Manhattan is well known for its selection of over 10,000 restaurants. Midtown in particular has perhaps more acclaimed restaurants per square mile than anywhere else in the United States. 49th Street is located at the very heart of Midtown with attractions like Radio City Music Hall, 30 Rockerfeller Plaza, Saks 5th Avenue, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Christie's Auction House, MOMA, the Waldorf Astoria and the Daily Show Theater all located within a block or two to the north or south. The dining selections along 49th are equally prestigious.
Smith & Wollensky has been called "the quintessential New York steakhouse" by Gourmet magazine. The restaurant occupies the trademark green and white wood-frame building at the corner of 49th street and 3rd Avenue and consistently draws a healthy percentage of midtown business people and media types. As you might expect, the menu is geared toward beef, although in includes a large selection of seafood and fish dishes as well as token lamb and chicken offerings. Portions are large, the prices are toward the high end, and the personalized service is a focal point of the company. The restaurant has both main and private dining rooms, and even offers its own wine vintage: Smith & Wollensky Private Reserve, Napa Valley, as well as a gift shop where you can purchase fine dining accessories and sauces. Smith & Wollensky also has locations in Chicago, Miami Beach, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Columbus, Houston and Boston.
Top of the Tower restaurant sits atop the venerable Beekman Tower at 49th street and 1st avenue on Manhattan's East Side. The restaurant's high perch on the 26th floor provides diners with an expansive view of the city and the East River below. The restaurants serves a classic American breakfast and dinner menu daily, and the bar welcomes guests into the wee hours of the morning. The cuisine is seasonal to ensure fresh ingredients. Diners may select from small or large plates on the surprisingly diverse if not extensive menu. Simple comfort foods get a twist with gourmet touches like Macaroni & Cheese with mascarpone, Parmagiano-Reggiano and Fontina cheeses, or the Quarter Pound Crab Cake with Mustard-Chive Emulsion. If you eat too much or stay too late, the Beekman Tower Hotel occupies the building below and is happy to welcome diners as guests.
Pasta Lovers Trattoria is a self-proclaimed "New York Casual Italian Restaurant" located on 49th Street between 6th and 7th avenues. If you are looking for large portions of very decent Italian standards without a huge price tag, Pasta Lovers Trattoria is a good option. Over the past 15 years, the menu has grown to include brick oven pizzas, an array of pasta dishes, grilled meats and seafood, and authentic Italian desserts. A large bar on site accommodates the after-work crowd. Clientele leans toward the tourist masses as do most of the diners in the Midtown area, but the food does not disappoint. The restaurant makes a relatively large wine list available, as are private party rooms.
