Times Square, located in midtown Manhattan, is often called "the crossroads of the world." Set in the middle of New York City's world-renowned theater district, this key intersection is home to scores of famous hotels, shops and restaurants. The area's eateries run the gamut from glorified hot dog stands to gourmet restaurants that draw diners from around the world.
No list of Times Square restaurants would be complete without one of the city's famous delicatessens, and the Carnegie is an excellent representative of this singularly New York culinary institution. Massively overstuffed sandwiches of pastrami and corned beef are probably the biggest sellers here, but the Carnegie also serves up other deli standards, like boiled beef flanken, blintzes, potato latkes, smoked salmon and kishka.
Carnegie Deli
854 7th Ave.
New York, NY 10019
212-757-2245
carnegiedeli.com/home.php
Part of the world-famous chain that celebrates rock and roll and its contribution to popular culture, this sprawling Hard Rock Cafe seats up to 708 diners. Like other members of the chain, which started with a single eatery in London, the Times Square Hard Rock has walls decorated with rock memorabilia. The menu is a little heavy on burgers, BBQ and steaks, but it manages to squeeze in something for everyone. If you haven't already visited a Hard Rock Cafe, this is as much a visual experience as a culinary one.
Hard Rock Cafe
1501 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
212-343-3355
hardrock.com/locations/Cafes3/cafe.aspx?LocationID=99
Times Square is an appropriate setting for a restaurant that salutes the world of motion pictures because Planet Hollywood's location is close to many of New York City's first-run movie theaters. This branch of the restaurant chain, founded by Robert Earl with moral and financial support from actors Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis, among others, was the first to open. Planet Hollywood emphasizes casual dining, and menu selections include Buffalo wings, Cobb salad, burgers, BBQ sandwiches, pasta dishes, steaks and grilled seafood.
Planet Hollywood
1540 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
212-333-7827
planethollywood.com/restaurants_newYork.htm
This recent incarnation of Ruby Foo's in New York---there's been at least one in Manhattan for decades---specializes in pan-Asian cuisine. Lovers of sushi and sashimi will find a multitude of pleasing choices, while those who lean more toward Chinese food can sample 20 variations of dim sum, dumplings stuffed with vegetables, meats, or seafood. Other menu selections include Pad Thai, Grilled Free-Range Chicken Teriyaki, Kobe Beef Teriyaki Burger, Sesame Crusted Tuna and Buddha's Vegetable Feast.
Ruby Foo's Times Square
1626 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-489-5600
brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/ruby_foos_times_square/index.php
No restaurant is probably more closely associated with legitimate theater than this two-story eatery on West 44th Street. Its walls are adorned with caricatures of Broadway notables past and present, and the restaurant's tables are where the cast and crew members of just-opened shows traditionally wait for the morning papers' reviews. Sardi's menu features a wide variety of dishes, but some of the restaurant's specialties include Cannelloni au Gratin, Spinach Cannelloni au Gratin, Steak Tartar and Shrimp Sardi.
Sardi's
234 W. 44th St.
New York, NY 10036
212-221-8440
sardis.com
