Dinner near Lincoln Center and...

...breakfast on the upper west side:

1. Tix for an 8 pm show on a Friday at Lincoln Center (in the fall). So we're stuck with an early dinner time (to avoid rushing or risk getting stuck in traffic). At the moment, that means we're considering Jean-Georges and Picholine. Our question: can you help us choose between those two OR recommend something else we can get into that meets our criteria? (Early and walkable).

(PS Yes, Le Bernardin is a quick cab ride but we're likely saving that for our other night.)
(PPS Cafe Luxembourg?)


2. Staying near 79th and Amsterdam. Breakfast joints? Nothing fancy. Diner-ish is fine.


Many thanks.

I haven't been there, but you might want to look into Lincoln, which is directly in Lincoln Center and has gotten pretty good reviews.

1. Second Lincoln Ristorante which is literally AT Lincoln Center, beautiful, and used to getting people in and out on time. Also good for the "design your own Negroni" cocktail menu.

Other options nearby but less high end are Bar Boulud and Boulud Sud. Andanda for tapas. Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill for sushi and other Japanese dishes (not entirely traditional, but tasty - I actually prefer the non sushi dishes). Salumeria Rosi for more casual Italian.

2. Weekday breakfast or weekend breakfast/brunch? Sarabeth's, Good Enough to Eat, Nice Matin, Fairway Cafe, Barney Greengrass. The latter two are closest to "diner" like in ambiance. I have heard good things about Jacob's Pickles. Some may have viciously long lines on weekends (especially Sarabeth's, GETE, Barney Greengrass). Note that Barney Greengrass is closed Mondays.

Others have made good recommendations on where to eat, but I want to chime in to discourage you from wasting one of your few nights in NYC on Le Bernardin. It's horrible, truly the worst 3-star Michelin meal of my life, and many others I've spoke to felt the same way. It's boring, bland and uninspired.

If you're looking for seafood, spend a night at Marea on Central Park South instead, and DEFINITELY get some of the pasta dishes, Michael White is a wizard with pasta.