Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
It's true that tourist traps abound on Broadway, but fortunately you needn't head far from Times Square to score a stellar meal. Just move away from the bright lights and the unrelenting foot traffic that clogs the area. On calmer side streets and in adjoining Hell's Kitchen there are excellent dining options for budget travelers and expense-account diners alike. Some of the best steak houses and Italian restaurants are here, and many eateries offer budget pretheater dinners and prix-fixe lunch menus to draw in new business.
Head to this Broadway institution to drink in vintage Midtown Manhattan at the compact front barroom or to experience the classic dining room and its reliable Italian and American dishes. Enjoy Sardi's famous wall decor, too: framed caricatures of theater, film, music, and TV stars past and present. Supper and à la carte menus work well for pre- and posttheater dining, each listing plenty of meat and seafood as well as some vegetarian choices and daily specials.
The bi-level eatery at this bustling Mexican cantina just off Broadway has a festive vibe, with several seating options: bar, balcony, main dining room, and ceviche bar. Foodies flock here for three types of guacamole (traditional, fruited, and spicy), well-executed ceviches, Mexico City–style tacos with Negra Modelo–braised brisket, and quesadillas with black truffle and huitlacoche (“the Mexican truffle”). There's an extensive tequila selection—upward of 100 brands. Another Toloache location is on the Upper East Side. Reservations are recommended, especially around pretheater dinner time.
Located near MoMA and Central Park, Wagamama is a beloved London import that prizes simple, nourishing Japanese fare built on authentic flavors. Ramen, curries, stir-fried noodles, rice dishes, and an enticing selection of shareable appetizers are filling and reliably delicious. Fresh juices are tasty on their own, or as ingredients in zingy cocktails. The large dining room (with long bench tables or booths) is a welcome escape, as are the outdoor terrace and roomy bar serving excellent weekday happy hour deals on sake, wine, and small bites.
