Where to Eat Before or After a Broadway Show
Hello and Happy Friday! The weather here is absolute perfection right now—crisp and sunny, and the super moon the last couple days has been nothing short of stunning.
One of the best parts of living here is that people are coming in town all the time—it seems like it goes in waves, and this week is a huge wave! It’s like everyone we know is visiting this week, which is really fun. We had a great dinner with Michigan friends we love earlier this week, and yesterday I had a delicious lunch with my new editor (more on that soon!).
Yesterday morning, one of my closest friends—who is an extremely talented interior designer—rolled in with her suitcase and immediately started moving around artwork, opening cabinets, brainstorming storage solutions…I loved it so much! Everyone needs a friend like that in their life, and I’m sooooo grateful.
With so many friends in town this week, most of my texts have been along the lines of "We’re in Williamsburg—where should we eat?” and “If you were going to one museum, which one would it be?” (For the record, Laser Wolf or Fini and the Whitney, respectively…)
If you’ve visiting this fall and want to take a peek at all my restaurant lists/city guides, here they are:
15 More NYC Restaurants I Love
10 Restaurants & 10 Bakeries/Specialty Shops
Our Family’s Perfect 3 Days in NYC
One of the questions that I haven’t tackled yet is one I get most often: where should we eat before or after a Broadway show?
This is a tricky one for a couple reasons—first, because the theater district is definitely not known for great restaurants, although it’s getting better. Also, because approximately one bazillion people are all trying to get tables at the same pre-show time and everyone’s in a hurry.
When I recommend restaurants they’re always places I’ve been, usually more than once, but for this list I felt like my list was a little lacking so I reached out to a handful of friends and neighbors—especially friends who have either been in the city a lot longer than I have or who go to a lot of shows.
A couple last things: definitely get a reservation if possible, and let your server know what time your show starts—they’re very used to that and they’re great at getting you in and out on a schedule.
16 places to go before or after a show:
(with special thanks to Jonathan, Kyndi, Roxy, Jacky, Jamie, & Mark!)
Los Tacos, Times Square
You know I love Los Tacos at Chelsea Market, and their Times Square outpost is perfect for a quick pre-show meal. Sometimes the line looks really long, but fear not—they move you through so fast!
Yes, of the fancy butter service and fancy buttercream lore—this is my favorite on the list for a special occasion.
Cozy, delicious Italian.
Meatball Shop, Hell’s Kitchen
A classic, especially with kids, and great for picky eaters, too.
Okay, actually this one is tied for my favorite! The onion torta is an absolute legend & the design is so special. Hillary Sterling is one of my favorite chefs in the city.
Delicious Mediterranean in a gorgeous space.
Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel
Perfect for a drink after a show—with an absolutely killer view. (Mark recommends Zou Zou’s before the show and Dear Irving after.)
Bar Primi, Penn District
I’ve always loved Bar Primi on the Bowery, and their new outpost in the Penn District is big and fancy, perfect for a pre-show dinner. (Get a “solid Negroni”—aka a jello shot ;) & also the hot knots )
Great French food, really close to a lot of the theaters.
Ippudo Westside
Kyndi’s recommendation, and I agree—what’s better than a big bowl of ramen on a winter night after a show?
Mermaid Oyster Bar, Times Square
I was very much a regular at the Mermaid in Chelsea before we moved, and Jonathan reminded me that they also have one in Times Square. An excellent happy hour, and they bring little cups of chocolate pudding at the end of the meal, which is just the perfect ending bite.
All’Antico Vinaio, Broadway
The famous Florence sandwich shop, with cured meats and Italian cheeses on fluffy slabs of Tuscan bread—YUM.
Jacky recommends this K-Town spot, famous for their fried chicken and whole branzino.
Jamie & Jacky both like this one, and I trust both their tastes x1000, so I’m putting it at the top of my list to try next time I go to a show—I have my eye on the curry puffs & the crab papaya salad.
Roxy recommends this one and the next one for post-show drinks, & this spot is known for their tableside espresso martinis—yes, please!
Lots of gluten-free options and a super cozy environment.
Okay, there you go!
As ever, I hope these guides are helpful…I love this city so so much, and I love getting messages and comments about your visits. I can’t answer every individual question or request, but I’m always up for putting together lists here—LMK via IG & FB comments which lists I should tackle next! XO—S