Restaurant recommendations in Times Square/theater district

[psteng19]

Nothing too fancy, casual setting. Budget is about $50-80 for 2 people, less is fine too.
No preference on food (Japanese, Chinese, Italian, seafood).

Always wanted to try Carmine's but it's always packed for walk-ins and reservations are always filled weeks in advance.

 

[StevenYoo]

if you can spare the time, GET OUT OF THAT AREA. The food in Times sq is expensive and mediocre, IMO.

You're MUCH better off heading downtown to Union Square (between 18th and 14th streets).

At union square, I recommend:
Steak Frites - http://steakfritesnyc.com/
momofuku ssam bar - http://newyork.citysearch.com/...momofuku_ssam_bar.html
Havana Central - http://www.havanacentral.com/
Heartland Brewery (ok food, awesome beer) - http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/ (union square location)
republic - http://newyork.citysearch.com/..._york_ny/republic.html

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: StevenYoo
if you can spare the time, GET OUT OF THAT AREA. The food in Times sq is expensive and mediocre, IMO.

You're MUCH better off heading downtown to Union Square (between 18th and 14th streets).

At union square, I recommend:
Steak Frites - http://steakfritesnyc.com/
momofuku ssam bar - http://newyork.citysearch.com/...momofuku_ssam_bar.html
Havana Central - http://www.havanacentral.com/
Heartland Brewery (ok food, awesome beer) - http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/ (union square location)
republic - http://newyork.citysearch.com/..._york_ny/republic.html

seconded

 

[psteng19]

The thing is my car will be parked nearby and I don't feel like taking a taxi/subway to go too far away.

 

[StevenYoo]

Originally posted by: psteng19
The thing is my car will be parked nearby and I don't feel like taking a taxi/subway to go too far away.

the subway will take 10 minutes to get to union square.

Take the R W N Q trains

 

[ElFenix]

republic has good food, but it's a rather casual joint.

 

[bigrash]

I work in Times Square so Ive experienced a lot of really good restaurants around here.

If you like Sushi go to Ruby Foo's or Haru (a little expensive though)
If you like beer go to Heartland Brewery on 42nd. They have good food too.
If you like BBQ, I recommend Virgil, but there's tons of other ones too. Dallas bbq, Spanky's is really good too. Spanky and Heartland Brewery are next door and owned by same people so you can get eat and get drinks right after.
For Italian, Carmine's is really good!

 

[Vonkhan]

I work pretty close to Times Sq and yes, most of the food here is overpriced and not that great either - pretty much touristy fare.

Other than the ones mentioned before, more excellent restaurants near Union Sq.

Tamarind at Park & 23rd, excellent Indian fusion food
Japonais 18th St near Union Square
Mesa (run by Bobbly Flay) on 5th b/w 15th & 16th St

I really can't reccomend Haru since it's more of a chain and the food there lacks any kind of innovation and for those prices - you can do much better

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: bigrash
I work in Times Square so Ive experienced a lot of really good restaurants around here.

If you like Sushi go to Ruby Foo's or Haru (a little expensive though)
If you like beer go to Heartland Brewery on 42nd. They have good food too.
If you like BBQ, I recommend Virgil, but there's tons of other ones too. Dallas bbq, Spanky's is really good too. Spanky and Heartland Brewery are next door and owned by same people so you can get eat and get drinks right after.
For Italian, Carmine's is really good!

Are those reservation only or are walk-ins ok?

 

[StevenYoo]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: bigrash
I work in Times Square so Ive experienced a lot of really good restaurants around here.

If you like Sushi go to Ruby Foo's or Haru (a little expensive though)
If you like beer go to Heartland Brewery on 42nd. They have good food too.
If you like BBQ, I recommend Virgil, but there's tons of other ones too. Dallas bbq, Spanky's is really good too. Spanky and Heartland Brewery are next door and owned by same people so you can get eat and get drinks right after.
For Italian, Carmine's is really good!

Are those reservation only or are walk-ins ok?

Carmine's, as you;ve found out, is hard to get into.

heartland is usually easy to get into. Dallas BBQ is a really casual, bbq chain in NYC. Very easy to get a seat.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: StevenYoo

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: bigrash
I work in Times Square so Ive experienced a lot of really good restaurants around here.

If you like Sushi go to Ruby Foo's or Haru (a little expensive though)
If you like beer go to Heartland Brewery on 42nd. They have good food too.
If you like BBQ, I recommend Virgil, but there's tons of other ones too. Dallas bbq, Spanky's is really good too. Spanky and Heartland Brewery are next door and owned by same people so you can get eat and get drinks right after.
For Italian, Carmine's is really good!

Are those reservation only or are walk-ins ok?

Carmine's, as you;ve found out, is hard to get into.

heartland is usually easy to get into. Dallas BBQ is a really casual, bbq chain in NYC. Very easy to get a seat.

Been to Heartland before...food was nothing special but it was decent. Pissed at myself for not trying the Alpha Male brew.

 

[StevenYoo]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: StevenYoo

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: bigrash
I work in Times Square so Ive experienced a lot of really good restaurants around here.

If you like Sushi go to Ruby Foo's or Haru (a little expensive though)
If you like beer go to Heartland Brewery on 42nd. They have good food too.
If you like BBQ, I recommend Virgil, but there's tons of other ones too. Dallas bbq, Spanky's is really good too. Spanky and Heartland Brewery are next door and owned by same people so you can get eat and get drinks right after.
For Italian, Carmine's is really good!

Are those reservation only or are walk-ins ok?

Carmine's, as you;ve found out, is hard to get into.

heartland is usually easy to get into. Dallas BBQ is a really casual, bbq chain in NYC. Very easy to get a seat.

Been to Heartland before...food was nothing special but it was decent. Pissed at myself for not trying the Alpha Male brew.

their Alpha Male Ale is awesome! I really like the Summer Apricot Ale too

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: bigrash
I work in Times Square so Ive experienced a lot of really good restaurants around here.

If you like Sushi go to Ruby Foo's or Haru (a little expensive though)
If you like beer go to Heartland Brewery on 42nd. They have good food too.
If you like BBQ, I recommend Virgil, but there's tons of other ones too. Dallas bbq, Spanky's is really good too. Spanky and Heartland Brewery are next door and owned by same people so you can get eat and get drinks right after.
For Italian, Carmine's is really good!

Very good recommendations. Also, 9th ave has some very good , interesting restaurants as well.
Breeze: Thai/French Fusion 9th ave. between 45th and 46th
Vynl: American/Thai Mix. Good food and a great music themed atmosphere 9th ave between 50th and 51st
Eatery: Brunch. Same line as Vynl except they serve a lot of breakfast type foods with very interesting twists 9th and 53rd.