New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [181]
Farther uptown, the Upper East Side is jam-packed with pricey neighborhood eateries that cater to the area’s well-heeled residents, but a few more reasonable choices are cropping up. Long viewed as an enclave of the privileged, these neighborhoods have plenty of elegant restaurants that serve the society “ladies who lunch” and bankers looking forward to a steak and single-malt scotch at the end of the day. However, visitors to Museum Mile and 5th Avenue shopping areas need not be put off. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or just want to grab a quick bite, you’re sure to find something here for almost any budget.
URBAN PICNIC
For a uniquely New York experience, take a picnic lunch to one of the outdoor plazas that line Park Avenue from 51st to 53rd streets and seat yourself alongside scores of local office workers. (For architecture buffs, the Mies van der Rohe–designed Seagram Building is at 375 Park Avenue, at 52nd Street.) First, pick up your wares at the Market at Grand Central Terminal (Main Concourse, East), a trusted resource for gourmet goods on-the-go. Your menu could include fresh-baked bread from Corrado Bread & Pastry, olives or prosciutto from Ceriello Fine Foods, and fresh mozzarella from Murray’s Cheese.
MUSEUM EATS SAVE VS. SPLURGE
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
Save: The La Bonne Soupe (48 W. 55th St., between 5th and 6th Aves. | 212/586–7650) special includes a bowl of soup with bread, salad, a glass of wine, and dessert for $17.25.
Splurge: The Modern’s Bar Room (9 W. 53rd St., near 5th Ave. | 212/333–1220) offers Alsatian-inspired fare like tarte flambé, a charred flat bread topped with bacon, onion, and crème fraîche.
NEUE GALERIE
Save: Pintaile’s (26 E. 91st St., at Madison Ave. | 212/722–1967) pizza offers delicious slices with a thin whole-wheat crust and gourmet toppings like roasted eggplant, wild mushrooms, and chorizo.
Splurge: Café Sabarsky (1048 5th Ave., near 86th St. | 212/288–0665) entices museum goers with hearty sandwiches and entrées like sausage and goulash. Rich pastries complete the caloric spree.
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Save: Grab a bite at Belgian chain Le Pain Quotidien (1131 Madison Ave., between 84th and 85th Sts. | 212/327–4900), which offers an array of light fare, like cheese boards and gourmet salads.
Splurge: E.A.T. (1064 Madison Ave., between 80th and 81st Sts. | 212/772–0022), Eli Zabar’s upscale American diner, may have high prices, but devotees return for excellent soups, sandwiches, and salads.
MUSEUM OF ART AND DESIGN
Save: AQ Café (1800 Broadway, at Columbus Circle | 212/462–0005) serves Swedish-inspired food like meatballs, herring, and house-cured gravlax, plus desserts, including a hazelnut-crusted cheesecake.
Splurge: On the top floor of the museum itself sits Robert @ Mad (2 Columbus Circle | 212/299–7730), with stellar views of Columbus Circle and a menu of treats including soy-splashed striped bass sashimi.
FORAGING IN CENTRAL PARK
There are plenty of pushcarts offering hot dogs and sodas, but if you’re looking to soak up Central Park’s magical ambience in an elegant setting, head for the Central Park Boathouse Restaurant (E. 72nd St. at Park Dr. N | 212/517–2233), which overlooks the gondola lake. There you can relax on the outdoor deck with a glass of wine and a cheese plate, or go for a more formal meal inside the restaurant. In warmer months the restaurant can get crowded: go for a late lunch or early-evening cocktail.
AND FOR DESSERT …
The Grand Central Dining Concourse is not your typical food court—it contains outposts for some of the city’s most popular edibles, including a pie-lover favorite: the Little Pie Company (107 E. 42nd St., Grand Central Terminal’s Lower Dining Concourse | 212/983–3538). The flaky crusts here are baked from scratch with fresh, all-natural ingredients. And they don