February 21, 2017

Tudor City DINING GUIDE

A friend of this blog edited the Zagat restaurant guide for many years, and has agreed to spill the beans on where to eat near Tudor City ‒ 'near' meaning a ten-minute walk, or less. Here's what he had to say:

Hello, fine readers of this exceptional blog! The simple answer to your question is Grand Central Station, which rather improbably has morphed into a real dining district over the last few years, with many varied (and inexpensive) options. 

Of course, there are many other alternatives in the area. Following are my recommendations, divided into two sections: Grand Central and Beyond Grand Central. Click on the restaurant name for more info.



G R A N D   C E N T R A L

AGERN

  Hard-to-find place within Grand Central [enter at 42nd & Vanderbilt Ave, walk down ramp, turn right]. Cutting-edge Nordic menu stressing foraged wild ingredients. One Michelin star, three New York Times stars. Serves lunch Monday‒Friday, dinner MondaySaturday, closed Sunday.
OYSTER BAR
  Landmark seafood specialist, in business since 1913. Specialty of the house the oyster pan roast, an olde NY throwback dish if there ever was one. Instagram-ready 'Whispering Galley' just outside the entrance.
SHAKE SHACK  
  Elevated fast food (burgers, wieners, shakes) from restaurateur-entrepreneur Danny Meyer. Opens at 7 AM!
LA FONDA DEL SOL
  Re-creation of a famed, same-named 1960s restaurant, serving a Spanish menu, heavy on the tapas. Mood and decor very Mad Men.

URBANSPACE VANDERBILT   Hit food hall with an array of hip vendors. Brooklyn aesthetic (bare girders, concrete floors). Counter service, limited picnic-table seating and prime-time mobs make it best for takeout, or at off hours. Closes 9 PM weeknights, 5 PM weekends.
Notable vendors:
ROBERTA'S 
  Famed pizza purveyor, a spin-off of the highly regarded Bushwick original. 
RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND 
  Lobster roll the way to roll. Cloned from the Red Hook original.

Vendors rotate in and out of the line up. See here for current list.



B E Y O N D   G R A N D   C E N T R A L
. . . but still within 10 minutes from Tudor City.

AL PASTOR
  Formerly Salvation Taco, this taqueria in the Pod 39 Hotel is now run by Alex Stupak, the chef behind the Empellon empire. Look for fancy tacos and redesigned digs with a publike vibe.
AVRA  
  Classy Greek seafood, primo outdoor seats. Grown-up crowd willing to spend money.
CAPITAL GRILLE
  Steakhouse, but more about its spectacular Trylon Towers glass ceilings.
CRAVE FISHBAR  
  Seafood specialist with a young following. Mellow setting and vibrations.
LUKE'S LOBSTER ROLL  
  Consistently rated one of city's best lobster rolls. Picnic-table seating and ambiance.
OSTERIA LAGUNA
  Literally the closest good option to Tudor City, a 5-minute walk away. Pleasant Italian menu, convivial crowd, glamorous lighting.
PERSHING SQUARE  
  All about the setting, a long chamber beneath the Park Avenue Viaduct. Best for breakfast.
SARGE'S DELI
  Circa-1964 deli specializing in extravagantly stuffed, heart-attack-on-a-plate sandwiches. Open 24/7.
SHAKE SHACK 
  Elevated fast food (burgers, wieners, shakes) from restaurateur-entrepreneur Danny Meyer. Sometimes less crowded than the nearby Grand Central outlet.
THE SMITH
  Turtle Bay link of the rocking mini-chain. American bistro eats. Crushingly loud and always busy, especially for brunch.
SOCARRAT PAELLA BAR
  Paella practitioner spun off from acclaimed Chelsea original. Casual mood, rustic room, toothsome Spanish chow.
SPARKS
  Storied steakhouse in place since 1977. Mood very old-school, tabs very expense account.
SUSHI YASUDA
  Michelin-starred sushi bar. Widely considered to serve some of the best sushi in town, even though original chef Yasuda is long gone.


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See a MAP of these places here.


Click here for the ⭐Tudor City DRINKING GUIDE⭐

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