New Yorkers and holiday visitors are breathing a collective sigh of relief, now that Broadway producers and stagehands reached an agreement that lit the lights on Broadway once again. The good news is not only for the theaters, but for the restaurants as well, since they were all hurt by the strike. Do your part for the Broadway restaurants and get out there and EAT! To that end, here are some suggestions for some fantastic deals for dining on (or near) the Great White Way, which is finally dressed up in all its glory for the holidays.
Puttanesca
In the heart of Hell's Kitchen and just steps away from the Theater District, Chef Roberto Passon serves up acclaimed homemade pastas and traditional Italian-style meat and seafood dishes with Italian passion and gusto. Enjoy the comfortable ambiance of this 225-seat popular restaurant at neighborhood-friendly prices, made even friendlier with a 20% off special offer.
AJ Maxwell's Steakhouse
Watch the Rockettes kick up their heels, and then head to this Rockefeller Center Steakhouse for what Crain's Bob Lape calls "the best rib-eye in New York." This Rockefeller Center steakhouse promises "to turn your ordinary occasions into extraordinary meals, and special occasions into affairs to remember." Enjoy a new interpretation of steakhouse classics, all at 20% off food.
Trattoria Dopo Teatro
This theater district favorite combines extraordinary Italian cuisine, exquisite décor with different themes for each of its many rooms and affordable prices. Home to one of the most beautiful interior gardens in New York City, Trattoria Dopo Teatro's 15% off offer is a hit.
Firebird Russian Restaurant
Housed in a lavish townhouse with over-the-top opulence, this "pre-Revolutionary" Russian restaurant has become a favorite destination for New York's theatergoers and visitors. The vodka list alone reads like "War and Peace" (don't THINK of missing the house-infused Honey Vodka) and the menu showcases the elegant delicacies of the Russian Empire.
Scarlatto
This acclaimed Italian Broadway venue features a fireplace, a cozy large bar and brick walls, as well as a winning combination of Italian cuisine and an extensive Italian wine list. Add this great value special offer, and you can't go wrong.
Amalia
Adjacent to the new Dream Hotel is this dreamy new restaurant created by SLDesign, who describes the bi-level space as "a hyper modern Baroque castle." The Mediterranean/New American menu by Chef Ivy Stark is offered as a 3-course lunch for $24.00, served 11:30AM- 2:30PM daily and a 3-course Pre-theater dinner for $42.00, served 5:00PM - 6:30PM nightly.
DB Bistro Moderne
When the occasion doesn't quite warrant spending a month's rent on dinner but you still want a meal to remember, head for DB Bistro Moderne, sister restaurant to Daniel, Chef Daniel Boulud's signature space. DB Bistro's Prix Fixe menu offers an opportunity to try Chef Boulud's renowned cuisine for $48.00, and is served nightly (guests must be seated between 5:00PM & 6:00PM). DB also offers a 2-course lunch menu which ranges from $35.00 - $40.00 for an entree and choice of either dessert or appetizer.
Thalia
The European-accented American menu isn't the only star at this Theater District venue; as the restaurant has been since its 1999 beginnings, it's still a place to see and be seen. Upon its debut, Thalia received two stars from The New York Times, and continues to garner high marks in the Zagat Survey. This Pre-theater menu is served until 7:00PM for $35.00, and can be paired with a wine flight for $49.00.
Rene Pujol
Francophiles return again and again for the upscale French cuisine at bistro prices, especially with this extensive Prix Fixe Menu. Family-run for decades, the restaurant is now cooperatively owned by its workers, who say they "combine speed with elegance" before theater, and then "slow down after 8 o'clock" for a "warm and welcoming atmosphere." The Prix Fixe is the only dinner menu, and is filled with a large selection of French specialties.
Barbetta
Still owned by the family who founded this historic landmark in 1906, Barbetta serves Piemontese cuisine, with dishes described as "elegant yet ... absolutely authentic." The Pre-theater menu consists of 24 different choices including dessert and coffee for $55.00, and is served in both the opulent dining room or, weather permitting, the romantic garden, complete with a fountain and century-old trees, and filled with the fragrances of flowering magnolia, oleander, jasmine and gardenia.
B. Smith's
Acclaimed restaurateur, entrepreneur and television personality Barbara (B.) Smith boasts three successful restaurants - in Long Island Hampton's Sag Harbor and Washington, D.C. as well as her renowned venue on Restaurant Row in New York City. Here, the $30.00 Prix Fixe Dinner is served daily from 5:00PM - 9:00PM and the $19.95 3-course lunch menu is offered 11:30AM - 2:30pm Wed, Sat. & Sun.
Becco
One of The New York Times' "top picks," for "a menu and wine list that are decidedly unusual," this Lidia and Joseph Bastianich theater district stronghold touts the "Sinfonia di Pasta" Prix Fixe: a Caesar Salad or Antipasto Misto followed by unlimited servings of three pastas. This special is served for lunch ($16.95) and dinner ($21.95).
Cafe Un Deux Trois
This Theater District mainstay has been a Broadway is truly one of the longest-running hits on (actually just off) Broadway. This Prix Fixe Menu offers three courses for $28.50, and is served all night long, every night.
Azalea Ristorante
Featuring the cuisines of Italy's Brescia and Amalfi Coast regions, Azalea is adorned with an 18-foot mahogany ceiling and selections from Georgia O'Keeffe's flower series. The menu combines the "rich, creamy sauces and hearty meats of Brescia" with "the fresh seafood and delicate fruits and vegetables of Amalfi," which can be sampled for $30.00 on Azalea's Pre-theater dinner menu, served 5:00PM - 7:00PM daily.
There's no place on earth quite like New York City at holiday time, and there's no better way to celebrate than by seeing a spectacular show and dining at one of the myriad restaurants the theater district has to offer. Within a few blocks of every Broadway theater, you can find a restaurant to fit virtually any budget and palate, so the only question is: What are you waiting for? Have a great time, a great meal, and a great holiday!
