Broadway Lunch Ideas, please!

[Mimi1965]

Becco is Lidia Bastianich's (Lidia's Italy on PBS) place in the theater district. They do an AYCE pasta at lunch for under $20 & they have very reasonably prices wine.

You can book on Open Table.

We LOVED Becco!
We had the pasta special for dinner-and you get 3 pasta dishes (same at lunch)-each unique and delicious!

 

[java]

I'll third Virgil's but also I love Becco. Yummy italian and my kids loved it too. It's more "foodie" vs. Virgil's (chainish if that's a word?) But either one would get my vote.

We love Ellen's for Breakfast. And have only had great servers. Sorry to the poster that had 2 bad experiences. Just wanted to say that isn't what we have ever had there. And we've been about half a dozen times - all breakfast though!

 

[shelemm]

Another vote for Juniors. Also it's in a bit of a hidden location (Shubert Alley), so you don't have to fight the crowds. With a place like Carnegie Deli, sometimes the line is a mile long.

 

[AprilRenee]

We love John's Pizza! It's a cool atmosphere!
Ellen's Stardust Diner is almost a show in itself and would be an awesome place to go for a special birthday lunch. Just give yourself time to enjoy the singing waiters. I didn't want to leave!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I think John's Pizza is a great choice and is great for kids and adults. Don't go to Junior's. It is just a chain and not a very good one, just a convenient one. Yes, I have strong feelings about Junior's!

I don't know that I would categorize Junior's as a chain. There was only the one location in Brooklyn for forever and it was one of the few places that anyone I knew would trek out there for. The Grand Central location is really just a to go place for sandwiches/salads and of course cake, for commuters. Besides that, there's the Foxwoods spot and then the one in Times Square. I believe that they are all run by the family still and aren't being franchised out.

 

[Kteacher]

Love Ellen's Stardust! I took my Girl Scout troop there before the Radio City Christmas Show, and the waiters were incredible. They had the entire restaurant say the Girl Scout Promise. My girls liked this better than the show!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Stage Deli...food is awesome. Or Havana Central if she is up to trying Cuban food.

Wicked is an amazing show. I was mesmarized (sp) the whole time. If she is a girly girl and loves perfume, they sell a perfume called "Popular" (Galindas) in the theater and it's so sweet and girly smelling. I love it. It's perfect for a preteen. The also sell "Defying Gravity" which is Elphaba's perfume. Being an addict to neat perfume and cool packaging, I had to buy them both because the boxes can fit together.

Well, crap. It looks like they don't sell it anymore. I found Popular on ebay for twice what I paid for it:

It's a shame because I LOVE the smell. Here is Defying gravity

Looks like neither one are made anymore. I'm sad. My dad is taking my girls to the City in March to see Wicked and I really wanted more perfume.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Stage Deli...food is awesome. Or Havana Central if she is up to trying Cuban food.

Wicked is an amazing show. I was mesmarized (sp) the whole time. If she is a girly girl and loves perfume, they sell a perfume called "Popular" (Galindas) in the theater and it's so sweet and girly smelling. I love it. It's perfect for a preteen. The also sell "Defying Gravity" which is Elphaba's perfume. Being an addict to neat perfume and cool packaging, I had to buy them both because the boxes can fit together.

Well, crap. It looks like they don't sell it anymore. I found Popular on ebay for twice what I paid for it:

It's a shame because I LOVE the smell. Here is Defying gravity

Looks like neither one are made anymore. I'm sad. My dad is taking my girls to the City in March to see Wicked and I really wanted more perfume.

so, Stage Deli is good? Sure is affordable for NYC. We are going down for a few days - so we need a few ideas. Definitely want to do authentic NYC deli place - think I've been to Carnegie or Katz's years ago. Can't remember which. Stage may be good fro our last day - since it is close to Penn.

 

[suzannen]

I live in NYC and in my opinon, ever since they enlarged Ellen Stardust Diner and added the basement, the food and service has not been very good. After having years of fun meals, during the last 18 months, I have had 3 really bad experiences. The food was barely edible. I only kept going back because others in my group insisted. I will never go back. The Stage Deli has delicious food, just know their portions are huge. I also love Virgil's and John's Pizza. Junior's isn't bad. But, personally my two favorites in that area are Lattanzi (http://www.lattanzinyc.com/pages/home/home_mn.htm) or Orso's (http://www.orsorestaurant.com/New_York_Menu.html).

 

[Kimberle]

Carnegies Deli, absolutely. Ellen's Stardust was awful, food and mostly service. (We went twice to give them a second chance) They give New York attitude a new meaning and I love the East code attitude. Family is from there. We walked out before ordering the 2nd time. Maybe just a bad day? But 2?
Have fun at the show. Just saw Wicked 2 weeks ago. I loved it.

I live in NYC and in my opinon, ever since they enlarged Ellen Stardust Diner and added the basement, the food and service has not been very good. After having years of fun meals, during the last 18 months, I have had 3 really bad experiences. The food was barely edible. I only kept going back because others in my group insisted. I will never go back. The Stage Deli has delicious food, just know their portions are huge. I also love Virgil's and John's Pizza. Junior's isn't bad. But, personally my two favorites in that area are Lattanzi (http://www.lattanzinyc.com/pages/home/home_mn.htm) or Orso's (http://www.orsorestaurant.com/New_York_Menu.html).

I agree abt Ellens. Terrible, overpriced food, even by NYC standards. Kids menu is *6* and under only. Staff aggressively trolls for extra tips.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

so, Stage Deli is good? Sure is affordable for NYC. We are going down for a few days - so we need a few ideas. Definitely want to do authentic NYC deli place - think I've been to Carnegie or Katz's years ago. Can't remember which. Stage may be good fro our last day - since it is close to Penn.

YES, YES and more YES! All their sandwiches are named after celebs that have visited. This was in Feb 09 and I got the "Tiger Woods".
It was SOOOOO good though. It looked very unappetizing, like it had been eaten once already, but it was the bomb.

Here it is:

This is me at the Stage Deli

And in keeping with the Wicked theme, these were our seats. THIRD ROW!!! (I got in trouble for taking these pics, even though the show hadn't started yet. So I don't recommend taking pics in the theater.)

Ok, I'm done being a show off! That was just a phenomonal trip. The "Tiger Woods" was like a reuben on steriods. I'll have to look up the menu and see if they have renamed it.

ETA: Thank God the Tiger Woods is still on there! It's number 25.
(25) TIGER WOODS REUBEN
(YOUR CHOICE OF CORNED BEEF, PASTRAMI, TURKEY OR SALAMI WITH
HOT SAUERKRAUT AND MELTED SWISS CHEESE)

Here is the whole menu: http://www.stagedeli.com/NYMenuSample.cfm#triple

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

YES, YES and more YES! All their sandwiches are named after celebs that have visited. This was in Feb 09 and I got the "Tiger Woods".
It was SOOOOO good though. It looked very unappetizing, like it had been eaten once already, but it was the bomb.

Here it is:

This is me at the Stage Deli

And in keeping with the Wicked theme, these were our seats. THIRD ROW!!!

Ok, I'm done being a show off! That was just a phenomonal trip. The "Tiger Woods" was like a reuben on steriods. I'll have to look up the menu and see if they have renamed it.

thank you so much! Looks like a definite for lunch before catching the train!

that is a huge portion, but the prices are really good!!!

(ETA: it isn't located where I thought - but still going to try to get there)

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

thank you so much! Looks like a definite for lunch before catching the train!

that is a huge portion, but the prices are really good!!!

It's well worth it. It's the best meal I have ever had in NYC, and that's saying a lot.

Oh, just get there early...maybe 10:30 or 11. You don't want to miss the train. You could always take it with you, but I think you would enjoy it more at the restaurant.

 

[SSDonut]

Thank you, everyone, for all your responses!

We actally did Ellen's 2 years ago when we went to Mary Poppins, so we're gonna try something else.

Give the very picky nature of my younger DD and the neat atmosphere--we're gonna go with John's Pizza--

I'll let you all know how it turns out!

Thanks again!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

John's Pizza is yummy. We were just there the other night. Be aware that it can get very crowded pre-theatre, so leave yourself PLENTY of time.

 

[Jennasis]

Junior's cheesecake is a meal unto itself (I always get the devil's food cheescake).

 

[SSDonut]

I guess for those of you that know, I don't need to say: WICKED was awesome!! Can't help it, gotta say it!!!

Had pizza at John's and that was great, too--perfect for our family--no muss, no fuss, just great pizza in a nice, friendly place. And, it didn't break the bank (the WICKED t-shirts did that!)

Thanks everyone for all your advice--we had a fabulous day and my DD9 wants to go see a show for her birthday now too!

 

[disney1990]

So can somebody give me a price range for these places. Looking for some place to eat following the matinee performance of American Idiot on a Saturday -- two adults -- me and DH.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

So can somebody give me a price range for these places. Looking for some place to eat following the matinee performance of American Idiot on a Saturday -- two adults -- me and DH.

http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/all-areas/west-40s/all-cuisines/

You can see the prices for all these places on menupages.

 

[scrapquitler]

We always end up at Juniors. The food is great, the prices are fantastic for NYC and the cheesecake is to die for.