Fun NYC Restaurants
 

I had a friend suggest the restaurant "Mars 2112" in NYC. I went there and it was really fun. I was wanting to know if anyone knew of other restaurants that are unusual, fun for teenagers, etc. in the midtown Manhattan area. I also heard about Jekyll & Hyde and it was really cool too. I went to the one in Greenwich Village.

Any other suggestions? The budget is probably about $20-25/person.

ESPNZone in Times Square would definitely qualify.

Yup, I forgot. That was another restaurant I've been to. Good suggestion though! I've also been to Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe. I did not like Hard Rock Cafe at all, though. The service was awful and the food was mediocre.

Also, this is for a group of 21.

I would eat my own foot before I would eat in Jekyl & Hyde. It is the grossest place in Manhattan and I can't figure out why they are still in business.

Brooklyn Diner is great.

Second the ESPN Zone.

For a really unique dining experience, get out of Midtown. Eat downtown.

Second Avenue Deli, Pommes Frites, a burger at Chumleys.

Are you talking about the Jekyll & Hyde Club or the Jekyll & Hyde Pub in Greenwich Village? I haven't been to the Club, but the Pub wasn't bad at all in my opinion. It's hard to find the perfect combination of great food and great atmosphere for a reasonable cost in NY. But any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I'm sure GoTravel was talking about the Jekyll and Hyde in midtown and as far as I'm concerned she was still TOO kind about it. But the J & H pub in the Village is great fun -- I believe at one time the two were connected somehow, but no longer are, thankfully.

Oh wow. I had no idea it was that bad. Definitely good to know. So do 2 different companies own them? They are not connected at all?

All I know is we were sitting at the bar at the one in the Village before a show nearby, and the bartender told us they "used to be connected" but said with a shutter "we have nothing to do with that OTHER place now". At the time we hadn't been to the other one. I wish we still hadn't!

Okay, thanks for the info. Any other good restaurants in NY that you could recommend? We will also be in the Central Park area one afternoon and will need a place for dinner.

I've been to a couple of dinners at Puglia's on Hester Street in Little Italy. They have live entertainment in the form of "Jorge" who sings and gets everyone involved. It gets loud, the wine is flowing, and by the end some people are even singing standing on their seats. The crowd's favorite song - "Get Up & Wave Your Napkin." A fun time was had by all.

Ellen's Stardust Diner is a fun place. The food isn't anything special, but the place is 50's themed and it has singing waiters and waitresses that put on great shows. It right in the Times Square area.

Those are great restaurant ideas, thanks! Has anyone heard about a restaurant called Bond 45?

I've also drank in the Jekyl & Hyde in the Village but doubt I'd eat there either. Something about a fake body floating in formaldihyde that just kills my appetite.