Affordable Pre-Theater Restaurants

December 17, 2008

This post is in response to an off-line question that I received this week…

Q: Where can I go in NYC this week before the Christmas Spectacular that is not too pricey?

A: First, you should look at Jean-Georges’ blog and website that you can access through Foodie Favorites (lower right hand corner) or at www.Jean-Georges.com . All of his restaurants are currently offering price-fixes and some also have wine and drink specials. The locations are scattered throughout the city and the food is always great so it will really depend what you are in the mood for, how easily you can get around and how much time you have.

A long-standing theater-district favorite of mine which I first went to as a teenager with family friends is Becco at 355 W 46th Street, phone 212.397.7597. They have a great lunch and dinner pre-fixe that usually includes salad and/or antipasti and unlimited servings tableside of the 3 pastas of the day. Check the website for more details. www.becco-nyc.com (Besides the pasta special they have a full a la carte menu.) They also have a good and reasonably priced wine list- all bottles around $25.

If you really want to keep the prices down and/or are looking for a very family-friendly locale, there is always John’s Pizza which sounds like a little pizza joint but is a huge, two floor, Italian/pizza restaurant in the heart of Times Square- 260 W44th Street, phone (212) 391-7560, www.johnspizzerianyc.com They have great thin crust pizzas but lots and lots of other Italian favorites.

I would recommend a reservation at all of the above places, especially during the holiday season.

Good luck! Let us know how it works out and/or chime in if you have other recommendations! (just click on the comments tab under this posting and you can add your own post!)