twobluecats

We are planning a Friday evening at the Metropolitain Museum and are looking for a great place to dine either before or after the museum. I had thought about Serendipity only because it's on the east side and we will have a teenage girl with us. There are five of us total, and we love Chinese, good ol' American, Japanese, Italian (although we plan pizza for lunch in Brooklyn). Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Margie

I'm sure you will get many good ideas here, but in the meantime go to www.menupages.com you can search by location & cuisine and people who have dined in many of the locations have written reviews telling the good, the bad and the ugly.

mclaurie

The area immediately around the Met is a very upscale area with mostly pricey options (that are mostly not worth the price IMO). Cafe Sabarsky at 86 & Fifth Ave. in the Neue Museum is a terrific atmospheric place for Viennese food. You must make a reservation as it's very popular.

There are no shortage of Italians, both right nearby (Giavanni 25, Centolire, Caffee Grazie, Serafina) and a bit further (Firenze, Girasole, Nicola, Due). But since you're having pizza at lunch why not go for something else.

Our Place on 3rd ave & 82 st is a very good Chinese place, pretty/modern decor inside. It's 4 long crosstown blocks walk from Fifth Ave. Pig Heaven on 2nd & 80 is also a Chinese option.

For "plain old American" Luke's Bar & Grill on 79 st & 3rd is a neighborhood pubby place with dependable burgers, salads etc. Sarabeth's on Madison & 92 st - a bit of a walk- is also an option. While they're mostly known for their breakfast/brunch, I hear (have not tried myself) their dinners are good. There's also a basic coffee shop on Madison & ~80 st. and EAT on Madison & 81 st (overpriced IMO).

Gekko

NYC Trivia: Mike Wallace was arrested outside of Luke's Bar & Grill last summer.

(Wallace had gone inside for his carry-out meatloaf and was parked illegally. When NY's Finest attempted to give him a ticket, he threw a tantrum and was arrested for disorderly conduct.)

HowardR

But,. do you recommend the restaurant, Gekko?

mclaurie

No, Howard, I do.

Jean_Valjean

Well, on Madison and 73rd you can find one of the best burgers (ranked number 3 by Time Out)in Manhattan at the Soup Burg diner. It is a tiny little restaurant that looks completely out of place next to the fancy shops... Very close you can find number 4 on the list at J.G. Melon, on 3rd and 73rd.

If anyone's wondering, number 2 was PJ Clarkes, on 3rd Av. at 55th, and number one was Donovan's, a pub on Roosevelt Av. in Queens.

Gekko

Luke's? It's okay. Nothing special. Fine for NYC, which means better than 99%.

A few doors north of Luke's is Parma -- expensive but really good Northern Italian cuisine.

mclaurie

Due IMO is better food, nicer atmosphere and cheaper than Parma.