The main branch of the New York Public Library is a popular destination for visitors to Manhattan. This is in part due to its convenient location near Grand Central Terminal, Times Square and the Fashion District. For visitors who choose to pass up the food vending carts on the street, this location also offers plenty of dining options as well.
Many years ago, the Croton Reservoir occupied the land the New York Public Library now stands on. As an homage to the reservoir, this mid-town bar and grill has the same name. Featuring a full bar with happy hour specials downstairs, lunch time diners can enjoy bar food like a Cobb salad and buffalo chicken wrap. For those craving something less standard, there is the sesame crusted tuna with mushrooms braised in soy and black rice.
Croton Reservoir Tavern
108 West 40th Street
New York, NY
(212) 997-6835
crotonreservoirtavern.com
Serving Venetian-style Italian food is what has made the Osteria al Doge restaurant popular in the extremely competitive theater and Times Square area. Located less than three blocks away from the library, this restaurant is an easy walk.
The assortment of pizza includes Pizza Salsiccia Broccoli with sausage and broccoli rabe and Pizza Parmigiana with eggplant and shaved parmesan cheese. For those wanting pasta, there is the Tortelloni al Salmone with Atlantic salmon and goat cheese in a tomato cream sauce. Boasting a wine list with more than 80 wines from Italy and around the world, you will easily be able to choose a wine to complement your meal.
Osteria al Doge
142 West 44th Street
New York, NY
(212) 944-3643
osteria-doge.com
The renouned Charlie Palmer Restaurant Group began with the Aureole restaurant. This hallmark of the fashion district is across the street from Bryant park, which hosts New York's fashion week. Serving contemporary upscale American cuisine is what has lead some to describe Aureole as "Classic New York."
The lunch menu items include a petite beef tenderloin with truffle grits and spinach and miso Alaskan black cod with baby bok choy and shitake mushrooms. For dinner, diners can choose from country bacon wrapped john dory with beluga lentils and turnip puree and yellow fin tuna served Wellington-style. Also available are prix fixe lunches for a complete meal option or a tasting menu for those who can not choose just one entree. To complement this eclectic menu, Aureole's wine list includes over 1,000 wines from around the world.
One Bryant Park
135 West 42nd Street
New York, NY
(212) 319-1660
charliepalmer.com
