Elsewhere

"M" and I went to Elsewhere in NYC's Theatre District at 403 W. 43rd Street for a last minute dinner because they had a Tasting Table special offer - two for one burgers (regularly $14 each).

We started with cocktails and shared a flavored popcorn - bacon butter ($5). It was deliciously buttery with a nice hint of bacon.

Then our Elsewhere burgers were served with caramelized onions, Five Spoke Tumbelweed cheese and a large bowl of crisp, thick cut french fries - wonderful!

We ended dinner with a sweet potato cake with caramel ice cream ($8).

Becco

This was the first restaurant by Lidia Bastianich. It is located on Restaurant Row in NYC's Theatre District at 355 West 46th Street and is still quite popular especially for pre-theatre diners.

They have a daily pasta special prix-fixe menu. For $22.95 your choice of Caeser salad or antipasto and all you can eat servings of 3 types of pasta.

"J" and I had the antipasto (grilled vegetables and seafood) and the pastas were: linguini with jumbo lump crab meat and toasted panko crumbs,

farfalle with fresh tomatoes and basil, and Garboon Ravioli with browned butter and fresh corn.

The linguine was my favorite.

We each also had a ginger ale ($3/glass), "J" had a cappucino ($5.50) and we shared an apple streudel with cinnamon ice cream ($7.50). It was a very long slice and I can only imagine how large the entire streudel must be.

Bobby Van's

We dined at the 135 W. 5oth Street location near the Theatre District.

Jackie just had the Summer Salad in an entree size ($12.95) and the bread basket. She had Bread Pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream ($11.05) for dessert.

I had the Restaurant Week $40 3-course prix fix:

Summer Salad - blend of Napa Greens, Wild Cherries, Walnut Brie cheese and Berry Vinagrette

Lamb and Wild Mushroom Ravioli tossed with Truffle Sherry Sauce

Tartufo

And we both had ginger ales ($3.95/each).

Pietrasanta

is located in NYC's Hell's Kitchen/Theatre District at 683 Ninth Avenue. It is a good spot for pre-theatre dining. It's one of my favorite standbys in the area.

Even though our waitress was Hungarian the food is your standard Italian fare. We were given a basket of bread and roasted pepper tapenade and sweet creamy butter.

"J" and I shared the (fried) Calamari Romana appetizer ($9).

"J" had the Spaghettini Pomodo ($13) and I had the Trenette Scampi - black pasta with shrimp, asparagus and whole cherry tomatoes ($17).

Then we shared 3 mini cannolis for dessert ($9).

As always, the food was good and dependable.

Junior's

this Manhattan outpost of the Brooklyn institution is located in the heart of NYC's Theater District at 1515 Broadway.

It's a casual, inexpensive option for a pre-theater dinner.

"J" had the steakburger and fries ($12.50) and a diet coke ($2.95).

I had the pastrami sandwich ($11.75) and a chocolate egg cream ($3.25).

Then we shared a slice each of Raspberry Swirl cheesecake ($6.50) and Coconut Lemon Layer Cake ($6.50). Yummy!

The food is good, dependable and generous portions.

Marseille Again

"J", "R" and I returned to Marseille for another pre-theatre dinner. Marseille is located at 630 Ninth Avenue in NYC's Theatre District.

"J" and I both had the 3 course prix fix for $30. For appetizers "J" ordered the mediterranean salad and I had the onion soup. We both ordered the steak frites for our entrees. "R" had the lamb couscous.

For dessert our waiter allowed us to order off the regular dessert menu instead of being limited to the 3 desserts on the prix fixe menu. We had the apple tart tatin with vanilla ice cream and the warm beignets with chocolate sauce.

The prix fixe is a good value and the food at Marseille has always been consistently good and servings and generous.