johoyev8 said: "More pizza ought to be included on this list! However, I was disappointed to learn that Two Boots, my favourite midtown pizzeria, had shut down on 8th and 44. I haven't yet tried the new pizza joint that opened up in the same location. The walk-up and order slice restaurants on 8th Avenue, like Carve, are excellent and offer a very authentic New York experience."
Sorry to disagree -- but Carve is no more of an "authentic New York experience" than Sbarros! They are the definition of "tourist trap" and only exist because the tour busses start and stop there. Two Boots closed 5-6 years ago. The new place that just opened a few months ago is decent pizza. Even better (but up further on 9th Ave) is Sacco's Pizza.
Since this thread got bumped, here are a couple places I stumbled upon that were OK during my trip in July:
After I saw Little Shop I passed a fast food chain called Stickies Finger Joint near the corner of 9th & 44rd. "Finger" refers to chicken fingers. It seems to ve just a NY area chain. Definitely one of the best chicken sandwiches I have ever had from a fast food restaurant.
After I saw Six, I had about 1.5 hours to kill before seeing a late jazz show at the Blue Note. Instead of immediately heading to Greenwich Village, I googled for a Chinese restaurant and found the China River restaurant right beside the St James theatre. What I ordered was fresh & prepared quickly. Coming from a city with some of the best authentic Asian cuisine in North America, I can't say it was the best I've ever had, but it was much better than any food court chain. It also was better than what the people sitting beside me later at the Blue Note ordered off their dinner menu. To be fair though to the Blue Note, I later went to a Sunday brunch show & had an truly excellent Angus burger there.
Most of my other meals were outside the theatre district. The most disappointing was at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central. I went there after going up Summit One Vanderbilt (which was awesome). I think what bugged me was how expensive it ended up being.
Edit: writing this poolside in Las Vegas where it is currently 85°F
Tonight I am making my 3rd trip on a week to Silky Kitchen on 46th between 6th and 7th. Insanely good and authentic ( they have a few other location in NYC) I am not likely to try pigs trotters or chicken gizzards but what I have had is amazing. Entrees run around $15 & 16 and portions are HUGE.