First NYC tip w/12-yr old son
 

We're leaving in just a few weeks...I'm wondering if it is safe for the two of us to walk around at night looking for a dinner spot? Or do we need to already have a place picked out so that we can take a cab? Our hotel is near Carnegie.
Also - what's the rule in NewYork about kids in bars where food is served? It's OK in California...

Carnegie what? Do you mean Carnegie Hall?
Yes it is safe in midtown to walk around at night. Probably even at 4 AM if you want to -- the city really never sleeps.

There are about a zillion places to eat within walking distance of Carnegie Hall, so there's no reason to take a cab unless there's a particular place you want to go.
Kids are welcome in regular restaurants that have bars.

LNM--took my son (10 at time) for first time trip to NYC 3 years ago, and we had absolutely no problems with safety. Stayed on the Upper West Side, took buses everywhere or walked, and we were out until about 10 pm at night. We just didn't walk down streets that looked deserted, or had few businesses open, but you can walk up a block or 2 and find a more crowded street.

Just a note of caution about restrooms...try to find a single use bathroom where you can wait outside for him...Starbucks is good for this, and they don't seem to care if you just go in just to use the bathroom.

You might want to try Cafe Europa on 57th Street, it's across the street from Carnegie Hall. This is not gourmet high class dining, but it's convenient to your hotel, they have good food, reasonably priced, and the menu would have something for you and your 12 year old. I think I remember soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and quiche on the menu.

Midtown Manhattan is fairly crowded until 1 or 2 in the morning - and safe at all times. In fact - any tourist area is safe. (NYC is the safest large city in the country.) The few places you wouldn't want to be on the street at dinner time are unpleasant residential areas outside of Manhattan - nowhere near where you will be.

General advice is NOT to go to any theme or chain restaurants - the food is universally poor to bad and they are much more expensive in NYC than other places. For casual places you might want to try Ellen's Stardust Diner - modest but OK food and singing/ entertaining wait staff.

Also - you might want to consult the web sites of New York Magazine and the Village Voice - which have lists of the best inepensive restauratns in NYC. Or try menupages.com - which allows you to search for places by location and cuisine and includes customer comments and actual menus.

Children cannot enter bars. They can enter any restaurant - whether is has a bar section or not.