Ice cream, diners, and Spotted Pigs in Manhattan?
 

Greetings fodorites, I haven't asked a question in a while so am hoping that the usual Manhattan crowd is afoot... I'm heading into the city for 3 days in May for a work meeting, staying at the Millenium UN on 44th b/w 1st and 2nd. I'm not too familiar w/ this side of town, so I have a few questions:

1) recommended diners in the area? Meeting/coffee service doesn't start until I usually have second breakfast (I will be 7 months+ pregnant, walking-distance diners a plus)

2) Looking for recs for post-dinner ice cream or other goodies within a few blocks' radius, willing to go to a restaurant just for dessert (reason: see 1) )

3) May hit The Spotted Pig if manage to meet up w/ a friend, any recent reviews?

As usual, many thanks for any pre-planning help you can provide!
-AH

The best selection of places is the lower concourse of Grand Central Sattion. They have Ciao Bella gelatti and try the walnut sour cream apple pie at the Little Pie Company. You will thank me.

FWIW, There is a conversation with the chef of Spotted Pig in Frank Bruni's blog in the NYTimes food section.

Excellent, thanks DRJ! "Monster hit from the moment it opened" bodes well...interesting interview. Thanks again.

Had completely forgotten about the station nearby, duh. Thanks aduchamp, will let you know how I make out!

Nations Cafe is at 1st & 49th, good breakfasts, nice staff, fast service. They are open 6am-10pm. More info here: http://tinyurl.com/4szegx

Enjoy.

I should know this but is the Spotted Pig?

There are a few spots on 2nd and 3rd Aves that might work certainly within walking distance, diners and sandwich shops, Subway a block away on 44th serves ice cream and decent subs is probably open until 6 or 7.

There are a couple of places over on 3rd that are salad spots just walk over and up 3rd and you will run into a couple.

As suggested earlier, Grand Central is a GREAT suggestion, something of everything there, and good deserts.

Enjoy your time here.