I am taking my wife to NY for her 30th birthday in December. We are staying at the Renaissance Times Square. Anyone have any good recomendations for a nice birthday dinner around there. Like to keep the bill under $300-$350. Thanks.
Jack

River Cafe in Brooklyn has a great view and very good food, and it's pretty romantic. It's a cab ride away unless you and your wife want to take a subway to City Hall (R, 4, 5, or 6 trains) then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Here's thread of dining in NYC. There are other threads as well.
http://forums.winespectator.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5086097161/m/743102955

Around your hotel on 52nd and 8th ave is the Russian Samovar. Although not a wine place, they do have a piano and often times someone plays normally old russian ballads. The food is authentic as one can get. There are about 15 different flavored vodkas ranging from pepper vodka to cranberry. The vodka is good but one would sip not shoot. The two of you can eat there for less than $200.

Great ambiance, the piano normally starts around 8ish.

Del Frisco's is a short walk. Excellent steak and wine list, though not cheap, but you can easily keep the bill under $300.

With one bottle of modestly priced wine, Le Bernardin can come in in that price range also.

Well jburman, I don't know where you're coming into NY from, but if you enjoy a bit of an excursion I would highly recommend the Water's Edge in Long Island City. Hop a cab to the 35th Street pier and take their free water shuttle across the East River to the Restaurant which is right on the water and has a fantastic view of Manhattan. The food is great, and the ambiance is lovely and romantic. Then you take the free water shuttle back to the 35th Street pier. I've been to the Water's Edge many times and it always makes a special occasion feel special!

Cru is my favorite restaurant in NY, but you are probably looking at more like $400-$500. Your choices are really endless as NY is a great dining city for all price ranges.

short cab ride, hit eleven madison park. you're welcome.

quote:

the Russian Samovar. Although not a wine place, they do have a piano and often times someone plays normally old russian ballads. The food is authentic as one can get.

Where is that puke icon???

Dude - that's your best shot?! This recommendation started out bad and got worse. A romantic dinner with Russian food??? Yikes.

I say hit the vodka in the hotel room first, heavily, and thus fortified, go to the restaurant.

Go to Insieme, it's my new fave.

I'm afraid I have to agree with that last post. Although I've never been to the Russian Samovar, every other Russian restaurant I've been to was disappointing. The Russian Tea Room was probably the worst restaurant in its price range I've ever been to.

i'm afraid that was reff's rum and ice talking.

Isn't Russian cuisine an oxymoron?

Le Bernardin is a great choice. Everything about it is impeccable. Don't miss this place...you won't be disappointed.

quote:

Originally posted by jburman82:
I am taking my wife to NY for her 30th birthday in December. We are staying at the Renaissance Times Square. Anyone have any good recomendations for a nice birthday dinner around there. Like to keep the bill under $300-$350. Thanks.
Jack

Insieme

Insieme

Thanks for all your help. After looking at a few of the web sites I picked Cru. I have to say a 65,000 bottle wine list was to tempting to pass up. I went to Rubicon in San Francisco earlier this year and was very impressed with their list but it was no where as big as Cru's. Plus it is the kind of food my wife loves. I love her birthday. It is an excuse to get a great bottle of wine.

whoa everyone whoa.

Greg T, have you ever been there? You must have Sherry on the brain. It is not that bad of a place, and I thought it would be nice for a different vibe. But hey some people cannot take change.

Board O', Agreed. Russain Tea Room probably has not russian working there at all (then again most ethnic restaurants have mexicans in the kitchen anyway)


no rum at that point when I posted

Anyone been to Veritas lately?

Did 11 Madison get rid of the 4 course prix fixe? 3 courses just is not enough for me, even though wife is afraid of most of the amuse bouches (so I eat them).

fun for everyone, eh?

quote:

Originally posted by mareff:
It is not that bad of a place, and I thought it would be nice for a different vibe. But hey some people cannot take change.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleD:
Isn't Russian cuisine an oxymoron?

Two weeks in Moscow and St. petersburg and I had many good meals.

Well, several.

OK, OK. NONE.

ZERO.

The meat is so tough it makes Rasputin look like a p*ssy.

nice one syd.
tbird those photos are amazing

Went to 11 madison park last night, may have been the single best dinning expereince I had. Food was awesome, service was beyond anything I had experienced in the past (they supplied both woman at table little hooks to attach hand bags to side of table plus about a thousand other reasons). The wine team is very knowledgable and they have some type ofrelationship with folks of Rieddel so every wine we tried was served in the correct glass.

quote:

Originally posted by differentdave:
Went to 11 madison park last night, may have been the single best dinning expereince I had. Food was awesome, service was beyond anything I had experienced in the past (they supplied both woman at table little hooks to attach hand bags to side of table plus about a thousand other reasons). The wine team is very knowledgable and they have some type ofrelationship with folks of Rieddel so every wine we tried was served in the correct glass.

I also had a wonderful experience at Eleven Madison Park, but did not get out for $350 per person.

11 Mad is a very good place. Also had an excellent experience there.

Keen's and Casa Mono were the best places we hit last time we were up there.

This thread makes me feel like a dining amateur.