New York City Restaurant Guide
Guide to New York Restaurants Near the Broadway Theatres
With over 450 restaurants near the Broadway theatres, this guide will help you discover the best restaurants to eat pre and post theatre.
Broadway Discount Restaurant Guide For New York City :
Now that you have your travel plans set for your trip to New York City’s Broadway Theater District, the only thing you’re missing is your resource to finding a great dining experience! New York City has a multitude of restaurants and bars that serve all types of cuisine from the sublime to the ridiculous.
We have compiled a list of wonderful and affordable restaurants all within walking distance to the theater district, complete with reviews, price points and special recommendations. We kept a keen eye on price and we feature all the restaurant discounts. We also intentionally selected restaurants off the beaten path.
Chinese Restaurants
Tang Pavilion
Location: 65 West 55th Street
(between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Phone: (212) 956-6888
Some might argue that all Chinese food tastes the same. While I’ve never made it all the way to China, I can say I know the difference between poor, mediocre and great Chinese food. Anyone can throw rice in a wok, but not everyone has the secret touch. At Tang, we discovered what good food minus the grease really means plus we didn’t mind that it didn’t feel like we were dining in a generic Chinese restaurant either. Specializing in Shanghai cuisine, we were intrigued by what the cold lamb belly might look and taste like, however, we were more drawn to start with the house special wonton soup for two ($4.25). A few minutes after ordering, a large bowl appeared filled with succulent wontons, pork and a sweet tasty broth that made me think I could have just stopped eating right there. Luckily we didn’t. We moved on to share the jumbo shrimp and scallops in garlic sauce ($9.95) which had a nice amount of fresh seafood in an aromatic mouth-watering sauce. The beef with oyster sauce ($8.95) was soft and tender but the filet with sesame ($15.95) was divine and went incredibly well with Tang’s stir-fried noodles ($7.95). We did notice many diners ordering up their sweet and sour pork as well but we had no room on the table! While there are some dishes that range in price from $18-$25, all dishes can (and should) be shared. Friendly and attentive wait staff was the cherry on the cake of our dining experience at Tang. I’m already looking forward to my next visit.
French Restaurants
Les Sans Culottes
Location: West 347 West 46th Street
(Between 8th and 9th Avenues)
Phone: (212) 247-4284
Oh, gay Par-ee. Nothing quite like it, especially in the springtime, but if you’re ever in the mood for escargots or mousse au chocolat, there’s a little piece of France right here in midtown. Welcome to Les Sans Culottes; a cozy, unpretentious spot on 46th street with excellent French cuisine and loads of New York charm. Upon arrival we were greeted warmly on a weeknight evening and seated at a festive table covered with a red and white gingham table cloth. While the menu had many items that were appealing, the choice for me was a no-brainer as I opted for the complete dinner special ($21.95), while a few sampled the a la carte menu. {Note to the reader: A similar complete lunch menu is offered as well–a remarkable deal for a matinee–all for the low, low price of $12.95}. Appetizers that we tasted from our friends plates were the snails (quite good) and the satisfying yet delicate quiche Lorraine. The complete dinner meal began with a platter of vegetables, fresh warm bread, sausages and a pate that was complimented by a carafe of Muscadet ($17) which two of us happily shared. Next up for myself was the rough choice; picking an entrée. Flank Steak with a shallot sauce was my poison, and lamb chops for my dinner companion. Both of us were more than content with our choices and just when I thought I couldn’t shove another piece of pain du burre in my mouth, I heard myself ordering the Crème Brulee. Oh la-la! The crunch of the bronzed coating as I plunged my spoon through the crispy topping gave me that sugar high I needed to get me out the door.
Indian Restaurants
Bombay Palace
Location: 30 West 52nd Street
Phone: (212) 541-7777
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With so many choices of quality Indian food in midtown ranging in all different prices and atmospheres, we wanted to highlight a spot that has many great and affordable dishes on the menu while also catering to the customer, something we have to admire. Bombay Palace’s dishes are flavorful and plentiful and the atmosphere, while a bit over the top, does make you feel like you are in a palace of sorts. If you can make it over for lunch before a matinee, you will be delightfully surprised at how good the quality of the buffet is and for a measly $12.95! Not being a huge fan of Indian fare myself, I was a little hesitant to “chow down” but I have to say the quality and the quantity of both hot and cold specialties were both highly impressive. The Tandori chicken was moist and full of flavor (but not too spicy!) and the saffron rice was perfect. Of course, the breads were my favorite. The Naan was fabulous and we couldn’t stop dunking everything in the Raita ($4.95) which is a yogurt-based sauce that tastes like it’s been whipped with cucumbers and tomatoes. If you opt to go a la carte, the main dishes range in price but average at about $16-$18. We tried the Lamb Vindaloo ($16.95) and were delighted at how well-spiced it was, though quite filling. For pre- theatre (or even post- theatre which is great for those who enjoy dining later) Bombay offers a dinner buffet ($19.95) where you can choose from lists of appetizers and entrees that are constantly changing and includes Pulao rice, (a long- grain basmati rice) a veggie, bread and coffee or tea. They are also quite accommodating when at all possible. If ordering a la carte, ask for sauces on the side if you’re not sure about them, or to try the soup and no doubt your wish will be granted.
Italian Restaurants
Becco
Location: 355 West 46th Street
(between 8th and 9th Avenues)
Phone: (212) 397-7597
When picking our spot for Italian, we didn’t have to do much soul searching. Lidia Bastianich and her son opened this fabulous low-key Italian spot together in the early 1990’s and the brick-exposed walls and great food, make this a no-brainer for a pre-theatre meal. Since we are aiming to eat on a budget, our first recommendation is the pre-fix “Sinfonia di Paste”. This special is on the menu for lunch ($16.95) and dinner ($21.95) and includes antipasti or Caesar salad to start (both of which are phenomenal and abundant) and an unlimited amount of three unique and tasty pasta dishes that come around to your table until you can’t stuff yourself any longer. The pastas tend to be totally different from each other (they change nightly) and are varied enough that you would be hard-pressed not to find at least one of the three that you couldn’t consume over and over. If you are going the Atkins route, the menu also has great choices for fish lovers and carnivores. Lunch and dinner menus are different but both will include seafood dishes (lunch range $16-$19, dinner $22-$29) and great meat specials which range about the same in price. We really enjoyed the Ossobuco ($19 at lunch $27 at dinner). The veal shank is cooked until the meat falls off the bone and melts in your mouth. As if all that still isn’t enough to get you there, they offer an extensive wine list with great Italian reds and whites starting at $18 and your servers will be happy to help you pair your meal choice with your wine.
Japanese Restaurants
Ocha
Location: 350 West 46th Street
(Between 8th and 9th Avenues)
Phone: (212) 581-3198
When Japanese food first became popular back in the 1970s, it took a while for American’s to come around to appreciating the concept (and texture) of the raw fish. Now it seems New Yorkers can’t get enough of it. You can’t go too many blocks in midtown without finding a Japanese restaurant. With all the places to choose from, how do you know which one to pick? We have found that time and time again Ocha’s simple décor and high-quality fresh seafood keep us returning time and again. Located on what has been frequently referred to as “restaurant row,” (46th street from 6th – 10th avenues) is a melting pot of cuisines. On any day, you’ll find people handing out menus of every type of restaurant imaginable trying to entice the passers-by with dinner specials and pre-fixe menus. While Ocha does have a few great values, they have no need to promote the place. While sitting in the restaurant on a rainy afternoon, the phones were ringing off the hook for delivery while wet patrons strolled in and sat at the pleasant L-shaped sushi bar. We dove right in and ordered the Sashimi lunch special ($10.95) which came with 10 large fresh pieces of fish. We tried a few hot appetizers to see how they would fair and ordered the beef negamaki- which was quite tasty but a tad chewy beef rolled up around scallions sushi-style and cooked in a thick savory eel-like sauce. The tempura for the non-raw-fish lovers was light and crispy but we were fond of the Pizushi ($8.25). A combination of a scallion pancake topped with seaweed and spicy tuna and special sauce. With so many specialty rolls to choose from we had a hard time deciding what was best, so here were some of our favorites: The dragon roll ($11.95) melted in our mouths and was enormous; The Spring Roll had a kick and an addictive crunch ($6.95) but the best was the Magic Roll ($14.95). In presentation alone, this massive roll of goodness was a full meal in and of itself. Shrimp and avocado surrounded a mass of spicy tuna and cucumber. The lunch specials are worth the trip into Manhattan (even if you aren’t seeing a show!) as you can get two rolls and 3 pieces of sushi for $11.25 and it comes with soup or salad.
Mexican Restaurants
Hell’s Kitchen
Location: 679 9th Avenue
(At 47th street) New York NY 10036
Phone: (212) 977-1588
Frequently, when people think “Mexican” they think of low-end dining, where ultimately everything is covered in salsa and cheese and you can barely decipher the ingredients. Places like that, we cannot deny, are a dime a dozen. Luckily, we have found a spot just west of the theatre district that not only has the ambiance of a trendy downtown eatery, but serves fresh, Mexican food just not quite the way you (Or any Mexicans you might know) are familiar with. Welcome to Hell’s Kitchen, literally – (Not to be confused with all the other establishments in the local area that use the name “Hells Kitchen”, including the usual mis-understanding between this spot and “44 X Hells Kitchen” which is nice, but no star in our book) This intimately-spaced, chic-looking, brick-walled, restaurant located on 9th avenue is a great way to get amped-up for your night out at the theatre. Though it was a bit loud, going with a small group meant being able to sample many fun dishes and test the exotic drinks. The complimentary corn bread and black bean dip were excellent (someone commented they wanted to be buried in a vat of it) and was well suited with the key lime martini ($9). A few of our favorite appetizers included the must-have duck Gorditas, ($10) the Portabella mushroom roll ($7) and the barely seared tuna tostada on a bed of guacamole and pineapple. The pork entrée ($19) was beautiful and quite tasty with shredded pork surrounded by pan juices and chunks of fresh avocado. Next to the volcano of pork was a spring roll-esque goodie filled with cheese and spices. The sea scallops ($21) were huge and cooked perfectly while the grilled shrimp entree ($19) had jumbo shrimp resting on an edible wafer-thin lily pad of fried tortilla. By the way, holy mole! The breast of duck ($22) arrived in a sea of mole sauce, and we couldn’t stop dunking. The desserts were a great way to end the meal and for $7 you had your choice of six very different but very fabulous choices. We couldn’t get our spoons out of the warm chocolate cake served with rich vanilla ice cream. The menu here is constantly changing and every night there are specials which only make decision-making more difficult, but in a good way.
Thai Restaurants
Pam Real Thai Food
Location: 404 West 49th street
(between 9th and 10th avenues)
Phone: (212) 333-7500/7240
We can’t lie to you. Thai food is abundant in midtown. It’s not terribly pricey and hard to ruin too badly, but once you eat here, you may not ever want to go anywhere else again. On the corner of 49th street is our favorite Thai spot in New York. Luckily for theatre goers, it’s also in midtown. A hole-in-the-wall, you could miss the dark blue sign altogether if you walk too fast but once you try the spicy red curry ($7.00) you may be hooked for life. This little 50-seater can have lines out the door if you hit it at peek times but if you head over before 6:00pm you can dine till your heart’s content and make it to your 8:00pm curtain call with time to spare. You really can’t go wrong with any choice of appetizers here. The Thai dumplings are tasty ($5.95) and the papaya salad ($4.95) was refreshing, but no need to fill up there. Head straight for the curries and the duck. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. The Kra Prow duck was crispy and flavorful while their curries clear up nasal passages while delighting the soul. We fought over the pad thai ($6.95) though we don’t know how it was possible with the enormous portion they gave us. We couldn’t find anything on the menu we didn’t want to come back and eat more of. They have no liquor license, so bring your own bottle if you’d like a drink (there are numerous liquor stores within a few blocks on 9th avenue) or order a thai iced tea to cool your burning lips. When the total bill comes to $25 and three of you just gorged, don’t run telling too many people, it’s crowded enough already.