Midtown East is getting another place to eat, drink and pretend you’re only stopping in for one cocktail.
The Alexander, located at 905 First Avenue at East 51st Street, is the latest addition to a neighborhood that has plenty of office towers but is always looking for another good reason to stay after 5 p.m.
The restaurant and bar brings a polished but approachable feel to Midtown NYC, making it the kind of spot that can work for everything from a business lunch to after-work drinks, dinner with friends or a date night that doesn’t require trekking downtown.
And location is a major part of the appeal.
Sitting on First Avenue near the United Nations and Grand Central corridor, The Alexander is positioned right in the middle of one of Manhattan’s busiest business and residential neighborhoods. That means it has something many downtown restaurants would probably pay a small fortune for: a built-in audience that is already hungry.
The menu leans toward contemporary American fare, with a selection designed to work equally well for a full dinner or a few dishes shared over drinks. The bar program adds another reason to linger, with cocktails and a selection of beer and wine.
For anyone searching for new restaurants in Midtown East, restaurants near 51st Street, bars near the United Nations or where to eat in Midtown Manhattan, The Alexander is worth putting on the radar.
There’s also something refreshing about a restaurant that doesn’t require a 45-minute subway journey, a reservation lottery and three friends willing to pretend they’re “flexible” about dinner time.
Sometimes you just want a good neighborhood restaurant.
The Alexander is betting Midtown East does too.
And at 905 First Avenue, it’s certainly in the right neighborhood to find out.
