Local Restaurants
While many in the Brearley community may be familiar with the restaurants found in and north of Lincoln Center (Café Fiorello, Café des Artistes, O’Neals’, Josephina, Shun Lee West, and Rosa Mexicana, to name just a few), a brief walk south of 60th Street on the newly-revived 8th and 9th Avenues will reward pre-benefit diners with top-notch cuisine served in innovative surroundings. Azucar, located on 8th Avenue at 56th Street, offers authentic Cuban cuisine in a hip, but inviting, setting. Should conversation lag, diners can watch a veteran cigar maker hand-roll the cigars he doles out gratis to diners. A few steps further west puts you at the door of Bricco which offers great Italian cuisine "marvelous brick oven pizzas" (all quotes are from the Zagat Survey), in an attractive and friendly setting.
To experience high-quality Northern Italian cuisine in a sophisticated and welcoming space that includes a beautiful garden patio, walk a few blocks south to ViceVersa. This restaurant, which receives straight 22’s from Zagat, is no longer a local secret, so reservations should be made sooner rather than later. For a stellar newcomer to the Italian restaurant scene, try Roberto Passon, which offers outstanding fare at bargain prices. If two great Italian restaurant options are not sufficient, add a third choice in Maria Pia, which offers "authentic" and affordable cuisine in a fun and casual setting.
Several blocks south on 8th Avenue the culinary explorer can experience "New American" and Argentine "fusion." If you are tempted by dramatic décor and innovative American cuisine, try the "well-executed" menu of Thalia (8th Avenue at 50th Street). For a completely different feel, check out the sparse décor and zingy Italian-Argentine fusion of Sosa Borella.
Those with a yen for Asian may want to head down 9th Avenue to Grand Sichuan, where the flavorful, highly-rated and reasonably priced cuisine amply compensates diners for the lack of fancy dining digs. If you are up for "outstanding" eclectic cooking, try the tiny but terrifically-rated Nook. This same block yields yet another well-regarded culinary alternative at Rice ’n’ Beans (9th Avenue at 50th Street), where those anxious to dig into "seriously good" Brazilian "comfort" food will not be disappointed.
The above is just a sampling of the diverse culinary experiences awaiting those willing to explore Lincoln Center’s southern hemisphere. All of the restaurants discussed here received food ratings of 19 or higher in the 2006 Zagat Survey. For your convenience, information is also listed below.
Azucar
939 Eighth Avenue (at 56th Street)
212-262-5354
www.azucarnyc.com
Zagat Food Rating: well-reviewed but not rated (new restaurant)
Average Meal Price: $35.00
Bricco
304 W. 56th (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
212-245-7160
www.bricconyc.com
Zagat Food Rating: 19
Average Meal Price: $40.00
Grand Sichuan
745 Ninth Avenue (between 50th and 51st Streets)
212-582-2288
www.thegrandsichuan.com
Zagat Food Rating: 22
Average Meal Price: $22.00
319 W. 51st Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
212-765-6463
www.mariapianyc.com
Zagat Food Rating: 20
Average Meal Price: $36.00
Nook
746 Ninth Avenue (50th Street)
212-247-5500
www.nynook.com
Zagat Food Rating: 24
Average Meal Price (BYOB): $28.00
Rice ’n’ Beans
744 Ninth Avenue (between 50th and 51st Streets)
212-265-4444
www.ricenbeansrestaurant.com
Zagat Food Rating: 20
Average Meal Price: $22.00
Roberto Passon
741 Ninth Avenue (50th Street)
212-582-5599
www.robertopasson.com
Zagat Food Rating: 23
Average Meal Price: $35.00
Sosa Borella
832 Eighth Avenue (50th Street)
212-262-7774
www.sosaborella.com
Zagat Food Rating: 20
Average Meal Price: $35.00
Thalia
828 Eighth Avenue (50th Street)
212-399-4444
www.restaurantthalia.com
Zagat Food Rating: 20
Average Meal Price: $46.00 (a $35 prix fixe is available)
325 W. 51st Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
212-399-9291
www.viceversarestaurant.com
Zagat Food Rating: 22
Average Meal Price: $52.00 (a $35 prix fixe is available)