Here's a healthy idea for a Saturday night: Enjoy dinner, and then walk it off. This weekend, Summer in the City recommends dining in the Flatiron District, then walking about 10 blocks north to Koreatown for drinks.
DINNER
Overlooking Madison Square Park, Bread Bar features an outdoor seating area that seems always to be full of diners. Many of the patrons are regulars — fans of chef Floyd Cardoz's innovative French-Indian fare. If you're with a group, it's advisable to order the Bread Bar Wazwan sampler, which includes tandoori lamb, striped bass ceviche, and several kinds of chutney, among other dishes ($49 a person). Bread Bar's selection is inspired by Indian street food, and much of it pairs fabulously with beer or wine.
To restrain yourself from devouring an entire bowl of Bombay bhel puri — puffed rice with green mango mixed with mint and tamarind chutney — we suggest sharing with your tablemates. Another crunchy treat is the black pepper shrimp, which is fried with the shell on. For vegetarians, there's the kadai baby spinach and paneer — the cheese dish better known as saag paneer, which goes great with rice. And if you plan on eating outside on Wednesdays, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., the restaurant offers a Taste of Tabla, allowing alfresco eaters to select from five courses from the menu at Tabla, Bread Bar's upscale sister restaurant on-site.(11 Madison Ave. at 25th Street, 212-889-0667)
DRINKS
Hidden amid the glimmer and bombast of Koreatown is an unexpected rooftop gem: La Quinta Inn, a budget hotel chain, is the home of the small and cozy Roof Top bar. In view of white fences decked out in colored Christmas lights, tipplers can sit at circular tables and enjoy a view — slightly obstructed, but still great — of the Empire State Building, as well as the crowds below on 32nd Street. There's also an indoor seating area for those who can't brave the breeze: The dark, uncrowded room is a perfect choice for a couple seeking a bit of privacy. (17 W. 32nd St., between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, 212-790-2710)
