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Sandy · Kate Spade

The bf dropped the ball... need restaurant in NY

littlebean · Kate Spade

Something that you might consider doing is using Open Table. If you haven't tried it already, it is an online reservation place for tons of restaurants all over the country, but especially NYC. You can search by neighborhood, food type, time, number of people, etc. and then see what is available, read about the available restaurants and then book your reservation. It's free and easy and although there are lots of good restaurants that aren't on there, it does have a lot of the good ones. When I have to make a large group reservation, I often like to use Open Table instead of spending my time coming up with a perfect restaurant only to find it's too full for the group.

jestillman · Kenneth Cole

Sandy wrote:

I planned a group day trip to NY for 7 of us. The only thing that my bf was supposed to do -last month- was call the restaurant and make reservations for a late lunch/early dinner (at Serendipity)... well, he didn't. I called a few minutes ago and the girl said that they're booked up through January! I'm furious with him, but I still need to find a place for us to eat. Let me tell you our plan, and hopefully someone can give me a suggestion or two.

We're should be coming into Grand Central around 9:30am and either walking up or taking the subway up to Rockefeller Center. We're spending the morning up there (shopping, ice skating, seeing the tree, eating) and our tickets to the Christmas Spectacular are for 2:30pm. It's 90 minutes, so we'll be out around 4 (depending on if we stay for the Nativity or not). Then we were going to head up to 60th for food at Serendipity, but obviously we're not now. I'd still like to eat around that time. I'm still taking votes for what we do next, but I think we'll walk along Fifth Ave to see the store fronts and stuff, maybe join the masses at FAO Shwartz, or go see Santa at Macy's (my friends are total cheese balls and would love this, especially since none of them have seen the building). We'll probably head back to catch a train around 6:30, since most of us have finals the next morning.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a restaurant in the area we'll be in? Preferably something fun and that won't break the bank... TIA!

I 100% second the opentable suggestion. Brilliant!

If it is not freeeeezing you MUST walk up 5th ave from Grand Central to Rock Center and pass the Windows at Saks. ESP if your friends are "total cheese balls." Another option, if you want to go to FAO Schwartz...and possibly (not sure if this will work) avoid a line that may be in the front on 5th ave, go into the ice cream parlor on 58 or 59th. I never know the exact street, but you'll see it. Also, Macy's is across town from anything else you're planning to do. Worth a trip if your friends and you want to see it and Santa, but not the most convenient, unless you take the subway. But, if the show ends at 4ish and you want to eat and catch a 6:30 train and there's 7 of you, you'll be rushed. ESP with traffic. Hope this is helpful. let us know what you find on opentable.