Museum Mile on the Upper East Side is a destination unto itself.  You can literally walk for miles once you add your steps through all the wonderful galleries at the Met, the Whitney and Guggenheim, and that’s only a start.  Here are some of my favorites pit stops to refuel as you immerse yourself in NYC culture.  Watch next week for “where to eat” on the Upper West Side.  Remember, most museums are closed on Monday, so check the schedules carefully.

Centolire

After checking out Michelangelo’s first painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, continue your exploration of Italian culture by enjoying some fine Italian cuisine at Centolire Café. Nestled into a corner of Madison Avenue at 86th Street, Centolire has two distinct levels. Unwind in the casual ground level that has the bar in the back and fabulous panninis or step into the glass elevator and get whisked away to the second floor for a more fine dining experience. Order Centolire’s signature Caesar Salad for a light lunch, or savor a delicious plate of Melanzane al Modo Mio (Eggplant Parmagiana) or Cacciucco (Tuscan Fish Stew) for dinner with a glass of barolo. No matter what you order at Centolire, Chef Pino Luongo’s dishes will definitely leave you saying, “That’s amore!”

1167 Madison Avenue, 85th & 86th St., (212) 734-7711, http://www.pinoluongo.com/Centolire.html

Demarchelier

If the German and Austrian artwork at the Neue Galerie New York has inspired you to get in touch with your artistic side, then walk one block to Demarchelier, a fine French bistro that masters the art of French cuisine, as well as art itself. The owner’s artwork can be found hanging throughout the restaurant, and the best part is: it’s all for sale! Demarchelier offers a traditional French menu, and the all-day $26 prix-fixe is certainly magnifiqueif you want to eat like the French for a reasonable price. Choose an appetizer of soup, salad or pate, and an entrée of steak frites, coq au vin, grilled salmon or an omelette (at lunch time). A complimentary glass of wine or French cider is also included. Whether you leave with a new piece of artwork or just the satisfaction of a delicious meal, you will find Demarchelier restaurant to be the perfect end to a perfect day.

50 E. 86 St. at Madison Ave., (212) 249-6300, http://www.demarchelierrestaurant.com/

Sarabeth’s Kitchen

When searching for that perfect place to eat at after taking the kids to an art-making workshop at the Jewish Museum or after climbing the spiral at the Guggenheim, look no further than Sarabeth’s Kitchen. Offering a host of different foods that are suitable for any time of day, Sarabeth’s is sure to have that perfect treat for everyone in your group. For every girl’s dream tea party, relax with some mid-afternoon tea and scones at Sarabeth’s. Or if you are traveling with a group of boys in tow, Sarabeth’s Kitchen has several lunch specialties including the seasonal chicken pot pie that will keep the little ones asking for seconds.

1295 Madison Ave. at 92nd St., 212-410-7335, http://www.sarabethseast.com/

Square Meal

Strolling along Museum Mile, you might stumble across Square Meal, a quaint restaurant with an eclectic menu of comfort foods that changes daily. Chef Yura Mohr cooks up traditional treats from several states including Maryland crab cakes, Maine blueberry pie and Kentucky Bourbon bread pudding. While the Square Meal menu changes from day to day, you can always indulge in a classic five-ounce burger, served with homemade ketchup and caramelized onions. Chef Mohr is also known for scrumptious desserts, so grab something to go as you make the rest of the museum rounds.

30 E. 92nd St. at Madison Ave., (212) 860-9872, http://www.squaremealnyc.com/

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at 12:12 am and is filed under Stuff to Do. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.