Dinner & Drinks: The West Village
With such a vast theatre scene in New York City, selecting the right show can be challenging. With an even more expansive selection of restaurants, deciding where to eat before the show can be just as difficult. We hope our Dinner & Drinks series will ease your minds (as well as your stomachs) by highlighting some great places for all sorts of pre and post-theatre eats, sweets, and liquid treats.
Highlighted Theatre: Cherry Lane Theatre
Surrounding Neighborhood: The West Village
The Cherry Lane Theatre is an institution in The Village with a mission “to cultivate an urban artist colony, honor [their] groundbreaking history, and engage audiences in creating theater that illuminates contemporary issues, and at its best, transforms the spirit.” The Cherry Lane has been satisfying our artistic palates for 90 years now! Whether you are seeing an intrepid new work from their Mentor Project, the Discovery and Heritage Series, or Celebrating Black Playwrights and Celebrating Women Playwrights, the work presented at Cherry Lane will satisfy your artistic appetites and the surrounding neighborhood will appease your culinary desires too!
HUMMUS PLACE
71 7th Avenue South (at Bleecker Street), NY, NY 10014
Easy-going, Affordable, Middle Eastern Menu
“It’s tasty and nutritious, but also low in calories.” This is one incredibly reasonable and delicious meal! Come with friends, or come solo. The Hummus Place’s Middle Eastern cuisine (specializing in, you guessed it, hummus) is great to share, or even better…not share. Try the three appetizer sampler as your entrée — you will leave full and having sampled a diverse dinner platter (they also make substitutions).
RISTORANTE RAFELE
29 7th Avenue South (Morton & Bedford Street), NY, NY 10014
Authentic Italian, Moderately Priced, Charming Atmosphere for a Date Night
“At Rafele, [the chefs,] Romeo and Raffaele believe in l’appetito viene mangiando — that’s Italian for ‘food that makes you want more!’” This fresh, authentic Italian cuisine offers a well-rounded list of culinary options, including vegan & gluten free menu. This is a great place for a romantic meal, and it’s a two minute walk to the theatre.
COMMERCE RESTAURANT
50 Commerce Street, NY, NY 10014
Upscale Dining, Classy Night Out, Great If Mom & Dad are Footing the Bill
“A contemporary American restaurant in a historic space.” The murals on the wall are beautiful and create a refined ambiance, in this classic West Village space. The mind-blowing food is difficult to rival (American and Italian influences), and with a location right next to Cherry Lane Theatre you can keep eating right up until the curtain time. Their wine selection is also impressive, which makes it an ideal spot for a post-theatre drink.
CALIENTE CAB CO
61 7th Avenue South, NY, NY 10014
Fun Night On the Town, Mexican Cuisine, Great Place to Eat with Friends
“From the Peninsula of Yucatan to the heart of Puebla, the menu at Caliente Cab features regional, seasonal, and chef specials — a reflection of our travels across Mexico as well as Chef Alfredo Vicuna’s indigenous kitchen.” This NYC landmark, with their iconic Taxi Cab, is a great place for a festive pre-theatre dinner, and an even better place for a post-theatre drink! Their margaritas are not to be messed with, and they have an excellent brunch if you’re attending a matinee.
RAMEN THUKPA
70 7th Avenue South, NY, NY 10014
Pre-Theatre Pan Asian Cuisine, Intimate Setting, Easy on the Wallet
“Ramen Thukpa is home to a tempting variety of Japanese ramen and Tibetan noodle soup.” These traditional dishes are their specialty at this cozy and intimate pan-Asian noodle house. They also have a diverse menu of Japanese, Chinese, and Tibetan delicacies if you’re not in the noodle-mood. And don’t forget the sake.
BLEECKER STREET PIZZA
69 7th Avenue South, NY, NY 10014
Sometimes You Need a Slice
Rated the “Best Pizza in New York” by the Food Network three years in a row, “The Bleecker Street authentic Tuscan style thin-crust pizza has been served…for generations.” If you’re in a rush, or if you just have that craving for a big slice of New York pizza, then this is surely the place to visit. This is pizza at its best.
MILK & COOKIES BAKERY
19 Commerce Street, NY, NY 10014
Mouthwatering Desserts: Cookies + Brownies + Ice Cream Sandwiches = Heaven on Earth
“There is nothing as comforting as freshly baked cookies…Whether you are a chocolate lover, oatmeal lover, or just a plain sugar cookie lover, [they] have something for you…” Merely steps away from The Cherry Lane Theatre, Milk and Cookies Bakery is a necessary stop before you head to the box office. Grab a sweet treat before the show, or save it in your bag for later. Milk and Cookies closes at 10pm, making it the perfect place for an intermission dessert.
To check out the rest of our Dinner & Drinks Series, click here.
