Hang out Italian restaurant

I%26#39;m meeting some friends in Manhattan next week. One of us is coming into Grand Central and another from Port Authority. We%26#39;re meeting a third couple there. None of us know the area very well. We%26#39;re looking for an Italian restaurant for lunch where we can sit and talk for a couple of hours without feeling rushed. NOT looking for four star prices or food. From my google map directions, it seems that something on 42nd street or thereabouts would be a good location. Sitting outside if it%26#39;s nice would be a great option too.

One suggestion is Lunella%26#39;s and another is Trattoria Trecolori, neither on 42nd street but both within walking distance. Lunella%26#39;s got bad reviews here on tripadvisor and Trattoria Trecolori got good ones but not sure about the hanging out there. Anyone with first hand experience about either place. oops, just looked at another e-mail and now Scarlattos was mentioned. Too many choices!! Help!

Hang out Italian restaurant

You%26#39;re all coming into the belly of the beast at midday where turnover turnover turnover is the rule of the day. So your idea of a leisurely Italian might not go according to the script exactly. I can%26#39;t think of any hang out Italian in the area, but you may like these ideas. In the northeast corner of Grand Central (that means you go up the escalator from the main room, walk all the way down the hall to the outside and turn left), there is Cafe Centro. CC is a nice restaurant and its partner, the more casual restaurant, the Beer Bar. Both are operated by the same people. You can choose one or the other or move to the outside tables at the Beer Bar after a nice lunch at Cafe Centro. If you all need more talking after that, a walk around the corner to Annie Moore%26#39;s pub/restaurant can help keep the talk flowing till 4 AM with no one rushing you.

http://www.rapatina.com/cafeCentro/

http://www.rapatina.com/beerBar/

Hang out Italian restaurant

I agree with NNN, if you%26#39;re coming on a weekday, don%26#39;t expect to be able to sit around and schmooze at a midtown restaurant for hours. They want to turn tables. You%26#39;d be better heading to a more residential area. It will also be more interesting and not so crazy busy if you decide to sit outside. I would especially avoid the west 40%26#39;s if you%26#39;re coming on Wednesday which is matinee day.

I%26#39;d head downtown. I recently had lunch at Otto%26#39;s at 1 Fifth ave. in the village. It%26#39;s a hot spot at night, but at lunch it was pretty laid back. No outside tables, but if you sit in the back, you%26#39;ve got a good view of a pretty courtyard. Good pizza, pasta, antipasto.

La Lanterna di Vittorio is right nearby Otto%26#39;s and may be more what you had in mind.

Trattoria Trecolori is your basic Italian that could be anywhere. Repeat, don%26#39;t go on a Wed. I don%26#39;t know the others.

Great suggestions! No, we%26#39;re not coming in on a Wednesday. Really any thing within about a mile from that area would be good. Would like to stay on foot but that%26#39;s about it. Thanks!

Why not take a subway? Frankly, 42nd Street is the epicenter of unpleasant restaurants and bars in the city, and the surrounding areas reflect that. People will argue for Hell%26#39;s Kitchen, but there is pretty much nowhere in the area you can just hang out in a restaurant at leisure. That%26#39;s what bars are for.

Well the village is not really on foot from either of the locations you%26#39;re arriving and frankly, unless you meet halfway between the 2, there won%26#39;t be walking distance from both. That still doesn%26#39;t put you in a residential area.

Just wanted to let everyone know that we had lunch at Trattoria Trecolori tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d47鈥?/a> which turned out to be the perfect choice. I will definately return here next time I go into NYC to see a Broadway show. As to my ';hanging out'; requirement, this was also okay. No bars needed, thank you very much. We were one of two tables at noon, but more people wandered in (and out) while we talked and talked. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly and the food was excellent.

Besides four middle aged adults we also had one 24 year old grad student and he thought it would be an perfect place for a date and was impressed with prices and food. I was congratulated by all for picking the restaurant and I want to thank all of the tripadvisor participants who reviewed this restaurant so that I could ';find'; it!

I just came back from NYC and had dinner at Tratoria Trecolori. It was one of the best (if not the best) dining experience in New York. We booked over the phone for 5.45pm and were immediately seated. The restaurant was not full when we arrived but soon was getting full, so I recommend a reservation. The food and service were really excellent!

fish