Hey all, my parents are coming in from Ohio next month and I want to take them to dinner before an 8 p.m. show near 46th/8th. Problem: my mom is gluten-free (not celiac but she avoids it) and my dad thinks black pepper is spicy. I know that’s a hard combo. They’re not adventurous and hate waiting in long lines. I’ve only been here two years and usually just grab a slice or noodles, so I’m kind of lost. Looking for somewhere walking distance to the theater, not a giant Times Square chain, and ideally not one of those places where you can't hear each other. Any ideas? Budget is normal, not trying to do a tasting menu.

Don’t overthink it. Right around 46th and 8th, look at Marseille on 9th Avenue between 44th and 45th. It’s French-ish, takes reservations, and has straightforward fish, chicken, and salads. They handle gluten-free without making it weird if you tell the server. Not spicy at all unless you ask for harissa on the side. If your dad needs the most plain thing possible, get the roast chicken if they have it that night. Just book for 5:30 or 6 and you’ll make curtain with time to spare. It’s tourist-adjacent but doesn’t feel like a chain.

Wait, is Marseille still there? I walked by a few weeks ago and thought it looked closed or at least under heavy scaffolding. Maybe I’m wrong. For gluten-free near the Theater District I’ve heard Friedman’s is good—there’s one on 44th? They have gluten-free fried chicken, I think, but the line gets bad on show nights. Owen, do your parents need a reservation, or is walk-in okay? Also if your dad is pepper-averse, tell them no pepper on the potatoes. Some kitchens are heavy-handed with black pepper even when the dish isn't 'spicy.'

Marseille is open, the scaffolding is just the block. Solid choice. But for pre-theater crowds, anything on 46th between 8th and 9th is going to have that 'feed them and turn the table' energy. If you’re willing to walk ten minutes, Pure Thai Cookhouse would be my usual answer, but if black pepper is too spicy, absolutely not. Scratch that. Go old-school red sauce instead: Becco is Italian, family-friendly, and very out-of-town parent energy. It won’t blow your mind, but it won’t fail. Gluten-free there is mostly grilled fish or salad, though—not the unlimited pasta.

Owen, what time is the show exactly? If it’s an 8:00 curtain you probably need to be seated by 5:45, not 6:30, because Broadway security and restroom lines get real. We made that mistake with my in-laws once and they were speed-walking in heels. Is Becco okay for gluten-free though? If your mom is actually avoiding it, the unlimited pasta table might feel like a trap. Maybe Chez Josephine or Barbetta? Barbetta is right on Restaurant Row, older crowd, and they seem used to dietary requests. Not sure about GF pasta there.

Scratch Pure Thai, obviously. For the specific Ohio-parent brief, go to Barbetta on 46th between 8th and 9th. It’s on Restaurant Row, old-school Italian, and the crowd skews exactly like your folks. They’ve been doing pre-theater dinners forever, the room isn’t a shouting match, and they don’t blink at a gluten-free request—just say 'allergy' so the kitchen takes it seriously. If dad is pepper-averse, order the veal or chicken piccata and tell them easy on the seasoning. It’s one of the few Theater District spots that still feels like an actual restaurant, not a conveyor belt.

Thanks all. We ended up booking Barbetta for 5:45 next Saturday, mostly because it’s directly on the block and my mom said the photos looked 'not too young.' I called and they said gluten-free was no problem, just add the note. I also walked past Marseille on the way home and it's definitely open—just scaffolding—so that’s our backup if the timing gets weird. Gowanus_G, thanks for the roast chicken tip. big_city_beth, good call on the early seating; I would have booked 6:30 and we’d be sprinting to the curtain.

Good move. Just don’t let them sell you on the old townhouse tour unless you have time. For future visits, keep Sardi’s in mind if the parents ever want the full theater-kid experience—not for this trip, but it’s basically next door and the older crowd loves it. And yeah, 5:45 is the move. Report back if Barbetta’s gluten-free pasta actually tastes like pasta or like a punishment.