also. If certain dishes are not on the Thai menu, they may still be able to make it for you

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Tom & Toon
241 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

[jburgard]

thanks foodwhisperer!

[rkaene]

Loi is very good, the service is a bit spotty. Luxenbourgh and telepan should also suit your needs.Gastroarte is overrated, How about Ma Peche?

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Telepan
72 W. 69th Street, New York, NY 10023

Cafe Luxembourg
200 W 70th St, New York, NY 10023

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

Gastroarte
141 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023

Loi
208 W 70th St, New York, NY 10023

[kathryn]

I wouldn't do Ma Peche as getting there and back to the UWS means the OP has to go through the barricaded area (which goes up to 59th).