restaurants to eat alone at

[theater junkie]

restaurants to eat alone at#1

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:09pm

I am going into the city next weekend and I usually go to the theater by myself which I actually prefer to going with other people, but I always feel akward when i go to eat. I usually just grab pizza or eat at grey's papaya, but can anyone suggest a restaurant or counter service eating area that I can go by myself and not feel like a loser!

[jordangirl]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#2

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:18pm

There's a diner at...I think it's 46th and 8th that I've eaten at a few times by myself. They're always really nice.

I also love Europa Cafe.

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

[Zachary Goldfarb]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#2

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:27pm

I don't know which one's on 46th, but there's the Olympia (or Olympic...I can't remember) Diner on 49th and 8th...a million diners on 9th Ave...and of course there is the Edison Cafe in the Edison Hotel on 46th/47th between Broadway and 8th - which is great.

[jordangirl]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#3

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:28pm

49th and 8th. That's it! I don't always pay attention to the signs. Obviously. :)

Say Cheese! is over on 9th in roughly the same area and it's really good. :)

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#4

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:39pm

I went to Junior's today after seeing Coram Boy. It was gorgeous out so I sat in their outside seating area overlooking Shubert Alley. I didn't feel weird sitting there by myself, you can watch everyone going by.

"It's Phantom meets Hamlet... Phamlet!"

[Anakela]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#5

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:41pm

Juniors
Cosi
Metro Marche (it's in Port Authority- their counter seating looks out at 8th Ave, and I am addicted to their chicken noodle soup)

[Lorelai]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#6

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:41pm

Another vote for Juniors!!

(formerly bronte604) "You really just love money and power and capitalism? You know they're never going to love you back." "Things happen for the best...I don't even believe that myself."

[Marissa2]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#7

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:42pm

Cosi or Europa

[Gingersnap2]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#8

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:49pm

I've eaten alone at the Juniors in Grand Central...so I'll have to try the Schubert Alley one sometime.

I've been to Europa with a friend, but I probably wouldn't mind eating there alone. I tend to forget it's there, though.

[dfwtheatreguy]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#9

Posted: 5/21/07 at 12:06am

Pigalle, Sushi Zen, Ray's, Lindy's

"The theatre is so endlessly fascinating because it's so accidental. It's so much like life." - Arthur Miller

[bwaylvsong]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#10

Posted: 5/21/07 at 7:14am

John's Shanghai

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#11

Posted: 5/21/07 at 7:23am

Really, anywhere in the theatre district area, you won't feel awkward eating alone. It's such a mix of tourists and traveling business people, many of whom are by themselves.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

[popular_elphie]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#12

Posted: 5/21/07 at 8:46am

Juniors is my favorite restaurant in the theater district. I vote Juniors.

[madbrian]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#13

Posted: 5/21/07 at 8:58am

I agree with the diner on 8th ave, but if you're looking for a nicer place, I've eaten alone at Angus McIndoe's. It is not uncommon to see solo customers there. It's on West 44th Street.

"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

[timote316]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#14

Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:02am

If you really feel awkward eating alone, bring a book or something, or a script or something. It helps pass the time.

[bwaygal1]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#15

Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:04am

love the Olympic on 48th-great food. Try the breakfast menu, it's great.

"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.

[bunger12]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#16

Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:10am

Go west! There's a huge difference price-wise between Bway/8th Aves. and 9th Avenue. Go to 9th - there are tons of places, and they're much better and cheaper. Tourists don't know to keep walking west, so they don't.

Diners: Westway - 44th & 9th
Galaxy - 46th & 9th
Giorgio's @ 53rd & 9th is terrific, as is Yum Yum Bangkok @45th. So many places, and I've eaten alone at pretty much all of them. It's not a big deal AT ALL.

Enjoy!

[Steve2]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#17

Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:21am

^
^
^
I was going to recommend the same thing. Also, I enjoy "Zen Palate" restaurant on 663 Ninth Ave. (at 46th St).

[Gothampc]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#18

Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:42am

theater, first of all, don't feel uncomfortable about eating alone. You are not a loser because you are by yourself. Take a book or magazine and engross yourself in that if you feel self-conscious.

If you walk along 9th Avenue, there are a lot of very small restaurants of different cuisines. They are great for a single person.

There's a new Dallas BBQ restaurant 241 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenue. It's fairly cheap and the food is decent. I've eaten by myself there several times.

The Edison Cafe in the Edison Hotel has both a counter and table service. I eat there a lot by myself and have seen several Broadway actors eating there alone.

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.

Updated On: 5/21/07 at 09:42 AM

[Shakespearean]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#19

Posted: 5/21/07 at 10:31am

I've eaten at most of these places, often alone, and all are fine. Just bring a book or people-watch, you won't be the only one there dining solo. The other night we had dinner at Daniella's Trattoria on 8th between 45th and 46th and I was very pleasantly surprised. Great food at good prices, a new place for my list.

[Fosse76]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#20

Posted: 5/21/07 at 10:40am

This is New York City, ANY restaurant you go to you will find people eating alone. That's because going out to dinner isn't the "event" it is in other cities; it's common.

[Piercemn]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#21

Posted: 5/21/07 at 1:55pm

Lindy's is overpriced and the food is terrible. Europa Pan is always crowded and the people can be very rude. I love Nathan's Hot Dogs, but for a classier joint, try the Carnegie Deli on 57th and 7th. The greatest Corned Beef Sandwich in the world!!!

Also, try the West Way Diner on 46th and 9th Avenue. Very nice, very quiet, and Frank Langella was eating there when I did two weeks ago Saturday, just before the matinee of his show. I went to see Drowsy Chaperone. The Kraft Diner on 42nd and 10th Avenue is nice. It's near Theatre Row. I've eaten at the Hard Rock Cafe in many cities and always like the food. The on on 7th Avenue is just fine.

If you're up near Lincoln Center, try Fiorello's. It's exquisite Italian food, and they're very polite. It's the best place to eat before going to the Opera.

Enjoy wherever you decide to eat. New York has a lot of great restaurants.

NYC Visitor and Broadway Fan

[munkustrap178]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#22

Posted: 5/21/07 at 2:01pm

Europan and Europa Cafe both have GREAT salads, wraps, and sandwiches.


How are people recommending Juniors? Their food is God awful. There's nothing more generic in the world. Overpriced and awful. AVOID JUNIORS - go to a real restaurant if you're going to spend that kind of money.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

[lildogs]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#23

Posted: 5/21/07 at 2:40pm

Yum Yum Bangkok is a good choice--if you want to look at cute guys, go to Blockheads, Arriba Arriba or eatery...

[avab802]

re: restaurants to eat alone at#24

Posted: 5/21/07 at 2:56pm

Adding a vote for the Olympic (or Olympia, I can never remember which it is) Diner at 49th & 8th. I used to live nearby and became a "regular" there; since I moved uptown I still go back on occasion and a few of the staff remember me. Very friendly people.

Edison Cafe is also good for a diner-type place.

Blockheads Burritos in the Worldwide Plaza (49th/50th bet 8th & 9th) is very good, and they have $3 margaritas!

For Italian I like Daniela Trattoria, which someone mentioned below. It's on 8th bet 45th & 46th.

If you like Thai, there is a place on 9th Ave around 47th-48th called Tiny Thai that is very good.

My only other advice is to avoid the touristy places right in Time Square. (Hard Rock, Bubba Gump, Olive Garden, etc). They are all overpriced and usually crowded, even if the food is decent.
Updated On: 5/21/07 at 02:56 PM