Azalea: Discover Exquisite Italian Dining in the Heart of New York City

very good food great selection of specials and regular menu items attentive waitstaff

Hold on, we had a really good time, Azalea certainly didn't get in the way. The hunks of bread they bring out were pretty tasty and they offered to bring us more unbidden. We demurred, but I think whenever I've gotten more bread in the past I've had to ask for it. Oh! The price fixe, we had the price fixe as we were splitting the check. They substituted the special without complaint

Great place for pre-show drinks! I would recommend the Italian Margarita. Surprisingly refreshing.

Azalea is a wonderful gem smack dab in the Theater District - complete with a lunch prix fix and dinner prix fix (if you like). They offer very nice personable service in a warm setting that has a nice ambiance whether dining with friends, family or a date. They have a diverse clientele, and treat everyone well. My dining companion and I both agreed we'd be back! I started with the fried cheese mozzarella over some delicious tomato sauce, that with 2 generous blocks of cheese could have been a meal in itself! The sauce was so tasty that you wanted to dip the yummy bread in it over and over again!! The chicken parm was also very tasty, and so good, I was regretting eating lunch before because this was so hearty, I could barely eat half -- leftovers for dinner either the fresh pasta!! For dessert I had the blueberry cheesecake which was nice with the fresh berries stuffed into the slice with graham cracker crust but too full to fully enjoy with the fresh strawberries and whipped topping!! Go with hungry friends who like to share!!!

A great Italian bistro for pre-theater dinner. It's right at 51st street level in the building next door to the Gershwin Theater currently showing Wicked. Look for the red awning under the bright marquee lights. Inside, the restaurant is quite intimate. Reservations are a good idea and we had ours at 5:30 so that we could make it to our 7:30 curtain for Back to the Future. Of course, my sisters and wife are all late, but our server knew the schedule and kept everything rolling. Starting with antipasto, the crispy Fried Calamari was on point with 2 types of dipping sauce, aioli and marinara. We also had the zuppe del giorno, which was a creamy butternut squash soup and it was kicked up with lobster meat. The 4 of us decided to split 2 bowls, but they served them in 4 bowls anyway, pouring the soup from a carafe in each bowl. That was cool! For our entrees, my two sisters split Linguine Vongole with a good amount of clams and the Chicken Milanese, a crunchy scaloppine of chicken breast. My wife went with Lasagna Bolognese, a special of the day and I went with Pappardelle with an Osso Bucco Ragu. The pasta was awesome as fresh made pasta always is, with a perfect al dente texture that cannot be beat. I really wish that we had time for dessert but we'll have to wait until next time, because the curtain calls!

Perfect place to eat before a show next door. Service was great, food was good. I had Mushroom Risotto and added grilled chicken. Nothing extra special about it, but it was good and I enjoyed it. Finished the meal with a pretty tasty creme brûlée. Picked the place for it's location, and if I return to the same theater next door, I would be happy to stop here for dinner again before the show.

A very solid choice in the theatre district. We were welcomed by a friendly host, and immediately appreciated the spacious warm-toned decor and 18 foot high curved wooden ceiling. Very friendly attentive service by Adam throughout the well paced meal. Caesar salad starter was good albeit a bit bland for this anchovy lover. Really enjoyed my veal pappardelle, however, a hefty portion of housemade wide pasta noodles mixed with tender pieces of shredded veal in a savory tomato-based sauce. Highly recommend this dish if on offer. Partner's mushroom risotto was rich, creamy and flavorful. We shared a slice of the lemon blueberry cheesecake to top things off, a creamy ricotta-based pastry that offered a nice blend of tart and sweet. I chose Azalea due to its proximity to the theatre, but would return based on the merits of its food and service alone.

It's conveniently located next to Broadway, and makes it a perfect place to grab a bite to eat before or after a show. The service the service that we received on Saturday afternoon was superb. The waiter was really efficient with our drinks and water refills and menu requests. I ordered the grilled, salmon salad, but instead of baby spinach, I requested a mixed green lettuce base instead which the kitchen graciously accommodated.. The salad was light and fresh and the salmon portion was large. I also enjoyed the Pomegranate spritz as my cocktail. It was sweet but not overly so. Next time I'm in New York to see a Broadway show I will definitely come back and order one of their pastas.