These are great suggestions guys. Thanks everyone! I've put all suggestions into categories on my PC to take with me in mid August. I can't wait. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks for the good word on Pigalle. I've wondered about this place on West 48th when I was staying in an apartment some meters away (my niece's place next to the Walter Kerr) - and was thinking of checking it out when I return to New York late this year. I'm seeing "The Boy from Oz" with some relatives and we were wondering where we can have lunch nearby before proceeding to The Imperial on West 45th.
These are really not themed but are very good food wise
BSmiths on resturaunt row more of southern cooking. Bsmith herself is sometimes there in the evenings with her husband she signs her cookbooks she is amazing.
Firebird -very cultural from deco to design you feel like you are eating in a russian political room very good food very pricey.
do not go to mars 2112 WHATEVER YOU DO! THe waiter stole my coach bag and i it had my credit card and sidekick in it! an600 dollars cash. SO dont go there~
Churrascurria Plataforma (two locations) Megu --very fancy and PRICEY, but a SCENE and a half Brasserie 8 1/2 There's a trailer park restaurant on 23rd just east of eighth, also East of Eighth... Blue Fin There's a new place that has ninjas as waiters...but not sure of the name... Also try Katz's Deli, Carnegie Deli or Sardi's--they're all very famous and touristy
carmines is a great place too, but they serve serious family style, so makes sense to go with a group. foods great, it's incredibly touristy, but it's fun!
The Ninja restaurant is called Ninja New York and is in TriBeCa. However, the New York Times gave it the poorest possible review EVER. They basically said that the best way to get to your table is to walk out the door. I had never seen such a scathing review before. But yes, the interior is supposedly amazing and the waiters are ninjas.
Bubba Gump is fun. One of my friends works there and every time I go there I have a good time, though the food is so-so. The windows are huge and look right into Times Square.
Then there's always Planet Hollywood & Hard Rock Cafe. Also, Tom's Restaurant is on 112th & B'way. It's the "Seinfeld Diner" so it attracts tourists; I only go there because I live right there and the interior looks nothing at all like the Seinfeld interior although it's now covered in memorabilia from the show. The cheese fries & shakes are good though. Also on a Seinfeld note the Soup Nazi's store is on the Upper East Side I think. Around 3rd Ave?
i grew up 13 miles north of bohemia and 31 miles northeast of hicksville.
Someone may have already mentioned this, but the Trailer Park Lounge is located on 23rd just off of 8th. The food is alright (although I was disapointed that they only serve tater tots and no fries. I HATE tater tots). I was staying in a hotel down the street and as far as I noticed, it was packed every night. I'm sure they don't go for the food, but it was a fun place to be for an hour or two.
I have eaten at both Mars 2112 and at the Jekyll and Club several times each, and even though the food isn't worth the price you pay, the experience at both places is fun. Whenever I bring people with me on trips who have never been to NYC they always enjoy going to both of these places. I would probably rate the J&H club a little higher than Mars because the characters there have a little more personality than the aliens--plus all the special effects in all of the dining rooms (like the talking skeleton in the library). The virtual space ship ride to Mars is pretty cool though.
"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man
The last two times i went to NYC my mom and I went to Bubba Gumps in Times Square. Great atmosphere, great service and great food. I highly recommend it, and if you eat upstairs and sit near the window you can look out over Times Square, its great.
"Grief does not expire like a candle or the beacon on a lighthouse. It simply changes temperature."