A recent simple favorite of mine in the Theater District is La Locanda dei Vini on Ninth between 49th and 50th. It’s homey, yummy and quite reaswonable for Midtown. Here’s a review: http://www.nextmagazine.net/restaurants/lalocanda.shtml .

If you’re willing to go a little ways away from Midtown, Danal on East 10th Street is wonderful, cozy, and, if a bit Euro, thoroughly unpretentious.

Rachel’s is also worth considering. It’s a pleasant, low key American restaurant based on 9th Avenue between 43rd and 44th streets. Very cozy, very nice, even if it’s a little bit of a walk.

I’ll put it this way: my mom sounds like your mom, and I’d be willing to take her there. At the end of the meal, my mom would probably say it was "nice," which is the best I could hope for.

You might try Da Marino on 49th between 8th and Broadway. It’s right in the heart of the theater district(2 doors down from NINE) and has all the attributes you are looking for. It’s no nonsense Italian with a cozy room and very non-pretentious service. In addition it is relatively inexpensive for that area.

quote:

Originally posted by booboobirdie

Checked all the previous threads for NYC, as well as the Zagat survey, but I guess I’m looking for something perhaps a bit too particular.
Taking my mother to NYC for a matinee Xmas weekend. Looking for a post-theater dining experience that is "special". A lot of the Zagat recomendations sound a bit too "glizty" (my mom HATES places like that). We don’t want to "see and be seen". We like to read menus without an interpretor. We want a good simple meal, pleasant service, a cozy atmosphere. Any suggestions?

How about Aquavit on nearby West 54th Street (see: http://www.digitalcity.com/newyork/dining/venue.adp?vid=9674)? It’s different. Not too glitzy. You don’t necessarily neer an interpretor (but you might want one to avoid the lutefisk sorbet [just kidding]). And it’s a unique dining experience in NYC.