I hate noisy crowded restaurants where you almost sit on people at the next table or can't hear your guest speak. What fine NYC restaurants have comfy seats and great food...in the 50's? A home away from home with better food.

"Tino's" on W 56th is pretty quiet, and not too crowded. It also participates in the airline dining programs (if that's of interest). Food's not too bad either.

I also like Remi on W 53rd, it's mellow but a bit on the cramped side.

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Who is John Galt?
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I really like Il Monello on 2nd avenue. Not as crowded and cramped. Wonderful Italian food and good service. Old money crowd.

The Pool Room in the Four Seasons (East 52nd) will provide you with a quiet ambiance and excellent cuisine.

You could also try Aquavit (West 54th), which offers excellent Scandanavian cuisine, also in a tranquil setting.

Veritas has a nice corner table which I think you might be able to request if you have five or six people. I think it's a fairly peaceful restaurant (certainly by NYC standards).

Metropolitan Cafe on 1st Avenue does not crowd you and it's quite a spacious restaurant.

On the west side, Ciao Europa on West 54th is also spacious with excellent service. I also recommend Rue 57 (on W 57th) and Molyvos, a Greek restaurant on 7th Avenue.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Analise:
Metropolitan Cafe on 1st Avenue does not crowd you and it's quite a spacious restaurant.

On the west side, Ciao Europa on West 54th is also spacious with excellent service. I also recommend Rue 57 (on W 57th) and Molyvos, a Greek restaurant on 7th Avenue.</font>

I agree about Molyvos, but Rue 57 has not been a pleasant experience for us in the last two visits.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by akhullar:
I agree about Molyvos, but Rue 57 has not been a pleasant experience for us in the last two visits.</font>

I had lunch at Rue 57 last week. There is a lot of construction happening on 6th Ave - most of the time we could hear a jackhammer going outside the restaurant - almost had to shout to be heard.

On the other hand, you can do some mighty fine people watchin' at Rue 57, regardless of the decibel level.

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Who is John Galt?
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by 767-322ETOPS:
"Tino's" on W 56th is pretty quiet, and not too crowded. It also participates in the airline dining programs (if that's of interest)...
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Watch out for the dining programs:

AAdvantage Dining Rip Off at MAI KAI in Ft Lauderdale! (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum71/HTML/004923.html)


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Life's a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Auntie Mame

Most of the tables at Michael's are not elbow-to-elbow.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by 767-322ETOPS:
I had lunch at Rue 57 last week. There is a lot of construction happening on 6th Ave - most of the time we could hear a jackhammer going outside the restaurant - almost had to shout to be heard.

On the other hand, you can do some mighty fine people watchin' at Rue 57, regardless of the decibel level.

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I guess we've been sitting toward the back of the restaurant b/c the constuction noise did not seem to bother us. BTW, that construction looks like it will become a permanent part of 6th Ave. http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/frown.gif

If you really want privacy, get a private room at a Japanese restaurant (one with a hole in the floor so you don't have to sit cross-legged. Good ones include Inagiku and Seryna. Also, Otabe has well spaced tables as well as semi-private areas for teppanyaki.

Outstanding food (new American/fusion) can be had at March. Since the renovation it is much more spacious and not noisy in any case.

First, I agree that March has excellent food and a fantastic overall dining experience (it's my favorite restaurant in the City!) However, it's not super spacious, or in the 50s.

Places that do provide a reasonably good amount of room in the 50s: Thalia, Vice Versa, JUdson Grill. I list these in the order that I prefer them, although Thalia's original chef left a while back and I haven't visited since then. JUdson grill has plenty of space, but I was fairly underwhelmed by the food.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jordyn:
First, I agree that March has excellent food and a fantastic overall dining experience (it's my favorite restaurant in the City!) However, it's not super spacious, or in the 50s.

Places that do provide a reasonably good amount of room in the 50s: Thalia, Vice Versa, JUdson Grill. I list these in the order that I prefer them, although Thalia's original chef left a while back and I haven't visited since then. JUdson grill has plenty of space, but I was fairly underwhelmed by the food.</font>

March is located at 405 East 58th Street.
I would agree it's not super spacious. However, before the expansion it was kind of cramped (or romantic, depending on your perspective). Now I think it is comfortable and not overly noisy. I know jordyn and I agree that the food is vastly superior to the other places suggested.