Restaurants here know the meaning of service. I have yet to have a water glass go below half-full (or half-empty, depending on your point of view).
And they take this credit card that my company forces us to use on business trips. You may have heard of it. Then again, maybe not. It’s called Diner’s Club. Outside of this city, it’s completely useless unless you go to a large chain-type restaurant like TGI Friday’s or some place like that.
Speaking of large chains, how is it that places like TGI Friday’s, Olive Garden, and Red Lobster can sustain business in Times Square? Surely the locals aren’t eating there. And what kind of loser comes to New York City and eats at an Olive Garden?
I just don’t get it.
Speaking of large chains – not that I have ever eaten there in Times Square, but Americans of a certain age (yes, that means me) remember HoJo’s (Howard Johnsons) being all over the country. Well, one of the original Howard Johnson’s (you can tell if it is one of the earlier ones by the apostrophe) is in Times Square. Unfortunately, the building it is in has been sold and the Times Square Hojo’s will close. While a cleaner and safer Times Square is nice some things will be missed
BUT there are also new things – if you like ice cream (and who doesn’t?) check out the Cold Stone Creamery on 42nd Street. Rather touristy but fun!
I was in NYC just before last Thanksgiving, for the first time in 20 years. It was great. Friendly natives, inexpensive eats, very nice.
Eh, tourists go to Rome and eat at McDonalds. Why wouldn’t they eat at an Olive Garden in Times Square?
But isn’t Olive Garden "Real Italian"? That’s what they say on the commercials.