Established in 1869, the American Museum of National History is a popular destination for New York City visitors who come to view exhibits like the Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins, the Fossil Hall and the Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites. In addition to the restaurant within the museum and its food court, museum-goers have a number of dining options within close walking distance. These restaurants range from upscale Italian bistros to casual, family-friendly establishments.
Located across the street from the Columbus Entrance to the museum, the Ocean Grill specializes in seafood. The restaurant held Zagat ratings of \"very good to excellent\" for food, service and decor as of April 2010, according to the Zagat website. The raw bar offers a variety of selections, including six varieties of oysters on the half-shell, clams, King crab legs, peel-and-eat shrimp and three types of caviar. Dinner entrees include sushi and sashimi, live Maine lobster and the fresh catch of the day served in a variety of preparations. A popular dessert is the chocolate fondue for two, served with fruit skewers and other confections. The wine list features more than 50 reds and whites by the bottle. The Ocean Grill is open daily for lunch and nightly for dinner. Business casual attire is appropriate. Reservations are recommended and can be made both online and over the phone. Outdoor dining is available, weather permitting. A children's menu is available for young diners.
Ocean Grill
384 Columbus Ave.
New York, NY 10024
212-579-2300
brguestrestaurants.com?
Specializing in northern Italian cuisine, Scaletta Ristorante is located across the street from the Natural History Museum's 77th Street entrance. As of April 2010, Zagat rated the restaurant's food, service and decor \"very good to excellent.\" Ten appetizers lead the menu, such as the carpaccio di manzo con funghi e parmigiano--thinly sliced raw beef served with arugula, Portobello mushrooms and Parmesan cheese. Pasta is featured extensively among the dinner entrees, including rigatoni with broccoli rabe, spaghetti in a veal bolognese sauce and risotto with shrimp, clams and scallops. The wine list focuses on Italian selections, offering more than 40 varieties from the peninsula in addition to other foreign and domestic selections. Scaletta Ristorante is open for dinner only each evening. Reservations are highly suggested. Casual attire is appropriate when dining at the restaurant.
Scaletta Ristorante
50 W. 77th St.
New York, NY 10024
212-769-9191
scalettaristorante.com?
The Shake Shack is located at the intersection of 77th Street and Columbus Avenue, making it easily accessible from two of the museum's exits. The restaurant opened in 2004 and is a casual, family-friendly place that specializes in hamburgers and hot dogs. Among the restaurant's sweet selections is the Natural History \"crunch-stellation.\" Named after the museum, the treat consists of vanilla custard, malt powder, chocolate crunch and chocolate toffee. Wine and beer are served in addition to shakes and soft drinks. The Shake Shack is open daily for lunch and dinner. The restaurant has no dress code. Outdoor dining is available.
Shake Shack
366 Columbus Ave.
New York, NY 10024
646-747-8770
shakeshack.com?
