Okay, yesterday I talked about eating on a budget in Times Square…now let’s talk about if your not on a budget…or if you’re looking to drop just a little more dough on “an experience.” I’ll start at the lower end of things…
Havana Central (151 West 46th Street, Between 6th and 7th – .1 mile from hotel)
With delicious food and live music, this is definitely the place to get your salsa on! You feel like you’ve stepped into Havana itself in this classy theme restaurant. And honestly, the food isn’t terribly expensive. Look to pay $12-$20 for an entree. I recommend the Arroz con Pollo, but then again, I’m not a terribly adventurous person 😉
http://www.havanacentral.com
Carmines (200 West 44th Street – 79 feet from hotel)
This staple of New York group dining is not to be missed. The massive restaurant serves massive plates of food (which you order off of a massive billboard on the wall) to massive tables of people celebrating everything from Birthday parties to anniversaries to weddings. And while bigger doesn’t always mean better, in the case of Carmine’s, you can’t get enough. The food is fantastic! But be warned, the wait can get very long, and sometimes they even turn you away if you don’t have a reservation already. This tends to run us about $30/person whenever we go, but it can be more or less depending on alcohol consumption 😉
http://www.carminesnyc.com/
Vinyl (754 9th Avenue @ 51st St – .6 miles from hotel)
This place may be a little off the beaten path, but it’s super cool. You feel like you’re in a 60s/70s disco with mirrors and records hanging everyone. But the best part is the menu. There is literally something for everyone. Fried chicken, mac&cheese and other American favorites, spaghetti and meatballs, Pad Thai, Masaman Curry or General Tso’s chicken…seriously, there’s something for every palate. And it won’t break the bank either. Plan to pay around $12-$20/entree.
http://www.vynl-nyc.com/welcome.html
Bond 45 (154 West 45th Street – 299 feet from hotel)
Okay, this place is no joke. You can’t see in the windows and the gigantic sign reading BOND 45 is so intimidating that we didn’t step foot in this place for years – we thought only people like Al Pacino would be allowed in. However, when we finally did go, we were thrilled, and we felt so important. This is a fine Italian steakhouse. The food is amazing, the service impeccable. But be prepared to break the bank with this one. They don’t list their prices online, so you know they’re expensive. It’s been a while since we visited, but the entrees are definitely upwards of $20/entree. Of course, if you go for steak or seafood, you’ll spend more. But if you have some cash to burn, I highly recommend you check it out…or if not, maybe just stop in for drinks.
http://www.bond45.com/
Jerrica's Regency England... 