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Late night eats/drinks in Manhattan?

As a Christmas present I'm taking my best friend out on the town in NY-he always says that NYC just seems so "touristy," so I'm trying to come up with some "in the know" ideas for early lunch and late night snacks/drinks in Manhattan. I made a reservation at Max Brenner's for an early dinner because we'll be going to the "Sleep No More" production at 7pm. It goes until 10, and then I thought maybe we could go out for the drinks/eats then and just relax and chat. I'm looking for something interesting, I've been looking at tapas menus and they all seem a bit boring to me. We want to stay away from seafood, but we're open to anything else....any suggestions? BTW, Sleep No More is near Chelsea it seems...but I don't mind traversing the city to go somewhere different (we have to catch the train back to Yonkers anyway!) Thanks for any suggestions!!

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  1. I think pretty much any place would be better and less touristy than Max Brenner. What day of the week is this?

    Max Brenner
    841 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

    1. For early lunch, what day of the week is this going to be for? What's your budget per person before tax and tip?

      I'd change your Max Brenner dinner reservation to somewhere else honestly. My pre-Sleep No More meal is usually Txikito. Max Brenner is VERY touristy, so I'm not sure why you'd go there if your objective is to show off non-touristy places.

      There's also Grand Sichuan and Co aka Company nearby. Eat around 5:30 or so and then walk over to the show. SNM is in a kind of remote area (27th between 10th and 11th) so there's not a lot immediately nearby. Get there before 6:45 to stand in line as you won't want to miss a single minute of the production!

      After the show you'll probably be thirsty, tired, and your feet will ache, so take that into account when planning. It can also be difficult to re-find your friends, so have a meeting spot.

      But if you are going to take a cab elsewhere, any particular neighborhoods? How much do you want to spend on late dinner before tax, tip, drinks? $50pp? More? Less? A dollar figure is more helpful...

      Grand Sichuan
      229 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

      Max Brenner
      841 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

      240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

      6 Replies
      1. re: kathryn

        Hey guys!
        I realize Max Brenner is pretty touristy, that's why I'm looking for something different for lunch and drinks! My friend is in love with chocolate and I heard Max has some pretty interesting takes on dishes, looking at the menu, it seems to be so!
        This will be a Tuesday (an odd day, I know!) and my budget for lunch can be $30-$40pp. Late night around $50pp. I don't really have a budget in mind, but I definitely don't want to spend $300pp! If the food/drinks are good, we won't mind schlepping around, seeing as how we'll be on the West Side for the show and have to make our way back to the east side to catch the train back to Yonkers!
        Thanks so much for your replies thus far!!

        1. re: drdopeymd

          Max Brenner is also not close to Sleep No More at all; you may have trouble getting to the show on time. It's an Israeli chain and it doesn't make sense to come in from out of town to go to a chain restaurant. If your friend likes chocolate I would visit Jacques Torres' store in Tribeca or Kee's in Soho instead, during the afternoon (or Mast Brothers in Williamsburg). Max Brenner's chocolate is pretty low quality and mostly for novelty.

          For lunch and late dinner/drink, what cuisine types do you like?

          You might like the late night prix fixe at Lupa. It's a $26 3-course prix fixe that comes with a glass of wine.

          170 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012

          Jacques Torres
          350 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

          Kee's Chocolates
          80 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

          1. re: kathryn

            Okay guys, I'm cancelling my reservation for Max....you've convinced me! Now I just need to figure something ELSE out....:D We are now going to see the show on a Thursday instead (tickets sold out before I could buy them for the Tuesday show.) We sincerely like trying new foods, so we're open to anything (except seafood) and I just had an idea for fondue....I haven't had it since high school, and it was just your typical fondue. Anyhow, we're really open to anything....and thanks for the suggestions so far!!

            1. re: drdopeymd

              Is there any food in particular you'd like to have or try, in addition to fondue? You haven't really given a lot to go on... Favorite foods? Cuisines you've always been curious about? Foods that you can't get at home?

              1. re: kathryn

                Favorite foods are probably "comfort foods", as well as Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French.....I like a bit of everything, and he does as well! We are both very flexible as far as trying new foods-I've always wanted to try Ethiopian as well as some others....honestly Kathryn, it's all good! :D I've been looking at the menus of the places suggested, and so far, Elmo appeals the most, if that helps you with your suggestions!!

                1. re: drdopeymd

                  Elmo's is excellent and great fun.

                  156 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011

      2. Our favorites for wee hour meals:
        French Roast
        Then again, you can always head to Chinatown and The Great NY Noodle Company or Wo Hop which are open 24/7 or close to it. Wo Hop serves beer. I don't know about Noodle Co.

        Great New York Noodletown
        28 Bowery, New York, NY 10013

        Wo Hop
        17 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

        249 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003

        French Roast
        78 W 11th St, New York, NY 10011

        144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

        1. My vote's for 48 lounge, it's perfect for late night drinks/eats to relax and chat.

          Forty Eight
          1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

          1 Reply
          1. re: Prinxess

            What's 48 lounge? What's good there? Where is it?

          2. Agree w/ all the above thoughts: Max Brenner is about the same level as TGIF: it's the literal opposite of what you requested...don't go, unless your friend is a tween from the somewhere very lame and is addicted to chocolate...

            re: latenight food...NYC does not have quite as much of it these days as i'd like...but from Chelsea you are short cab ride to anywhere downtown...some random suggestions that will serve at least til midnight i think: Cercle Rouge, Pulqueria, DBGB...i'd say post more specific cuisine preferences, because from 10 til midnight there is quite a lot you can get to from Chelsea

            re: chocolate: i'd say go to Black Hound (in EV) and get some delicious truffles to go...keep them in your pocket/bag during "Sleep No More" for afterwards...

            Hope the visit is fun.

            Black Hound
            170 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

            Cercle Rouge
            241 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10013

            299 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

            11 Doyers St, New York, NY 10038