I can't believe I'm asking--but one dinner in NYC

This is such a typical annoying question on the-food-site-that-shall-be- nameless that I can't believe I'm asking it. But, throwing myself on the collective mercy of LTH, I have to ask.

Dinner this Friday. Staying at the Hilton New York (53rd and 6th). Something within reasonable cab distance and a place where we could easily get a cab back. No desire for the gourmet meal of our lifetimes but would love something we can only do in New York, even if it's just coal-oven pizza (I know, I know, I could get it in New Haven, but you get what I'm saying). Probably the wrong time of day (and the wrong neighborhood) for deli. Would be delighted with Spanish, seafood, anything but Mexican or Thai since I don't believe either could beat what we have here.

Suggestions? Apropos of another discussion, I see that the hotel website suggests

Please use our search tool to retrieve a list of restaurants near our hotel, as recommended by 10Best®.

. And, I suppose, if I get desperate enough, that's what I'll do.

Thanks [ducking]

Hmm..picking one restaurant in NY...that's a tall order.
I lived in NY for a year and when I go back, I usually try and hit one of the Grand Szechuan restaurants (small chain of about 5 restaurants, I go to the one in the high 40's on 9th avenue). They were mentioned on a recent post but I'm not sure that diner really hit the highlights. I love the following: soup dumplings, citrus prawns, any of the "freshly-killed" (in the back of the restaurant) chicken dishes. There are some great Chinese restaurants in Chicago but I have to grudgingly give the advantage in this type of cuisine to NY (but we totally rule for Thai).
I also really like the Bread bar at Tabla (I think it's at 24th and Madison). Tabla is a very upscale Indian-Contemporary fusion restaurant. At their bar, they serve a menu of small plates--Indian style tapas, if you will. They have all kinds of nan, raitas, sandwiches, a terrific saag paneer pizza, and great mixed drinks (and I'm usually not a mixed drink person). If you're bringing kids, this is NOT the place, but I think it's a lot of fun.

gastro-pub it! Spotted Pig is a great little restaurant in the West Village -- UK meets Chez Panisse --though the wait can be horrific. Snack Taverna is another great little restaurant in the West Village -- Nouvelle Greek by way of the French Laundry. If you go to either of these places, you can walk around the Village after dinner, stopping for a cupcake at Magnolia, and a bit of cheese at Murray's.

Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St # 1
New York, NY
(212) 620-0393

Snack Taverna
(212) 929-3471
63 Bedford St
New York, NY 10014

Ann Fisher wrote: Probably the wrong time of day (and the wrong neighborhood) for deli.

Actually, the New York Hilton is not all that far from the Carnegie or Stage Delis. Both within walking distance. Between the two, I would choose The Stage.

Union Square Cafe. Not real fancy, not new, but wonderful.

I'd recomend Southern food at 9th & 45th ...

Jezebel

thaiobsessed wrote:Hmm..picking one restaurant in NY...that's a tall order.
I lived in NY for a year and when I go back, I usually try and hit one of the Grand Szechuan restaurants (small chain of about 5 restaurants, I go to the one in the high 40's on 9th avenue).

For the record, if you search for "Grand Szechuan" the actual name of the "chain" is "Grand Sichuan." According to a friend, it's not really a chain(aside for perhaps two that are explicitly related). Rather, this friend explained an amusing NYC phenomenon wherein a popular restaurant often finds it's name hijacked by other ventures with no connection.

I love the marinara and mussels fra diavlo at Gino on Lexington Avenue. They also do a great chopped salad.

I also had a lovely dinner, sort of old-fashioned French bistro food, at Montparnasse just last month. Then you could nip around the corner and have a cocktail at the Bull & Bear. Ok, that would be another block as well. But it's the Bull & Bear after all.

Gino
780 Lexington (between 60 & 61)
212-758-4466


Montparnasse
230 E. 51st Street (between 2nd & 3rd)
212-758-6633

I would avoid Stage and Carnegie. They're not at all what they used to be. Now, they're nothing but tourist traps serving mediocre to bad food (especially Stage). Just a few weeks ago, I was with my brother (who still lives there) and we went into Stage for a late, late night bite -- big mistake! I ordered a Reuben (which probably cost me $17) which was huge with some of the blandest tasting, overcooked corned beef you could imagine. My brother ordered blintzes which were surely pre-frozen and awfully bad. About a year ago, I had a similar (but not nearly as bad) experience at Carnegie.

If you're looking for some excellent pizza, I am a big fan of Lombardi's in Little Italy. Cab or subway will work and you shouldn't have any problem getting a cab back.

For seafood that won't break the bank too much, Aquagrill in SoHo is a great option.

I also think the Union Square Cafe and Tabla recommendations are great ideas although I have not been to either in more than a year.

One last suggestion would be Nobu -- it won't cost the fortune that some others will (e.g., Per Se) and you can't get it in Chicago. Also just opened is Nobu Next Door, although I'm not sure of the distinction.

BR wrote:One last suggestion would be Nobu -- it won't cost the fortune that some others will (e.g., Per Se) and you can't get it in Chicago. Also just opened is Nobu Next Door, although I'm not sure of the distinction.

Nobu Next Door has been there for years--maybe 6 or7. It's a smaller, pared down (in scope and price) version of Nobu that doesn't take reservations (which can be a good thing). It's only open for dinner.

Having been to Matsuhisa in LA--I would say going to Nobu or Nobu Next Door would most likely be quite an experience. One that I have been meaning to do for many NY trips.

Nobu Next Door
105 Hudson St

trixie-pea wrote:

BR wrote:One last suggestion would be Nobu -- it won't cost the fortune that some others will (e.g., Per Se) and you can't get it in Chicago. Also just opened is Nobu Next Door, although I'm not sure of the distinction.

Nobu Next Door has been there for years--maybe 6 or7.

It has been around for about that many years, and it's actually called Next Door Nobu.

eatchicago wrote:

trixie-pea wrote:

BR wrote:One last suggestion would be Nobu -- it won't cost the fortune that some others will (e.g., Per Se) and you can't get it in Chicago. Also just opened is Nobu Next Door, although I'm not sure of the distinction.

Nobu Next Door has been there for years--maybe 6 or7.

It has been around for about that many years, and it's actually called Next Door Nobu.

I'm sorry and thank you for the correction. I meant Nobu 57 which is new and very close to the Hilton hotel mentioned in the post.

Ann Fisher wrote:Would be delighted with Spanish, seafood, anything but Mexican or Thai since I don't believe either could beat what we have here.

I think you're on the right track to go with Spanish. I used work in the area and know a great Spanish restaurant on 53rd St between 2nd and 3rd. Don't miss the anchovies appetizer. Just walk East...

Solera
216 E 53rd St
New York, NY 10022
212-644-1166

Off the the airport. Thanks so much everyone!

Thanks Rich. We took your advice and went to Solara and further took your advice and had the anchovies (as well as the lightest croquettes I've ever encountered), a bacalao with pisto, and a steak. Largely tourist-free, easy to get into on a Friday night, and great people-watching, including a Spanish family with two boys, one of whom who looked just like Pepito, the son of the Spanish Ambassador in the Madeline books of my childhood. Thanks again everyone.

Ann Fisher wrote:We took your advice and went to Solara and further took your advice and had the anchovies (as well as the lightest croquettes I've ever encountered), a bacalao with pisto, and a steak.

1. Next time, take me with you, or at least bring me back appetizers
2. So, how was the FOOD?
3. Now that you have dined at Spanish restaurants in Chicago, Newark, and New York, have you formed an opinion as to the quality of Spanish food in those locations?

Rich4 wrote:1. Next time, take me with you, or at least bring me back appetizers
2. So, how was the FOOD?
3. Now that you have dined at Spanish restaurants in Chicago, Newark, and New York, have you formed an opinion as to the quality of Spanish food in those locations?

1. If only I'd thought of it at the time! But that reminds me, the anchovies we ordered were off the tapas menu--basically sitting in a pool of oil and garlic. Were those the anchovies of which you spoke? They were good, but we did find ourselves thinking that anything in that much oil and garlic would be good.
2. The FOOD was great, of course.
3. We've already established that New York area Spanish is far superior to anything we have in Chicago. Between Solara and Forno's, I'll take Forno's, which was stunning where this was just mighty fine, thank you. But I think I really should eat a dozen more meals in each just to be sure