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Picture it: 6:15 pm, curtain at 7, and you’re standing on West 49th Street with a growling stomach and about 40 minutes to fix it.
I’ve been there many, many times.
I spent almost three years living and auditioning in New York City, which meant watching shows at every level around the Theater District.
And, y’know, a girl’s gotta eat!
These days I’m a licensed NYC tour guide who leads trips around Europe from my home in Italy, so yes, I have opinions about where you should eat before The Book of Mormon.
I’ve personally eaten at most of the spots on this list.
A handful are newer places I picked after digging through recent reviews (restaurant hunting is basically my cardio), and I rechecked every single one in October 2026 so you won’t walk up to a locked door.
You’ll find dinner, a post-show drink, and desserts open well past curtain call.
Only time for one? Becco with its unlimited pasta for dinner, then a drink across the street at Lillie’s.
Quick Answers:
- Closest: Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, directly across West 49th Street at #249. Great for a drink before or after the show; open until 1 am (2 am Fri–Sat).
- Best Italian: Becco on Restaurant Row (W 46th St). The Sinfonia di Paste is unlimited servings of the day’s three pastas, with a Caesar salad or antipasto, for $36.95.
- Best pre-theater deal: Pulperia on W 46th St, three courses for $60, Sunday to Friday from 4 to 7 pm.
- Best splurge: Empire Steak House West on W 54th St, known for its dry-aged porterhouse.
- Best for a group or a date: Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ on W 44th St, where you grill at the table.
- Before a matinee: The Blue Dog Cookhouse & Bar on W 50th St, with brunch served until 3 pm every day.
- Vegan: P.S. Kitchen on W 48th St, about a minute’s walk from the theatre.
- Best dessert after the show: a Schmackary’s cookie on W 45th St, or Mia’s Bakery on Seventh Avenue (open until midnight, 1 am on Fri–Sat).
- How early to book: reserve at least 90 minutes before curtain and tell your server your show time. The Book of Mormon runs about 2.5 hours, so a 7 pm show lets out around 9:30.
Planning your Book of Mormon night?
- Tickets: Buy at the box office or online (the box office has no online fees), or try the $49 Lucky Seat lottery.
- Where to stay: 9 Quiet Hotels in New York City Where You’ll Actually Sleep
- Before you go: my complete guide to Broadway tickets and lotteries
Best Restaurants Near the Eugene O’Neill Theatre (and The Book of Mormon)
1. Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
- Address: 249 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019
- Website
Walk in and it’s a 19th-century parlor that never got the memo: Victorian portraits, chandeliers, and dark wood on every wall.
The menu is pub food and cocktails, and they also serve afternoon tea every day until 2:45 pm if you’re seeing a matinee.
It’s one of my favorite places to go after a Broadway show with friends, especially for a drink under their decorations during the Christmas season.
They change the theme with the seasons (when I checked in October, the Times Square location was Halloween-themed).
It’s open until 1 am, and until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
2. Mom’s Kitchen and Bar
- Address: 701 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
- Website
When it comes to viral New York City desserts, I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of Black Tap’s towering milkshake confections.
To be honest, I’ve compared–Mom’s are better.
You’ll get major retro vibes when you head into Mom’s Kitchen and Bar.
It feels like you are wandering into the 1950s car hop, with checkerboard floor tiles and spacious booths.
They serve all-day brunch, but come for the Bigmouth Shakes.
The flavors rotate (the current menu has seven, from a birthday-cake shake topped with a whole slice of rainbow cake to a s’mores one), and when I went, I had the Chocolate Peanut Butter, with whole Reese’s cups stuck to the outside of the glass.
Mhmmmmm.
Mom’s is on Ninth Avenue at 48th Street, about a five-minute walk west of the theatre, and it’s open from 8 am (7:30 on weekends) until midnight. You can find Mom’s other location over in Astoria, Queens.
3. Becco
- Address: 355 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
- Website
I hope you’ll forgive me; as an American living in Italy, I am particularly partial to excellent Italian cuisine.
Thankfully, there are tons in New York City.
On West 46th Street’s Restaurant Row, Becco is Lidia and Joe Bastianich’s Italian spot, and it’s fed theatergoers for decades.
Beyond the à la carte menu, you can order the Sinfonia di Paste (their name for a pasta “symphony”): a Caesar salad or antipasto, then unlimited tableside servings of the three pastas the kitchen makes that day.
Yes, I said all-you-can-eat pasta.
It’s a great option if you’re looking for restaurants near the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in NYC.
4. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
For an authentic Japanese yakiniku (grilled barbecue) experience, Gyu-Kaku is the place for you.
About a 10-minute walk south of the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, Gyu-Kaku lets you grill your own meats at a tabletop grill.
The menu includes a wide selection of Japanese BBQ favorites, from the popular Harami Skirt Steak to Prime Kalbi Short Ribs.
Since you get to cook the food yourself at your table, Gyu-Kaku is a memorable dining experience if you want to spend time with friends and family before the show–or need an interesting wintery date idea!
5. Pulperia Latin Mediterranean Kitchen
- Address: 338 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
- Website
Over on Restaurant Row, Pulperia mixes Latin American and Mediterranean cooking, and it’s one of the newest spots on this list (it opened in fall 2025).
And no, the name has nothing to do with octopus.
In Latin America, a pulpería is a corner store, the neighborhood spot where everyone ends up.
The dish people keep raving about is their seafood paella, loaded with monkfish, shrimp, mussels, clams, and squid.
For a pre-show dinner, the three-course prix fixe is $60 per person, Sunday to Friday from 4 to 7 pm, and you can add paella for two for $10 more.
It’s a step up in price from Becco, but it’s the best pre-theater deal on this list.
6. Kohoku-Ku Ramen
- Address: 709 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
- Website
Right next door to Mom’s, Kohoku-Ku is a tiny ramen shop where some of the seats are built from old Suntory crates.
The broth is made in-house, thick and rich, and the yakitori skewers are the sleeper hit.
It’s small, so it’s better for two than for a big group.
7. Osaka Fusion BBQ & Sushi
- Address: 654 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
- Website
My old sushi spot on this list closed (RIP), so meet the new one.
Osaka Fusion BBQ & Sushi is the Times Square outpost of a small New York group that started in Brooklyn, with an izakaya-style menu of sushi rolls, sashimi, and yakitori, plus bento boxes at lunch.
It’s open until 11 pm, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
It’s one of the newer places on Ninth Avenue, so it has fewer reviews than the others on this list.
8. Empire Steak House West
- Address: 237 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019
- Website
The fanciest dinner on this list is Empire Steak House West, on West 54th Street inside the Hilton Garden Inn, about a seven-minute walk north of the theatre.
The owners, the Sinanaj brothers, spent years at Peter Luger in Brooklyn before opening their own steakhouses, and it shows in the order everyone makes: the USDA Prime dry-aged porterhouse, sized for two, three or four people.
If someone at your table doesn’t eat steak, the menu has a long seafood side.
Grab a seat at the long white marble bar before the show if you can’t get a table.
9. Arriba Arriba
- Address: 762 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
- Website
One of my favorites by the theater is Arriba Arriba, a colorful Mexican spot on Ninth Avenue at 51st Street.
The portions are big, the margaritas match, and it’s a fun, loud place to go with friends before the show.
Or, you know, for your best friend’s birthday dinner, with rounds of huge Happy Hour frozen margaritas!
10. Bocca di Bacco
Another of my favorite Manhattan restaurants is Bocca di Bacco, and coming from someone who lives in Italy, that says a lot about the quality of their Italian cuisine.
Two locations on Ninth Avenue within about 10 minutes of the theatre: the Theatre District one at 635 Ninth Avenue (between 44th and 45th) and the Hell’s Kitchen one at 54th Street, so you have twice the chance of getting a table before showtime.
On weekdays, they also do a three-course prix fixe lunch, handy before a matinee.
11. The Blue Dog Cookhouse & Bar
- Address: 308 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019
- Website
The Blue Dog Cookhouse & Bar is a cozy little spot about three minutes from the theatre, with a big community table and old black-and-white movies projected on the wall.
I love it for brunch, and they serve it until 3 pm every day, so it’s perfect before a matinee. I’m a big fan of their omelets or their chicken and waffles, depending on what I’m in the mood for that day.
The cocktails were really nice too.
Weekend brunch is first-come, first-served, so get there early on a two-show day.
12. Turkuaz
- Address: 310 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
- Website
For something different, Turkuaz is a sit-down Turkish restaurant on West 53rd Street, a big step up from your average kebab shop.
It’s halal, with dining rooms upstairs and down and a garden out back.
Diners rave about the hummus, grilled branzino and kebabs; save room for baklava and a Turkish coffee.
It’s about an 8-minute walk north, one of the farther picks on this list.
13. P.S. Kitchen
- Address: 246 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
- Website
If anyone in your group is vegan, P.S. Kitchen is the easy answer.
It’s a fully plant-based restaurant and bar about a minute’s walk from the theatre, serving vegan burgers, wings, and pasta, and it gives 100% of its profits to charity.
14. Schmackary’s
- Address: 362 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
- Website
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of my favorite dessert places near the Eugene O’Neill Theatre.
Schmackary’s is the cookie shop to the Broadway stars.
After a show, a line wraps around the block as people wait for their after-show sugar shock.
With more than 100 rotating flavors and cookies that lean more toward the crispy side of the chewy debate, a Broadway lover can’t leave the Theater District without a taste.
Sometimes, you’ll find a Broadway actor manning the counter, as the professional theatre community partners with Schmackary’s for charity projects.
12. Mia’s Brooklyn Bakery
- Address: 716 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036
- Website
Over on Seventh Avenue, you’ll find the Manhattan outpost of Mia’s Brooklyn Bakery.
Serving fresh pastries and cakes until midnight (1 am on Fridays and Saturdays), this little takeout counter is where I go when the show ends, but I’m not ready for the night to too.
They bake everything at their Brooklyn shop and bring it in daily, and they have vegan and gluten-free options in the case, too.
And, of course, they taste as delicious as they look.
Grab a rainbow cookie or a slice of their incredible chocolate cake. Or a Creme Brûlée cupcake, or a lobster tail, or a Napoleon–you can’t go wrong with any of them!
13. Holey Cream
- Address: 791 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
- Website
My final favorite dessert in the area is Holey Cream.
This ice cream shop is known for creating ice cream sandwiches with freshly baked donuts.
They come out huge, so be prepared to share one if you’re going with friends.
They also have milkshakes, blizzards, and donuts.
It’s open until 1 am most nights, and later Thursday through Saturday, so it’s a safe bet for a post-show sugar run.
Cocktails and Drinks Near the Eugene O’Neill Theatre
You don’t need a full dinner to make a night of it. Here’s where I’d go for a drink around The Book of Mormon.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment (directly across the street): my go-to before or after the show, and you can’t beat the commute. Cocktails in a room that looks like a Victorian parlor, open until 1 am, 2 am on weekends.
Inside the theatre: You can find bars on both levels of the Eugene O’Neill, and you can take your drink back to your seat.
Mom’s Kitchen and Bar (Ninth Ave at 48th): big, silly brunch cocktails, plus a happy hour Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 pm. You can make any of their shakes boozy.
Empire Steak House West (W 54th St): the grown-up option. A long white marble bar and a happy hour, if a steak dinner isn’t in the budget.
Haven Rooftop (W 47th St, inside the Sanctuary Hotel): a cute rooftop a few blocks away with beautiful views over Midtown and a fun vibe. The cocktails are good but pricier, and it closes at 11 pm, so go before the show or straight after a matinee. In the cold months, it’s enclosed and heated.
Open Late: Where to Eat After the Show
The Book of Mormon runs about 2.5 hours, so an evening show lets you out around 9:30 or 10. Here’s who’s still serving.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment (249 W 49th St, across the street): cocktails and pub food until 1 am, and until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Holey Cream (791 Ninth Ave at 53rd): donut ice cream sandwiches until 1 am Sunday to Wednesday, 2 am on Thursdays, and 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mia’s Bakery (716 Seventh Ave): cake by the slice until midnight, and until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mom’s Kitchen and Bar (701 Ninth Ave at 48th): milkshakes and all-day brunch until midnight every night.
Hours change, so check before you go, especially on holidays.
Eugene O’Neill Theatre Dining: FAQs
Where is the Eugene O’Neill Theatre?
The Eugene O’Neill Theatre is at 230 West 49th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, right in the Theater District and on the edge of Hell’s Kitchen. The closest subway stops are 50th Street (C, E and 1 trains) and 49th Street (N, R and W). If addresses here make your head spin, here’s how to read the NYC street grid.
Don’t mix it up with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, which is in Waterford, Connecticut, near Mystic. As someone who grew up in Connecticut, I’ve seen people do it!
What show is running at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City?
The Book of Mormon has been playing the Eugene O’Neill since 2011, and in 2026 it hit 15 years on Broadway. It won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and it’s now the 10th-longest-running show in Broadway history.
The show runs about 2.5 hours with one intermission, so plan dinner around that. Fair warning: there’s a lot of explicit language, and children under 4 aren’t admitted.
You can buy tickets directly at the box office (no online fees there), or enter the lottery through Lucky Seat for a chance at $49 tickets. Take a look at my complete guide for more on the lottery system and the best way to buy tickets.
Who is the Eugene O’Neill Theatre named after?
The theater opened on November 24, 1925, as the Forrest Theatre, named for Edwin Forrest, one of the first great American-born stage stars. It became the Coronet in 1945, and in 1959 owner Lester Osterman renamed it for playwright Eugene O’Neill, who had died six years earlier.
O’Neill is still the only American playwright to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Read (or reread) Beyond the Horizon, The Iceman Cometh or Long Day’s Journey into Night and then go see The Book of Mormon. Talk about range.
Should I make a reservation to have dinner before a Broadway show?
If you want to have dinner before attending a Broadway show, make sure to book a reservation at least an hour and a half before your showtime.
With a 7 pm curtain, that means sitting down by 5:30. And if you’d rather eat after, the show lets out around 9:30, and the places open late below have you covered.
And be sure to tell your server when you sit down what time your show starts, so they know you need to leave with enough time.
You’re in the Theater District, so restaurants know people are coming to eat before a show.
They’ll do their best to ensure you have a great dining experience and get out with enough time to sit down before the house lights come down–but you need to let them know in advance!
What restaurant is closest to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre?
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, directly across West 49th Street at #249. It’s the easiest pre-show drink or post-show nightcap on the block.
Can I take a drink into the Eugene O’Neill Theatre?
Yes. The theatre has bars on both levels, and you can bring drinks bought there back to your seat.
Is it better to eat before or after a Broadway show?
That’s entirely up to you! If you can’t sit through a 2.5-hour performance hungry, eat before the show.
NYC Restaurants Near the Eugene O’Neill Theatre: Wrap-Up
Since you’re right in the middle of the Theater District, you’re never more than a few blocks from a good meal near the Eugene O’Neill.
Book ahead, tell your server your curtain time, and save room for a cookie on the way home.
Read this next: 41+ Crazy Things to do in New York City at Night, for after the show.
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