goddesstogo

My little group and I are going to the Tenement Museum on a Sunday in August (hot, I know) and our 1-hour tour will be finished at lunchtime.

We originally planned to go to Katz's Deli for lunch but now I'm thinking maybe dim sum would be a good option. There are zillions of places but I wonder if someone could suggest a specific dim sum restaurant that's good, clean and within walking distance of the museum.

Two of the crowd are vegetarians. Do you think they can manage a decent meal of dim sum without meat?

Thanks

doug_stallings

I think it's actually going to be quite difficult to get a decent selection of vegetarian dim sum. Certainly you can find some offerings (tofu is important in Chinese cooking, but not in dim sum). I could be wrong (and I'll probably be corrected).

But there are definitely some Chinese/Asian restaurants in the area that serve lots of veggie options, including Tien Garden, which is a vegan Asian restaurant on Allen St. And you can definitely find veggie options at the Vietnamese restaurants on Baxter St. near the courthouse. But to be honest, you're a fairly longish walk from Chinatown, and you may not want to make that walk on a hot August day.

I might suggest Souvlaki GR, a little Greek restaurant at 116 Stanton (close to the museum) that has a wide variety of vegetarian mezdes and salads and also veggie pitas. I eat from their truck often outside our office, and the food is great. And you could then stop at Il Laboratorio del Gelato for dessert.

HappyTrvlr

The Tenement Museum apartments you'll visit are authentic, so no a/c.

jdc26

Haven't been to any of these, but they were recommended as some of the best:

Pacificana, in Sunset Park's Chinatown
Chatham Sq restaurant in Chinatown
Dim Sum Go Go, Chinatown Manhattan
Jing Fong, 20 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10013-4802
Chinatown Brasserie, in Manhattan

Good luck!

DebitNM

I just want to say that the entire interior of The Tenement Museum was unbelievable hot - staggering, almost pass out hot when we did it in July. I can't remember if you can bring water in, but if you can - do it. There is virtually no place to sit along the way, save a spot or 2.

Just be forewarned. It was well worth it, but stifling.

goddesstogo

Water is a great idea, Deb, thanks. I've been to the TM Museum before so I know it's close in there but I think I was probably there in the fall. Still, it's only an hour and I guess if anyone is feeling overwhelmed, we can leave.

Thanks, everyone, and now I'm re-thinking the dim sum idea. It's probably going to be difficult for the vegetarians and I just remembered that we're being taken to Tao on Saturday night, so will have just had Asian food.

I think we'll stick with Katz's. One of the group has never been to NY (and she's really the guest of honour) so I'm trying to include the regular tourist and 'famous' places.

Thanks again for your input but no more dim sum suggestions needed. I should have thought this through better in the first place.

nytraveler

Agree that the weather is a real issue if you get a hot day - especially on the upper floors. Do you have tickets already? I know its better to get in advance - but a 95 degree day will be intolerable.

Fra_Diavolo

Another nearby option, popular with both locals and tourists, is Lombardi's Pizza.

http://firstpizza.com

IMDonehere

Please note:

The following were recommended blindly:

Pacificana, in Sunset Park's Chinatown
Chatham Sq restaurant in Chinatown
Dim Sum Go Go, Chinatown Manhattan
Jing Fong, 20 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10013-4802
Chinatown Brasserie, in Manhattan

_____________________________________
Sunset Park is in Brooklyn, a long trip on the R train.
Dim Sum Go Go according to my Chinese friends is the last place to go to
Chinatown Brasserie is closed.

I never recommend a restaurant that I have not been to in least the last year, 18 months and I never recommend places I have never eaten. Half the people on on-line services like Yelp do not know of what they speak, especially when it comes to ethnic food.

doug_stallings

While I love it, what will a vegetarian eat at Katz's? side dishes only? If half your party is vegetarian, I might consider a different spot. But breakfast is served until 11:30 and opens up more possibilities.

AJPeabody

Best place to ask is Chowhound.

IMDonehere

One of the best spots for breakfast in Manahttan is nearby called the Clinton Street Bakery. They have table service and some of the best pancakes and biscuits in the City. But only go during the week, weekend brunches are a zoo,

https://clintonstreetbaking.com

DebitNM

Depending on what kind of vegetarians they are; there are several things they might have including: egg salad, tuna salad, potato latkes, blintzes, knish, kugel, salad platters.

I am deli deprived here in NM; Katz's would be my choice.

goddesstogo

We do already have tix for the Tenement Museum and it's my treat, so if it's unbearably hot I'm willing to eat the cost.

I'd love to try the Clinton Street Bakery but it will be a Sunday so probably too crowded. Still, I'll make a note of it.

It's not as hard for vegetarians to manage at a deli as you might think, Doug, and our vegetarians are pretty easy-going. They'll be happy with a salad and even if they don't eat fish (I don't remember if they do) they might eat eggs. Plus Deb's suggestions of latkes and blintzes are good ones. Then there's usually a pasta salad or potato salad of some sort. I'm sure they'll do fine at Katz's but I appreciate your input.

Pepper_von_snoot

The tenement apartments are NOT authentic in that they have been retrofitted.

Thin, longing for a Gus's pickle

goddesstogo

I've been to the tenement apartments and I don't think anyone would come away thinking that the rolling pin or sewing basket had been in place for 60 years. The website clearly says "View the restored apartments of past residents from different time periods".

IMDonehere

Thin

Gus's pickles moved out of the LES years ago. One of the guys who worked there opened up Pickle Guys and does a spectacular job. A few years ago he added pickled pineapple which is so addictive it has become his second best seller after sour pickles. I think they moved to Brooklyn.

ekscrunchy

Try Oriental Garden on Elizabeth Street for dim sum. Served until 4pm daily. Considered among the best in ManhattanChinatown.

There should be enough for a vegetarian to eat.

Here is the menu, and address:

http://www.orientalgardenny.com/w/dimsum/


If you do not care about carts, Dim Sum a Go Go on Chatham Square in Chinatown is also a place worth trying. They make dishes to order rather than for the carts and cater to vegetarians:

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/dim-sum-gogo/

http://dimsumgogo.com/menu

goddesstogo

Thanks, eks, and I'm going to hold on to these for another time, especiall the Dim Sum a Go Go suggestion. I remembered that we're having Asian food for dinner the night before so I've revived the Katz's plan.

Fra_Diavolo

I can't see any reason to go to Katz's if you're not having pastrami!