We'll be in Battery Park City area or lower late afternoon to early evening before doing a volunteer shift at Ground Zero on a Saturday. Any suggestions of an interesting place to grab a simple meal or even ideas for grazing through the area?

Anywhere to eat????

Don't bother eating in Battery Park, nothing there. Try going just a couple of blocks north of Ground Zero and you can choose from these: Odeon, Duane Park Cafe, El Teddy's.

While it's true that there are no restaurants in Battery Park, there are some restaurants in the financial district that will not necessitate you walking to Tribeca.

Just north of Battery Park on Broad Street is Fraunces Tavern. It is a historically interesting restaurant because it is where George Washington bade farewell to his troops. It is a sit-down restaurant and more expensive than some of the others in the area.

You might also try Mangia on Wall Street (mid-way between Water and Broadway). It is a self-serve place with a pleasant, but busy atmosphere. They have a fabulous antipasto bar, single-serve pizzas, pasta, soups, sandwiches.

Wall Street Kitchen and Bar (not on Wall Street -- I think it's on Broad) is another sit-down type restaurant that serves salads and sandwiches and some hot items (like pastas).

There are also several sit-down restaurants in the Seaport (where you get tickets for the viewing platform at Ground Zero), including a Uno Pizzera, Cabana (cuban food) and other, mostly seafood restaurants. Some have great views of the water and Brooklyn & Manhattan bridges.

Lisa, I think that many of the restaurants on Wall and Broad Streets are closed on Sat/Sun. Many of those delis/shops service the financial community only during the week. My husband used to live in the area and it was difficult enough to get a cup of coffee in the morning on a weekend, let alone a meal.

I don't know the name but there is a restaurant less than a five minute walk from Battery Park. Facing the city go the left to exit Battery Park. Walk towards the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Before getting to the Museum yoou pass the restaurant which is on the water.

Roy's Restaurant at the Marriot hotel make sure they are open when you are there reservations necessary. Actually this is nuevo cuisine not exactly simple but oh so yummy.

I work downtown and can't recommend many "nice" restaurants around, but Mangia, Cosi and Pret a Manger are nice sandwich places that may be open on weekends. I did happen to notice this website today (http://www.wallstreetrising.org), maybe it will give some suggestions, or at least some discounts. Good luck.

There was a restaurant in Battery Park CITY (not Battery Park) called Steamers Landing that was right on the water and not expensive. I know they had terrible trouble when the WTC fell, but if they're open it's a lovely & not expensive place to go. Tel. was 432-1451.

Are you doing an overnight shift at St Paul's? I've done it several times. It is an amazing experience, you'll have a wonderful time. You'll also have plenty of food available. I reommend the St Paul's message boards at the Trinity site. There is an article by a poet about the night there.
Heaven in the midst of hell.

I'd love to hear about your experience if you do it. My real email is [email protected]

Whoops -- Irene is right that many restaurants in lower Manhattan will be closed on the weekends. So scratch my suggestion of Mangia and, probably, Fraunces Tavern. However, the restaurants in the Seaport *are* open on the weekends (it's the only place I know of to get a bite when I'm working on the weekends).

up for Elizabeth!

up up up for Elizabeth!

Thank you friends for topping this!!
I think I was spelling Manhattan different in looking for it.

(I have nothing to add--I just wanted to see it & see what anybody else said, including OP)

Elizabeth:

Shame on you.... What was your point????

I could do without the reproach (like totally), but will answer the question--my point was, having written my own response, including sharing that I had also volunteered at the church where I believed these people were going (& are, I have heard from them), I wanted to see if the OPs replied, shared anything themselves, etc. And if anyone did know of someplace to eat around there.