Where To Eat After A Broadway Show

Forbes

3 days ago

Pre-theater dining is a staple in Times Square. But if you're not craving the early bird menu, finding a decent meal after the curtain drops can feel a bit tedious. Even the city that never sleeps has restaurants that (unfortunately) close before midnight. Those who prefer dining later still have excellent options near Broadway theaters, if you know where to look. Here's where to enjoy a dinner after 10 p.m. in midtown, skipping the big chains and enjoying local character and flavors:
Sardi's
Serving theater goers and theater professionals for over 100 years, Sardi's is iconic thanks to its prime 44th Street location and collection of actor caricatures decorating the walls. On the first floor, diners can sit and enjoy full dinner service until 10:30 p.m., including the signature cannelloni au gratin filling a thin French-style crepe with beef, veal, pork, and porcini mushrooms, covered in creamy supreme sauce. Upstairs, the bar is a bit more casual, with checkered tablecloths, a great turkey club sandwich, shrimp cocktail, and all the classics to drink.
The View
The recently revived revolving restaurant by Union Square Hospitality offers excellent views at sunset, and is also a top late night destination. Dinner reservations are open until 10 p.m. or those who want a lighter bite can head to the 48th floor lounge. Discuss the performance you just saw over raw bar platters, elevated hors d'oeuvres like stuffed mushrooms, wagyu pigs in a blanket, and prime rib sliders with horseradish cream. A standout cocktail menu is also available, of course, including a deli-inspired martini with brisket-washed Bombay Sapphire gin, Cinzano 1757 dry vermouth, pastrami spices, and a house pickle.
Le Rivage
Offering dinner reservations until 10:30 p.m., this charming French restaurant on 46th street is a Theater District classic. After 8 p.m. the bar is known for its 'French Hour' when beer is $6 and house wine is $9, and food specials like duck wings ala orange and beef bourguignon sliders are served at a discount all night. If you prefer a white tablecloth meal, enjoy decadent brasserie fare including French onion soup topped with crispy gruyere, steak au poivre (with tuna or filet mignon), and trout almondine. Naturally, the dessert list is extensive, and the after dinner beverages list is even longer, so you can ruminate over theatrical thoughts past midnight.
Donburiya
This late night Japanese tapas spot runs its kitchen until the early morning hours. Mix and match an array of small and shareable dishes to create a feast of hot pot, sashimi, ramen, curry, onigiri and much more. There's truly something for everyone here, including vegans. Beer is also served by the pint and pitcher, should you want that type of night, and there's an extensive sake list and sochu menu to chase down all the small bites as well.
Ellen's Stardust Diner
Known for their singing servers and long lines, Ellen's Stardust is at its heart a diner, meaning it's a great place to grab a bite long past typical dining hours. Post theater waits for a table tend to be much shorter, and the audience tends to be a skew a bit older (fewer kids up past bedtime), so the entertainment is more for adults enjoying Broadway-themed cocktails (think: The Oz Old Fashioned with bourbon or rye, cherry, orange, simple syrup, angostura aromatic bitters). To eat, all-day breakfast, a very good Matzo ball soup, plus salads, burgers, pastas and more.