The Best Restaurants Near Madison Square Garden
Looking for the perfect place to grab a bite before or after an event at Madison Square Garden? We’ve got you covered. The World’s Most Famous Arena is a just a few steps from some solid restaurant options that are perfect for your time in the area.
From sit-down sushi spots to grab-n-go pizza, here are the best restaurants near Madison Square Garden to bookmark.
1. Mustang Harry’s
The ultimate sports bar within walking distance of Madison Square Garden, this spot is a must before a Knicks or Rangers game. Mustang Harry’s has been a fan headquarters for nearly 30 years and serves classic bar food in a 7,5000 square foot space with dozens of TVs.
Grab a beer, chop it up with fellow sports fans, and even bookmark one of their special Knicks and Rangers player signing events they host on select nights.
Book a reservation at Mustang Harry’s here
Where: 352 7th Ave
2. Piggyback by Pig and Khao
Pig and Khao is highly rated by the Secret NYC team, and its offspring location (also helmed by chef and restauranteur Leah Cohen) called Piggyback is worth a pre-MSG visit. Similarly to its flagship restaurant on the Lower East Side, Piggyback’s menu is chalk full of Pan-Asian dishes that you can feast on before belting out at a concert later in the night.
Popular items like the Malaysian Fried Chicken, Lamb Rendang, and the Mushroom Dandan will have you thinking about the meal while you’re sitting in your arena seat.
Book a reservation at Piggyback by Pig and Khao here
Where: 140 W 30th St
3. Friedman’s Restaurant
Friedman’s Restaurant is a neighborhood spot where you may even see other fellow Knicks or Rangers fans before or after a game. The American fare here will please every kind of eater, where you can comb through a menu of soups, salads, burgers, and sandwiches. It absolutely gets the job done when you’re in a pinch.
Book a reservation at Friedman’s Restaurant here
Where: 138 W 31st St
4. Keens Steakhouse
Keens Steakhouse is a no frills house of USDA meats that’s seen the likes of celebrities and even American presidents dine at over the years. The chophouse dates all the way back to 1885…so if you’re going to the insanely historic sports arena you may as well dine at a historic steakhouse too.
Sink your teeth into one of their dry-aged meats (we recommend the Prime Porterhouse for Two to split) with some side dishes and a salad to see why it’s been a pre-MSG treat for as long as we can remember.
Book a reservation at Keens Steakhouse here
Where: 72 W 36th St
5. The Landing at PENN 1
From how modern and sparkling clean The Landing at PENN 1 looks, you think it’d be a bit too upscale for a pre-MSG meal…but it’s really not! The menu is pretty affordable for the neighborhood it resides in, serving solid American bar and lounge food in a tip-top atmosphere.
Our recommendations: Salmon Poke Bowl, Chicken Paillard, and Little Gem Salad.
Book a reservation at The Landing at PENN 1 here
Where: 1 Pennsylvania Plaza
6. Blue Ribbon Sushi & Steak
Blue Ribbon’s handful of restaurants around NYC are pretty recognizable at this point, but their sushi and steak outpost near MSG is definitely worth a visit before a visit to the arena. It’s kind of a culmination of the chain’s best foods in one, of course being headlined by the namesake sushi and steaks.
The menu ranges from prime steaks (plus Japanese A5 and American wagyu) to sushi and sashimi. Granted it is on the pricier side (they serve $27 hot dogs), it’s a nice upscale Japanese spot that you can enjoy before walking over to MSG.
Book a reservation at Blue Ribbon Sushi & Steak here
Where: 1 Pennsylvania Plaza
7. Alessa
A fairly new addition to the MSG neighborhood is Alessa, a new Italian spot that rightfully brings “la dolce vita” to the Big Apple. It’s more than just another Italian spot though…it’s got an elevated, yet approachable dining ambiance curated by Executive Chef Denevin Miranda, formerly of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. It features contemporary spins on classics like house made pizzas, a Squid Ink Linguine with Lobster that’s to die for and even…Italian Caviar Bumps (Yeah, seriously).
Not to mention the drinks are up to par too, thanks to a curated beverage program by Damiano Corren of Employees Only fame.
Book a reservation at Casa Dani here
Where: 237 W 35th St
8. NY Pizza Suprema
Pizza is always a go-to, especially if you’re looking for a quick pre or post-game bite. Why sure you may run into quick moving line at NY Pizza Suprema, it’s worth trying out a spot that’s been serving the area for longer than MSG has been around.
All of their slices are tasty (coming piping hot out of the oven), but we recommend going for their one-of-a-kind Upside Down Pizza (square slice with cheese on the bottom sauce on the top)…there’s a reason it’s been featured on The TODAY Show and Rachel Ray.
Where: 413 8th Ave
9. Casa Dani
This Spanish-Mediterranean spot isn’t only just eye-catching but it’s also pretty damn tasty. Under the watchful eye of Chef Dani Garcia (the restaurant’s name is literally “Dani’s House” translated), expect everything from tapas and paella to mains like Oxtail Brioche and a whole category of Tuna as Served In Andalucía.
Book a reservation at Casa Dani here
Where: 448 W 33rd St
The post The Best Restaurants Near Madison Square Garden appeared first on Secret NYC.
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From January 10th to March 1st
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