Best Midtown Italian

[Tallen234]

Pretty much self explanatory. I am staying at the W New York in a few weeks and was looking for a good Italian restaurant in Midtown. This is my first trip to NYC, so I really don't want to brave a trip to one of the other Burroughs. Piano Due looks interesting...

Thanks

[slkinsey]

"Midtown" is a pretty big area to cover, more or less covering everything between 34th and 59th Streets. Can you be more specific? What price range are you looking for?

[Sneakeater]

The W is not terribly far from L'Impero. I've never loved it, but many consider it one of the very best Italian restaurants in New York. It's fairly pricey, though, if that's a concern.

[Tallen234]

I apologize. I've never been to New York, so I didn't realize that midtown encompassed that much territory. I am staying at the W Hotel at 541 Lexington Avenue which, I think is at Lexington and E. 50th St.

"Midtown" is a pretty big area to cover, more or less covering everything between 34th and 59th Streets.  Can you be more specific?  What price range are you looking for?

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[Nathan]

Esca is easily the best Italian restaurant in midtown.

[rich]

Please widen your geographical scope or change your nationality - that's a nice way of saying there's nothing worth while of Italian descent in your selected neighborhood (anywhere within shouting range of 50th and Lex).

In fact, a trip to the Boroughs would be your best bet.

[Mayur]

I'd have to differ, notwithstanding the edge you have on me ethnically, rich.

Specifically, I cite Felidia, on 58th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, which IMO is "within shouting distance" of 50th and Lex. Technically not "midtown," I know, but not far off. That would be my suggestion for best in area.

[Sneakeater]

Daniel will say he should go to Gino's.

[rich]

I'd have to differ, notwithstanding the edge you have on me ethnically, rich.

Specifically, I cite Felidia, on 58th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, which IMO is "within shouting distance" of 50th and Lex. Technically not "midtown," I know, but not far off. That would be my suggestion for best in area.

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Mayur, I think Felidia is good. (I think it used to be better) But I can't shout that far anymore.

[Sneakeater]

See, if we still had an "Underappreciated Restaurants Thread," I'd nominate Felidia. Even with its recent laudatory Times review, I never think of it. Even though, as Mayur says, it's clearly the best recommendation for Tallen (assuming the price and formality levels are appropriate).

Edited March 21, 2007 by Sneakeater (log)

[rich]

See, if we still had an "Underappreciated Restaurants Thread," I'd nominate Felidia.  Even with its recent laudatory Times review, I never think of it.  Even though, as Mayur says, it's clearly the best recommendation for this Tallen.

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It probably is the best choice in the area, though there are plenty of downtown and out of borough choices (Al di La, Sapori, Park Side to name three) that would be better.

And where is that thread? I enjoyed it. Somebody got it shut down on us.

[BryanZ]

Me too, I'm kind of pissed that thread got shut down. For seemingly no good reason. L'impero and Alto are good bets. Never been Felidia. You should be eating Japanese in that area, though.

[Tallen234]

Felidia looks good and, appears to be getting some new buzz. I think I will try to get reservations there (unless my traveling companions gang up on me and force me to eat steak (Wolfgang's, BLT Steak). Thanks for the help.

Anything else in this neck of the woods that I should be aware of gastronomically-speaking?

[Sneakeater]

Lunch at Katsuhana. 47th St. between Fifth and Madison (north side of the street). To call it superb fried pork is to understate how good it is.

[Nathan]

considering that Esca is certainly in midtown, I don't see why it isn't the obvious choice.

[Mayur]

Felidia is closer to 50th and Lex, though.

Also, IMHO, if you had to pick the "better" of the two restaurants (and I don't think the comparison is particularly useful, to be honest), I'd go with Felidia myself. Esca delivers substantially better price performance, but the cuisine at Felidia is, IMHO, somewhat more refined and diverse, especially if you want something other than seafood.

[Sneakeater]

Right. When he said "in Midtown" he didn't really mean "in Midtown" (a huge area). He meant "near the W Hotel."

[Tallen234]

I could have said, I need a recommendation for New York and surrounding areas!

Right.  When he said "in Midtown" he didn't really mean "in Midtown" (a huge area).  He meant "near the W Hotel."

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[tupac17616]

I'd do Alto myself

[raji]

Lunch at Katsuhana.  47th St. between Fifth and Madison (north side of the street).  To call it superb fried pork is to understate how good it is.

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katsuhaMa - and only the rosukatsu approaches superb... they're great though, I really should get there more often...

[Sneakeater]

At least I got the "u" right.