Don't sigh, I have some specific questions.

My trip is exactly a year away, but I'm a vacation plan-a-holic and I'm currently researching NY restaurants. However, my trip now includes two others, so I'm asking questions on their behalf as well.

I plan on taking a red eye flight from Seattle with my mother. It's scheduled to arrive at JFK around 8 AM and we're going to want breakfast. I'm looking for a restaurant in the vicinity of the Sheraton Towers that has the standard breakfast fare (pancakes, waffles, eggs, etc.), doesn't serve huge portions, and serves good food that's not grease laden. I've been to menupages.com, but the menus can only tell what the restaurant serves, not how much food they dish out or the quality. I've done a search on this board as well, but didn't find many answers. I'm leaning toward splurging on Norma's. However, the menu prices have me wondering how dressy it is at breakfast.

Secondly, my mom wants to try genuine NY pizza. After a search of this board and reading some review sites, she's decided on Angelo's. Good choice?

Lastly, a friend of mine from Indiana will be joining us. Living in the Seattle area, I'm spoiled when it comes to access to fresh seafood, but as she is landlocked and in a small town, she doesn't get quality seafood often. She was watching Food Network and wants to try The Lobster Place in Chelsea Market. Is it worth the trip or would she be better off trying elsewhere for the kind of fare that they serve?

We were at Chelsea Markets and visited the Lobster Place just last week. Other than soups to go, it's not really a restaurant. However, Chelsea Markets is definitely worth a visit!

Top seafood restaurants in NYC include Le Bernadin (Midtown - right across the street from the Sheraton - reservations essential), Pearl Oyster Bar (Greenwich Village - a fabulous seafood and GV experience), Aquagrill (SoHo), and Oceana (Midtown East). All are quite pricey. Our favorite seafood place is Foley's in Times Square. The food is excellent (though on the expensive side of moderately priced), but the service is fabulous and the views of Times Square are terrific.

You can't go wrong (if you don't mind the prices) with Norma's for breakfast. You can go as you are - it's not dressy.

You may want to consider Rue 57 (on the corner at 6th) for breakfast, though. Appealing menu, elegant room, perfectly prepared food. Then, there's Maison, at 53rd/7th. Extensive menu, very good food. Service can be slow. Or Art Cafe at 7th/52nd (around the corner from the Sheraton) - a classic NY coffee shop.

Perfect for the breakfast you mention and only about a block away is Maison.
I had a great gruyere and ham crepe with a poached egg, partner had Belgian waffle with fresh berries. Unfortunately they've dropped my favorite -- duck hash.

Thanks for the suggestions.

djk: Apparently, The Lobster Place serves a $9.95 lobster roll and that's what my friend wants to try. I'll run your suggestions by her anyway and try to convince her to splurge.

Patrick: I saw your recommendation of Maison when I did a search, but I can't find them on menupages. What's the average price for breakfast for 2?

My friend also wants to try the Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity. Is it worth the trek or is it a glorified milkshake?

check menupages.com for comments amd menus on many, many restaurants.

I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but I think you are a bit premature in your planning for this segment of your trip.
A lot can happen in a year--restaurants close, prices change, quality changes!
If you are this concerned about finding a place for breakfast a year away, I can't wait to read about your other questions and concerns!

Glad that I'm a source of entertainment.

I know that this is way early to be planning for most people, but for me, it's not. I'm aware that restaurants may close and what have you, but I still like doing the research. I'm a person who likes to plan things. I make a spreadsheet for each of my trips complete with budget and itinerary and I like to fiddle around with the numbers and the plans. I took a trip to Canada last month that I started planning in the spring of 2003 and I was changing my spreadsheet almost daily up until the day that I left. When I got there, in spite of my dossier, I ended up changing some of my plans on a whim. However, I don't regret the time that I spent planning because I had fun doing it. I may get to New York and decide to just grab a muffin and juice from a corner deli or something. Who knows?

Currently, I'm also planning my 2006 trip to Europe. I'm aware that prices and the exchange rate won't be the same in a year and a half, but I like doing the research just the same.

I have a friend who lives in NY and he chides me for planning trips so far ahead. He's one of those people who travels on the spur of the moment and doesn't understand that I have fun just planning. Chacun à son goût.

ditto to everything HowardR said.

I just walked by one of my favorite neighborhood Italian places, it's now American Eclectic with a new name. This happens all the time.

If you want to have dinner at one of the more popular places, start making reservations about 30 days in advance (few restaurants take reservations earlier than that).

Don't get me wrong. I love the researching aspect before a trip and do quite a bit of it. But, to be concerned about where to eat breakfast a year before a trip is overkill in my opinion!

We waited 2-1/2 hours to get into Serendipity last January only to be disappointed at the quality of the desserts. The menu items are fun, and portions are huge (even for sharing, but it wasn't anything you couldn't get from your local supermarket freezer. What's up with that?

I know that things can come across in the wrong spirit on the internet and I really don't like getting into disagreements with people in real life or on message boards, but I also don't like being misunderstood.

I thought I made it clear in my above post that I'm only doing research. I'm not concerned, worried, or anxious. I don't plan on actually finalizing anything with regard to where I want to eat until October of 2006. djk and Patrick took my question in the spirit that it was given and I'm thankful for their advice. I am quite aware how things can change in a year and I'm not setting anything in stone. I'm not sure how that's overkill.

2006?

2005. I'm having a bad day. I'm off to the Euro board to fantasize about London and Paris now.

Having lived in NY for most of our lives, I can tell you that breakfast wont be a dress-up time. As far as pizza. Pizza in NY is great in mostly everywhere. Oh, how I miss the pizza. If you want to go to a great deli - go to the Carnegie Deli - you wont be disappointed. Little Italy for Italian. Chinatown for Chinese. Little Italy and Chinese are real close to each other. NY has become a place where people dress the way they want unless you go to a real fancy place. We like good food, and have found some great spots that are not too expensive. Great Italian pastries on First and llth called Veniero's. One City Block long.

Thanks to everyone who posted restaurant recommendations. It's given me a good start.

My vote for an authentic NY pizza experience: RAY's. It's a chain and they seem to be everywhere in NYC. Besides the great pizza, the stromboli is fantastic. You'll love it!

Another fun board to keep up to date on food is chowhound.com. Go to their "Manhattan" site. They also have an international board.

But WHICH Ray's? Famous Ray's, Original Ray's, Famous Original Ray's, or Not Ray's (the actual name of a pizza place in Brooklyn).

I think there was a Seinfeld episode on this...

First, I'd reconsider your hotel if you can. It's just so....well so-so imho. Lacks any new york character. Although, honestly, I haven't seen the rooms, just the public areas. I am a huge fan of a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with pizza at Grimaldi's. GL

Rays is NOT a chain!! This is a big misconception (that is even written in a popular travel book)

Here is the REAL story in a nutshell(that has been varified many times by people who really know):

There was an awesome pizza place called Ray's. It had such a buzz that several other places popped up calling themselves Ray's (i.e. "The Original Ray's" is NOT the original)

Unfortunately, you will have to do your own research to find out which one to go to. I get confused too.