Posted: 5/22/16 at 6:00pm
I think you should just get Chinese take-out or McDonalds and eat it right in the theatre during the show. Trust me, the audience will be totally cool with it....hee hee, jk.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 6:33pm
MarkBearSF said: "AND... Post-show Shake Shack advice.
The place is SERIOUSLY crowded. When you arrive, it's best if someone in your party can immediately dedicate themselves to snagging seats while another stands in line to order. If you're all familiar with the menu and options, it can help the table person tell the line person what they want when walking in. (Pre-staging condiments and delivering to the hopefully-snagged table is a handy way to pass the minutes waiting for the food after ordering)"
Hell, it's probably the same amount of time to wait at that location as it is to walk to another Shake Shack -- and it'd be less crowded.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 6:45pm
I haven't figured out the appeal of the place yet, maybe I'm not ordering the right thing, but that line moves crazy fast. Seating is problematic / sparse. Definitely not a place to sit and chill.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 6:50pm
Their mushroom burger and banana pudding custard is really good. But yeah, not relaxing nor a huge draw for me.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 7:06pm
I love Milos but dinner there is a big deal, not a quick bite. You absolutely have NOT left yourself enough time to eat and get to the theater without anxiety.
If you can, change the reservation to 5:45.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 8:05pm
Espeicially since Pal Joey know the restaurant, please listen to him and move your reservation if you can. He wouldn't steer you wrong.
As to Shake Shake....I don't get it either. I do like their milkshakes, but thank goodness there is that separate cold foods line or I'd never get one. The one here in Cambridge is never packed. (Or least, not that I've seen.)
Posted: 5/22/16 at 9:45pm
Go to BEtti Bar, (Upstairs, part of Hourglass Tavern), down the street from your theatre for after theatre inexpensive cocktails and snacks, It s a 100 yr old charming, tiny townhouse, nr 46th/9th av. Btw, many bway performers relax here after their shows. Ditto: shake shack is just a disaster, NEVER any seats, a waaay long line for basic fast food burgers/fries. Imho, big time "tourist trap".
Updated On: 5/22/16 at 09:45 PM
Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:04pm
I'm not sure how "touristy" it is...they are all over the place. Heck, I've got four withing 90 minutes. (Although I've never seen them as busy as the midtown Manhattan one.)
I don't get it either....love their milkshakes, so I'm glad they have a cold foods line...but other than that? Meh...and I hate the lack of seating.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:04pm
I'm not sure how "touristy" it is...they are all over the place. Heck, I've got four withing 90 minutes. (Although I've never seen them as busy as the midtown Manhattan one.)
I don't get it either....love their milkshakes, so I'm glad they have a cold foods line...but other than that? Meh...and I hate the lack of seating.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:13pm
Well, ya know what I mean, :) DramaMama...the "location". Yeah, the other locations are way better, and at "off" hours. That s all I meant. After MILOs and Hamilton, I would assume they might want a more relaxing cute venue.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:14pm
Eating prior to the show never made sense to me. You spend half your time nervously looking at your watch and the other half hoping the waiter won't be too slow to serve you. How can anyone enjoy a meal like that? Then when the show is over you can discuss what you just saw screaming to your wife on the subway or bouncing back and forth in a cab. I think the two main reasons the custom became popular to began with is so the restaurants can do more business at hours favorable to them and because many people are afraid of staying out too late in the city (or just have an early bedtime)
Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:18pm
There's a cheap pizza place right across the street. Have a slice before and save your meal for after or eat more earlier in the day.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:21pm
I have a hard time sitting through a show hungry. It ruins the experience. Plus, I don't like eating a meal late at night for health reasons.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:21pm
I agree with you, Tom. A lot of tourists eat pre theatre, most new yorkers, post theatre. Honestly, I could not stay awake at a show after eating a big heavy dinner. Plus, now you have to lv your doggie bags in the lobbies of most bway theatres. Nothing worst than having to breathe in fish or chinese food fumes during a show!
Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:45pm
I think you need more time too. I get really anxious when I feel rushed before a show. I think you want to enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace. Can you change your reservation? Last time we saw Hamilton, we ate at Joe Allen. It's right down the street. I had the veggie Thai stew... So delicious. I also like a drink before a show. For me, grabbing a bite before the show is all part of the theatre experience. And I can be very unpleasant when I'm hungry. I will not enjoy a show if I'm hungry.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 11:06pm
In all my theatre going the past 8yrs in NYC I've only ever ate at a restaurant once before a show. I usually have something light like sushi or a salad at the Food Emporium before then go out after the show if I have time and am not running to catch my bus.
I'm always worried that I'll get sick or have to use the restroom(during the show) if I have a huge meal before.
Posted: 5/22/16 at 11:06pm
I can't go more than 2 or 3 hours without eating because of hypoglycemia, so that's my reason for eating pre-theater.
But I never feel rushed or worried about making the show on time. I select a restaurant very close to the theater, first of all. Second, I make my reservation for 6 pm. I'm always finished eating by 7:30 ish and then casually walk to the theater. It has never taken us more than 1.5 hours to eat.
Posted: 5/23/16 at 12:38am
I'm with Jane (as usual). 5:30 is too early. My mom always gets 5:30 reservations and then invariably we end up waiting around before the show. I like to eat at 6:00, like a human, somewhere close to the theater. I never worry about time because there's no reason to. Two hours is more than enough time for a relaxing dinner, plus dessert.
As for Shake Shack, it's the best burger on the planet. A lot of people don't get it, but that's okay, because I don't get the appeal of In N Out.
Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:48pm
Were you able to change your reservation?
Posted: 5/23/16 at 11:24pm
Milos has a good post theatre prix fixe. Go after theatre.
Have your drink (if you must) and tapas or similar pre theater at one of the many spots on 46th between 8th and 9th.
Posted: 5/24/16 at 12:04am
Pizza place across the street was GOOD!
Posted: 6/3/16 at 3:48pm
Hello everyone! I'm home from my crazy Whirlwind adventure to see Hamilton and rush back home. We moved our reservation at Milos to 6pm and showed up ten minutes early. They fed us promptly (and wow, that place is incredibly fantastic). And we were out by 7:15. We went to Sardi's for a drink, and got to the theater with a line still in place, plenty of time to use the restroom and browse merch before sitting down.
Thanks to everyone who offered advice, I really appreciate it! Worked out perfectly.
BTW PThespian, your friend wasn't working so that was a lost cause.
