Sardi's
Just off Times Square, Sardi's is an actual Broadway institution, and it has been featured in movies such as "The Muppets Take Manhattan" and television shows such as "Mad Men." After over 80 years of serving the Broadway community, it is now less likely to spot Broadway names eating in the main dining area, but the dining room is most famous for being lined with caricatures of the past and present faces of Broadway.
The food is reliable good, and portion sizes are generally large. A cup of coffee may be high, but the price fixed lunch menu and daily specials keep the food prices average for restaurants in the area. Sardi's offers a comfortable atmosphere for both casual and elegant dress, and the service is helpful and pleasant.
Sardi's
234 West 44th Street
New York, New York 10036
(212) 221-8440
sardis.com
21 Club
The 21 Club is the last remaining speakeasy of Prohibition-era New York, but despite its seemingly shady past, it has long been a sophisticated restaurant frequented by literary figures such as Ernest Hemingway, movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, and socialites such as Gloria Vanderbilt.
It is often considered a popular haunt for both Broadway veterans and politicians, and all but two US presidents since FDR have frequented the 21 Club. Elegant dress is required, and prices are moderately high. However, special menus are sometimes available, dishes are impressive, and the atmosphere is calm and enjoyable.
The 21 Club
21 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
(212) 582-7200
21club.com
Russian Tea Room
Founded in 1927 by former members of the Russian Imperial ballet, it was originally popular among Russian expatriates who fled the Revolution in 1917. Today it most often dines frequenters of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Centre. Its overblown decor is the most often noted aspect of the Russian Tea Room, and it is an expensive experience. The restaurant's location near to popular sights such as Rockefeller Center, the 5th Ave Shops, Central Park, and famed concert halls is what makes it a desirable eatery.
Russian Tea Room
150 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019
(212) 581-7100
russiantearoomnyc.com
