Looking for a fun place to eat with my 13yr old and a few friends in NYC...Any ideas?

What kind of cuisine are you interested in? What part of the city will you be in? What price range?

You might get more responses if you repost with a more specific thread title. Something other than the city you are going to.

Food fun or attraction fun?
Fun directed at the 13 year old or everyone?

Rule of thumb, the larger the theme the worse the food.

Someone will mention Ellen's with the singing wait staff.

Are the friends your friends or friends of your 13yo?

A lot of people like the Star Dust Diner when they are looking for "fun" and don't mind if the food is not great.

http://ellensstardustdiner.com/

I'll get the link for edeevee's recent trip report.

Her trip report is a great read -
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-on-fodors.cfm

See August 28th for a description of Ellen's

I think you haven't given nearly enough info for anyone to help. Lunch or dinner? Is the 13 yr old male or female? An adventurous eater? What about the friends? Do you live in NYC or are you tourists or suburbanites? That will make a big difference as will budget and kind of food you want. What will impress Manhattan teens is not the same as what will be fun for suburbanites or visitors from elsewhere.

Ditto. Suburban girls may love Serendipity - since it has a cute factor of about a thousand. City kids might well want somethng trendy with better, more interesting food.

I think you should go to Little Italy (just kidding)

Ok Sorry for the lack of info....my first post!
13yr old is a girl..We are going with a few of her friends. We will be in Manhattan but dont have to eat right in that area. We can venture out alittle I know its usually better. Were from Long Island so were not really "tourist". Were looking for prob both lunch and dinner so alittle less expensive for either meal would be great. It is her 13th birthday. Thanks for all the posts!

If she were younger, she'd love the cafe at American Girl -
http://www.americangirl.com/stores/e...nce_dining.php

Any chance she'd like afternoon tea?

I was thinking a group of boys may like Mickey Mantles or somewhere at the piers -
http://vflp.biz/mickeymantlesnyc/
http://www.chelseapiers.com/alsoDining.htm

They do birthday parties too -http://www.chelseapiers.com/alsoBirthday.htm

Any chance she's enjoy an ice skating party? It's what I had for my 13th birthday.
Rock climbing?

Would they like the energy and food of Chinatown?

In the East Village between East 9th and 12 from 2nd Ave to Ave A are many designer/owner stores mainly from FIT.

Places to eat in the East Village that are cheap and interesting:
S'MACK-variations on mac and cheese-kids love this joint
Veniero's-great Italian pastries, not that expensive
Gruppo-terrific pizza but not expensive. Motorino is better if not crowded.
Pommes Frites-that is all they serve and will fill them up for a lunch.
http://www.pommesfrites.ws/

On the lower East Side
Meatball Shop
Economy candy-much cheaper than Dylan's with old fashioned atmosphere
Katz's deli-let the girls tip the meat slicer for a thicker sandwich

A price ouwld really help.

Are you looking for a $20 lunch? A $30 dinner? Or? Are there food options that they will like or hate. My daughters loved Indian and you can get some great bargains, esp at lunch - but if they don't like it - not an option

" We will be in Manhattan but dont have to eat right in that area."

Umm, Manhattan is an island, not an area. It's what you would consider "the city". Do you have any specific plans for what you'll be doing inbetween lunch and dinner that might help us help you? Or before lunch? What day of the week is it?

"We will be in Manhattan but dont have to eat right in that area. We can venture out alittle I know its usually better. Were from Long Island so were not really "tourist".

Sorry, but you will be tourists if you don't realize Manhattan is a big island with lots of neighborhoods, east/west, north/south, cuisines of every kind and at all budgets.

As others, more input!

Any great places to eat In the East Village between East 9th and 12 from 2nd Ave to Ave A or the general area
might check out the stores there and eat a quick lunch...

Sandi & mclaurie I do know manhattan is and Island! I was refering to being in times square area. {I guess I should of said MIDTOWN. I know there are tons of restaurants all over manhattan. Thats the reason for the post to get ideas for better places that are good and arent so commercialized. !

There are many places to eat in the East Village. But check for hours

Italian-Cacio e Pepe, Supper, I Coppi
Pizza-Motorino, Luzzo's
Indian-Brick Lane, Banjara
French Bistro-Casimir (moderate) Lucien (expensive)
Fried Chicken-Rehead-bar atmosphere, but sit down service
American Hip-Northern Spy
Eastern European-Veselka
Tapas-Nai