Greetings!

I will be in NYC for 3 nights with my eleven year old dd.

We are staying at the Hilton Garden Inn (any feedback welcome). I am staying there soley because I am using Hilton points.

We are seeing Legally Blonde on Wed at 2:00 and then Hairspray on Thursday at 7:00 pm.

I am going to take her to the Natural History Museum on Thursday during the day before the show.

I want to take her to centeral park as we have not been there together.

Where would you recommend for lunch on Thursday and dinner after the show?

I do not want a place like "Planet Hollywood"

We like all different foods and I would like to spend 100.00 without any wine.

It is the second week in October.

Any other great tips (esp. adding in transportation tips would be GREAT - I did manage the subway for the first time in our trip in July).

Thanks as always in advance,
Dawn

We had a great meal at Artesinal, a restaurant featuring cheese. Had fondue for 2 and it was great. Also enjoyed the Bar American

Dawn - is the $100 for dinner only or lunch and dinner?

You might want to try Ellen's Stardust Diner for lunch. It has basic diner food - noting special but much better than a chain place - and the performing waitstaff (out of work broadway chorus boys and girls) are fun for kids.

The Boathouse in Central Park is fun - but even for lunch you would need to be careful to stay within your budget for 3 for lunch.

There are a bunch of casuale places near the Museum of Natural History - have a look at Columbus, Amsterdam and Broadway in the upper 70's/low80's on menupages,.com.

100.00 is per meal. I do not need to spend that on lunch obviously.

NYtraveler - we went to Ellens in July and what fun!

It is just two of us. Dd and myself. I do not drink at lunch and will just have one glass of wine if any with a meal.

I took my daughter (almost 3) and my cousin to Trattoria dell'arte on 7th between 55th and 56th (i think) the other day and it was very good and a cute place. They have a "nose" theme or exhibit - whatever you want to call it- that a youngster would get a kick out of.The staff never made me feel out of place for bringing my little one. It's a little pricey for lunch-- depending on what you get, but basically the same price for dinner, so maybe a good dinner choice.

PS- legally blonde is so much fun- you and your dd are sure to enjoy it!

I was going to recommend En Plo, just across the street from MNH, but it is closed.

Ouest doesn't serve lunch.

You could walk directly across the park to the MET and have lunch at Cafe Sabarsky in the Neu Museum (5/89th).

If you want a real casual place, but not anything like Planet Hollywood, there is a restaurant on Columbus Ave at 77th that has outside tables. I don't know the name of the restaurant but it was crowded when I walk by last week.

Thin

Sorry, that is 5th Ave/86th Street for Cafe Sabarsky.

Thin is talking about Isabella's on the UWS. It's part of the B.R. Guest restaurant group.

I like to go to China Grill at 53rd and Avenue of the Americas (kitty-corner to the Hilton, down some stairs.) There are locations in other cities but the New York location is my favourite. It is great for pre-theatre. It is a sharing menu which makes meals more reasonable. There is a wonderful Greek restaurant Mylvos just down from Carnegie Hall (7th and 55). It is better that any other Greek restaurant that I have been to. My daughter loves Carmines but beware the portions are huge. I also like Trattoria del'Arte. Great pizza. If you want a wonderful restaurant outside of the theatre district then go to Stanton Social (lower east side). Also a sharing menu. The food is unbelievable!

awesome recommendations! Keep them coming - thank you so much!

How about the Hard Rock Cafe on 43rd and Broadway.

thank you so much Andrew - I want to try to stay away from the chain places we can go to in Southern California.

Have you been to Serendipity? It seems the perfect place for an eleven year old. There is a huge candy shop called Dylan's Candy Bar not too far away that is fun too. Rent bikes and ride in Central Park. Bethesda fountain on a Saturday morning has tons of dogs running around, jumping in the water and playing with each other. Take a horse-drawn carriage to dinner at Tavern on the Green. I know a lot of folks pooh-pooh this place, but the setting with its lanterns and twinkle lights in the trees is enchanting to a visitor.

Maggi I have never been there - is that the place that Oprah talks about? I do not watch her show but feel like I have heard of it?

I hit send too soon - I was thinking of Tavern on the Green - only because I have never been there - I have heard mixed reviews etc but thought how cool for one night?

I can try to get early reservations on Wed. (we are seeing a 2:00 pm show) we could do the horse and carriage ride and go there

Great choice Maggi !

Serendipity 3 is on 60th st. between 2nd and 3rd.

http://www.serendipity3.com/main.htm

Bon my dd loves Carmines too. We were able to go there when we were in the city over the summer - I wanted to try a few different places.

Andrew that does look great! So many choices so little time!!