Midtown Manhattan Dining & Drinking Scene - NYC
Fun places to explore after work and on the weekend.
Midtown Manhattan may not have the sexy foodie vibe of neighborhoods such as Astoria, Prospect Park, Williamsburg, Chelsea, and Soho; but it doesn't need to make any apologies on that front, either. When you're hungry or thirsty and searching for something other than a chain restaurant or tourist trap, you will definitely find all kinds of diverse and elevated cuisines in Midtown. You just have to know where to look. And, that's where Aplez.com comes in. So, let's take a look at some of the delicious options that are available for date night, brunch, or an evening out with friends.
RPM Underground - Midtown
Reinventing the karaoke experience in a colorful environment that has to be seen to be believed the folks at RPM Underground take fun seriously. If you're looking for something totally different to do on date night or to meet your friends after the workday is done, then THIS is your new go-to spot. The neon-lit space has three bars scattered across the premises, that serve everything from craft cocktails to beer and wine. Feel free to party and sing your heart out inside any one of the eighteen private karaoke rooms. These rooms can accommodate parties from two to thirty people, so they are perfect for birthday celebrations, showers and girl's or guy's night out. And, what could be more romantic, than serenading the one you love to their favorite song, just the two of you? RPM's list of available songs goes on forever, so you are certain to find the right music for the occasion. You also have the option to contact the management in advance and, if a particular song isn't on their playlist, they will get it for you.
There is an actual record shop here where you can purchase old-school vinyl records. How cool is that? Just off of the main bar area, a large mural of the Beatles decked out in their Sgt. Pepper gear adorns the wall. In another room, you'll find the space decorated by movie posters from the fifties and sixties. RPM celebrates American pop culture in a very unique way.
The house also offers some very nice deals. Take their $ 39 per person weekend karaoke brunch for example. Available from 12 till 5 PM, this special offer includes bottomless drinks such as Grey Goose Bloody Marys, Bellinis, Screwdrivers, Mimosas and Coors light
beer. You will also receive an entrance to a private karaoke room and one brunch entree.
From Monday to Friday, the RPM Happy Hour deal gives you a whopping fifty percent off everything, from food and drinks to karaoke!
A nicely put-together cocktail or glass of wine always makes things a lot more fun. The bartenders at RPM really know their stuff so you will want for nothing. Their signature cocktails are inspired by RPM's themed karaoke rooms. Jukebox Hero takes its inspiration from The Diner Room where there is a sixties-style jukebox. This cocktail's ingredients are Stoli Vanilla, Lazzaroni Maraschino liqueur and Coca-Cola. The Bitter Hearts Know Best elixir, inspired by Cupid's Room, is a blend of Sapphire Blackberry, M&R bitters, agave, lime juice and lemonade. Tangled Up In Booze ( The Dylan Room ), is a blend of peach and Rosemary Grey Goose, blue curacao, as well as both lime and cranberry juice. And, let's not forget The Golden Age ( Sunset Blvd. Room ), a well-crafted mix of Aberfeldy whiskey, bitters, muddled sugar and cherry juice.
The kitchen offers a limited but tasty menu of items such as penne pasta with veggies and a luscious cream sauce, a juicy chicken sandwich and zucchini fries.
Location and Hours :
246 West 54th Street
New York N.Y. 10019
(646) 609-3828
Hours :
Monday to Thursday 1 PM to 2 AM
Friday 1 PM to 4 AM
Saturday 12 PM to 4 AM
Sunday 12 PM to 2 AM
The Modern-Midtown
Located on the ground floor of the Museum of Modern Art, The Modern just may be the crown jewel of restaurateur Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality empire. The setting is beyond classy and the food and drink list are impeccable. No matter how jaded a foodie you may be; you're in for a very special treat when you dine at The Modern. Executive chef Thomas Allen has put together a menu of refined, yet innovative and playful dishes that will tempt your tastebuds and tickle your fancy.
Decorated in a contemporary, artistic style, as befits its surroundings, The Modern offers three distinctly different culinary experiences. The main dining space offers picturesque views of MOMA's gorgeous Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. This is the setting you want for a power lunch or when you are hosting the in-laws from out of town. The lively Bar Room offers a more casual environment, perfect for after work drinks with friends or a date.
You can also enjoy an up close and personal dining experience with Chef Allen should you choose to dine at the Kitchen Table, which is located in the heart of The Modern's super sleek and inviting kitchen. You will enjoy a bespoke tasting menu that is full of surprises and delights. Chef Allen is proud to source local, fresh ingredients so, please be aware that
his menus change with the seasons. But, they are always delicious.
The Modern's accolades include two Michelin stars and three stars from no less than the New York Times. In addition, the restaurant boasts four James Beard awards including best new restaurant.
The Bar Room menu will appeal to everyone from carnivores and fish fanatics to vegetarians. Appetizer selections range from steak tartare with crispy potatoes and butter lettuce salad topped with smoked salmon to chilled scallops with peas, burrata and black olives. One of Chef Allan's most popular entrees is the artichoke cappelletti pasta with pistachios and shaved truffles. Right up there is the juicy and succulent herb-roasted beef that is dressed with trumpet mushrooms and black garlic. A light but flavourful brown butter sauce with endives and capers totally elevates the chef's heritage chicken into an out-of-this-world dish.
The chef and his team definitely do not neglect dessert. Prepare to indulge in their pina colada sundae, raspberry and cream cheese ice cream sandwich or the caramelized popcorn and peanuts that are covered in milk chocolate.
The Modern's beverage program boasts one of the premier wine lists in the city. They also have a deft hand when it comes to the art of mixology. The Shelton Hotel Special is a drink created by the bar team that honors legendary artist Georgia O'Keefe. The ingredients are pisco, Single Village mezcal, both dry and rose vermouth, orange bitters as well as elderflower and cherry liqueurs. This drink is as creative and interesting as one of Ms. O'Keefe's paintings. Another of the bar's cutting-edge cocktails is Rhubarb, composed of New England and Irish gin, pale cream sherry, coriander, lemon juice and a touch of olive oil.
Location and Hours :
9 West 53rd Street
New York N.Y. 10019
(212) 333-1220
Hours: The Bar Room
Lunch / Daily 11:30 AM to 3 PM
Dinner / Monday
through Saturday 5 PM to 9:30 PM
Hours: The Modern
Lunch / Daily 11:30 AM to 2 PM
Dinner / Monday
Through Saturday 5 PM to 9 PM
21 Greenpoint - Midtown
Located in one of the most iconic addresses in the city, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 21 Greenpoint is located downstairs just steps away from the celebrated Rockefeller Center ice skating rink. It's a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing lunch and drink or bond with your co-workers and destress from an eventful day. Happy Hour takes place Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 7 PM. You'll enjoy your choice of either a $12 Martini or a plate of house nachos and a Modelo for just $21.
Owner and executive chef Homer Murray just happens to be the son of comedian/actor BILL MURRAY. In fact, Homer's dad has a welcoming quote on the 21 Greenpoint website;
" Homer has taken the joy of family and created a place to have a drink, enjoy a meal and get friends together in one spot. This is his life's work." That sums up Homer Murray's philosophy on what his restaurant is all about.
A native New Yorker with family ties to Chicago, Homer grew up experiencing many different types of cuisine. After traveling extensively as a photographer's assistant, Homer returned to NYC, settled in Brooklyn and proceeded to devote his time to his passion for cooking. Homer honed his craft while working as a sous-chef at the Roebling Tea Room and River Styx. In 2012, Homer opened 21 Greenpoint next to the newly reopened Transmitter Park right by the waterfront in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The Rockefeller Center establishment is the sister restaurant to the original 21 Greenpoint.
As of this writing, Chef Homer is offering a limited menu. But soon, he expects to add some of the Brooklyn location's most popular dishes such as Spaghetti Meg Ryan, which consists of fresh pasta, a housemade, spicy tomato sauce, mozzarella pearls and a garlic confit as well as chef Homer's succulent pork chop with Brussels sprouts and braised cabbage.
However, there are more than enough dishes currently on offer to whet your appetite. There's a hearty and noteworthy tomato and veggie soup that is served with bread, a Persian cucumber salad topped with avocado, sesame, soy, chili and scallions and an open-faced crab toast. Generous chunks of crab meat are tossed with mayo, a squeeze of lemon, parsley and mint for one delectable treat. The Big Chef sandwich has layer upon layer of mortadella, Parmesan cheese, pistachios and a bed of arugula between two slices of focaccia. There's also a fig and goat cheese sandwich with pears and shaved pecans that you should try.
No one leaves 21 Greenpoint without raving about the talented mixologists behind the bar. They are experts at their craft. Light and buzz-worthy are Homer's Day Off, a nice blend of the right amount of tequila with hibiscus and lime juice. The Sub-Rosa Spritz consists of rose-infused gin, Fort Have Red, peppercorn syrup, lemon juice and sparkling wine. The Golden Hour boasts a mix of ingredients that you will not find anywhere else: Whiskey, honey, sake and lemon juice.
Location and Hours :
30 Rockefeller Plaza / Rink Level
New York N.Y. 10019
(332) 205-3560
Hours :
Tuesday to Saturday: 11:30 AM to 7 PM
Lodi - Midtown
Elegant and refined are two words that come to mind when describing the food and decor that you will find at Lodi. And, a little bit of Italian tradition thrown in, for good measure. This cafe/restaurant celebrates Italy's aperitivo culture. Over the centuries, Italians have gathered with family and friends for drinks and light snacks or antipasti, which is the Italian version of meze or tapas. An aperitivo is a pre-meal drink. But, socially, you can interpret the aperitivo culture in so many enjoyable ways.
When you dine at Lodi, prepare to toast your love or group of friends with a hearty " cin-cin " ( cheers ! ). In addition to an indescribably delicious lunch and dinner, Lodi offers a superb Italian-style cafe breakfast during weekdays. Head baker Louis Valle is always at work with his team, sourcing the best ingredients and baking up a storm. They use single varieties of wheats, ryes and other grains. Every morning, the bakers stone mill the grains in order to preserve their individual flavors, capture nutrition and honor Italian baking tradition. At breakfast, you can enjoy their dark chocolate croissant or bombolone, which is made with brioche bread, raspberries and ricotta cream. Chef Louis also does a delectable Tramezzino, which is rice bread stuffed with eggs and celery, done panini-style. To go with any of the above or their fabulous egg frittata, enjoy a cup of espresso, cappuccino, or an Americano. It's the best wake-up call you'll ever have!
Lodi is the latest project from chef / restaurateur Ignacio Mattos. The art deco decor serves as an appropriate backdrop for the beautifully composed plates that come out of the kitchen during lunch and dinner service. Why not start off with a basket of their magnificent focaccia bread and olive oil? The bread goes well with one of Chef Ignacio's antipasti dishes or Lodi's cheese board.
Enticing selections include the caponata ( marinated eggplant with pine nuts and fennel),
acciughe e burro which is anchovies with peppers and butter sauce, tuna tartare with Calabrian chili and crostini bread and vitello tonnato; veal with tuna mayonnaise and capers.
The entrees are just as innovative and mouth-watering. You can't go wrong with the risotto of the day or the pork sausage and borlotti beans. Also good is the half Spring chicken accompanied by aromatic Cipollini onions. Wash everything down with a standout cocktail or glass of imported Italian wine. The wine list features premium champagne and Spumanti, as well. As far as elixirs go, regulars swear by the Erbetta Tonica, which is made with Hendrick's gin, centerbe, sea salt and cucumber tonic. Another popular choice is Lo Stagionale, whose ingredients are Heimat blackberry, Bitteroma bianco, gin, prosecco and lemon juice.
Location and Hours :
1 Rockefeller Plaza
New York N.Y. 10020
(212) 597-2735
Hours:
Monday to Friday 8 AM to 9 PM
Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM
Sunday 10 AM to 7 PM
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