sweetnis

Would anyone have suggestions on where to dine with 2 16 year old girls (light breakfast, and dinner)? So far I think I will hit Jekyll & Hyde for lunch (heard the food is average but it is an experience), Serendipity sounds good for a light breakfast and the food court in Grand Central for another lunch. I guess I am looking for 2 dinner options. Like many young people their tastes are not very sophisticated but Mom and Dad do not want to hit chain restaurants. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

GoTravel

Saying the food is average at Jekyl & Hyde is a gross exageration. It is horrible.

Serendipity only if you get there at 9AM for lunch at 1PM. The waits are horrible.

The food at Grand Central is not really a food court per se in the mall way. The restaurants at Grand Central are mostly upscale expensive dining only open for dinner. No light lunches there that I can think of.

Shelly's New York, Redeye Grill, Trattoria d'ell Arte, Brooklyn Diner, and Becco are all excellent choices for your family for dinner in the Midtown area.

sweetnis

Thank you, since you provided so many options maybe we'll just skip J&H!

HowardR

GoTravel, your comments about dining in Grand Central Station are inaccurate. There is a wide, wide choice of options in the lower level food court for lunch there or for a quick breakfast...and they are not expensive. Perhaps you are thinking the restaurants on the upper levels which indeed are expensive.
However, you are quite right about Jekyl & Hyde. Avoid it at all costs.
If your daughters like pasta, try Becco which has a pasta special--all you can eat of three featured pastas each evening. And, it's a bargain at $22.,

Lois_L

Teens at this age need to expand their horizons--where better to do this, food-wise, than NYC, where there are endless opportunities to sample delicious cuisine from everywhere in the world. Don't you dare go to a dive like Jekyll & Hyde--your responsibility is to raise their level of sophistication and broaden their horizons. The food court at Grand Central is indeed great for a quick lunch if you're in the area; the suggestions from GoTravel, on 57th Street, are also good. Shelly's (one of my favorite spots) can get expensive, since they feature quality seafood. As has been mentioned often on this board, if you avoid the tourist/expense account area of midtown and walk west, you can find some nice choices on 9th Ave. How about Marseille, for a taste of southern France and a very cool atmosphere? There are also some great Italian places on 9th--my sister-in-law favors Puttanesca, corner of 56th, but you better have reservations, esp. if you want to go early. Are they familiar with Thai food? A couple of nice, economical places on 9th. Maybe a good plan would be to save on breakfast, with some NY bagels, and let them sample some memorable restaurants in the evening. How about French one night; choice of another foreign cuisine the next night. Maybe 9th Ave. one night, and the next explore the wonderful West Village. How about Spice Market on 13th? (if you can get a table).

Patrick

Not only is Jekyll & Hyde horrible in every way, it is geared to 6 and 7 year olds, not 16 year old ones. Would your girls appreciate being taken to a Mr. Roger's Neighborhood theme restaurant?

tpatricco

Jeckyll & Hyde is a nightmare...to be avoided at all costs.

My thread might help with some alternatives for family dining with teens. http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...ckyll+%26+hyde

Ruby Foo's might be a fun place for your family.

wantsomesun

I would suggest the STardust Cafe on Broadway to be perfect for your teens, the fare is good and burgerish/sandwiches and terrific shakes. I love the Monte Cristo, my favorite.

Here the waiters sing during your dinner, and they just might ask the kids to join them.

They would also probably like America on 18th between 5th and Broadway and CAfe 1 2 3 (upscaleish, but the tables have paper tablecloths and there are cryaons so you can creative.

If you like seafood then a highly recommended ( we are there a couple of times a month) Minado on E 32and St, between 5th and Madison. All you can eat seafood buffet, and the choices are endless. $13pp for lunch and $21pp for dinner.

Just about anywhere on Columbus AVe, and alot of the restaurants now have outdoor seating to enjoy the sites and the SOUNDS of the city (sorry a fire truck just went by)

Ollie's for good chinese food, several locations Times Square and a little north of Lincoln Center.

Lots of fun places in Chinatown, our favorite is Mandarin Court on Mott St and then walk up into Little Italy for a wonderful desert.

Don't know where you are staying, but you are sure to find something in all parts of the city, just by walking around. There are something like 10,000 places to eat in Manhattan, so you really should have lots to choose from. Most restaurants post their menu outside so you can take a look and then decide if it looks good.

Another fun place the kids might like is The Rio Grande, on 3rd and 37th?, I think. The north side of the restaurant is Tex food and the south is Mex, and the Rio Grand is painted on the wall through the kitchen.

On 3rd and 34th, they might like the Back Porch (outside seating there) and a little further south on 3rd is Coppola's which is wonderful Italian 3rd and 27th? I think.

Grand Central Food court is a very good idea, there are lots of choices there, also for a nice lunch try the Trump Plaza on 5th and 56th? I think. There is a better quality food courtish restaurant with a lovely waterfall.

For just plain fast lunch the food court at Manhattan Mall. After all shopping is one of the things at the top of the list for your girls.

One last suggestion, althought it is a chain, the girls might enjoy Bubba Gump on Broadway and 44th. Right across from the Good Morning American and close to Virgin Records.

Have a GREAT time while you are here.

robhart

I want to second Lois L's recommendation of Ninth Avenue in the 50s for casual dinner restaurants. There's E, the Vinyl Diner, Route 66 -- all good places for a basic dinner. Many other choices around there, too.

Lois_L

My 16-year-old daughter loves Mangia, on 57th bet. 5th and 6th, for lunch (closed Sunday). She says their pasta specials are the best; they also have good sandwiches, fabulous salad bar, luscious cakes. Ollie's, my kids' favorite Chinese, is a good example of the great quality available in NY at rock-bottom prices. For some reason they think the food is best at the Lincoln Center area branch. I also endorse Robhart's suggestions for 9th Ave.--Vinyl is an odd combo of Thai and American, bringing in a big following with inexpensive cocktails. "E"atery has a great chef, and is usually crowded. Route 66 is cheap, very hearty, very good diner-type food.

mp

You've gotten some good suggestions with Mangia (several locations on W. 57th St. on west 23rd St) Ruby Foos, Ollies, downstairs at Grand Central (lots of great choices there - everything from sushi to bratwurst!) Marseille (great french fries!) but some info is inaccurate - America on W. 18th St has closed (it was mediocre at best) and opinon wise - with all the great restaurants in NYC, why would you go to a mediocre chain like Bubba Gumps? If you want seafood in Times Square, try Blue Fin - pricey but very good.

wantsomesun

Thanks for the update on America, it used to be a very good restaurant and then changed owners several times. I will miss the magician.

Actually if you've not been to Bubba Gumps, it's pretty good. The portions are large and it's a fun place for kids. All the servers go out of their way to be fun while providing service to customers. We were there a couple of nights ago, and had a great time.

They play "Forest Gump" on several screens in the restaurant.

Another suggestion that might be fun, is up in Ft. Tryon Park, which is where The Cloisers is located. The restaurant, not sure of the new name, has a nice outdoor garden and the food last time I was there was very good.

Again, have a terrific time while you are here.

GoTravel

Oops, my bad. I have not been to any of the restaurants below the main concourse so the only ones I know are the nicer ones. My train transportation is usually in and out of Penn Station I would tell you to avoid the food there at all costs!

sweetnis

Thank you everyone, you certainly hit some of the kids favorite, pasta, Chinese, diner type places. Not sure which we will pick but it will be from this list. Thanks again.

JJ5

Several years ago we did this with teenage boys. They happened to love Becco and one still mentions it often. Howard and other posters have suggested it already. But what is SO nice is that the antipasta etc. is perfect for the girls and the price is great, but furthermore you just don't have a big decision about anything there. It is three specials of the day that they serve to you with additional quantities added of each by your choice. It will stretch them only slightly and it's also no argument time for the picky eater syndrome people.

We had an exchange student from Mexico who only ate overcooked hamburgers while in the USA the entire time he was with us. And he was thin as a stick. And HE ate about 1/2 of what they gave him at Becco. And we considered that a conquest.

holly777

Serendipity:
I took my daughters there last june...age 21 & 14. It was funky & fun!

You can make reservations for lunch but you must be on time! 212-838-3531

Lunch is better than breakfast because you simply must try the frozen hot chocolate, their specialty. We had salads to save room for dessert & all 3 of us shared 1 huge frozen hot chocolate!
here is the website:
http://www.serendipity3.com/

On Fodorite advice, we also went to Becco - perfect for picky eaters, and John's pizzaria - the girls liked both places.

Have fun!

michelleNYC

With so many wonderful options in NYC, I certainly recommend that you use this as an opportunity to expand their horizons food-wise. Foods from virtually everywhere in the world can be found here so explore beyond pasta, pizza and hamburgers. Try some Thai, or Greek, or Japanese, etc., etc., etc.

MFNYC

You should explore neighborhoods other than the times square area for meals, particularly dinner. There are so many great restaurants areas (Central Park West, Greenwich, East VIllage, Lower east side, etc.).

My 16 yr old hans't been to j&h since she was 7 or 8. If you go to AMerica on a wekend during brunch hours, it's loaded with younger kids, I don't know what it's like for dinner.

My 16 year has finally become an adventurous eater. Little Italy and CHinatown are worth exploring for a meal. Another possibility is little india on 6th st between 1st and 2nd avs. Or little Korea on (I think) 32nd ST near Browadway. ANy of these areas has many restaurants, generally reasonable as well. For something trendy check out the meatpacking district or the lower east side. FOr huge variety and reasonable prices, check out the east village.

sfamylou

Our two kids are much younger, but we had good family meals at Gallagher's Steak House on 52nd west of Broadway; and Times Square area lunches at John's Pizza on 44th and Virgil's BBQ also on 44th.

hester

My daughter now almost 15 and I travel to NYC every summer for a Girls trip. She has her favorites, Serendipity is a must and you never know who you might see there. But make reservations. We also like Carmines in the theatre district. I know people think there are much better Italian restaurants and there probably are, but us small town girls from Washington state love the noise and yes the food. We also like Johns Pizza on 44th. We also love to eat in Chinatown. Most of all have fun! I have spent more time by MTV than I care to admit with my daughter but wouldn't trade the memories for anything.