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Pre or post theter dining?

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#1

Pre or post theter dining?

Posted: 4/12/08 at 10:59pm

Do people tend to dine post or pre theater in Broadway? I am trying to work out where to eat and not sure whether I should have a rushed early dinner or a late dinner. Any thoughts? Do most restaurants have theater menus and are they pretty good when it comes to getting diners out on time to see a show?
'Downtown Elaiggghhhy?'
#2

re: Pre or post theter dining?

Posted: 4/12/08 at 11:06pm

When I saw Rent 3 x and Wicked 1 x, I went to dinner between lotto and show time. I was fine.
#3

re: Pre or post theter dining?

Posted: 4/12/08 at 11:09pm

I can't speak for others but I prefer a matinee so I can go out for a slow, non-rushed dinner. However, on a night show at The Olive Garden, they ask you if you have show to get to and then your food will arrive faster. But be warned about The Olive Garden. Thet keep many tables open and inflate the wait time to get you to go to the bar and buy drinks and/or appetizers. Hope this helps.
#4

re: Pre or post theter dining?

Posted: 4/12/08 at 11:11pm

What's the Olive Garden like? I have only ever heard it mentioned of in Will and Grace. What kind of food?
'Downtown Elaiggghhhy?'
#5

re: Pre or post theter dining?

Posted: 4/12/08 at 11:16pm

It's Italian food. The nice thing is you get unlimited soup or salad and unlimited breadsticks. Check out the menu at there website. I enjoy the food but I've gone with some people who call it "pseudo Italian". It does not have that homemade taste but it has a great restaurant taste.
#6

re: Pre or post theter dining?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:12am

I'm from Boston, and whenever I've gone to NY I make it a rule to NOT go to a restaurant, much less a chain one that I can go to here like The Olive Garden. I'd choose something a little bit more NY specific.

Having said that, I went to see two shows back in December during the week between Christmas and New Year's, one of the busiest weeks for theater. I decided to go pre-theater and the first restaurant I chose wasnt taking reservations in advance for small parties and when I arrived they were all booked. I decided to go to Junior's (which was a street over from what I was seeing that evening, TLM) and had to wait a good 45mins to an hour. That said, the food came out incredibly fast, I think no more than 15mins.

Once I decided to go post-theater, 10:30PM or so and had to wait a good half hour at another restaurant. I think it all just depends on when you feel like eating.
#7

re: Pre or post theter dining?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:16am

I will be on my own so I am not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing re reservations.

I don't think I would ever get to sleep if I ate a big meal at 10.30pm at night. I am an insominiac lol.

I did have supper after Wicked at Sardi's but and it was great!
'Downtown Elaiggghhhy?'
#8

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:19am

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 12:19 AM

#9

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:20am

Don't go to the Olive Garden in NYC.
Why not try a different place then what you have at home.
There are so many great places in NYC. Olive Garden is not one of them.
Not that there is anything wrong with the place but try something you can't get when you are home. Just my two cents.

How about John's Pizza or The Edison FOR A NYC EXPERIENCE.
I also adore Juniors.

Updated On: 4/13/08 at 12:20 AM

#10

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:28am

The Olive Garden? In Manhattan? Are you kidding me?

I dont know what it is about that darn restaurant in the middle of Times Square that makes it so intrinsically evil. But Friday's, McDonald's, even Red Lobster don't bring out the same feelings of resentment that the Olive Garden does.

Buuuuut back on the topic of the thread---it all depends on your timing. Do you have time to hang out and have dinner after the show? Are you not meeting yoru group until 7:30? I prefer to have dinner before the show. And its never a problem to be done in time for the show, especially if you remind your waiter about it.
#11

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:33am

Have the Cabbage Soup at the Edison or the MATZAH BALL.
Try the blintzes.
Have chopped liver at Juniors. (If you like that it is the best!)
The pizza at John's is delish.
Why not try something new?
#12

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:33am

They don't have The Olive Garden chain in Australia, I had only heard about it in Will and Grace.

George95 - I will be on my own this time around and not sure if I want to eat that late and then get back to my hotel in Chelsea. Plus I think if I had my main meal that late I wouldn't sleep. Thanks for your thoughts though - very helpful.

I do love Juniors chocolate cake though Corine2.
'Downtown Elaiggghhhy?'
#13

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:35am

Juniors is awesome and clean and the waitstaff are nice.
#14

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:36am

oh ok gotcha bretty. If you're thinking of going Italian, there are some good Italian places on 46th St and along 8th Av. If you go to playbill.com and sign up for the playbill club, they'll give you discounts to restaurants around there.
#15

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:41am

Thanks George95 - I am a member and knew they had show discounts but had not noticed discounts to restaurants. I will have a look.
'Downtown Elaiggghhhy?'
#16

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:52am

You're asking me what I'd do? POST POST POST POST!
By all means don't go to the theatre hungry, but save the big game for after the show.

Mehanata! Restaurant and bar. "helping ugly people have sex since 416 B.C." (Broadway and Canal, that is)
(No, I'm not ugly, I just like the concept.)

Now it's 113 Ludlow, Thurs. Fri. and Sat. till 4:00AM. There is really no other place in the USA quite like this. Hot, Gypsy music and bellydancing from Eastern Europe in Manhattan. Check out their website. Or call 212-625-0981.
http://www.mehanata.com/info.htm

#17

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:25am

I like to eat before a show. Lunch before a matinee and dinner before an evening show. Since I live in Denver, I eat a lot of pizza and cheesesteaks when I am back in NYC. One of my favorite things to do is have a slice or 2 of Ray's pizza over on 8th before a show. Sometimes after. But for restaurants, my favorite is Bice.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#18

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:59am

I also like Juniors and John's Pizzeria. Look into Theatre Row Diner as well.
"Everytime you step on that stage it is somebody's first Broadway show and somebody's last Broadway show. Make it count."
#19

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 2:20am

If I'm going to a matinee I'll eat after the show and if I'm going to an evening show I'll eat before if I even eat in the city at all.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#20

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 3:44am

if you choose dinner before the show, you must go to one of the hottest Broadway spots in the city!

Angus McIndoe (a fancy steakhouse)

amazing food and great atmosphere. Ran into Christopher Sieber, Norm Lewis, and David Hyde Pierce last time I went there for dinner.
#21

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 3:55am

Half or more of the people who eat at the Olive Garden are tourists, and chances are, there's an Olive Garden a couple of miles from where they come from.. I forgot to mention that it sucks.

If you're gonna go chain though, go with Ruby Tuesday. I'm not much of a planner, but if I was, I'd go outside of the theatre district for dinner before a show.

Updated On: 4/13/08 at 03:55 AM

#22

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/13/08 at 4:04am

if you come to New York for theatre, then have a real pre-theatre dinner.

part of that doesn't include chain franchises...

just walk down Amsterdam St.

even places like VINYL, that are trendy and not too "stuffy", are good choices.
#23

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:35am

After the show is probably best, if you don't want to feel rushed.
If I heard the bells and the banjos ring
#24

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:43am

bretty, if you like Italian, try Mangia E Bevi at 53rd and 9th. It's a bit of a walk, but the food is delicious and the atmosphere is fun.
"The world is a better place because of hairspray." - Michael Ball

#25

Why not try something new?

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:46am

I must say, I find it better to eat before the show.

Edison is good, also Thalia on 49th and 8th is excellent, as well as several sushi bars in the area. Pongsri on 48th is excellent Thai food.

The best dessert-either Carmine's (The bread pudding is out of this world) or Junior's Cheesecake (if you really want to splurge-go over to Lindy's-it's wildly expensive for their cheesecake but I actually like it better than Junior's.)

Make a reservation if you plan on dining before a show. It helps.

You'll need a reservation at Carmine's, most likely, even for dessert.

As for Olive Garden, it's good reliable food. Make a reservation so they are less likely to relegate you to the bar for drinks/appetizers. I've had a very neat view of Times Square from the second floor if I do say so myself. I don't really go there regularly but I do like the food.

Good luck!
"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.

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