My family is spending a long weekend in NYC to celebrate my older daughter’s college graduation. Yeah!! I booked an air BNB in the Village, and dinner one night near there, but we will be heading to Broadway for a show on Saturday night, and I am looking for recommendations. I did this a year or so ago, and picked a restaurant that was fine, but I’d love to find a fantastic pre-theater dinner. Thanks very much.
We’ve eaten pre-theatre at Sangria 46 twice. Good but not fantastic. Except that the actual sangria is fantastic.
We really like Lattanzi, on W 46th Street. Food is fantastic. Nice ambience too.
beyond the dinner recommendations, i have to ask…what play are you going to see? 
Fresco by Scotto family on W 52nd but can get pricey.
Boqueria for Spanish tapas; Mykonos Blue for upscale Greek; Ellen’s Stardust Diner for fun additional entertainment (but the food is terrible; go early, as it gets busy). If your DD enjoys sushi, not in the Theater District, but one subway stop away is IchiUmi in Korea town. It’s all you can eat Japanese: cooked, raw, salads, grilled fish and meets, veggies, and plenty of deserts.
Finally seeing Hamilton. They’ve been asking for a long time now. I definitely want a place that takes reservations. One daughter doesn’t like tapas, the other doesn’t like Greek or sushi, so I think I will look into the strongly recommended Italian places. Thanks!
Not Italian but we like Ippudo Westside for ramen and hirata buns
We like Lattanzi too!
I third Lattanzi – one of our favorites in the theater district and very close to the Richard Rodgers Theater.
Trattoria Tricolori. That might not be spelled correctly but it’s Italian and reasonably priced.
^ Came here to say Trattoria Tricolori, 3 years later and I’m still thinking about that pasta puttanesca
Spoonfed NYC
I am in this area a lot for work. Here are some suggestions:
More casual - Bocca di Bacco, Becco, Joe Allen
A bit more upscale - La Masseria, Aureole
Enjoy and congrats to your daughter!
We had a nice meal at Il Corso recently, not too far from that area.
We have gone to and enjoyed: Hakkasan (Chinese), Haru (sushi), Becco (Italian–owned by Joe Bastianich, former Master Chef judge) and Sardi’s (old school Broadway institution). If you really want to splurge, go to LeBernadin (sea food/three Michelin stars–might be better after the show so you can take your time and savor the food because it’s going to cost $$$.)
Also going to see Hamilton soon. Going to one of our favorites in the area for dinner - Becco. Their pasta is amazing! Highly recommend it.
Becco is fun, but not all that easy to get a reservation.
We really liked Sardi’s.
We tend to avoid the restaurants right around the theatres because they get so busy and filled with tourists but my family loves Legasea Seafood Brasserie on 7th and 37th. It’s about a .6 mile walk to the Richard Rogers Theatre, they are open late and early. Really good food, fun atmosphere and great service.