Spending time in the Theater District is not always the vibe. Forever baking under the heat lamp of Times Square, this stretch of Midtown bustles with tourists and traffic, and many a dreaded tourist trap. And yet the cultured and culture-obsessed often find themselves in the area for one big reason: If you’re in town looking to see a marquee production, rather than a smaller something Off-Broadway or at BAM, this is where you'll be, and you might need to grab a bite before or after your show. To maximize leisure, it's advisable that wherever you dine be no more than a 15-minute stroll from your theater destination—and with the right information, finding somewhere convenient and worth eating at is, surprisingly, very possible.
Despite the reputation of the neighborhood, there are plenty of solid establishments hiding in plain sight, at which to fill your stomach before filling your ears, heart, and mind. Read on for the best places to eat before a Broadway show in New York City—or after, who's to say. You just might be moved to stick around.
I'd love to pretend that I make a day of going to the theater, reveling in delectable appetizers and multiple rounds of drinks at whatever new place my coworkers are raving about—but more often than that, I'm hurriedly catching the 1 train uptown from work to scarf a quick dinner before elbowing my way through Times Square to make it to my (cramped) seat just as the lights go down. And the best meal for that can be found at Junior's Restaurant & Bakery. Known for their rich cheesecake, Junior's began its journey as a New York City institution in Downtown Brooklyn to which I went first, but since then, I've frequented the two locations in Times Square (one at 45th St and 7th Ave, the other at 49th and Broadway) more than maybe any one person would—or should—cop to. But the peace of mind that comes from knowing I can be seated, order, and get my food (often chicken tenders, sometimes a pastrami on rye, if I'm feeling celebratory) with plenty of time leftover to enjoy a slice of Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake (the best flavor, and I won't hear otherwise) before facing off with a grimy Elmo makes all my repeat visits worth it. —Taylor Eisenhauer, editorial operations manager
Read the full article at Condé Nast Traveler!
