Hi, thanks for these suggestions! Regarding the question of "where downtown," we're quite open on the question of location and more concerned with the baby question. This would be for a Tuesday evening dinner. And "quiet" and "baby-friendly" have to go together here, since we don't want the baby upset, for example, by loud music.

Does anyone have suggestions for a quiet and baby-friendly restaurant downtown with excellent food? Two of my friends want to celebrate their birthdays, but we're having trouble thinking of appropriate choices, given that our group will have a 6-mo.-old in tow. (Price range $15-$30 a plate.)

Not a silly question at all. Thanks so much!

Hello,

My husband and I want to have a lovely dinner to celebrate some recently arrived good news. This Friday is the only evening we can do this (preferably early in the evening.) Many of the restaurants we've checked have already been booked, even for early evening seating. Does anyone have a gem to recommend, which would provide great food in a good atmosphere even without our having made reservations well in advance? (We're looking for something in the $25-40 per entree range. We could basically go anywhere in Manhattan, though downtown or West side would be convenient. We're open to many different cuisines.)

Does anyone know where to buy Molinari Finocchiona in Manhattan? I live on the Upper West Side and would prefer to find a place not too far afield...

Thanks! The quietness is indeed key...

Three friends and I will be spending a Friday together in San Francisco, near the Embarcadero, and we're looking for a restaurant with fabulous food and a mellow vibe where we can catch up and talk. Our price range is moderate: between, say, $15 and $30 for entrees. We would like the restaurant to be within a 15-minute range by foot, taxi, or public transportation. We're open to different kinds of food but are especially drawn to fresh and local (of course). Does anyone have suggestions?