Built in 1913 and featuring a seating capacity of 1,460, the Shubert Theatre at 225 West 44th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, is one of the most prestigious venues in New York City. Though it has been the home of many plays and musicals through the decades, the Shubert is perhaps best-known for hosting 6,137 performances of "A Chorus Line" from 1975 through 1990. Visitors to the area can choose from a variety of restaurants.
Located just steps from the Shubert Theatre, Sardi's has been a hangout for Broadway luminaries and other show-business celebrities including actors, writers and drama critics since its inception in 1927. It is famous for the hundreds of cartoon caricatures of celebrity diners that decorate the restaurant's walls. The menu features continental cuisine, including sauteed shrimp with garlic, cannelloni au gratin, grilled steaks and chops, braised lamb shanks, cod fillet and steak tartar prepared at the table.
Birdland has been a hot spot for musicians and their fans since it first opened in 1949 at another location in Manhattan. In its current incarnation, less than one mile from the Shubert Theatre, Birdland features jazz concerts in a room noted for its good sight lines and acoustics as well as a comprehensive menu specializing in American dishes with a Cajun flair. Specialties include blackened catfish, grilled yellowfin tuna, Creole seafood gumbo and jambalaya.
Located less than a half-mile from the Shubert Theatre, Smith's Bar & Restaurant features full cocktail service, weekly karaoke nights and live music acts from Wednesday through Saturday. Smith's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a strong selection of microbrews on tap. As a breakfast special, Smith's offers a traditional Irish breakfast, which includes eggs, Irish bacon, Irish pudding, grilled tomato and Irish baked beans. Dinner specialties include chicken pot pie and fish and chips.
Located within easy walking distance of the Shubert Theatre, the Hard Rock Cafe New York features a 708-seat restaurant, a 1,800-square-foot gift shop with Hard Rock merchandise and a Hard Rock Live venue for live music concerts. The menu offers a comprehensive selection of burgers, barbecue, salads, sandwiches and desserts. The restaurant's decor features rock memorabilia from acts including the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Billy Joel, the Ramones, Elvis Presley, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen.
