Restaurants Near The Public Theatre

[jam jaw]

Hey guys,

We're coming to the Apple once again to get our fill of culture, and exquisite food....

but we don't really know the area around 425 Lafayette Street, or the restaurants that are awaiting our sampling? Show time is an early 7pm, so we want to be close to the venue?

Can anyone out there in e-gullet land offer some suggestions?

They'd be greatly appreciated.

[Chris Amirault]

I'd eat at Room 4 Dessert.

[Sneakeater]

In case you also want savories and not just dessert:

Degustation

Chinatown Brasserie (only for the dim sum)

Il Buco

(Also, not to be argumentative, Room 4 Dessert isn't all that close to the Public.)

Edited March 20, 2007 by Sneakeater (log)

[Nathan]

Colors and CB are both very close (the general consensus on Colors is underwhelming) to there.

I assume that you plan on eating in the 9-10 range? frankly...you could still go almost anywhere in the city...but within relative walking range are Balthazar, Public, Momofoku Noodle, Momofuku Ssam, Bread, 15 East, Grand Sichuan (St. Mark's), Savoy and the Tasting Room, just for starters. Not much further than that you have the entire "north-of-union-square" restaurant row.

I highly recommend giving us your general culinary inclinations as well as a general price range (including wine, tax and tip).

[Sneakeater]

Sounds to me like they intend to eat BEFORE the performance, and therefore want to be VERY close to the theater. (Which is why I tried to recommend places within five blocks or so.)

[Nathan]

It's a 7:00 performance!

the number of places that are even open at 5 or 5:30 is quite limited. I hope they meant after the show.

I forgot about 5 Points which is very close to the theater (and it has an early bird oysters and martini special)

[weinoo]

For a good, inexpensive Italian meal, Bianca isn't far from the public at Bleecker and the Bowery...10 minute walk.

And there's the new tapas place on Bond St. called Mercat (45 Bond), but no reports as to the food yet.

Edited March 20, 2007 by weinoo (log)

[Sneakeater]

1. WARNING re Bianca: It's small, and I have personally never been able to get in. (I guess they have these things called reservations . . . .)

2. WARNING re Mercat: Make sure it's actually opened, as as of its official opening day a couple of weeks ago and the weekend thereafter, it hadn't.

Edited March 20, 2007 by Sneakeater (log)

[Mayur]

I've never had a problem getting into Bianca, though AFAIK they don't take reservs. At 5pm, it should hardly be a problem...

Five Points is a favorite of mine, and quite as close as you'll get.

[Pan]

Hey guys,

We're coming to the Apple once again to get our fill of culture, and exquisite food....

but we don't really know the area around 425 Lafayette Street, or the restaurants that are awaiting our sampling? Show time is an early 7pm, so we want to be close to the venue?

Can anyone out there in e-gullet land offer some suggestions?

They'd be greatly appreciated.

←

The neighborhood is called the East Village, and it's the best neighborhood in Manhattan for a diversity of good-value restaurant food. The problem is that many restaurants in the neighborhood don't open until 6. Consider having a snack before the show and a real dinner afterwards. If you want to go that way, get an order of gyoza at Menkui Tei on Cooper Square (extension of 3rd Av.) between St. Marks and 7th St., and then afterwards, you'll have your pick of hundreds of restaurants, depending on what you'd most like to eat and how much you'd like to spend (etc.).

[tupac17616]

Others have pointed out some good options nearby to grab a bite beforehand, if it were me, I'd just grab a small snack to tide yourself over, and hit Momofuku Ssam afterwards. Definitely worth waiting until post-show.

[jam jaw]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. This is my first post, so wasn't as detailed as I could have been, but the suggestions were numerous, grand and perfecto.

bite before, and embarassment of riches of choices after.

Thanx again.

[Sneakeater]

Not wanting to micromanage, but in that case I would STRONGLY recommend a plan of:

Dim sum at Chinatown Brasserie before

Dinner at Momufuku Ssam Bar afterward.

It would be perfect.