New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [180]
DINING IN TIMES SQUARE
There are plenty of chain eateries here that charge a premium for a substandard, rushed meal. But we’ve narrowed the field, selecting the best spots for a range of experiences and prices—from fun family dining to pretheater favorites.
For family-style fun, you can’t miss the retro, 1950s-style Ellen’s Stardust Diner (1650 Broadway, at 51st St. | 212/956–5151), complete with a singing waitstaff. Enjoy all-American classics such as meat loaf and chicken potpie while your waiters and waitresses serenade you with Broadway tunes.
Unlike the mostly kitschy theme restaurants that occupy Times Square, the sleek Blue Fin (1567 Broadway, near 47th St. | 212/918–1400) seafood restaurant is a refreshing departure. Watch the crowds go by from the corner glass bar or head upstairs.
Toloache (251 W. 50th St., between Broadway and 8th Ave. | 212/581–1818), a festive Mexican cantina, is a top foodie destination for its fresh ceviches, guacamoles, and standout dishes like the Negra Modelo–braised brisket taco or the quesadilla with black truffle and huitlacoche (corn fungus).
A mixed crowd of tourists, theatergoers, and thespians frequents Joe Allen Restaurant (326 W. 46th St., between 8th and 9th Aves. | 212/581–6464), a pretheater favorite. This casual yet classy restaurant serves reliable American cuisine. Don’t fret about missing the show—the Broadway-knowledgeable staff will make sure you get to the theater in time for the opening number.
Plates of fresh antipasti are displayed right as you walk into Bond 45 (154 W. 45th St., between 6th and 7th Aves. | 212/869–4545). This Italian eatery, with a dark-wood bar and leather-backed booths, serves a variety of pizzas, pastas, and steaks. With a separate pretheater menu, this Theater District hot spot is an ideal option for dining and then dashing to your show of choice.
Havana Central (151 W. 45th St., between 6th and 7th Aves. | 212/398–7440) is a great place for reasonably priced group dining and for sampling Cuban-Latino standards like garlicky chicken and well-seasoned skirt steak with a cucumber-and-mango salad. There’s also a full menu of tropical-flavored mojitos, including coconut, blueberry, and passion fruit.
Ça Va (310 W. 44th St., between 8th and 9th Aves. | 212/803–4545) in the new InterContinental Hotel is chef Todd English’s paean to French brasserie cuisine. There’s a nice-looking bar with good wines by the glass, and hearty dishes like cassoulet, braised pork shank, and halibut with roasted Provençale vegetables.
AND FOR DESSERT …
Even if you’re not crazy about tofu, the soy-based delights at Kyotofu (705 9th Ave., near 48th St. | 212/974–6012) will make you reconsider the merits of the soybean. Kyotofu’s signature sweet tofu with Kuromitsu black sugar syrup is so creamy and delicious, you’d think it was a traditional panna cotta. The strawberry shortcake with strawberry sake sorbet and the warm miso chocolate cake with chocolate soybean ganache and green-tea cream are two more totally compelling favorites. Kyotofu’s menu is full of intriguing options, so your best bet, on your first visit, is to go for the Kaiseki prix-fixe, a three-course tasting menu that enables you to try six different mini-desserts. Their menu changes seasonally, and it also includes savory brunch, lunch, and dinner options as well as an extensive sake and shochu cocktail list.
SPOTLIGHT ON MIDTOWN EAST/UPPER EAST SIDE
Power brokers like to seal their deals over lunch on the East Side, so that means more than a few suits and ties at the restaurants during the day.
At night Midtown’s streets are relatively quiet, but the restaurants are filled with