Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
#0Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:23pm
I'm so excited about returning to NYC next week. 
Any recommendations for great pre-theatre restaurants around Times Square? Student budget recommended!
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
Type_A_Tiff
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/04
#1re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:24pm
Have fun, Wiz!
If you're going for portions and you're travelling with others, I'd recommend Carmine's on...44th? (I believe it's across from the Majestic.) The quality's not too bad (actually quite good) and they serve "family portions" so you can easily share with another person or two, or pack it up for a couple of meals!
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
#2re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:31pmfor chinese i recommend ollies. It is graeat and fast.
"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell
plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!
#3re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:31pm
Thanks Tiff!
My friends and I are entertaining the idea of going to Sardi's...
Me, I'd love to visit the Carnegie Deli again. Haven't been in so long!
Where is Ollies, Zip?
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
Updated On: 2/14/05 at 06:31 PM
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#4re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:34pmIs price your only consideration or is there a certain type of food you are looking for?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Type_A_Tiff
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/04
#5re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:34pm
I think Ollie's is around 43rd and Broadway if I'm not mistaken. (I know you can see it from the middle of Times Square.) It's not too bad, but BlueWiz, you're from Toronto, so the Chinese food must be better and cheaper! 
How are the prices at the Carnegie? Sardi's would be a blast, and I took a look at the menu a while back and recall that the food wasn't heinously expensive, especially considering other high-high end restaurants like Le Cirque! (Which is definitely an option if you like to splurge!)
I also hear the Hotel Edison has a great cafe.
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
#6re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:35pmI believe it is next to carmines. It is reallly good fast food!
"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell
plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!
#7re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:40pmOllie's, Carmine's, and Sardi's are all on the same block - 44th Street between Broadway and 8th. Amateurs.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Mattio98
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/10/03
#8re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:42pmLet me put it this way....if they had frequent customer punch cards at Ollie's, I'd have free egg rolls for life.
#9re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:43pmPietrasanta in Hell's Kitchen. Great pasta.
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
Type_A_Tiff
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/04
#10re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:45pmIF you're looking for good Chinese, BlueWiz, there's Joe's Shanghai on 46th(?). (Rath, you glut, am I right?) Pretty inexpensive, and they have the best soupy dumplings in the world.
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
#11re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:46pmNever heard of it, Tiff.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
kissmycookie
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/21/04
#12re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:49pmBecause that's the midtown branch of three or four in the city... But it's on 56th Street, and it's more expensive than the Chinatown branch...
Type_A_Tiff
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/04
#13re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:53pm
I'm googling away. I don't remember if it was Joe's Shanghai or John's Shanghai that I ate at. Perhaps it was John's. 46th Street. It was Zagat rated and has very narrow with limited seats, on the south side of the street, with blue neon lighting at the front?
John's Shanghai
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#14re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 6:56pmOlive Garden across street from TKTS
Poster Emeritus
The Grovers Corners Yenta
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/3/04
#15re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:03pmOlive Garden may be a good buy.....but the food is awful. It almost looks fake.
"Friends are the people you chose as family."....Me.
The Grovers Corners Yenta
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/3/04
#16re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:03pmOlive Garden may be a good buy.....but the food is awful. It almost looks fake.
"Friends are the people you chose as family."....Me.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#17re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:06pmThe food ain't that bad. I have had worse food in fancier restaurants
Poster Emeritus
Type_A_Tiff
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/04
#18re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:08pm
I'm usually skeptical about Applebee's but there's a recent thread of devotees to the place in NYC, so you might want to check it out too.
And I'm a fan of Gramercy Tavern (and they have two prix fixe lunch menus), which is in...Gramercy. I also ate at Joe Allen's on 46th, which was pretty good.
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
#19re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:10pmThere is also cosi for sandwhiches and salads. good stuff!
"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell
plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!
#20re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:16pm
The answer is clearly Renaissance Diner on 51st or 52nd and 9th.
Any Subway.
Any little store with a deli counter--get a sandwich.
#21re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:19pmJRB- It appears that your icon is wilting a bit. Is there anything I can do to assist?
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
#22re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:22pmMaybe my roses need some Levitra Baby! Or just some good ol TLC.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#23re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:27pm
Virgil's Bar-B-Que on West 44th Street.
Big menu, wide price range, and lots of different beers!
Yay for beer and BBQ.
#24re: Best Midtown Restaurant on a budget
Posted: 2/14/05 at 7:27pmHow about some Velveta?
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
Videos