NYC dining question

[gtkim]

Looking for a pre-theatre dinner recommendation.

We are already going to Becco one night, so need something for the second night.  Don't want to do Italian again, and looking for similar price point to Becco.

Also, we have one night where we are not seeing a show and can have a leisurely dinner.  This is a girls trip and there will be 4 of us.  Any suggestions?  Location really doesn't matter, and budget is up to $150pp.  We aren't huge seafood fans and prefer to stay away from anything too trendy.  I hope that isn't too general.  I'm tempted to go to a classic NYC steakhouse but thought I'd look for other ideas too.

[Deleted]

I am Theater District-ignorant, so I don't have a good second-night suggestion.

For the third night, I'd say Keen's or Peter Luger if you want the classic NY steakhouse, or Balthazar for general NY classic. Balthazar is sceney, but not trendy, if that makes sense (it has been around too long to be trendy, but is great for people-watching). Call 30 days ahead of time for a Luger or Balthazar reservation. I also love Blue Ribbon -- the Blue Ribbon Bakery location takes reservations on Opentable. If you're willing to do a long wait at a place that doesn't take reservations, Spotted Pig is a great NY classic (you can wait for your table at a bar nearby).

This is a great list: ny.eater.com/archives/2014/01/the_38_essential_new_york_restaurants_january_14.php

[wanderlustfoodie]

Near the theater district you've got:

danji (small plates Korean)
Don Antonio (but it's pizza, so it's Italian, but it will be different from Becco)
Ivan Ramen or any of the other options in West Side Market
db bistro

Most, if not all of these, don't take reservations so just be sure you go early enough that you aren't cutting curtain call close.

Classic NYC steakhouse screams Keens.

Other ideas are hard to narrow down since not sure if you're wedded to a certain neighborhood or what your definition of "trendy" is. Mine is a place where people care more about the scene and being seen than the food. This means avoid most places in the Meatpacking.

Plenty of restaurants I like are "popular" but not necessarily trendy. Taking out the seafood and Italian ones, there's: Alder, recette, abc kitchen (which I prefer over the newer abc cocina), Yunnan Kitchen, Tertulia, dbgb, Annisa (you could probably get out of there at $150pp but you'd have to take it easy on the alcohol), Craft or craftbar, Perilla, corkbuzz, Empellon Taqueria or Cocina, any of the Blue Ribbons, Little Prince, the Musket Room, Uncle Boons,

There are countless others, too. This is just a start

[Deleted]

re: Don Antonio -- wanderlust forgot to mention that you can get FRIED pizza there. Which is one of my favorite things.

I'd also recommend Pio Pio at 44th and 10th -- delicious, very reasonable Peruvian chicken. Yum.