10 Delicious Pre-Theatre Restaurants in NYC’s Theatre District

Pre-theatre dining in NYC's Theatre District near Times Square.

I work in the Theatre District, and I see a lot of Broadway shows (29 this year alone, most via lottery wins – more on that here). One question I often hear is where to eat in the Theatre District (i.e., Times Square area) that is delicious and not totally touristy.

The Broadway musical Moulin Rouge!

Moulin Rouge!

Enter, my list of 10 restaurants in the Theatre District that I recommend. I frequent each of these restaurants often and can confirm the food is good and they are not geared exclusively to tourists.

Of course, dinner is only half of it – you still need a ticket. Here is how we saw 31 Broadway shows for about $47 a seat, almost entirely through the digital lotteries and rush.

My 10 Pre-Theatre Restaurant Picks in the Theatre District

1. Cuerno, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, upscale, resy required.

Cuerno is an incredibly delicious Mexican steakhouse located on 50th Street between 6th and 7th. I love, love, love this place, and I go here pretty regularly pre-theatre and otherwise. The food and drinks are incredible. Open daily, reservations are usually necessary. Go for an upscale, delicious meal pre-theatre. Cuerno is a bit pricey compared to other options, but it offers a $37 three-course lunch during the week that is a steal.

A coupe of sparkling Mexican rose at Cuerno, a Mexican steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan.

Sparkling Mexican Rose at Cuerno. Who would have thought this is in Midtown Manhattan?

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Senigallia Travel Guide: The Adriatic Coast Destination Americans Haven’t Found Yet

Senigallia, Marche.

Italy has always had a special place in our hearts, and whenever we visit, we seek out the authentic, under-the-radar destinations that many travelers overlook. We love discovering towns where Italian is still the language you hear on the streets (perfect for practicing my Italian!), where tourism feels secondary to daily life, and where local culture shines through. Earlier this year, we found exactly that in Senigallia during our first—though certainly not our last—trip to Italy’s Marche region. If you’re searching for an authentic Italian experience or planning a visit to Le Marche, read on to discover why this charming coastal town captured our hearts.

Senigallia, Italia.

Senigallia, Italia.

SENIGALLIA, LE MARCHE

Senigallia is a small city on the Adriatic Sea in Le Marche, one of Italy’s 20 regions. Located just east of Umbria, one of our all-time favorite Italian regions, it shares many of the qualities we love most about central Italy – rolling countryside, far fewer American tourists than the country’s more famous destinations, and incredible food and wine. But Le Marche offers something that landlocked Umbria cannot; a stunning stretch of Adriatic coastline lined with long, sandy beaches, a rarity in much of Italy and Europe.

Senigallia on a map.

Senigallia on a map.

Situated roughly midway between Ancona, Le Marche’s capital, and Pesaro, Senigallia is beloved by Italians for its beautiful beaches and is regarded, at least amongst those in the know, as one of Italy’s top food destinations. After attending our friends’ wedding in Tuscany, we headed here for a few days of great meals and seaside relaxation, and Senigallia exceeded our expectations.

An old Senigallia advert.

An old Senigallia advert.

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Gjelina NYC: Good Food, Great Cocktails, and a Genuinely Good Use of Your Chase Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit

Gjelina, NoHo, NYC.

Update July 18, 2026. I just checked the list of available restaurants for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit and Gjelina NYC has been removed. I will update this post again if I notice it is back.

In June 2026, Fleming and I visited Gjelina to use our Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit ($150) which was expiring on June 30th. We won Off-Broadway lottery tickets to see Cecily Strong in What Happened Was at the Audible Minetta Lane Theatre, a thirteen minute walk away from Gjelina. Overall we had a great experience and would dine at the restaurant in the future, even without the credit, if win the area.

This post reviews Gjelina and also how to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit.

The Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Candied Basil and Sea Salt was a highlight.

The Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Candied Basil and Sea Salt at Gjelina was a highlight of the evening.

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How to Order Focaccia in Italy: La Focacceria 5 Lire in Matera

My personal favorite - the Eggplant Parmesan.

I typically don’t write about grab-and-go type restaurants, but I cannot stop thinking about La Focacceria Italiana 5 Lire Matera in Matera, Italy. The friends that I visited it with also loved it, so here is my post on how you can visit and properly order from La Focacceria Italiana 5 Lire Matera (or, honestly, most focacce in Italy).

5 Lire Matera.

5 Lire Foccaceria Italiana Matera.

La Focacceria 5 Lire Matera, or simply “5 Lire” around town, is a very casual “focacceria” in Matera. It is located on Via Domenico Ridola above the Sassi. It is named for the former currency of Italy, the “lira”, which changed to the euro in 2002.

Via , just outside of 5 Lire.

Via Via Domenico Ridola, just outside of 5 Lire.

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Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte – A Delicious Dinner on the Water in Ischia Porto

Riva Destra, Ischia Porto.

Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte is a long-standing restaurant in Ischia Porto’s Riva Destra, or the area to the right of Ischia Porto that is lined with waterside restaurants and bars.  Apparently the Riva Destra has been a popular evening hangout since the 1960as. Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte opened in 2015 when two locals reopened an older restaurant that had closed. Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte itself is easy enough to find, it’s located right in the line of restaurants on the Riva Destra.

Exterior of Ristorante L'Altra Mezzanotte on the Riva Destra in Ischia Porto

Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte.

Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte offers both indoor, air-conditioned seating, as well as outdoor seating in the cutest teal chairs. The outdoor area offers port views, while the interior offers views of the wood-fired oven. The staff at Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte is incredibly friendly and welcoming to tourists.  Known for its fresh, local seafood, Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte also has a wood-fire oven for preparing pizzas and some other dishes.

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